Tehran Conference decisions taken. Tehran Conference: preparation, goals, outcome

F.D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister W. Churchill. At the conference, held from November 28 to December 1, 1943, the “Big Three” – Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill – gathered together for the first time.

At the conference, the desire of Roosevelt and Stalin to reach an agreement was clearly outlined. Churchill initially stuck to his old strategy of isolating the Russians. Roosevelt proposed that a Soviet representative be present at all Anglo-American meetings before the general conversation. The idea of ​​global regulation of international relations equally appealed to Roosevelt and Stalin. Churchill was conservative in this regard, did not particularly believe in post-war cooperation with the USSR, doubted the effectiveness of the future new international United Nations Organization (UN) and saw behind this idea a plan to push Great Britain to the periphery of international politics.

The main place in the work of the Tehran Conference was occupied by the coordination of plans for military action of the allies. Despite the decisions of previous allied conferences, Churchill again raised the question of postponing the landing of Anglo-American troops in France and instead conducting a series of operations in the Balkans (hoping to prevent the expansion of the Soviet sphere of influence). However, Stalin and Roosevelt opposed this, considering the north of France the only suitable place for opening a second front. It was agreed that a second front would be opened in northern France in May 1944. Stalin promised that Soviet troops would launch an offensive around the same time in order to prevent the transfer of German forces from the Eastern to the Western Front.

The Big Three agreed to try to force Turkey into the war on the side of the Allies.

The conference discussed the future of Germany. Roosevelt and Stalin spoke out in favor of breaking up Germany into small states in order to prevent a revival of German expansionism. Roosevelt proposed dividing Germany into five parts and placing Kiel, Hamburg, Ruhr and Saarland under the control of the United Nations. Stalin emphasized that the unification of Germany must be prevented at all costs. However, no final decision was made on this issue.

The question of Poland was painful at the conference and controversial for Soviet-British relations. By this time, Stalin had broken relations with the Polish government in exile based in London. The Kremlin considered the question of the execution of Polish military personnel in the Katyn Forest near Smolensk, raised with the support of the British, as blackmail in order to force Moscow to make territorial concessions.

In Tehran, Stalin confirmed that the eastern Soviet-Polish border should follow the line established in September 1939, and proposed moving the western Polish border to the Oder. Realizing that Moscow would fight to the death on this issue, Churchill agreed with this proposal, noting that the lands Poland receives are much better than the lands it gives away. Stalin also stated that the USSR expected to gain Königsberg and move the border with Finland further from Leningrad.

The conference clearly indicated the agreement of the Western allies to meet Stalin halfway on the territorial issue. Here a statement was made that the post-war world would be governed by four powers (USSR, USA, England, France), operating under the auspices of a new international organization. For the USSR this was a colossal breakthrough; The United States also assumed global functions for the first time since Wilson; Great Britain, whose role was relatively diminishing, had to be content with the fact that it did not fall out of the Big Three.

The conference adopted the “Declaration on Iran,” in which participants declared “their desire to preserve the full independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.”

In conclusion, Stalin made a promise that the USSR would enter the war against Japan after the defeat of Germany.

The Tehran Conference strengthened the cooperation of the main powers of the anti-fascist coalition and agreed on plans for military action against Germany.

APPLICATION

Declaration of the Three Powers

We, the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the Premier of the Soviet Union, have met for the past four days in the capital of our ally Iran and have formulated and reaffirmed our common policy.

We express our determination that our countries will work together both in times of war and in subsequent times of peace.

Regarding the war, representatives of our military headquarters participated in our round table negotiations, and we agreed on our plans for the destruction of the German armed forces. We have come to full agreement regarding the scale and timing of the operations to be undertaken from the east, west and south.

The mutual understanding we have achieved here guarantees our victory.

As for peacetime, we are confident that the agreement that exists between us will ensure lasting peace. We fully recognize the great responsibility resting on us and on all the United Nations to bring about a peace which will receive the approval of the overwhelming mass of the peoples of the globe and which will eliminate the scourges and horrors of war for many generations.

Together with our diplomatic advisers, we looked at the challenges of the future. We will seek the cooperation and active participation of all countries, large and small, whose peoples are committed in heart and mind, like our own people, to the task of eliminating tyranny, slavery, oppression and intolerance. We will welcome them to join the global family of democracies whenever they wish to do so.

No power in the world can stop us from destroying the German armies on land, their submarines at sea, and destroying their munitions factories from the air.

Our offensive will be merciless and increasing.

Having concluded our friendly conferences, we confidently look forward to the day when all the peoples of the world will live freely, free from tyranny, and in accordance with their various aspirations and their consciences.

We came here with hope and determination. We leave here truly friends in spirit and purpose.

ROOSEVELT
STALIN
CHURCHILL

There were two possible ways of development of events. The first admitted that by enlisting the support of the West, Nazi Germany could stop the advance of the Soviet army, limiting the Soviet Union within its previous borders, and remain on the political map of the world. For this purpose, secret negotiations were held between German representatives and the West.

In turn, Britain feared the strengthening of the USSR in the event of victory over the Nazis and the possibility of Stalin personally redrawing the map of Europe. The second option involved further strengthening ties between the USSR and their allies.

The Soviet leadership urgently needed the opening of a second front by the allies and the continuation of supplies of weapons and equipment, since further waging the war alone was difficult for the USSR, although by the fall of 1943 the Soviet Army had significant victories in the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk.

Personal interests of the allies

Tehran Conference had to outline ways to achieve the goals of all parties involved.

