CABINET PAPERS
Complete classes from the CAB and PREM series in the Public Record Office, London
Series One: PREM 3: Papers concerning Defence and Operational Subjects, 1940-1945, Winston Churchill, Minister of Defence, Secretariat Papers.          

Part 6: PREM 3/239-276  (Subject files cover Italy, Japan, Joint Intelligence Committee, Labour Supplies, Landing Craft, Malta and the Mediterranean)

CONTENTS OF REELS

Introduction:

In Part 6 the main focus is on:

Italy, for instance, the Armistice Control Commission, July-September 1943; the Administration of Italy and British representation on the Advisory Council; the Administration of the Allied Commission in Italy and Operations in Italy: in particular the Baytown (Straits of Messina) and Avalanche (Salerno) operations, August-October 1943; the Build-up in Italy, September-December 1943; Air support for operations; policy following Italian collapse in September 1943; German forces in Italy; Disposition of LSTs in March 1944; Plans for operations in support of Overlord (Normandy) in March-April 1944; Operation Shingle (the Anzio Landings); Telegrams exchanged between Prime Minister and others, December 1943-January 1944, regarding Allied operations in Italy; Planning for the Anzio landings; Progress and setbacks with Anzio landings, January-February 1944; Italian surrender and proposed Italian declaration of war on Japan.    

The Mediterranean Campaigns
There are important files on the Balkans, including Greece and Yugoslavia; on Gibraltar, Cairo and Alexandria as well as on vital bases in the supply chain such as Malta; on operations against the Italian fleet; on Crete, Sicily and the Dodecanese (the latter of particular interest to Churchill stemming from events in 1915). 

The entirety of the Italian campaign is well documented. There is also much detail on the Command structure in the Mediterranean Theatre.

Japan: The files include Correspondence with Mr Matsuoka and interviews with Japanese ambassador, February-March 1941; the Prime Minister’s message to Mr Matsuoka, April-September 1941; Japanese losses at sea, March 1942; Notes on the Strength of the Japanese fleet, August-October 1941 and Japanese oil stocks in the Philippines, 1942.

Much detail on the War in the Pacific is to be found under other relevant subject headings (for instance: see under Far East).

The Joint Intelligence Committee (see PREM 3/254) including Report on French African colonies, August-September 1940 and Report on internal position in Germany and Italy, October 1941.

Labour Supply:  Files cover the situation in 1940.

Landing Craft:  Material covered here includes beach protection vessels (anti-aircraft) early on in the war; Churchill’s correspondence with the President of the United States on

Tank Landing Vessels and Craft, July 1941-June 1942; the Chiefs of Staff Report on Assault Shipping and Craft, January 1943 ; files on Amphibious vehicles, June-July 1943;

Floating piers for flat beaches, July 1943; and some of the detailed paperwork prepared in advance of D-Day (see also files on Operations in Western Europe and Overlord for further documentation on D-Day planning and the implementation of Operation Overlord in Part 8 of this microfilm project).

Subject files also cover Italian Colonies, Italian Fleet, Jaguar - operation to despatch fighters to the Middle East in April-May 1941, Jibuti, Jubilee (the famous Dieppe raid,      

August 1942-January 1943, Jupiter (Norway operation), Kettledrum (regarding Italy visit), Liberia, Libreville, London - defence of, Lucid, Madagascar and Menace (plans for the occupation of Dakkar, July 1940-April 1941).

REEL 80
PREM 3/239 - ITALIAN COLONIES: disposal of, April 1944-April 1945
PREM 3/240/1 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Position of Italian ships in Spanish ports, September 1943-February 1944
PREM 3/240/2 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Loan of British ships to USSR, March 1944-October 1944
PREM 3/240/3 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Transfer of Italian ships to USSR, 1944
PREM 3/240/4 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Surrender and future use of Italian ships (See also PREM 3/249 September-November 1943
PREM 3/240/5 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Transfer of Italian ships and loan of British ships to USSR, December 1943-March 1944
PREM 3/240/6 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Announcement concerning loan of British ships to USSR, December 1943-March 1944
PREM 3/240/7 - ITALIAN FLEET and merchant ships: Various, October 1943-November 1944

REEL 81
PREM 3/241/1 - ITALY, Administration of: Armistice Control Commission, July-September 1943
PREM 3/241/2 - ITALY, Administration of: British representative on Advisory Council, March-June 1944
PREM 3/241/3 - ITALY, Administration of: Military/political commission, August-October 1943
PREM 3/241/4 - ITALY, Administration of: Advisory Council, October-December 1943
PREM 3/241/5 - ITALY, Administration of: Administration of Italian frontier areas, August 1944
PREM 3/241/6 - ITALY, Administration of: Allied Commission in Italy, June-November 1944
PREM 3/241/7 - ITALY, Administration of: Various, October 1943-July 1945

