Hello, and thank you for listening to The History of World War II podcast, episode

412 Courage and Countries.

Last time, August 13, 1942, as the merchantman Empire Hope was hit by three J.U. 88s, but

finished off by the destroyer Penn, and the Brisbane Star, another merchant, was hit

by a torpedo from an H.E. 111, though she survived to make for the Tunisian coast, the

Tinker Ohio was still afloat, blackened by fire, but still heading to Malta.

Though at an inconsistent seven knots and was currently ten miles behind the main convoy,

but it was that last fact that probably saved her as the German and Italian planes were

now laying in to the main group of freighters.

The day before August 12, there was another kind of battle brewing, but this one was being

fought with not shot or shell, but still determination, and hopefully, acceptance from one of the

antagonists.

Around the time that the destroyer ethereal was using her body to ram the Italian sub

Kobalto, Prime Minister Churchill was coming down in his bomber at an airfield just outside

Moscow.

He was going to have his first meeting with Stalin.

Given Operation Barbarossa, the Prime Minister had flown from Cairo, thus scurrying the

combat zone, but that wasn't the scary part.

That would come when he had to tell the Soviet leader something he did not want to hear.

Actually, it was the exact opposite of what Stalin wanted to hear.

Still needs must.

Churchill wanted to be face to face when he told Stalin that he and FDR, the President

...