So the United States wanted to get a guarantee that the Soviet army would enter the war against Japan after the victory over Germany. In this case, they would be able to greatly reduce their losses and costs.

Britain made plans to continue isolating the USSR and hoped that German military forces would continue to be drawn to the eastern front, and that waging a heavy war would weaken the potential for the emergence of a “Red Menace” in Western Europe. In the event of a second front opening, Britain was It is important to negotiate the most favorable terms.

Well, the Soviet Union, being fed up with the long-term promises of its allies, wanted to achieve a specific deadline for the opening of a second front. And to secure their consent for the future to strengthen the sphere of influence in Europe, when the Soviet Army enters there as a liberator.

When determining the meeting place of the heads of powers of the anti-Hitler conference, disagreements arose. Stalin suggested Astrakhan or Arkhangelsk, Roosevelt believed that Alaska was the best place. There were options for Cairo and Baghdad. But in the end they settled on Tehran. Before the war, Iran had strong ties with Germany, but in 1941, British and Soviet troops entered Iran, as well as a unit of American soldiers providing Lend-Lease. But the occupation did not prevent the Germans from maintaining a powerful intelligence network. Four intelligence services waged a secret war on Iranian territory.

Arrival of delegations in Tehran

In late November, delegations from three countries arrived in Tehran. Churchill arrived with great pomp and took up residence in the British mission building.

For the first time, Joseph Stalin was forced to use an airplane to fly to Iran from Baku, where he traveled by special letter train. Before this incident, the Soviet leader made do with land transport. His security was provided by the 182nd Mountain Rifle Regiment, which was part of the limited contingent of Soviet troops in Iran.

The most difficult route to the capital of Iran was for US President Roosevelt. He had to cross the Atlantic in 9 days on the battleship Iowa to Algeria, and from there get to Cairo, where Churchill was waiting for the president to agree on a joint position in future negotiations.

Why did Roosevelt stop at the Soviet embassy? There are several answers to this question and each is quite convincing in its own way. Firstly, the embassies of Britain and the USSR were located very close to each other, so during the meetings the fences of the embassies were dismantled and a corridor fenced with shields was created so that those passing by could not be seen. And the US Embassy was located far on the outskirts of the city, the daily journey there and back would put the life of the president and members of the delegation at risk. Secondly, there was information about an impending assassination attempt on the heads of the Big Three by German intelligence services. And it is much easier to ensure security in one area without being scattered along the roads and outskirts of the city.

Upon returning from the conference to Washington, US President Roosevelt, speaking to reporters, said that Stalin invited him to stay at the Soviet embassy for security purposes, since he, Stalin, became aware of an impending conspiracy and a possible assassination attempt. Thus, the threat from German agents allowed the leaders of the two powers, living under what is called “one roof,” to hold a number of confidential meetings and negotiations. Perhaps this is precisely what predetermined the fate of a particular Tehran Conference so the fate of the world in the future.

Ensuring the safety of Conference participants

The Soviet embassy was located in a huge mansion with adjacent buildings and a large territory. The building where the office had previously been located was converted into Roosevelt's residence. Thus, a diplomatic complex was created, which was surrounded by three rings of tanks and infantry units.

In Tehran, for three days of the conference, the telephone and telegraph were turned off, the activities of all media were suspended and radio communications were jammed, the city was completely blocked by troops and special services.

Operation Long Jump - German opposition to the Allied meeting

According to the official version, the leadership of Nazi Germany instructed the Abwehr in November 1943 to organize an assassination attempt on the leaders of the Big Three in Tehran. A secret operation called “Long Jump” was developed and led by the famous fascist saboteur and terrorist SS Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, a special agent for special assignments and Hitler’s favorite since 1943.

His record included the murder of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss in 1934, the arrest of Austrian President Miklas and Chancellor Schuschnigg in 1938, in 1943, on Hitler’s personal order, he developed and carried out an operation to free the overthrown Mussolini, for which he was awarded the “Knighthood” award from the Fuhrer. cross". Luck always accompanied him, but this time Soviet intelligence officers ruined his plans.

In Iran, Schellenberg's intelligence was represented by a certain Franz Mayer, a young typical SS man who spoke excellent Persian and had very wide connections in Iranian military, political and business circles.

He ambitiously dreamed of turning neutral Iran into an ally of Germany; for this it was necessary to create and bring to power a strong pro-German nationalist movement. This idea was partially successful; Soviet intelligence reported on more than twenty active nationalist organizations of various kinds, but generally anti-allied.

Iranian admirers of Hitler

The largest and most disciplined was the Blue Party, named after the color of the blue ballots of the Iranian Majlis deputies. The party was initially organized by opposition members of the Majlis who did not support the ratification of the Treaty of Alliance between Iran, the USSR and Great Britain in January 1942 and was headed by public figure Habibullah Novbakht, a longtime admirer of Hitler and Nazi Germany led by him.

This illegal party created divisions of the military organization, becoming a real force. Soviet intelligence gave the Blue Party priority attention. On August 1, 1941, Ivan Agayants (“Ford”) became its resident in Iran. Since 1942, intelligence officers have been aware of the increasing activity of contacts between illegal German representatives and officers of the Iranian General Staff.

Information appears about the possibility of an uprising in the Iranian army, the seizure of power and a strike at the rear of the Allies together with German troops. The Soviet and British intelligence officers working with them managed to penetrate their agents into the Blue Party quite deeply, which made it possible to keep abreast of the actions of the conspirators.

Meanwhile, in the south of Iran, the local ruler raised a rebellion and groups of German saboteurs landed in different places of the country. An acute political crisis arose in the country. The intelligence services of Great Britain and the USSR took upon themselves the task of defeating the pro-German underground and its residency.