REEL 82
PREM 3/242/1 - ITALY, General (I): Fall of Mussolini, July-August 1943
PREM 3/242/2 - ITALY, General (I): German and Italian divisions, August-September 1943
PREM 3/242/3 - ITALY, General (I): General Mason-Macfarlane’s mission to Badoglio government, September-October 1943
PREM 3/242/4 - ITALY, General (I): Broadcasts from General Eisenhower’s headquarters, September-July 1943
PREM 3/242/5 - ITALY, General (I): Messages to and from Marshal Badoglio, September 1943
PREM 3/242/6 - ITALY, General (I): King of Italy’s letter to HM the King, September 1943
PREM 3/242/7 - ITALY, General (I): Bombing of Italy from Greece, August-November 1940
PREM 3/242/8 - ITALY, General (I): Formation of free Italian movement, July-August 1943
PREM 3/242/9 - ITALY, General (I): Possibility of separate peace with Italy, February 1941
PREM 3/242/10 - ITALY, General (I): Offers of surrender by Italian commanders, July 1943
PREM 3/242/11A - ITALY, General (I): Various, May 1940-December 1943
PREM 3/242/11B - ITALY, General (I): Murder of Italian spy Domini in Libya, 1941

REEL 83
PREM 3/243/1 - ITALY, General (II): Axis diplomats in Vatican City, July 1944
PREM 3/243/2 - ITALY, General (II): Prime Minister’s message to Italian people, August 1944
PREM 3/243/3 - ITALY, General (II): Count Grandi, September 1943-November 1944
PREM 3/243/4 - ITALY, General (II): Safety of Marshall Badoglio, December 1944-January 1945
PREM 3/243/5 - ITALY, General (II): Count Sforza, September 1943-March 1945
PREM 3/243/6 - ITALY, General (II): Italian soldiers interned in Germany, September 1944-March 1945
PREM 3/243/7 - ITALY, General (II): Italian claims against Germany, January-April 1945
PREM 3/243/8 - ITALY, General (II): Policy towards Italy and Italian government, July 1943-March 1944
PREM 3/243/9 - ITALY, General (II): Food supplies for Rome, April-June 1944
PREM 3/243/10 - ITALY, General (II): Prime Minister’s correspondence with Signor Bonomi, June-July 1944
PREM 3/243/11 - ITALY, General (II): Misquotation from PM’s speech, January 1945
PREM 3/243/12 - ITALY, General (II): Fall of Badoglio government and part played by General Mason-Macfarlane, March 1944-June 1945
PREM 3/243/13 - ITALY, General (II): Possible change in Italian government, April-June 1945
PREM 3/243/14 - ITALY, General (II): Italian request for formation of army, January-July 1945
PREM 3/243/15 - ITALY, General (II): Various, February 1944-July 1945

REEL 84
PREM 3/244 - ITALY: Negotiations for armistice, July-September 1943

REEL 85
PREM 3/245/1 - ITALY, Operations (I): JIC reports on enemy appreciation of Allied intentions in Mediterranean, May-July 1943
PREM 3/245/2 - ITALY, Operations (I): Greek and Yugoslav participation in march on Rome, September 1943
PREM 3/245/3 - ITALY, Operations (I): Congratulations to commanders, October 1943
PREM 3/245/4 - ITALY, Operations (I): Baytown (Straits of Messina) and Avalanche (Salerno) operations, August-October 1943
PREM 3/245/5 - ITALY, Operations (I): Build-up in Italy, September-December 1943
PREM 3/245/6 - ITALY, Operations (I): Air support for operations, August-September 1943
PREM 3/245/7 - ITALY, Operations (I): policy following Italian collapse, September 1943
PREM 3/245/8 - ITALY, Operations (I): Various, September-November 1943
PREM 3/246/1 - ITALY, Operations (II): German forces in Italy, April 1944
PREM 3/246/2 - ITALY, Operations (II): Employment of airforces in support of land offensive, June 1944
PREM 3/246/3 - ITALY, Operations (II): Polish army in Italy, July 1944
PREM 3/246/4 - ITALY, Operations (II): Supply of aircraft to Italian Air Force, April-September 1944
PREM 3/246/5 - ITALY, Operations (II): Casualty figures, October 1943- May 1945
PREM 3/246/6 - ITALY, Operations (II): Disposition of LST’s, March 1944
PREM 3/246/7 - ITALY, Operations (II): Plans for operations in support of Overlord (Normandy) (see also PREM 3/271), March-April 1944
PREM 3/246/8 - ITALY, Operations (II): General Alexander’s reports on offensive, May 1944
PREM 3/246/9 - ITALY, Operations (II): Visit of HM the King to Italy, July 1944
PREM 3/246/10 - ITALY, Operations (II): Equipment for Allied armies in Italy, July-August 1944
PREM 3/246/11 - ITALY, Operations (II): Returns of warships, August-October 1944
PREM 3/246/12 - ITALY, Operations (II): Various, November 1943-November 1944
PREM 3/247 - ITALY: Policy - Joint statement by Prime Minister and President of US, August 1944-February 1945

