740.0011 European War 1939/12792: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 3—5:26 p.m.]
1283. It is of course virtually impossible to estimate the reaction of the Soviet populace to the radio address delivered by Stalin early this morning and which has been published in all Moscow papers and probably throughout the country, although it may be presumed that Stalin’s frank admission of the loss of considerable territory and of the continuing advance of the German armies must have had a sobering effect, and that his exhortation to his people to devastate the land in the path of the invaders has left little doubt in their minds as to the gravity of impending developments. However, as I have stated in other telegrams sent to the Department, there is no evidence in Moscow of undue public alarm or incipient disorganization and such fragments of information as I have thus far received indicate that morale is good and that a fighting spirit based upon a sense of outrage produced by the sudden German attack undoubtedly exists.
Particular notice should be taken of Stalin’s definition of the “aim of this national people’s war against the Fascist oppressors,” which he stated is not only self-defense but assistance to all the people of Europe who are groaning under the yoke of German Fascism, and of his affirmation of the common cause thus created with “the people of Europe and America”—in connection with which the first formal public acknowledgment was made of the readiness of the United States to extend aid to the Soviet Government in its present emergency. The speech as a whole is interpreted here as reflecting a determination to fight to the bitter end, no matter what the cost. This is the attitude of the party members and the urban worker. I have no information as to the reaction of the peasants nor the effect on the morale of the Red army of the successes which the Germans have attained.
Those who listened to the broadcast, which was unannounced, state that Stalin appeared to be greatly agitated and spoke with obvious emotion.