Preventing disruption of the Conference and assassination attempts on those involved

The British tracked down and arrested Mayer just a couple of months before the conference. A walkie-talkie, codes, documents and the entire Abwehr archive were seized with him. As a result of the interrogations, it became known that terrorist attacks were being prepared during the conference. After his confession about plans to penetrate the Soviet embassy through drainpipes, the British took control of the entire water supply and drainage system.

Another option was to plant explosives under the building of the Soviet embassy. To do this, the Germans wanted to bribe the priest of the only Orthodox church in Tehran, Father Mikhail, but despite his hatred of Stalin and the Soviets, he refused and revealed the plans of the Nazis to the employees of the Soviet embassy.

Three more ambushes were also prepared along Roosevelt’s possible route from the US Embassy to the place of negotiations. But since the president immediately accepted Stalin's invitation and went to the Soviet embassy, ​​the Germans were unable to take advantage of this plan. After all the failures, Skorzeny offered the Reich leadership a completely simple option - rent a light plane, fill it to capacity with explosives and fly it to the Soviet embassy. But while the volunteer suicide bomber was being transported to the scene of events, the politicians had already gone home.

All the assassination plans planned by the German services will possibly become known after 2017, it was then that British intelligence promised to declassify the archives on this case.

Soviet intelligence officer G. Vartanyan about a special operation to prevent terrorist attacks

The most significant version of the assassination operation was commented on by Gevork Andreevich Vartanyan, a Soviet intelligence officer who spent his entire life in illegal work and was declassified only on December 20, 2000. In his personal “iconostasis” there is the “Golden Star” of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of the “Patriotic War”, the military “Red Banner”, “Red Star”, “For Services to the Fatherland”.

Gevorg Vartanyan - the legendary intelligence officer who saved the participants of the Tehran Conference from a terrorist attack

During the period described, G. Vartanyan worked in Iran. He said that members of his group discovered a German landing party of six people, dropped near Tehran.

Having taken the saboteurs under surveillance, the scouts tracked them to the city and established their place of residence. The group's radio transmissions with Berlin were taken bearings and they were able to be deciphered. So it became known that the transfer of the second main group under the direct leadership of Otto Skorzeny was expected; this group was supposed to carry out the kidnapping or destruction of the leaders of the Big Three.

A group of German spies was arrested, the radio operator agreed to work “under cover” and a radio game with German intelligence began. Despite the great temptation to detain Skorzeny himself, it was decided that the German radio operator would transmit a conditional signal of failure, and the Center in Berlin refused to send the second group. Since the leaders of the powers were already in Tehran, it was impossible to carry out risky operations.

Decisions taken during the Tehran Conference

There was still almost a year and a half before the final victory over Nazi Germany, but the heads of the three superpowers were already discussing the post-war structure of the world. The American president for the first time voiced the need to create an organization that could ensure lasting peace after the war and would be based on the principles of mutual cooperation between different countries. Stalin warmly supported this idea.

The Tehran Conference (code name “Eureka”) was the first meeting of the heads of government of the USSR, USA and Great Britain during the war years. It took place from November 28 to December 1, 1943. The problem of the opening of the Second Front by the Western Allies occupied the main place in the discussions. I raised this question 7 times at the conference. On November 30, Roosevelt informed the Soviet leader that the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States and Great Britain, with the participation of himself and Churchill personally, had decided to launch Operation Overlord - the Normandy landings - in May 1944.

In Tehran, attention was also paid to post-war problems: the creation of an international security organization, the future of Germany, the issue of Polish and German borders, the status of the Baltic republics, etc. Stalin also gave verbal consent to start a war against Japan after the end of hostilities in Europe.

RECORDING OF THE CONVERSATION OF THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE USSR, USA AND GREAT BRITAIN AT THE CONFERENCE IN TEHRAN, November 30

Roosevelt says that he intends to tell Marshal Stalin some good news for him. The fact is that today the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the participation of Churchill and Roosevelt, made the following decision:

Operation Overlord is scheduled for May 1944 and will be carried out with the support of landings in Southern France. The strength of this supporting operation will depend on the number of landing craft available at that time.

Stalin says he is satisfied with this decision.

Churchill notes that the exact start date of the operation will obviously depend on the phase of the moon.

Stalin says that he, of course, does not demand that an exact date be given to him, and that for the maneuver, of course, one or two weeks within the month of May will be necessary.

Roosevelt says that, as far as can now be judged, the most suitable time will be from May 15 to 20.

Stalin says that he wants to tell Churchill and Roosevelt that by the time the landing operations in France begin, the Russians will be preparing a strong blow against the Germans.

Roosevelt says that this would be very good, since it would not allow the Germans to transfer their troops to the west (...)

Churchill says that it is absolutely obvious that Russia must have access to warm seas. He goes on to say that the government of the world should be concentrated in the hands of nations who are completely satisfied and have no pretensions.

Stalin notes that the governance of the world should be concentrated in the hands of nations that are capable of this.

Churchill says that this is absolutely correct, and continues that if any country is dissatisfied with anything, it will always be a source of concern. Therefore, it is necessary that the destinies of the world be concentrated in the hands of strong countries that are completely satisfied and have no desire to take anything else for themselves. Churchill says that our three countries are just such countries. After we agree among ourselves, we can consider that we are completely satisfied, and this is the most important thing (...)

