World War II Database

Editor's Note: The following content is a transcription of a period document or a collection of period statistics. It may be incomplete, inaccurate, or biased. The reader may not wish to take the content as factual.

17 Aug 1940

ww2dbase

USSR	Reference: 3/PPDT/T37

1. SITUATION IN BRITAIN
2. BEAVERBROOK TELLS SOVIET AMBASSADOR ABOUT AIRCRAFT LOSSES AND PRODUCTION
3. THERAPEUTIST
(1940)

From:	LONDON
To:	MOSCOW
No:	903	17th Aug. 40

To DIRECTOR.

1. A week of heavy air-raids has made little difference to the situation. A report from the FRIENDS [DRUZYA][i] indicates that civilian morale is relatively high. BEAVERBROOK [ii] stated to the MASTER of the METRO [KHOZYAIN METRO][iii] that in the period 14th-16th August 72 SPITFIRES were lost and in the same period 75 were received from the factories. 32 HURRICANES were lost and 50 received, together with 12 DEFIANTS, i.e. production is covering losses. He considers that the Me-109 is more maneuverable than the Me-110. Apparently the British are not about to introduce fighters with cannons because of the low rate of fire. THERAPEUTIST [TERAPEVT][iv], however, has reported that on his aerodrome a fighter [a] with 12 machine-guns and another [a] with cannons are being tried out. BEAVERBROOK stated that the SAUSAGE-DEALERS [KOLBASNIKI][v] would continue bombing for another one or two weeks, but would then cease in their attempt and would possibly reinforce Africa.

2. The aircraft factory in ROCHESTER has been destroyed. There is serious damage to the ports of SOUTHAMPTON and TILBURY. Part of the administrative wing [SLUZHENIYE POM...] and one hangar on CROYDON Aerodrome have been destroyed but the aerodrome [B% keeps going].

No. 231

BARCh [vi]

Notes:	[a]	Or plural
Comments:	[i]	FRIENDS: members of the Communist Party.
	[ii]	BEAVERBROOK: Lord BEAVERBROOK, then Minister of Aircraft Production.
	[iii]	MASTER of the METRO: the Soviet Ambassador.
	[iv]	THERAPEUTIST: Unidentified covername. See also MOSCOW's No. 450 of 7th September 1940, and LONDON's Nos. 882 of 14th August 1940, 990 of 17th August 1940 and 1107 of 3rd October 1940.
	[v]	SAUSAGE-DEALERS: the Germans.
	[vi]	BARCh: Possibly Simon Davidovich KREMER, whose official post was Secretary to the Soviet Military Attaché in LONDON. He was appointed in 1937 and is thought to have left sometime in 1946. The covername BARCh occurs as a LONDON signatory and addressee between 3rd March 1940 and 10th October 1940, after which it is superseded by the covername BRION.

ww2dbase

Source(s):
United States National Security Agency

Added By:
C. Peter Chen

Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this article with your friends:  Reddit  Bluesky  Mastodon Stay updated with WW2DB:  RSS Feeds

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
	Your email will not be published
Comment Type	General comment/question Additional information about this page Looking for more information on this topic Looking for information about my relative
Your Comments
	Submit

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.