REEL 86
PREM 3/248/1 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing): Telegrams exchanged between Prime Minister and others, December 1943-January 1944, January 1944
PREM 3/248/2 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing): Planning for operation, December 1943-January 1944
PREM 3/248/3 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing): Progress, January 1944
PREM 3/248/4 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing): Setbacks, January-February 1944
PREM 3/248/5 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing):Press censorship, February 1944
PREM 3/248/6 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing):Landing vessels (see also PREM 3/260/6), December 1943-March 1944
PREM 3/248/7 - ITALY: SHINGLE Operation (Anzio Landing):Various, January-May 1944

REEL 87
PREM 3/249/1 - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Proposed declaration of war on Japan, October 1943
PREM 3/249/2 - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Drafts of instruments of surrender, July-August 1943
PREM 3/249/3A - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Negotiations for surrender, August 1943
PREM 3/249/3B - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Negotiations for surrender, 1943
PREM 3/249/4 - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Negotiations for and announcement of surrender, August-September 1943
PREM 3/249/5 - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Mr Macmillan’s report on steps leading to surrender, September 1943
PREM 3/249/6 - ITALY: SURRENDER (I): Various, August-September 1943

REEL 88
PREM 3/250/1 - ITALY: SURRENDER (II): Declaration of co-belligerency, September-October 1943
PREM 3/250/2 - ITALY: SURRENDER (II): Publication of long armistice terms, October 1943-September 1944
PREM 3/250/3 - ITALY: SURRENDER (II): Peace treaty proposals, April 1944-July 1945
PREM 3/250/4 - ITALY: SURRENDER (II): Long armistice terms, September 1943-January 1944
PREM 3/250/5 - ITALY: SURRENDER (II): Rumours in US concerning armistice terms, December 1944-February 1945
PREM 3/251 - JAGUAR Operation: despatch of fighters to Middle East, April-May 1941
PREM 3/252/1 - JAPAN: Correspondence with Mr Matsuoka and interviews with Japanese ambassador, February-March 1941
PREM 3/252/2 - JAPAN: Prime Minister’s message to Mr Matsuoka, April-September 1941
PREM 3/252/3 - JAPAN: Japanese losses at sea, March 1942
PREM 3/252/4 - JAPAN: Strength of Japanese fleet, August 1941
PREM 3/252/5 - JAPAN: Strength of Japanese fleet, September-October 1941
PREM 3/252/6A - JAPAN: Various, September 1940-May 1945
PREM 3/252/6B - JAPAN: Japanese oil stocks in the Philippines, 1942

REEL 89
PREM 3/253 - JIBUTI, December 1940-January 1943
PREM 3/254/1 - JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Report on French African colonies, August-September 1940
PREM 3/254/2 - JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: report on internal position in Germany and Italy, October 1941
PREM 3/254/3 - JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: Various, May-July 1940
PREM 3/255 - Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferte: Broadcasts and articles, October-December 1940
PREM 3/256 - JUBILEE, Operation: Dieppe raid, August 1942-January 1943
PREM 3/257/1 - JUPITER, Operation (Norway): ISIS reports December 1941 (with photographs), May 1942
PREM 3/257/2 - JUPITER, Operation (Norway): Preliminary plans, May-June 1942
PREM 3/257/3 - JUPITER, Operation (Norway): General McNaughton’s report and proposed mission to Moscow, August-September 1942
PREM 3/257/4 - JUPITER, Operation (Norway): Joint Planning Staff reports, September 1942-September 1943
PREM 3/257/5 - JUPITER, Operation (Norway): Various, July 1942-February 1944
PREM 3/258/1 - KETTLEDRUM (Visit to Italy): Visit to Rome, August 1944
PREM 3/258/2 - KETTLEDRUM (Visit to Italy): Visit to Corsica, August 1944
PREM 3/258/3 - KETTLEDRUM (Visit to Italy): Discussions on future operations, August 1944
PREM 3/258/4 - KETTLEDRUM (Visit to Italy): Lists of papers despatched, July-August 1944
PREM 3/258/5 - KETTLEDRUM (Visit to Italy): Various, July-August 1944
PREM 3/259 - LABOUR SUPPLY, January-August 1940

