In "A World At Arms," Weinberg writes briefly about probable German-Soviet negotiations in Sweden in 1943, shortly after the battle of Stalingrad concluded. The negotiations failed because the Soviets demanded an immediate withdrawal of the Wehrmacht to the pre-June 22, 1941 line, and Hitler refused to give up conquered Soviet territory.
Is there anything published in the last ten years that sheds more light on this very fascinating negotiation?
German-Soviet Peace Negotiations in 1943?
Mussolini urged a Soviet German peace at their meeting 8/10 April 1943. Hitlers view seems to have been that any peace would depend on Stalins goodwill who could then start the war again in the future under more favourable circumstances.
The agent Edgar Claus reported from the late Autumn of 1942 untill the early spring of 43 that there were indications of a Soviet willingness to negotiate. Soviet peace feelers seem to have carried on in Stockholm untill September or October 43. These peace feelers were taken up by the German Foreign Ministry and Intelligence Department.
Ribbentrop made efforts to bring Hitler round to the idea of a peace in late 42 but Hitler regarded German peace overtures as a sign of weakness. He took the position that the Wehrmacht was not so weakened as to give up its conquests in the Soviet Union.
The Soviets seem to have wanted a return to the line of June 22 1941. The feelers may have been serious or they may even have been a way of putting pressure on the Soviets western allies to do more. Stalin informed the Western Allies of the feelers on the 12th Nov. 1943.
From Hitler's War by Heinz Magenheimer, English version 1998
The agent Edgar Claus reported from the late Autumn of 1942 untill the early spring of 43 that there were indications of a Soviet willingness to negotiate. Soviet peace feelers seem to have carried on in Stockholm untill September or October 43. These peace feelers were taken up by the German Foreign Ministry and Intelligence Department.
Ribbentrop made efforts to bring Hitler round to the idea of a peace in late 42 but Hitler regarded German peace overtures as a sign of weakness. He took the position that the Wehrmacht was not so weakened as to give up its conquests in the Soviet Union.
The Soviets seem to have wanted a return to the line of June 22 1941. The feelers may have been serious or they may even have been a way of putting pressure on the Soviets western allies to do more. Stalin informed the Western Allies of the feelers on the 12th Nov. 1943.
From Hitler's War by Heinz Magenheimer, English version 1998