PROVISIONAL POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
OF GERMANY

Statement made at the Sitting

of the Council of Foreign Ministers

March 22, 1947

We have begun to examine the question of the provi-
sional political organization of Germany. In this connection
we shall have to deal with the state structure of Germany
as well. Thus, in addition to ottier questions, we are faced
with a cardinal political problem—our attitude towards
Germany, towards the German people.
The Soviet people were attacked by Hitler Germany.
They lived through four extremely difficult years of war.
A large part of the territory of the U.S.S.R. came under
enemy occupation, accompanied by the measureless brutal-
ity of the Hitler army, its violence against the civilian
population, the enormous destruction and the ruin of many
millions of Soviet people. Using all modern means of
warfare, Hitler stopped at nothing in his criminal war for
the annihilation of our people. It is known, too, that the
Soviet people replied to this assault by administering a
crushing rebuff to the German invaders and mercilessly
demolishing them.
Nevertheless, the Soviet Government and the Soviet
people generally are not governed by feelings of revenge in