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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 peopleʹs commissioner for foreign affairs of the USSRV. M. Molotov with German ambassador to the USSR F. Schulenburg

January 23, 1941, Top secret special folder

Schulenburg transmits to comrade Molotov the replies of the German government to his inquiry regarding the Soviet governmentʹs statement of November 25 ** and to the Soviet government’s statement regarding Bulgaria. Schulenburg informs him that he received both answers by telegraph from Salzburg from Ribbentrop.

Moreover, he would like to emphasize that in the response of the German government to the statement of the Soviet government regarding Bulgaria, in two places it is said that these measures will be carried out by Germany in the eventual case, i.e. In the event of military operations in the Balkans.

Comrade Molotov declares that he takes note of the message of the German government regarding the Soviet governmentʹs declaration of November 25 and says that the question of the Soviet proposals of

November 25 was raised by him in his last conversation with Schulenburg in passing. The main question that stood then was the question of the introduction of German troops into Bulgaria and the straits region. The answer of the German government on this matter, says comrade Molotov, requires careful study. At the same time, comrade Molotov emphasizes that when the Soviet government raised the question of Bulgaria and the straits as our security zones, it meant preventing the black sea from turning into a theater of military operations, knowing that Germany, like the USSR, is not supporter of the expansion of the war. The Soviet government talks about Bulgaria and the straits because they are connected with the black sea, and the USSR is the main black sea power.

Then comrade Molotov asks Schulenburg several questions. Comrade Molotov asks whether he correctly understands point 3 of the answer of the German government in the sense that the passage of German troops through Bulgaria has already been predetermined by Germany.

Schulenburg replies that the interests of the USSR and Germany run parallel. Germany is also not interested in turning the black sea into a theater of war. If they take any steps in the area, they do so to prevent the expansion of the war. In his opinion, the response of the German government suggests that a precondition for the entry of German troops into Bulgaria will be Britain’s attempt to gain a foothold in Greece. If this does not happen, Germany will also not open hostilities against Turkey, unless she forces her to do so. According to Schulenburg, if anything happens, it will happen in Thessaloniki, i.e. Far from the Dardanelles and Turkey.

Further, comrade Molotov asks whether point 3 of the answer can be understood in such a way that the question regarding the straits, in contrast to Bulgaria, has not yet been decided by Germany. Is it necessary to understand that, asks comrade Molotov, that Germany will act in the straits only if Turkey opposes Germany?

Schulenburg replies that this is how he understands the point, but the German government believes with sufficient confidence that there will be no attack from Turkey. 

Comrade Molotov also asks Schulenburg in which case the entry of German troops into Bulgaria will take place: does this mean further intensification of hostilities by England in Greece, say, something like the occupation of Thessaloniki.

Schulenburg replies that German troops will enter Bulgaria if Britain takes these further steps. At the same time, Schulenburg points out that the German government was informed of Englandʹs intentions to gain a foothold in Greece, which was the reason for the concentration of German troops in the Balkans. It is possible, of course, that England will abandon her intention, or that the Greeks will dissuade the British, then Germany will not do anything.

...........

Avp rf, f. Oh, on. 3, p. 1, d. 4, l. 42‐47.