J.C.S. Files
Combined Chiefs of Staff Minutes 1
1. Approval of Minutes of the 185th Meeting 2
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Approved the conclusions of the minutes of the C.C.S. 185th Meeting and approved the detailed record of the meeting, subject to later minor amendments.
2. Levels of Supply of Petroleum Products in U. K. and North-west Europe
* * * * * * *
3. Planning Date for the End
of the War Against Germany
(C. C. S. 772)3
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Agreed to accept for planning purposes the following dates for the end of the war with Germany:—
- a.
- Earliest date, 1 July 1945.
- b.
- Date beyond which war is unlikely to continue, 31 December 1945.
4. Provision of LVT’s for the Mediterranean
* * * * * * *
5. Allocation of Zones of
Occupation in Germany
(C. C. S. 320/35)4
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff proposing the acceptance of an agreement regarding the Bremen and Bremerhaven enclave and the use of the railway from Bremen to the southwest zone, on the understanding that this agreement did not involve the question of command of the Bremen-Bremerhaven area.
General Marshall referred to the fact that the letter at Enclosure “B” (page 5)5 visualized the necessity for making a more detailed form of agreement, covering a variety of circumstances. He felt strongly [Page 636] that no such detailed agreement was necessary. The broad policy had been decided and the good will was there. Details could be left very largely to local commanders and any problems of overlapping authority which did arise could be referred to the Combined Chiefs of Staff when the time came.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff then agreed to the following amendments to the Appendix to Enclosure “B” of C. C. S. 320/35:—
- a.
- In paragraph 1 delete the words “but will be generally administered as a sub-district of a larger British controlled area.”
- b.
- In the second sentence of paragraph 1, delete the words “larger district” and substitute “British zone.”
- c.
- In the second sentence of paragraph 2, delete the word “responsible” and substitute the word “responsive.”
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
- a.
- Endorsed the views expressed by General Marshall above and approved the Appendix to Enclosure “B” of C. C. S. 320/35 as amended in discussion. (Subsequently circulated as C. C. S. 320/37.)6
- b.
- Agreed to take no further action on the detailed recommendations included in the letter at Enclosure “B” to C. C. S. 320/35.
6. Basic Undertakings
(C. C. S. 775)7
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a memorandum by the British Chiefs of Staff recommending a substitution for the existing paragraph 6h in C. C. S. 680/2.
Sir Alan Brooke said that the British Chiefs of Staff were now in a position to agree to this subparagraph h., as it had been amended informally in discussion at a previous C. C. S. meeting when this had been discussed.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Agreed to the following revised subparagraph h.:
“h. Provide assistance to such of the forces of the liberated areas in Europe as can fulfill an active and effective role in the war against Germany and/or Japan. Within the limits of our available resources to assist other co-belligerents to the extent they are able to employ this assistance against the Enemy Powers in the present war. Having regard to the successful accomplishment of the other basic undertakings, to provide such supplies to the liberated areas as will effectively contribute to the war-making capacity of the United Nations against Germany and/or Japan.”
7. Liaison With the Soviet
High Command Over Anglo-American Strategic Bombing in
Eastern Germany
(C. C. S. 778)8
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a memorandum by the British Chiefs of Staff suggesting a line that might be taken with the Soviet General Staff at a meeting which was to be held later the same day to discuss the matter of the bombline.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff discussed the desirability of putting forward this fresh memorandum in the place of the one recently submitted in FAN 477.9
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Agreed that the United States Chiefs of Staff should put forward to the Russians the views expressed in C. C. S. 778, as amended in discussion.
8. Next Meeting, Combined Chiefs of Staff
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:—
Agreed to meet again, provisionally at 1000 on Thursday, 8 February 1945, to finish off any outstanding items on the Argonaut Agenda.
- C. C. S. 186th Meeting.↩
- Ante, pp. 530–534.↩
- See under Malta Conference, ante, pp. 478–480.↩
- Infra.↩
- See post, p. 637, and ante, pp. 199–201.↩
- post, p. 639.↩
- Ante, p. 539.↩
- This paper as amended (C. C. S. 778/1) was read by Kuter at the Second Tripartite Military Meeting. See post, pp. 640–641.↩
- Not printed.↩