Mediterranean/Sardinia: dispute over chains of command and future locations of respective...

HW 1/1744

1943 June 17

Mediterranean/Sardinia: dispute over chains of command and future locations of respective German and Italian Air Force command authorities in Sardinia following any Allied landing on the island, June 16; heavy infantry gun company to transfer from Italy to Sardinia, June 16, Axis ship sunk en route from Italy to Aegean, June 14.

Naval Headlines: 3 Italian submarines to leave Bordeaux for Atlantic on June 16, probably en route to Far East.

Japanese ambassador, Ankara: future progress of the war as seen from Turkey, Germans intent on capturing Leningrad this summer but elsewhere on the Russian Front will await a Soviet offensive, Germans preparing for an intensive air offensive against the UK, June 7.

Japanese minister, Madrid: report of June 11 on secret meeting at Toledo on June 5 of junta of military leaders held probably as a result of Argentine revolution, rumours of impending invasion of Iberian Peninsula, conference in Madrid on June 10 for Axis military attachés to pool information, minister considers Allied invasion unlikely although Spain had carried out military contingency measures as a precaution.

Japanese ambassador, Berlin: discussions with Italian ambassador concerning his recent talks with Ribbentrop, Germany now playing a waiting game and watching Western Allies before starting her major offensive on Russian Front, Italy urgently required airsupport from Germany, Allies had employed some 200 ships and 1000 aircraft to capture Pantelleria and were now expected to invade Sicily or Sardinia, Italy's resolve would continue as long as Mussolini was alive, June 12.

Turkish chargé, London: report of June 14 from Ankara that Western Allies were working to bring about an agreement between the Vatican and Russia with the object of removing Catholic distrust of Russia in both the UK and US.

c/3567

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description