Marching Orders: The Untold Story of How the American Breaking of the Japanese Secret Codes Led to the Defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan

by Bruce Lee

“The real problem still is the Eastern Front,” says von Papen. “… If the tide doesn’t change, and the Eastern Front stays as it is today, we [Germany] will be at a loss for reserves. Then both militarily and politically our backs will be to the wall. We have to face that possibility. In order to get out of that dilemma, the only thing we can do is the thing that America and England dread most—make peace with Russia. But, as I have often explained to you, I will have to admit that I don’t see how a peace with the Soviet Union can possibly be achieved. “There seem to be quite a few Germans who want to see you Japanese attack Russia in order to bolster the German-Soviet front. But I am against it.… That is what Roosevelt wants. If Japan attacks Russia, American planes will smash Japan to pieces and Roosevelt will be sitting on top of the world and get himself a fourth term to boot. He is one man we do not want reelected. It would ruin us.” Meanwhile the Japanese ambassador to Indochina expresses his concern to Tokyo about how to curtail Allied air raids that are inflicting “serious damage upon ships, harbors, equipment and factories. [Unless we stop the raids] our plans for enterprises in Indo-China are apt to be brought to a standstill.”