- Appendix A
-
- OUTLINE PLAN FOR THE INVASION OF WESTERN EUROPE - MARSHALL MEMORANDUM
-
- Several versions of the plan are extant, some with and some
without dates. The dated copies all bear the date 2 April. The
many versions of the plan are similar in substance but vary
considerably ill language and order of presentation. Presumably
for security, no formal file entry for the plan was ever made in
either the regular OPD decimal file system or the files of the
Office of the Chief of Staff. Even the President did slot keep a
copy. Since the plan was covered with a memorandum, the British
called it the "Marshall Memorandum." The BOLERO -
ROUNDUP - SLEDGEHAMMER terminology came into use a few weeks
later.
-
- War Department files contain several versions besides the one
described in the text.1
A second version of the plan was the one
presented to Marshall by Eisenhower, Handy, and Hull. It bears, a
number of revisions of language, though not of basic ideas, penned
by Marshall.2
A third version of the plan, incorporating these
revisions of cover memorandum, was subsequently prepared by
Eisenhower, Handy, and Hull.3
A fourth version incorporated
penciled revisions that had been made on copy No. 1 of the third version.
4
In this version tile
memorandum itself contained a subsection headed "Outlined
Plan for Invasion of Western Europe," which took the place
of the attached study of previous versions. This copy bears
further minor penned revisions by General Marshall. A fifth
version, incorporating these last minor revisions, was the one
taken to London by Marshall.5
It was included, with
Marshall's copy of the second version, in the Chief of Staff's
book prepared for the April conference in London. The book also
included charts, maps, and papers on "Shipping
Capabilities-1942, Landing Boats,' divisional
"Fitness for Battle," American ground and air forces
"Disposition and Strength," and aircraft operational
capacities. Another copy of this fifth version was carried to
London by Wedemeyer.6
-
- The third version of the plan was probably the one shown to the
President by Marshall since he later indicated that he had shown
a preliminary draft that was Subsequently altered in
"language and method of presentation.7
It is possible,
however, that the second version, presumably ready on 1 April, was
approved by the President on 1 April as indicated by Stimson.
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- Page created 10 January 2002
Endnotes