ABSTRACT
During the month of July 1941 the course of contemporary history was to be decided. Under the staggering blows of the Wehrmacht, already drawing upon the human and economic potential of the whole of Europe, the Red Army constantly retreated. From the psychological point of view Stalin's policy had succeeded in resuscitating and reinvigorating the national spirit. The Red Army and its command were still undergoing their apprenticeship before an enemy who had the advantage of the most learned staff in the world, and which had plenty of experience of modern warfare and the complicated handling of armoured units and motorized infantry. On the 30 July Stalin had his first meeting with Roosevelt's representative, Harry Hopkins, who had come to Moscow in order to judge of the possibilities of Russian resistance and to negotiate on the subject of Lend-Lease. Hopkins, who understood the British situation, nevertheless promised to repeat this request to Churchill, and a general agreement was signed.