RECORDING OF THE CONVERSATION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS OF THE USSR STALIN WITH US PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT December 1, 1943

Roosevelt. The question of the incorporation of the Baltic republics into the Soviet Union may be raised in the United States, and I believe that world public opinion will find it desirable that at some future time the opinion of the peoples of these republics on this question should be expressed in some way.

Therefore, I hope that Marshal Stalin will take this wish into account. I personally have no doubt that the people of these countries will vote to join the Soviet Union as unanimously as they did in 1940.

Stalin. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia did not have autonomy before the Russian revolution. The Tsar was then in an alliance with the United States and England, and no one raised the question of the withdrawal of these countries from Russia. Why is this question being asked now? (...)

Roosevelt. There are also a number of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians in the United States. I know that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia both in the past and most recently formed part of the Soviet Union, and when the Russian armies re-enter these republics, I will not fight the Soviet Union over this. But public opinion may demand a plebiscite there.

Stalin. As for the expression of the will of the peoples of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, we will have many occasions to give the peoples of these republics the opportunity to express their will.

Roosevelt. This will be useful to me.

Stalin. This does not mean, of course, that the plebiscite in these republics should be subject to any form of international control.

Roosevelt. Of course not. It would be useful to announce at the appropriate time that elections will take place in these republics in due course.

Stalin. Of course, this can be done (...)

Roosevelt. I think it is too early to decide on the creation of a world organization, but I think it would be advisable to consider the question of a police force. I believe that Marshal Stalin understands that the activities of the world organization will depend on the three powers (...)

MILITARY DECISIONS OF THE TEHRAN CONFERENCE, December 1, 1943

Conference:

1. Agreed that the partisans in Yugoslavia should be supported by supplies and equipment to the greatest extent possible, as well as by commando operations;

2. Agreed that from a military point of view it is highly desirable that Turkey enter the war on the side of the Allies before the end of the year;

3. Took note of the statement of Marshal Stalin that if Turkey finds itself at war with Germany and if as a result of this Bulgaria declares war on Turkey or attacks it, the Soviet Union will immediately find itself in a state of war with Bulgaria. The Conference further noted that this fact might be communicated during the forthcoming negotiations regarding Turkey's involvement in the war;

4. Noted that Operation Overlord would be undertaken during May 1944, together with the operation against Southern France. This last operation will be undertaken on the scale that available landing craft will allow. The Conference further took note of Marshal Stalin's statement that Soviet troops would launch an offensive at about the same time in order to prevent the transfer of German forces from the eastern to the western front;

5. Agreed that the military headquarters of the three powers should henceforth keep close contact with each other regarding upcoming operations in Europe. In particular, it was decided that a plan to mystify and deceive the enemy in relation to these operations should be agreed upon between the respective headquarters.

F.D.R [F. D. Roosevelt].

I.St. [AND. Stalin]

W.Ch. [U. Churchill]

Soviet-American relations during the Second World War 1941-1945. T.1. M., 1984.

FROM W. LEHI'S MEMOIRS OF THE MEETINGS OF THE TEHRAN CONFERENCE, November-December 1943

Roosevelt spent considerable time explaining the details of his plan to create an international peace organization with the United Nations at its core. Stalin did not seem to be delighted with the president's proposal to grant small states equal rights in matters of maintaining world peace. Stalin stated his reasons quite simply: if the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States want to maintain world peace, they have sufficient military and economic power to do this and do not need anyone's help to ensure international security... A general exchange also took place opinions regarding the demilitarization of Germany. Stalin spoke out in favor of, if necessary, being able to occupy the most important strategic points inside Germany or on its borders, or even at some distance. No decision was made, but in principle everyone seemed to agree that Germany's military potential should be destroyed...

After everyone, to one degree or another, recognized the Curzon Line as the eastern border of Poland - Roosevelt, however, did not give specific consent - the question of the western borders remained unresolved, although the three leaders agreed in principle that Poland should receive part of German territory as compensation for the area that should have remained with Russia.

Nor was any definite decision reached on the issue of the dismemberment of Germany, which Roosevelt had been mulling over for a long time, although his plan seemed, in principle, to be received positively. The President's idea was to split the Reich into five main parts or states...

Lehi W. Advisor to two presidents // The Second World War in Memoirs... M., 1990. P.421-423(Lehi W. (1875-1959), American Admiral of the Fleet (1944). In World War II - Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command of the US Armed Forces, at the same time Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Staff).

This was the first meeting of the Big Three, at which the fate of the course of the war and the future post-war order of the world were decided.

Preparing for the conference

In addition to Tehran, options for holding the conference in Cairo (at the suggestion of W. Churchill), Istanbul or Baghdad were considered. As usual, I.V. Stalin refused to fly anywhere by plane.

The location of the conference - Tehran - was determined by I.V. Stalin. For W. Churchill, accustomed to solving military-political problems in London, where there were many emigrant governments, or in Cairo, where there was a large group of British troops, the Middle East was preferable. For F. Roosevelt, who was bound by elections to the US Congress, North Africa suited him better. They liked Tehran least of all. But I.V. Stalin already realized that the victories of the Red Army allowed him, and only him, to dictate his terms. For him, Tehran was preferable.

There was nowhere in Europe to hold a meeting of the Big Three. The territory of the USSR was not suitable for these purposes either. Roosevelt and Churchill informed I.V. on August 19, 1943. Stalin that, in their opinion, “neither Astrakhan nor Arkhangelsk are suitable for such a meeting.” They suggested meeting in Alaska, in Fairbanks, but I.V. Stalin replied to the American president that he could not “leave from the front to such a remote point” at such a tense time, and suggested holding a meeting in a country where “there is representation of all three states, for example Iran.”

