Free Finest Years by Max Hastings Page B

trusts, 435; disappoints WSC’s expectations, 436; hatred of de Gaulle, 447; and WSC’s apprehensions over D-Day, 447; proposes Donovan to head all Allied special operations in Balkans, 461; WSC bombards with telegraphic messages on Overlord , 480; and election (1944), 484; rebukes WSC over concessions to Russia over Romania, 493; rejects WSC’s appeal for offensive in northern Italy, 494–5; disregards WSC’s pleas for Warsaw Home Army, 509; at second Quebec conference (September 1944), 511–13; rejects WSC’s plea for reinforcements in Italy, 514; and WSC’s bilateral talks with Stalin, 515–16; world vision, 519; agrees to Yalta conference, 543, 547; attends Yalta conference, 548–54; preserves Allied unity, 549; leaves Yalta, 554; rejects WSC’s protests to Russia about oppression in Poland, 557; death, 567; and British participation in development of atom bomb, 587; compared with WSC, 594
    Roskill, Capt. Stephen, 143, 415
    Rostock: bombed, 247
    Roundup , Operation, 314, 345, 350, 355
    Rowan, Leslie, 144, 589–90
    Rowlands, Sir Archibald, 83, 187, 243
    Royal Air Force: fails to stem German advance in France, 15–16; retained to support prospective evacuation from continent, 20; at Dunkirk, 31, 42–4; role in opposing invasion, 31, 68, 95–6; striking force destroyed in Europe, 40; fightersquadrons in France, 44; planned bombing attack on Italy frustrated by French, 47; aircraft losses in France, 58; and defence of British Isles, 68; Fighter Command losses in Battle of Britain, 80, 99; fighter supplies, 81–2; fighter airfields attacked, 87; bombing offensive, 97, 113, 162, 207, 246–51, 334, 370, 424–6, 559–63; exaggerates enemy losses, 99; aricraft supply and replacement, 100; and air power, 101; excellent Fighter Command organisation, 101; public image, 101–2; Fighter Command lacks night resources, 103; weakness in Greece, 129; aircraft losses in sweeps over France, 157; aircraft withheld from Middle East and Mediterranean, 157; Bomber Command, 162, 251; bomber losses, 162; in North Africa, 246; Coastal Command, 249; WSC’s view of, 250, 260; gives poor support to Eighth Army, 269; uses older aircraft, 269; attacks Afrika Korps’ Italian supply ships, 336; bombing offensive against Berlin, 424–61; performance assessed, 425; bombs French railways before D-Day, 480, 560; personnel surrender to ELAS in Greek battle, 533; qualities and achievements, 595
    Royal Navy: as defence against invasion threat, 24, 30; at Dunkirk, 38–9; apprehensions about future of French fleet, 45; aversion to publicity, 101–2; counters U-boat campaign, 113, 215, 368; losses, 113; lacks air cover in Mediterranean, 129; in action at Crete, 134; defensive role, 150; lacks carriers, 157; in defence of Malta, 162; qualities and professionalism, 206, 267, 595; escorts Russian convoys, 207, 323, 325, 330; cancels summer Arctic convoys, 323; in North African landings, 330; attacks Afrika Korps’ Italian supply ships, 336; in Dodecanese operation, 408, 410, 412-l5, 417–18, 420
    VESSELS: Ajax (light cruiser), 535, 538; Aurora (cruiser), 413; Carlisle (cruiser), 413; Duke of York (battleship), 217–19; Eclipse (destroyer), 413; Hermes (aircraft-carrier), 251; Hood (battlecruiser), 138, 192; Indomitable (aircraft-carrier), 206, 215; King George V (battleship), 439; Panther (destroyer), 413; Penelope (cruiser), 412–13; Prince of Wales (battleship), 191–2, 197–8, 206, 215, 246, 250; Queen Elizabeth (battleship), 220; Renown (battlecruiser), 392, 426; Repulse (battlecruiser), 206, 215, 246, 250; Sirius (cruiser), 412–13; Southampton (cruiser), 182; Trooper (submarine), 413; Unruly (submarine), 412; Valiant (battleship), 220
    Rucker, Arthur, 26
    Ruhr: bombing campaign against, 388, 424–5
    Rundstedt, Gen. Gerd von, 40
    Russia see Soviet Union
    Sackville-West, Vita, 76
    Saint-Nazaire, 38, 43, 245
    Saint-Pierre (island),