WWII: The Soviet Union Joins the Allies | Reporting the uneasy alliance made with Stalin's Russia

Anglo-Soviet Agreement

The Home Service interrupts its programming to make a special announcement.

CHANNEL | Home Service

FIRST BROADCAST | 13 July 1941

DURATION | 01 minutes 48 seconds

FIRSTBROADCAST

1941

Synopsis

Britain and the USSR have signed an agreement for joint action in the war against Germany. They have pledged to assist one another against Hitler and agreed that neither will make peace with Germany separately. The agreement was signed with immediate effect on 12 July 1941 by diplomats Sir Stafford Cripps and Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov. The newsreader is Alvar Lidell.

Did you know?

Sir Stafford Cripps was British Ambassador in Russia from June 1940 to January 1942 and was crucial in negotiating the entry of Russia into the war on the side of the Allies. Cripps has been accused of taking the Russian side but he was distrusted by Stalin, partly because he drank very little. Stalin's hospitality was renowned for involving large quantities of alcohol and he preferred negotiating with heavy drinkers.

Contributors

Alvar Lidell
Reporter
Sir Stafford Cripps
Subject of programme

More like this...

Record and transcribing equipment from 1945.

Sir Walter Monckton, Director General of the Ministry

BROADCAST 1941
6 MINUTES

The Director General of the Ministry of Information speaks on its wartime role.

Close up picture of Joseph Stalin.

Anglo-Soviet Agreement

BROADCAST 1941
2 MINUTES

The Home Service interrupts its programming to make a special announcement.

Crowd listen to Maisky in front of newly manufactured WWII tank named Stalin.

Ivan Mikhailovich Maisky

RECORDED 1941
7 MINUTES

The Soviet Ambassador praises British workers for 'Tanks for Russia' week.

Sir Anthony Eden sitting in front of a BBC microphone.

News Postscript | Rt Hon Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

BROADCAST 1942
8 MINUTES

The British Foreign Secretary travels to Moscow as Germany invades Russia.

Sir Stafford Cripps sitting in front of a BBC microphone.

Sir Stafford Cripps

BROADCAST 1942
7 MINUTES

Colonel Britton introduces a broadcast to the occupied territories by Ambassador Sir Stafford Cripps.

Woman in full length coat walking through snow towards convent in Moscow.

In Honour of Russia | Mary Lane

BROADCAST 1943
4 MINUTES

A former British resident of Moscow describes life there during the war.

Close up shot of branches in a Forest.

In Honour of Russia | Reginald Watson-Jones

BROADCAST 1943
6 MINUTES

A member of the RAF's medical staff visits war-torn Moscow.

Documents

Document - Directive Informing Programme Makers to take care with Russia.

Directive Instructing Programme Makers to Take Care with Russia

WRITTEN 1940
1 Page

BBC bosses advise programme makers to tread carefully when referring to Russia.

Document - A page from a report on the Polish Service.

A Report from Poland for a Meeting of the BBC Polish Broadcasting Service.

WRITTEN 1941
4 Pages

The importance of wartime news and the dangers of listening to it in Poland.

Document - Memo regarding jokes about Russia.

Memos Regarding Jokes about Russia

WRITTEN 1941
2 Pages

As Germany invades Russia, the BBC ponders the appropriateness of humour.

Document - Directive Updating Programme Makers on the Situation with Russia.

Directive Updating Programme Makers on the Situation with Russia.

WRITTEN 1941
1 Page

Programme makers are warned of continuing sensitivities with Russia.

Document - Propaganda from Nazi Germany.

'Britain's Alliance with the Anti-Christ'.

WRITTEN 1941
1 Page

A German propaganda broadcast meant to appeal to christians in Britain.

Document - Intelligence Report on Russian Propaganda.

Intelligence Report on Russian Propaganda Broadcasts

WRITTEN 1941
3 Pages

Examples of how Russia tailored its propaganda to national identities.

Document - Memo about programming decisions.

Memo Showing Programming Decisions about Russia

WRITTEN 1941
1 Page

Scrutiny of the BBC intensifies.

Document - Memo Calling for Caution in Broadcasts to Poland.

Memo Calling for Caution in Broadcasts to Poland

WRITTEN 1941
2 Pages

Evidence of Soviet atrocities in Lwow [Lviv] reaches the BBC.

Document - German Propaganda

Intelligence Report on German Propaganda

WRITTEN 1941
2 Pages

'Stalin is a primitive Caucasian bandit.'

Document - Memo On Broadcasting Programmes About the USSR.

Memo On Broadcasting Programmes About the USSR

WRITTEN 1941
1 Page

The Head of Talks details the problems with broadcasting features on the USSR.

Document - Policy Directive on News Values.

Policy Directive on News Values

WRITTEN 1941
1 Page

How to balance news reporting with morale building.

Document - BBC Directive on the Internationale.

BBC Directive Permitting the Broadcast of USSR's National Anthem.

WRITTEN 1942
1 Page

'The Internationale' can now be played, if caution is taken.

Document - Letter from the BBC

Correspondence on Concerns about Promoting Communism

WRITTEN 1942
1 Page

Should the BBC try to temper public enthusiasm for Russia?

Document - Letter to the BBC from Harold Nicolson.

Correspondence on Concerns about Promoting Communism

WRITTEN 1942
1 Page

Should the BBC try to temper public enthusiasm for Russia?

Document - Letter from Harold Nicolson to the BBC.

How Balanced Can the BBC Be about Russia?

WRITTEN 1942
1 Page

'Let the false legend prevail', the government advises.

Document - A report on BBC broadcasts to Poland.

A Report on BBC Broadcasts to Poland

WRITTEN 1943
2 Pages

'As regards the recent crisis in Russo-Polish relations, we have been most circumspect.'

Document revealing plans for a night of programmes dedicated to Russia.

In Honour of Russia: Plans for the night of programming

WRITTEN 1943
1 Page

The theme for the special programme is described.

Document revealing the Foreign Office's objections to plans for a night of programmes dedicated to Russia.

In Honour of Russia: The Foreign Office queries the plans

WRITTEN 1943
1 Page

Plans for a night of programmes dedicated to Russia cause concern at the Foreign Office.

Press release for a night of programmes dedicated to Russia.

In Honour of Russia: Press Release

WRITTEN 1943
1 Page

Press release describing the night's schedule.

Script celebrating Russia's contribution to the war effort.

In Honour of Russia: Script for one of the night's features

WRITTEN 1943
2 Pages

Script set in an aircraft factory which supplies Russia.

A letter to the BBC from a Polish representative.

An Upset Polish Representative Writes to the BBC

WRITTEN 1944
2 Pages

The BBC inadvertently causes a diplomatic row with unvetted broadcasts from Russia.

A BBC Directive on What to Include in That Day's Broadcasts to Europe.

A BBC Directive on What to Include in That Day's Broadcasts to Europe

WRITTEN 1944
2 Pages

Churchill's statement about his conference with Stalin must dominate the news.

Document - European News Directive - 24 January 1945.

European News Directive - 24 January 1945

WRITTEN 1945
2 Pages

The latest news on the war and how much can be shared with audiences.

bbc.co.uk navigation

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.