The following is a translation of a Top Secret encrypted telegram dated 29 August 1941 from a Soviet agent in the Chinese city of Harbin regarding the opinion of Japanese diplomats, as related by attaché from the Japanese embassy Shigeru Yoshida, on the inevitability of war with the USSR.
TOP SECRET
CIPHER TELEGRAM No. 6269
From HARBIN
Received 29 August 1941 at 14:35 Deciphered 29 August 1941 at 22:10
TO VIKTOR
According to “ ,” the attaché from the Japanese embassy Yoshida, who returned from Moscow on 27 August, held a closed meeting with local Japanese circles, where he stated that “the Germans clearly miscalculated.” He referred to Germany’s USSR campaign as “Hitler’s misadventure.” The opinion of the Japanese in the embassy at Moscow, “The USSR will hold out at least until spring,” that they are absolutely composed there, and that the air raids on Moscow are ineffective. This information greatly disturbed the local Japanese, who have been expecting Japan’s immediate engagement. During the conversation, Furusawa told “ ” that, generally speaking, war with the USSR is inevitable. The date depends on how the military operations in the west proceed, and made it clear that he thinks that “we shall live peacefully until spring.”
29 August 1941. No. 187.
Translation © 2025 by Michael Estes and TranslatingHistory.org
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