REEL 90
PREM 3/260/1 - LANDING CRAFT: Beach protection vessels (anti-aircraft), June-November 1941
PREM 3/260/2 - LANDING CRAFT: Correspondence with President on Tank Landing Vessels and Craft, July 1941-June 1942
PREM 3/260/3 - LANDING CRAFT: Chiefs of Staff Report on Assault Shipping and Craft, January 1943
PREM 3/260/4 - LANDING CRAFT: Amphibious vehicles, June-July 1943
PREM 3/260/5 - LANDING CRAFT: Floating piers for flat beaches (photographs and drawings) (see also PREM 3/216/1), July 1943
PREM 3/260/6 - LANDING CRAFT: Supply of vessels for Shingle operation (Anzio) (see also PREM 3/248/6), December 1943-January 1944
PREM 3/260/7 - LANDING CRAFT: Transfer of vessels from Mediterranean, February 1944
PREM 3/260/8 - LANDING CRAFT: Reports on LCT situation, July-November 1944
PREM 3/260/9 - LANDING CRAFT: Amphibious wrecked vehicles, April 1944-January 1945
PREM 3/260/10 - LANDING CRAFT: Tank landing craft, August 1940-June 1941
PREM 3/260/11 - LANDING CRAFT: Supply of landing craft, August-November 1943
PREM 3/260/12 - LANDING CRAFT: American production of LST for British use against Japan, April 1944
PREM 3/260/13 - LANDING CRAFT: Various, October 1941-October 1944

REEL 91
PREM 3/261 - LIBERIA, February-December 1942
PREM 3/262 - LIBREVILLE, October-November 1940
PREM 3/263/1 - LONDON, Defence of: Defence of Whitehall area, May-July 1940
PREM 3/263/2 - LONDON, Defence of: Orders for sentries on Whitehall defence posts, September 1940
PREM 3/263/3 - LONDON, Defence of: Correspondence with Colonel Wedgwood on defence of London, July 1940
PREM 3/263/4 - LONDON, Defence of: London defence exercise, June-September 1941
PREM 3/263/5 - LONDON, Defence of: Defence of government buildings, July 1940
PREM 3/263/6 - LONDON, Defence of: Camouflage of water in St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace garden, September-November 1940
PREM 3/264 - LUCID, Operation (fireships), June 1940-February 1941
PREM 3/265/1 - MADAGASCAR: General de Gaulle and Free French occupation of Madagascar, February 1941-March 1942
PREM 3/265/2 - MADAGASCAR: Messages exchanged with General Smuts, February-May 1942
PREM 3/265/3 - MADAGASCAR: Messages exchanged with President Roosevelt, February-May 1942
PREM 3/265/4 - MADAGASCAR: Maps, October-November 1942
PREM 3/265/5 - MADAGASCAR: Ironclad Operation (Diego Suarez), March-May 1942
PREM 3/265/6 - MADAGASCAR: Policy in Madagascar after Ironclad, May-June 1942
PREM 3/265/7 - MADAGASCAR: Negotiations with Madagascan French Government, June 1942
PREM 3/265/8 - MADAGASCAR: Proposals for further operations, July-August 1942
PREM 3/265/9 - MADAGASCAR: Resumption of operations, September 1942
PREM 3/265/10 - MADAGASCAR: Transfer of Madagascar to Free French, August-November 1942
PREM 3/265/11 - MADAGASCAR: Various, December 1941-January 1943

REEL 92
PREM 3/266/1 - MALTA: Appointment of Lord Gort as Governor and C-in-C, April-December 1942
PREM 3/266/2 - MALTA: Convoys, July 1941-February 1943
PREM 3/266/3 - MALTA: defence of Malta and Gozo, May-June 1941
PREM 3/266/4 - MALTA: Flying in of Spitfires from USS Wasp and HMS Eagle, March-May 1942
PREM 3/266/5 - MALTA: Bombing attacks and supply situation, July-August 1942

