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Table of Contents
The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 3
  • 10 January
  • 19 January
  • 20 January
  • 22 January
  • 26 January
  • 27 January
  • 30 January
  • 3 February
  • 4 February
  • 6 February
  • 11 February
  • 13 February
  • 14 February
  • 15 February
  • 17 February
  • 18 February
  • 20 February
  • 23 February
  • 25 February
  • 27 February
  • 28 February
  • 2 March
  • 7 March
  • 8 March
  • 9 March
  • 12 March
  • 14 March
  • 15 March
  • 16 March
  • 17 March
  • 19 March
  • 20 March
  • 22 March
  • 23 March
  • 25 March
  • 29 March
  • 31 March
  • 1 April
  • 6 April
  • 11 April
  • 12 April
  • 14 April
  • 15 April
  • 16 April
  • 17 April
  • 18 April
  • 28 April
  • 29 April
  • 30 April
  • 1 May
  • 2 May
  • 3 May
  • 4 May
  • 6 May
  • 9 May
  • 11 May
  • 15 May
  • 16 May
  • 17 May
  • 18 May
  • 19 May
  • 21 May
  • 22 May
  • 23 May
  • 25 May
  • 26 May
  • 27 May
  • 28 May
  • 30 May
  • 3 June
  • 8 June
  • 11 June
  • 12 June
  • 16 June
  • 17 June
  • 22 June
  • 23 June
  • 25 June
  • 28 June
  • 29 June
  • 30 June
  • 1 July
  • 2 July
  • 4 July
  • 5 July
  • 6 July
  • 7 July
  • 12 July
  • 13 July
  • 14 July
  • 15 July
  • 18 July
  • 22 July
  • 25 July
  • 28 July
  • 30 July
  • 4 August
  • 5 August
  • 6 August
  • 11 August
  • 20 August
  • 21 August
  • 22 August
  • 23 August
  • 24 August
  • 26 August
  • 28 August
  • 29 August
  • 30 August
  • 31 August
  • 1 September
  • 2 September
  • 3 September
  • 4 September
  • 2 September
  • 7 September
  • 8 September
  • 9 September
  • 12 September
  • 13 September
  • 14 September
  • 15 September
  • 17 September
  • 19 September
  • 20 September
  • 21 September
  • 22 September
  • 23 September
  • 27 September
  • 28 September
  • 29 September
  • 3 October
  • 4 October
  • 6 October
  • 7 October
  • 11 October
  • 12 October
  • 13 October
  • 14 October
  • 16 October
  • 17 October
  • 19 October
  • 21 October
  • 24 October
  • 26 October
  • 27 October
  • 28 October
  • 30 October
  • 31 October
  • 2 November
  • 3 November
  • 7 November
  • 9 November
  • 10 November
  • 13 November
  • 14 November
  • 15 November
  • 16 November
  • 18 November
  • 20 November
  • 21 November
  • 22 November
  • 27 November
  • 28 November
  • 29 November
  • 1 December
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  • 24 December
  • 25 December
  • 31 December
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  • 19 January
  • 20 January
  • 21 January
  • 23 January
  • 25 January
  • 26 January
  • 27 January
  • 29 January
  • 30 January
  • 31 January
  • 2 February
  • 7 February
  • 8 February
  • 9 February
  • 10 February
  • 11 February
  • 15 February
  • 19 February
  • 21 February
  • 25 February
  • 8 March
  • 11 March
  • 12 March
  • 13 March
  • 16 March
  • 17 March
  • 18 March
  • Conversation with Butler on 18 March 1940
  • 19 March
  • 23 March
  • 27 March
  • Conversation with Halifax on 27 March 1940
  • 28 March
  • 29 March
  • 1 April
  • 2 April
  • 4 April
  • 5 April
  • 6 April
  • 8 April
  • 9 April
  • 10 April
  • 11 April
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  • 18 April
  • 22 April
  • 27 April
  • 28 April
  • 2 May
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  • 18 May
  • 19 May
  • 20 May
  • 21 May
  • 22 May
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  • 24 May
  • 25 May
  • 26 May
  • 28 May
  • 1 June
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  • 6 June
  • 10 June
  • 11 June
  • 12 June
  • 14 June
  • 15 June
  • 16 June
  • 17 June
  • 18 June
  • 23 June
  • 25 June
  • 27 June
  • 28 June
  • 29 June
  • 30 June
  • 1 July
  • 2 July
  • 3 July
  • 4 July
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  • 8 July
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  • 10 July
  • 11 July
  • 12 July
  • 22 July
  • 23 July
  • 25 July
  • 26 July
  • 27 July
  • 28 July
  • 31 July
  • 5 August
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  • 7 August
  • 10 August
  • 14 August
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  • 17 August
  • 18 August
  • 20 August
  • 22 August
  • 30 August
  • 31 August
  • 1 September
  • 6 September
  • 7 September
  • 8 September
  • 9 September
  • 10 September
  • 13 September
  • 14 September
  • 16 September
  • 17 September
  • 4 October
  • 6 October
  • 9 October
  • 10 October
  • 12 October
  • 13 October
  • 20 October
  • 22 October
  • 2 November
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  • 5 November
  • 11 November
  • 12 November
  • 19 November
  • 30 November
  • 1 December
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  • 12 December
  • 16 December
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  • 27 December
  • 28 December
  • 29 December
  • 30 December
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© 2025
28 May
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By Liakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)

The Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 2

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28 May
Leopold of Belgium has negotiated a ceasefire with the Germans behind the Allies’ backs, and even let the German troops pass through Belgian lines towards the British and the French. The Allies’ left flank was thus exposed and they had to regroup speedily and start a full retreat towards Dunkerque. Hopes of closing the German breach, if anyone still entertained them, had to be abandoned. The Allies must concentrate simply on saving their skin. They will do well to withdraw at least part of their troops from Flanders, but even that is far from guaranteed. I heard from many military experts today that the Allied armies have three options:
(1) to evacuate, which in the present conditions means that three-quarters of them are almost sure to die or fall prisoner during the operation;
(2) to fight their way southward and join the main French forces, which is clearly impossible owing to the massive German superiority in numbers and arms;
(3) to fight to the last cartridge, knowing that new supplies are all but inconceivable, and then for those who are left to surrender.
A grim look-out. When you think that there are up to 400–450 thousand Allied forces massed in Flanders!
Dark clouds hung over parliament today. Churchill made a brief statement about the current situation which he concluded with the following words: ‘The House must steel itself for grievous and painful news.’ A single question was asked over and over again in the lobbies: how could this happen?
Afterwards, I went to see Lloyd George in his office. He was very worked-up and upset. I had never seen him so alarmed.
In Flanders, Lloyd George believes, the Allies are facing a very great disaster. To break through to the south is impossible and to evacuate without incurring


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colossal casualties and the loss of nearly all military equipment is inconceivable. The Allies have only one port left, Dunkerque, and it is not among the best. The immediate prospects are grim.
What will Hitler do once the battle in Flanders is over?
Lloyd George doubts that his next step will be an attack on England. He cannot do so while leaving a battle-worthy 4 million-strong French army in the rear. It is most likely, therefore, that having completed the operation in Flanders, Hitler will focus his attention on France. He will either force it to sign a separate peace or will march on Paris. An attack on England, furthermore, would require new methods from Hitler. He would need to make certain preparations.
I asked Lloyd George whether Hitler might come out with a proposal now for a general peace.
Lloyd George shook his head. The old man’s opinion is that a general peace is impossible at present. For Hitler would undoubtedly propose conditions that would be absolutely unacceptable to England.
‘What do you consider to be unacceptable conditions?’ I asked. ‘Colonies?’
‘Oh no,’ Lloyd George replied quickly. ‘Colonies wouldn’t be a cardinal obstacle to peace. We and the French have too many colonies to manage them properly. This has been vividly illustrated by the findings of the royal commission charged with investigating the causes of the recent disorders in Jamaica. No, we could come to an agreement with Hitler about the colonies. The main obstacle is the issue of the navy. Hitler would demand that we surrender our navy. There are some things which the English could never accept. Surrendering our navy is one of them. The English would sooner die than agree to it.’
I asked Lloyd George what he thought about the possibility of a German invasion of England.
The old man lifted his hands and said: ‘A fortnight ago I would still have said that it was absolutely impossible. However, Hitler has succeeded in doing so many things which used to be considered impossible, that I refuse to make any forecast concerning an invasion.’
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Document Details
Document Title28 May
AuthorLiakhovetsky, Ivan Mikhailovich (Maisky)
RecipientN/A
RepositoryN/A
ID #N/A
DescriptionN/A
Date1940 May 28
AOC VolumeThe Complete Maisky Diaries: Volume 2
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