The territory of Iran was controlled by Soviet, British and partly American troops.

Units of the Red Army and the British military contingent entered Iran at the end of August - September. The reasons for the entry of Soviet troops were set out in a note from the USSR government to the Iranian leadership on August 25, 1941. It stated that “German agents in the most rude and shameless way ... transformed the territory Iran into the arena of preparing a military attack on the Soviet Union... This requires the Soviet government to immediately implement those measures that it not only has the right, but is also obliged to take for the purpose of self-defense.”

The note contained the names of German intelligence officers and agents who were engaged in subversive work against the USSR in Iran. The entry of Soviet troops into the northern regions of the country occurred in strict accordance with Article 6 of the Soviet-Iranian Treaty.

The southwestern provinces of Iran were occupied by British troops. Soviet units joined them in the area of ​​​​the village of Qazvin. American troops entered Iran at the end of the year. This military action was carried out under the pretext of ensuring the safety of the delivery of military supplies to the USSR. Without any contractual formalization, American military formations occupied the ports of Bandar Shahpur and Khorramshahr.

A road ran through the territory of Iran along which American military cargo began to be delivered to the USSR under Lend-Lease.

In the northern regions of the country, the security of Soviet borders and transported military cargo was ensured by a strike force, which included the 44th and 47th armies. The intelligence departments of the headquarters of these armies were actively working to neutralize the activities of German intelligence officers, saboteurs and terrorists. Soviet military intelligence stations were established in Tabriz, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Kirmanshah, Isfahan and Rezais. At the end of 1942, they received information from 28 sources working in the Iranian Ministry of War and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as in a number of large military units.

Thanks to the efforts of Soviet intelligence, the activities of German agents, secret fascist organizations and groups based in Rasht, Pahlavi, Qazvin and other cities of Northern Iran were under control and could be blocked at any time.

The situation in the capital of Iran was also difficult, but controlled. The Soviet 182nd Mountain Rifle Regiment was stationed in Tehran, whose soldiers guarded the most important facilities. Most Iranians respected the Soviet Union. This facilitated the work of Soviet intelligence representatives, who acted under the cover of various missions and found volunteer assistants among the Iranians.

At the end of November I.V. Stalin left Moscow. The final station where his letter train No. 501 was supposed to arrive was unknown to few people. The departure of the Soviet leader from Moscow took place in deep secrecy - no one knew that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief had left the Soviet capital.

The letter train ran along the route Moscow - Stalingrad - Baku. I.V. Stalin was located in a separate armored carriage that weighed more than 80 tons. L.P. also traveled in a separate carriage. Beria. He was responsible for the security of the delegation, which included V.M. Molotov, K.E. Voroshilov, S.M. Shtemenko, senior officials of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs and the General Staff. On one of the sections of the route, the train almost came under attack by German bombers... From Baku to Tehran I.V. Stalin traveled on a Douglas plane, accompanied by three nine fighters.

W. Churchill went from London to Egypt. He reached Cairo without incident, hoping during a meeting with the American President to once again try to coordinate the positions of the United States and Great Britain on the main issues of negotiations with I.V. Stalin.

F.D. Roosevelt crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the best battleship in the United States at that time, the Iowa.

The presidential ship was accompanied by a reinforced escort of warships, which managed to avoid encounters with German submarines. The Atlantic was generally favorable to the travel of the American president, although one day the Americans were nevertheless battered by a strong storm. On one of the escort ships, a torpedo was spontaneously launched, which almost hit the Iowa.

After a nine-day sea passage, the Iowa arrived at the Algerian port of Oran.

Roosevelt and Churchill met in Cairo with Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek, and on November 28, delegations of the three powers were already in Tehran. For German saboteurs I.V. Stalin, F.D. Roosevelt and W. Churchill were tempting targets. Any, even unsuccessful, terrorist act could disrupt the work of the Tehran Conference. The danger was real, its political consequences unpredictable.

Soviet and allied delegations near the Soviet embassy in Tehran. Tehran Conference.

From left to right: an unknown British officer, General George C. Marshall (US Chief of Staff) shakes hands with Archibald D. Clarke Kerry (British Ambassador to the USSR), member of the American delegation Harry L. Hopkins, Soviet translator, future diplomat Valentin Mikhailovich Berezhkov, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR I.V. Stalin, Foreign Minister V.M. Molotov, Chairman of the Armistice Commission K.E. Voroshilov

Assassination attempt on the leaders of the Big Three

For security reasons in the Iranian capital, the US President did not stay at his own embassy, ​​but at the Soviet one, which was located opposite the British one (the American embassy was located much further, on the outskirts of the city in a dubious area). A tarpaulin corridor was created between the embassies so that the movements of the leaders were not visible from the outside. The diplomatic complex thus created was surrounded by three rings of infantry and tanks. For three days of the conference, the city was completely blocked by troops and intelligence services. In Tehran, all media activities were suspended, telephone, telegraph and radio communications were turned off. Even the families of Soviet diplomats were temporarily “evacuated” from the area of ​​the upcoming negotiations.

Otto Skorzeny

After the Battle of Kursk, the world war took on its own internal dynamics. The USSR did not need a second front militarily. It became clear to everyone, including Roosevelt, that the Soviet Union was capable of defeating Germany alone. The United States needed a second front in order to establish advantageous post-war positions of control over Europe, over Germany, and through Europe and Germany over the rest of the world in order to acquire trump cards in what was believed to be post-war bargaining with the Soviet Union.