REEL 93
PREM 3/266/6 - MALTA: Evacuation of civilians, October-November 1942
PREM 3/266/7 - MALTA: War damage and British government’s gift, January 1941-November 1942
PREM 3/266/8 - MALTA: Air reconnaissance’s, November 1942
PREM 3/266/9 - MALTA: Strike in Malta, August-September 1943
PREM 3/266/10A - MALTA: Various, July 1940-October 1943
PREM 3/266/10B - MALTA: Statements by the Bishop of Gibraltar in Lisbon, 1942

REEL 94
PREM 3/267/1 - MALTA: CASUALTIES - AIRCRAFT: Daily summaries, May-June 1942
PREM 3/267/2 - MALTA: CASUALTIES - AIRCRAFT: Weekly summaries, April 1942-April 1943
PREM 3/268 - MALTA: Maps, May 1940-February 1944
PREM 3/269 - MALTA: Masirah Island, May-June 1945
PREM 3/270 - MALTA: MDI: Special Stores Experimental Directorate, November 1942
PREM 3/271/1 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Operation Caliph: Capture of Bordeaux, February-April 1944
PREM 3/271/2 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Operation Anvil: Assault on south of France; planning, October 1943-June 1944
PREM 3/271/3 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Prime Minister’s minutes and telegrams on Anvil, December 1943-April 1944
PREM 3/271/4 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Anvil controversy; selected telegrams with summary, January-June 1944
PREM 3/271/5 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Anvil: Principal telegrams June 1944 and PM’s personal telegrams, February-July 1944, July 1944
PREM 3/271/6 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Anvil: Telegrams exchanged with Field Marshal Smuts, August 1944
PREM 3/271/7 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Anvil: Alternative operations, March-May 1944
PREM 3/271/8 - MEDITERRANEAN: Anvil controversy, and alternative operations, April-July 1944
PREM 3/271/9 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Effect of Anvil on Italian campaign, July 1944
PREM 3/271/10 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Dragoon operation (Anvil), August-September 1944
PREM 3/271/11 - MEDITERRANEAN: Amphibious operations: Various, May-June 1944

REEL 95
PREM 3/272/1 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Appointment of General Wilson as Allied C-in-C, December 1943-January 1944
PREM 3/272/2 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Appointment of Corps Commanders, January 1944
PREM 3/272/3 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Directive to Allied C-in-C, December 1943-January 1944
PREM 3/272/4 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Note by Mr Macmillan on politico-military organisation, August 1944
PREM 3/272/5 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Appointment of General Alexander as Supreme Allied Commander, November-December 1944
PREM 3/272/6 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Despatch of General Wilson, C-in-C Middle East, February 1943-January 1944, October 1944
PREM 3/272/7 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Unification of air command and appointment of ACM Tedder as Air C-in-C, December 1942-January 1943
PREM 3/272/8 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Re-organisation of command, February 1943
PREM 3/272/9 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Unification of Mediterranean command and proposed unification with Overlord (Normandy), October-November 1943
PREM 3/272/10 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Titles of armies and commanders, January-April 1944
PREM 3/272/11 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Communications arrangements with General Wilson, March 1944
PREM 3/272/12 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Trans-Adriatic arrangements, April-June 1944
PREM 3/272/13 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - Command arrangements: Various, December 1942-October 1944
PREM 3/273/1 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - political arrangements: Appointment of Mr Duff Cooper as envoy to French National Committee, October 1943-January 1944
PREM 3/273/2 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - political arrangements: Directives to Minister Resident Allied Force HQ, and Minister Resident Middle East, December 1943-March 1944
PREM 3/273/3 - MEDITERRANEAN: Area - political arrangements: Various, February 1944-July 1945
PREM 3/274/1 - MEDITERRANEAN: FLEET: Stoppage of enemy supplies and re-inforcements to North Africa, April 1941-January 1943
PREM 3/274/2 - MEDITERRANEAN: FLEET: Various, June 1940-December 1942 and August 1944

REEL 96
PREM 3/275/1 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Telegrams exchanged with President, etc on operations in Italy, August-September 1944
PREM 3/275/2 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Future operations in Italy, September 1944
PREM 3/275/3 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Proposed assault on Istria and diversion of American divisions to Italy, September-October 1944
PREM 3/275/4 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Future operations in Italy and through Yugoslavia, October-December 1944
PREM 3/275/5 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Future operations and transfer of divisions from Italian to North West European front, January 1945
PREM 3/275/6 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Occupying forces in Austria and Italy, May-July 1945
PREM 3/275/7 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: French forces in North West Italy, March-June 1945
PREM 3/275/8 - MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE, operations in: Various, February 1944-July 1945
PREM 3/276 - MENACE, operation (occupation of Dakkar), July 1940-April 1941

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