Churchill and Tito : SOE, Bletchley Park and Supporting the Yugoslav Communists in World War II

The true story of Winston Churchill’s fateful decision to side with the Communist Partisans of Yugoslavia in World War II—and seal that nation’s fate. One of Winston Churchill’s most controversial decisions during the Second World War concerned the United Kingdom’s role in Yugoslavia. In 1943, he switched Special Operations Executive support from the Cetniks, loyal to Yugoslavia’s exiled royal government, to Tito and his Communist Partisan guerrillas. That choice led to a Communist regime in Yugoslavia that lasted until Tito’s death in 1980, and resulted in the horrific ethnic violence of the Balkan wars in the 1990s. Until now, the story has been that SOE was infiltrated by Communists and that Churchill was duped into abandoning the royalists. However, the recently deposited papers of Sir Bill Deakin—Churchill’s former assistant and an SOE operative in Yugoslavia—reveal that the decision was based on solid evidence and made in Britain’s best military interests. Here, Christopher Catherwood, advised by Deakin himself, has written a definitive history of the SOE in Yugoslavia. Catherwood can now demonstrate that one of Churchill’s most significant and consequential decisions of the Second World War was not the terrible mistake that historians have portrayed—but rather an absolute necessity. One Of Churchill's Most Controversial Decisions During The Second World War Was To Switch Soe Support In Yugoslavia In 1943 From The Cetniks Loyal To The Exiled Royal Government To Backing Tito And His Communist Partisan Guerrillas. It Led To A Communist Regime In Yugoslavia Which Lasted Until Tito's Death In 1980, And The Nationalistic Sentiments He Had Suppressed Exploding Into Ethnic Violence In The Balkan Wars Of The 1990s. Until Now The Story Has Been That Soe Was Infiltrated By Communists In Cairo And That Fitzroy Maclean, Churchill's Personal Delegate To Tito, Was Hoodwinked By The Communist Leader, And That Churchill Was Duped Into Abandoning The Royalists. However, The Recently Deposited Papers Of Sir Bill Deakin, Churchill's Former Assistant And An Soe Operative In Yugoslavia, Reveal That The Decision Was Based Upon Absolutely Solid Evidence And In Britain's Best Military Interests. The Official History Of Soe In Yugoslavia Was Never Written, But Deakin Was The Main Adviser To The Person Deputed To Write It - And Christopher Catherwood Was The First Person To Examine The Papers Deposited In Washington. These Papers Reveal That Churchill Made His Decision Based On Evidence Not Just From Soe, But Also From Mi3, Sis And Sigint At Bletchley Park. Christopher Catherwood Can Now Demonstrate That One Of Churchill's Most Significant And Consequential Decisions Of The Second World War Was Not The Terrible Mistake That Historians Have Portrayed It.--publisher's Description. A Truly Brief History Of The Balkans -- Hail Caesar Britain, Soe And Yugoslavia After 1941 -- A Conspiracy In Cairo -- The Bletchley Park Sigint Unfolds -- M13: The Unfolding Story -- Bailey And The Mihailovic Bombshell -- Mayhem And Massacre On The Mountain -- The Maclean Mission -- Lawrence Of Yugoslavia: Slim Farish's Adventures -- The Real Oss Report On Mihailovic -- The Shepherd Conspiracy -- Churchill, Gettysburg And Yugoslavia, 1945 -- Sample Sigint Communications. Christopher Catherwood. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 193-194) And Index. One of Churchill s most controversial decisions during the Second World War was to switch SOE support in Yugoslavia in 1943 from the Cetniks loyal to the exiled Royal Government to backing Tito and his Communist Partisan guerrillas. It led to a Communist regime in Yugoslavia which lasted until Tito s death in 1980, and the nationalistic sentiments he had suppressed exploding into ethnic violence in the Balkan wars of the 1990s. Until now the story has been that SOE was infiltrated by Communists in Cairo and that Fitzroy Maclean, Churchill s personal delegate to Tito, was hoodwinked by the Communist leader, and that Churchill was duped into abandoning the royalists. However, the recently deposited papers of Sir Bill Deakin, Churchill's former assistant and an SOE operative in Yugoslavia, reveal that the decision was based upon absolutely solid evidence and in Britain's best military interests. The official history of SOE in Yugoslavia was never written, but Deakin was the main adviser to the person deputed to write it and Christopher Catherwood was the first person to examine the papers deposited in Washington. These papers reveal that Churchill made his decision based on evidence not just from SOE, but also from MI3, SIS and SIGINT at Bletchley Park. Christopher Catherwood can now demonstrate that one of Churchill s most significant and consequential decisions of the Second World War was not the terrible mistake that historians have portrayed it. HISTORY / Military / World War II Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Preface 14 Chapter 1 A Truly Brief History of the Balkans 20 Chapter 2 Hail Caesar! Britain, SOE and Yugoslavia After 1941 38 Chapter 3 A Conspiracy in Cairo 52 Chapter 4 The Bletchley Park Sigint Unfolds 69 Chapter 5 MI3: The Unfolding Story 76 Chapter 6 Bailey and the Mihailovic Bombshell 97 Plate section 121 Chapter 7 Mayhem and Massacre on the Mountain 129 Chapter 8 The Maclean Mission 142 Chapter 9 Lawrence of Yugoslavia: Slim Farish‘s Adventures 171 Chapter 10 The Real OSS Report on Mihailovic 178 Index 222 Explores exactly why the British Government opted to support the Communist partisans in Yugoslavia.