Message from General George Marshall to General Dwight D. Eisenhower

"DECLASSIFIED\n\nAuthority J.C.S Memo\n\nDate 1\/4\/74\n\nBy O.J.H., NARS Date 3\/13\/74\n\nThe making of a copy of this message is forbidden. Only the extracts as are absolutely necessary will be kept and classified properly. This copy will be salooned with the greatest care.\n\nCopy No. 4\n\n# TOP SECRET\n\nINCOMING MESSAGE\n\nCOSSAC\n\nFrom: AGN\n\nTo : SHAEF\n\nBY 1ST PER\n\nSHAEF Ltr\n\n27 Jun 1945\n\nDated: 162145A\n\nRec'd : 170037A\n\nRef. No.: 314\n\nPrecedence: URGENT\n\nSecurity: TOP SECRET\n\nFOR : GENERAL EISENHOWER'S EYES ONLY\n\nFROM : GENERAL MARSHALL\n\nThe news from the Italian Front indicates that there is no probability of a decisive tactical change in the situation from that which existed at the time you met with the British Chiefs of Staff to represent the United States Chiefs of Staff in the OVERLORD - ANVIL matter. The operation at CASSINO which started yesterday may bring about within a reasonably short time the amalgamation of the beachhead with the main line but there is nothing to indicate a sufficient break in the German resistance to permit a further advance on ROME during March.\n\nOur concern here is over the possibility, if not the probability, that the Germans in taking desperate measures which they will certainly do to crush OVERLORD, will endeavor to hold up our troops in ITALY and recall from Southern FRANCE, from ITALY, and from the BALYANS, and by withdrawal on the Russian Front to the RIGA Line obtain from that Army, a large reserve of divisions available for the operations in Western FRANCE. Both DILL and I have had this fear and it was accentuated by General HULL's conversations with General ALEXANDER in ITALY, the latter stating, in reply to HULL's query, that 6 or 8 divisions could materially delay his, ALEXANDER's, advance to the PISA RIMINI Line. ALEXANDER now has 21 divisions in ITALY and is proceeding with movements to increase this number to 28. The Germans have 24 divisions in ITALY of which 19 are in the south. So it would appear that if ALEXANDER can be materially delayed, the Germans in a series of planned withdrawals to, and maybe through, the APENNINES, could free 10 to 15 divisions for FRANCE not to mention those from Southern FRANCE and elsewhere that I previously mentioned. In connection with ALEXANDER's statement, DILL's people worked up an estimate in which they conclude that 19 German divisions would be required to hold us in check in ITALY.\n\nWe know from MAGIC that the Germans are fearful of a landing in the Northern ADRIATIC or on the coast of Southern FRANCE. However, if they once become aware of the fact that the facilities for such a landing are not available they could rearrange their forces to your great disadvantage.\n\nWe must of course connect up the ANZIO Beachhead with the main front of the Army in ITALY. Under present conditions, however, I see no great purpose to be achieved in ITALY aside from maintaining pressure on the enemy to prevent the transfer of his forces to your front.\n\n\n\nTOP SECRET\n\n53"