Getting Allies (June 1941)

General Friedrich Paulus
June 1941

The transit of troops to their assembly areas for the Eastern campaign began since July 1940. We had also taken the necessary steps to encourage active participation from our allies. In February this year, we established contact with the Finnish General Staff to discuss the conduct of joint operations in Russia. After a joint reconnaissance tour, the final details of this operation were settled in Oslo on 3rd March.

The Fuhrer worked hard to secure the participation of Hungary. With Germany’s help, she can regain and extend the land she lost during the Great War, and with a Rumania which is growing stronger every day, allying with Germany will ensure that she is not left out.

With the recent developments in Jugoslavia, the Fuhrer decided to invade Jugoslavia to protect the flank of the offensive in Greece. Representing the Army Headquarters, I was deployed to Budapest to negotiate for the participation of Hungary, of which agreement was quickly reached.

With the Balkans campaign now behind us, we can at last focus on the Eastern campaign lying ahead of us. Moscow is our primary objective. The elimination of enemy forces in the Baltic States and capture of Leningrad and Kronstadt is the key to the protection of our advance to Moscow. Leningrad is the main base for the Baltic Fleet, a key industrial city and at the same time, a strategic assembly area for a counter-offensive. Thus, the capture of Leningrad is our first objective in this campaign.

Heil Hitler

Friedrich Paulus