Secondly, it turned out that Roosevelt’s line prevailed, who believed that cooperation with the USSR during the war should be continued in cooperation with the Soviet Union after the war. Without this cooperation, Roosevelt believed, the world would be doomed to an arms race. The arms race, according to Roosevelt, was incompatible with a healthy world economy. It was necessary to create, as he put it, a design of four policemen. These are 4 powers - the United States of America, the USSR, Great Britain and China. They alone had to retain certain armed forces, all the rest had to be disarmed. Both the defeated and the aggressors. Like the winners, France, Poland, etc. But this had to be done in agreement with the Soviet Union.

The US delegation at the Tehran Conference initially took a vague, wait-and-see position on the issue of creating a second front against Nazi Germany. However, in general, it was guided by the decisions of the Anglo-American conference held in Quebec in August 1943. The decisions of the Quebec Conference were consistent with the strategic guidelines adopted by the United States government.

President Roosevelt himself was aware of the danger of further delaying the second front. On the eve of the Tehran Conference, he told his son that “if things in Russia continue to go as they are now, then it is possible that next spring there will be no need for a second front!”

On October 1, 1943, the head of military intelligence, Lieutenant General I.I. Ilyichev returned from the General Staff to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). Chief of the General Staff Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky set new tasks for military intelligence.

Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky

One of them was related to the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the USSR, USA and Great Britain in Moscow. The arrival of the main diplomats from Washington and London was expected on October 18.

Military intelligence had to quickly obtain information about the attitude of the US and British governments to the problem of opening a second front in Europe. The General Staff was not interested in the declarative promises of the allies, but in exact data about where and when they were planning to open a second front. The same data was also of interest to the USSR People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs V.M. Molotov, head of the Soviet delegation at the Moscow meeting.

Ilyichev immediately sent special assignments to the residents of Soviet military intelligence in the UK and the USA. In London, they had to be solved by Major General of Tank Forces I. Sklyarov, in New York - by Colonel P. Melkishev, in Washington - by Major L. Sergeev. Other intelligence officers were also involved in carrying out these tasks. The tasks were complex, and little time was given to obtain information that interested the Center.

The information received by the head of military intelligence from Sklyarov, Melkishev and Sergeev was taken into account when drawing up special GRU messages for members of the Supreme High Command on the position of Great Britain and the United States on the issue of opening a second front.

On October 15, 1943, the head of the GRU, Lieutenant General I.I. Ilyichev sent to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief I.V. Stalin received a report on the contents of the draft plan for Operation Overlord obtained by the intelligence officers.

troop position before Operation Overlord

Copies of this report were sent to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR V.M. Molotov and Chief of the General Staff A.M. Vasilevsky. The report of Lieutenant General Ilyichev indicated that the operation for the Allied invasion of Normandy and Brittany was developed in mid-June 1943 and was called “Overlord”. The report further stated that “in the opinion of the headquarters that developed the plan, this operation could be carried out around May 1, 1944.”

In general, information about the draft plan for Operation Overlord, obtained by military intelligence officers, was interesting for the Soviet leadership. They testified that the Allied troops were ready for an invasion, but would not begin it until the most favorable situation for them developed in the war with Germany, and would demand some additional obligations from the USSR.

When Stalin realized that during the meeting he could get F. Roosevelt and W. Churchill to make specific commitments on the issue of opening a second front, he accepted Roosevelt’s invitation to hold a trilateral meeting. He also believed that the time had come to discuss other international issues with the allies. In particular, Stalin was against Roosevelt's idea, which Churchill also supported, of dividing Germany into five states; it was necessary to determine the path to the revival of Poland, resolve the issue of the future of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, agree on the conditions for ensuring the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, on whose territory there were Soviet, British and American troops, and also resolve other issues.

An important condition for accepting I.V. Stalin's final decision to hold a meeting with F. Roosevelt and W. Churchill was information obtained by GRU intelligence officers about the position of the United States and Great Britain on almost all issues of the upcoming conference - including the position of the allies on Iran. Military intelligence managed to obtain documentary data on “the general line on the issue of the allied policy in Iran, which the British delegation will tentatively take at the upcoming conference of the three powers...”.

The Soviet delegation proposed taking Operation Overlord as the basis for all operations in 1944, that is, the landing in the north-west of France, and to support it, carry out an invasion of Southern France - either simultaneously with the first operation, or a little earlier or later.

However, the British Prime Minister again tried to convince Stalin and Roosevelt of the preference for military operations in the Balkans, in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, by postponing Operation Overlord. He tried to replace the opening of a second front in France with the development of operations in Italy and the Balkans, in order to thereby ensure the occupation of Central and South-Eastern Europe by Anglo-American troops.

At a meeting of the joint chiefs of staff of the United States and England on the morning of November 30, 1943, after lengthy discussion, it was decided that the United States and England would launch Operation Overlord during May 1944, simultaneously with a supporting operation in the south of France.

start of Operation Overlord

The last operation will be undertaken on the scale that available landing craft will allow.

Stalin, in turn, stated that Soviet troops would launch an offensive at about the same time in order to prevent the transfer of German forces from the eastern to the western front. This most important decision of the Tehran Conference was recorded in a secret agreement, which also contained an equally important clause: “The Conference ... agreed that the military headquarters of the three powers should henceforth keep close contact with each other regarding upcoming operations in Europe.”

Sword of Stalingrad

The Sword of Stalingrad is a reward sword made by special order of King George VI of Great Britain as a sign of admiration for the courage and fortitude of the defenders of Stalingrad.

George VI

Nowadays it is kept in the historical and memorial museum-reserve "Battle of Stalingrad"..

