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  Selected Secret Documents from Soviet Foreign Policy Documents Archives - 1919 to 1941

Concentrated on 1st and  2nd WW Correspondence and Meetings related to Turkey, Balkans and Iran, with some additions from Afghanistan and India.

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Talk of the plenipotentiary representative of the USSR in the Turkish republic of ca. Vinogradova with the ambassador of the kingdom of Yugoslavia in Turkey  Shumenkovich

November 28, 1940 , secret

I visited the Yugoslav ambassador Shumenkovich. Shumenkovich first of all asked me the question: ʺwhat did you talk about at the berlin meeting?ʺ

I replied that in comrade Molotovʹs conversations with the German leaders, issues of interest to both our countries were discussed.

Shumenkovich said: “what exactly are the questions? I have information that in berlin there was a talk about areas of interest to one country and which are the living space (espace vitale) of another country. I know that it was, for example, about the Balkans. It would be extremely interesting to know if any decision on these issues has been made in berlin? ʺ

I replied that I could not add anything to what was published in the Tass report *, since I myself was not present at the negotiations in berlin.

Shumenkovich said: ʺaccording to the information I received, there were talks in berlin about Turkey as well, since Turkey belongs to the regions of interest to the Soviet Union and is part of the living space of Germany.ʺ

I asked who Shumenkovich had heard this message from.

Shumenkovich said: “I heard this from circles close to the participants in the berlin talks. Based on what I have heard, I can only assume that in berlin the German side raised these questions before Molotov, but the Soviet Union did not discuss them. In my opinion, the USSR has taken a mysterious position. In any case, the decisions, obviously, were not taken and this is already good. ʺ

Shumenkovich then asked my opinion on the Italian‐Greek war. I pointed out that in this matter, apparently, his hypothesis that Italy was not prepared for war turns out to be correct.

Shumenkovich said: “the most interesting question now is whether Germany will come to Italyʹs aid? I have heard a version of this kind that Germany will act in the Balkans if England creates a front in Greece that resembles the Salonika front of the last war. ʺ

I noticed that, according to Papen, Germany is not going to help Italy, especially since the latter does not ask for it.

Shumenkovich said: “the question comes down to how long Germany will remain a spectator. The concept of a ʺfront in the Balkansʺ is very vague. If desired, the landing of British divisions in Thessaloniki to help the Greeks can be considered a ʺfrontʺ and a pretext for action. Can then be considered the British front in the Balkans the assistance provided by Britain to Greece with the aim of inflicting the final defeat of Italy?

I replied that, in my personal opinion, much will depend on England, which may try to create a front in the Balkans for conducting offensive operations against Germany.

Shumenkovich said: ʺthis is impossible for England, since she does not have a sufficient army for this.ʺ

When I asked about the current mood in Turkey and, in particular, about the reasons for the change of ministers, Shumenkovich replied that “the resignation of ministers is explained by purely personal reasons. Topcuoglu reacted nervously to the difficulties associated with his portfolio. Cetinkaya also, due to his state of health, could not cope with the difficult duties of the minister of railways. As for the position of the Turkish government, it has not changed its policy. In my opinion, Turkey will not enter the war until it is attacked. The Turkish government may be more or less concerned depending on the situation. There will be a threat of war all the time until the war is over. ʺ

S. Vinogradov, avp rf, f. 0132, on. 24a, p. 236, d. 7, l. 32‐30