President Roosevelt to the British Prime Minister (Churchill)61
545. For the Former Naval Person. I propose that the Combined Chiefs of Staff be directed by both of us to send the following message to Eisenhower:
“You are hereby directed to make such plans as are practicable to send American troops to the Netherlands and northwest Germany as forces of occupation when hostilities with Germany cease. For planning purposes, the area in Germany to be occupied by U.S. Forces will comprise the states of Schleswig, Hanover, Brunswick, Westphalia, Hesse-Nassau and the Rhine Province.
It will be assumed in this plan that France, Austria, and the Balkans will not be included in an American zone of responsibility and that Berlin will be occupied jointly by the U.S., British and Soviet Forces.”
- Copy of telegram obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.↩