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15 August

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By Liakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)

The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 1

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15 August

In London, nerves are on edge; there is even alarm. People are frightened by the large-scale German manoeuvres. What are they for?

There are two theories:

(1) Hitler is preparing to ‘jump’ on Czechoslovakia and, anticipating war to be inevitable, is mobilizing his country in order to have an initial advantage over France, whose army is still in a peace-time condition.

Page 303

(2) Hitler is not planning to fight, but merely wants to scare Czechoslovakia, Britain and France so that he can swallow up Czechoslovakia all the more easily, without unleashing a major war.

I see no contradiction between the two alternatives: Hitler will first try scare tactics and, if that fails, he will start shooting.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that, according to information available in London, the Germans are sending a great number of camouflaged assault groups, rifles and machine-guns to the Sudetenland. Moreover, the eight regiments of the recently formed Sudeten Legion, based in Germany, are being readied for war.

Chamberlain has interrupted his vacation and hastily returned to London. The official cause of his return is nasal catarrh; the genuine one is the German manoeuvres.

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Document Details

Document Title15 August

AuthorLiakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)

RecipientN/A

RepositoryN/A

ID #N/A

DescriptionN/A

Date1938 Aug 15

AOC VolumeThe Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 1

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