During the conference, the Soviet delegation was presented with a symbolic battle sword to the defenders of Stalingrad; Stalin’s translator, V.M., left detailed memories of this. Berezhkov: “Before the start of the plenary session of the conference on November 29, a solemn ceremony took place, resulting in a demonstration of the unity of the allies in the fight against a common enemy. Such a demonstration could not have come at a better time. It somewhat cleared the clouds that had gathered over the conference and seemed to remind us that before the anti-Hitler coalition There are still very large and complex tasks that can be solved only through common, coordinated actions.

The presentation of a specially made sword to the residents of Stalingrad on behalf of King George VI and the English people was furnished with emphasized pomp. A large shiny sword with a two-handed hilt and an inlaid scabbard, forged by the most experienced hereditary gunsmiths in England, symbolized tribute to the heroes of Stalingrad - the city where the back of the fascist beast was broken.

The hall filled up long before the ceremony began. All the members of the delegations, as well as the heads of the armies, navies and aviation of the powers participating in the anti-Hitler coalition, were already here when the “Big Three” appeared.

Stalin was wearing a light gray jacket with marshal's shoulder straps. This time Churchill also appeared in military uniform. From that day on, the English Prime Minister did not take off his uniform in Tehran, and everyone believed that this was his peculiar reaction to Stalin’s marshal’s clothes. At first Churchill wore a blue striped suit, but when he saw Stalin in uniform, he immediately requested the bluish-gray uniform of a senior Royal Air Force officer. This form was just in time for the sword ceremony. Roosevelt, as usual, was in civilian clothes.

The honor guard consisted of officers from the Red Army and British armed forces. The orchestra performed the Soviet and English national anthems. Everyone stood at attention. The orchestra fell silent and there was a solemn silence. Churchill slowly approached the large black box lying on the table and opened it. The sword, hidden in its scabbard, rested on a burgundy velvet pillow. Churchill took it with both hands and, holding it in the air, said, turning to Stalin: “His Majesty King George VI ordered me to present you with this honorary sword, made according to a sketch chosen and approved by His Majesty, for transfer to the city of Stalingrad.” This honorary sword was made by English craftsmen, whose ancestors had been making swords for many generations. The inscription is engraved on the blade: “A gift from King George VI to people with hearts of steel - the citizens of Stalingrad as a sign of respect for them by the English people.”

Taking a few steps forward, Churchill handed the sword to Stalin, behind whom stood a Soviet honor guard with machine guns at the ready. Having accepted the sword, Stalin took the blade out of its sheath. The blade flashed with a cold shine. Stalin brought it to his lips and kissed it.

Then, holding the sword in his hands, he said quietly: “On behalf of the citizens of Stalingrad, I want to express my deep gratitude for the gift of King George VI.” The citizens of Stalingrad will highly appreciate this gift, and I ask you, Mr. Prime Minister, to convey their gratitude to His Majesty the King...

There was a pause. Stalin slowly walked around the table and, approaching Roosevelt, showed him the sword. Churchill supported the scabbard, and Roosevelt carefully examined the huge blade. After reading aloud the inscription on the blade, the president said: “Indeed, the citizens of Stalingrad have hearts of steel...

And he returned the sword to Stalin, who went up to the table where the case lay, carefully placed the sword hidden in its scabbard in it and closed the lid. Then he handed the case to Voroshilov, who, accompanied by a guard of honor, carried the sword into the next room... Everyone went out to take pictures on the terrace. It was warm and calm. The sun illuminated the gilded autumn foliage. Stalin and Churchill stopped in the center of the terrace, where they brought Roosevelt in a carriage. Three chairs for the “Big Three” were also brought here. Ministers, marshals, generals, admirals, and ambassadors lined up behind the chairs. Photographers and cameramen scurried around, trying to find a better position. Then the retinue moved aside, and the “big three” were left alone against the backdrop of the tall doors that led from the terrace to the meeting room. This photo became historical and went around the whole world."

sculpture group in Sochi

As was his custom, Stalin refused to fly anywhere by plane. He left for the conference on November 22, 1943. His letter train No. 501 proceeded through Stalingrad and Baku. Stalin was traveling in an armored spring twelve-wheeler carriage.

In the memoirs of Air Marshal Golovanov there are references to the flight of Stalin and all the Russian representatives of this conference, prepared by him personally. Two planes were flying. Golovanov personally controlled the second. The first, piloted by Viktor Grachev, carried Stalin, Molotov and Voroshilov.

Conference goals

The conference was called upon to develop a final strategy for the fight against Germany and its allies. The conference became an important stage in the development of international and inter-allied relations; a number of issues of war and peace were considered and resolved at it:

• an exact date was set for the Allies to open a second front in France (and the “Balkan strategy” proposed by Great Britain was rejected),
• discussed issues of granting independence to Iran (“Declaration on Iran”)
• the beginning of the solution to the Polish question was laid
• about the beginning of the USSR war with Japan after the defeat of Nazi Germany
• the contours of the post-war world order were outlined
• a unity of views has been achieved on issues of ensuring international security and lasting peace

Opening of the “second front”

The main issue was the opening of a second front in Western Europe.

After much debate, the Overlord issue was at a dead end. Then Stalin rose from his chair and, turning to Voroshilov and Molotov, said with irritation: “We have too much to do at home to waste time here. Nothing worthwhile, as I see it, is working out.” The critical moment has arrived. Churchill understood this and, fearing that the conference might be disrupted, made a compromise.

Polish question

W. Churchill's proposal was accepted that Poland's claims to the lands of Western Belarus and Western Ukraine would be satisfied at the expense of Germany, and the Curzon line should be the border in the east. On November 30, a gala reception was held at the British Embassy to mark Churchill's birthday.

Post-war world structure

• de facto, the right was assigned to the Soviet Union to annex part of East Prussia as an indemnity after the victory
• also, F. Roosevelt proposed dividing Germany into 5 states

Issues of ensuring security in the world after the war

US President Roosevelt outlined at the conference the American point of view regarding the creation in the future of an international security organization, which he had already spoken about in general terms to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR V. M. Molotov during his stay in Washington in the summer of 1942 and which was the subject of discussion between Roosevelt and British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden in March 1943.

According to the scheme outlined by the president in a conversation with Stalin on November 29, 1943, after the end of the war it was proposed to create a world organization on the principles of the United Nations, and its activities did not include military issues, that is, it should not be similar to the League of Nations. The structure of the organization, according to Roosevelt, should have included three bodies:

• a general body consisting of all (35 or 50) members of the United Nations, which will only make recommendations and will meet in different places where each country can express its opinion.

• an executive committee consisting of the USSR, the USA, Great Britain, China, two European countries, one Latin American country, one Middle Eastern country and one of the British dominions; The committee will deal with non-military issues.

• a police committee consisting of the USSR, USA, Great Britain and China, which will monitor the preservation of peace in order to prevent new aggression from Germany and Japan.

Stalin called the scheme outlined by Roosevelt good, but expressed his fear that small European states might be dissatisfied with such an organization, and therefore expressed the opinion that it might be better to create two organizations (one for Europe, the other for the Far East or the world). Roosevelt pointed out that Stalin's point of view partially coincides with the opinion of Churchill, who proposes to create three organizations - European, Far Eastern and American. However, Roosevelt noted that the United States could not be a member of the European organization and that only a shock comparable to the current war could force the Americans to send their troops overseas.

Assassination attempt on the leaders of the Big Three

For security purposes in the Iranian capital, the US President did not stay at his own embassy, ​​but at the Soviet one, which was located opposite the British one (the American embassy was located much further, on the outskirts of the city in a dubious area). A tarpaulin corridor was created between the embassies so that the movements of the leaders were not visible from the outside. The diplomatic complex thus created was surrounded by three rings of infantry and tanks. For three days of the conference, the city was completely blocked by troops and intelligence services. In Tehran, all media activities were suspended, telephone, telegraph and radio communications were turned off. Even the families of Soviet diplomats were temporarily “evacuated” from the area of ​​the upcoming negotiations.

On the Soviet side, a group of professional intelligence officers took part in uncovering the assassination attempt on the leaders of the Big Three. Information about the impending terrorist attack was reported to Moscow from the Volyn forests by intelligence officer Nikolai Kuznetsov, and in the spring of 1943, a radiogram came from the center saying that the Germans were planning to carry out sabotage in Tehran during a conference with the participation of the leaders of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain, with the aim of sabotage is the physical removal of conference participants. All members of the group of Soviet intelligence officers led by Gevork Vartanyan were mobilized to prevent a terrorist attack.

At the end of the summer of 1943, the Germans dropped a team of six radio operators into the area of ​​Lake Qom near the city of Qom (70 km from Tehran). After 10 days they were already near Tehran, where they boarded a truck and reached the city. From a villa prepared specially for this by local agents, a group of radio operators established radio contact with Berlin in order to prepare a springboard for the landing of saboteurs led by Otto Skorzeny. However, these ambitious plans were not destined to come true - Vartanyan’s agents, together with the British from MI6, took direction finding and deciphered all their messages. Soon, after a long search for the radio transmitter, the entire group was captured and forced to work with Berlin “under the hood”. At the same time, in order to prevent the landing of the second group, during the interception of which losses on both sides could not be avoided, they were given the opportunity to convey that they had been exposed. Upon learning of the failure, Berlin abandoned its plans.

A few days before the conference, arrests were made in Tehran, resulting in the arrest of more than 400 German agents. The last to be taken was Franz Mayer, who had gone deep underground: he was found in an Armenian cemetery, where he, having dyed and grown his beard, worked as a gravedigger. Of the large number of agents discovered, some were arrested, and most were converted. Some were handed over to the British, others were deported to the Soviet Union.

Memory of the conference

• "Tehran-43" - a 1980 feature television film about the prevention of the Tehran terrorist attack

Notes

Literature

• Tehran Conference of the Leaders of the Three Allied Powers - USSR, USA and Great Britain / Gromyko A. - M.: Publishing House of Political Literature, 1974. - T. 2. - 175 p. - (The Soviet Union at international conferences during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945). - 100,000 copies.
• Karpov V. Generalissimo. Book 2. - M.: Veche, 2011. - 496 p. - 2000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-9533-5891-0
• Berezhkov V. Tehran 1943. - M.: Publishing House of the News Press Agency, 1968. - 128 p. - 150,000 copies.
• Churchill, Winston Spencer Closing the Ring. - Boston: Mariner Books, 1986. - Vol. 5. - 704 p. - (The Second World War). - ISBN 978-0395410592

Links

• "Three Power Declaration" and "Three Power Declaration on Iran"
• Shvanits V. G. 4-2010 Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill in Iran ( Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill in Iran, Webversion (German) )

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See what the “Tehran Conference” is in other dictionaries:

1943 conference of the leaders of the three powers allied in World War II: the USSR (J.V. Stalin), the USA (F. Roosevelt) and Great Britain (W. Churchill); took place on November 28-December 1 in Tehran (Iran). The Declaration on Joint Actions in War was adopted... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

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