S8 Ep886: At the 1943 Casablanca Conference, FDR announced the policy of "unconditional surrender" largely as a diplomatic gift to appease Stalin's constant "needling" for a second front. Despite FDR giving Stalin first priority for advanced aircraft and even offer

At the 1943 Casablanca Conference, FDR announced the policy of "unconditional surrender" largely as a diplomatic gift to appease Stalin's constant "needling" for a second front. Despite FDR giving Stalin first priority for advanced aircraft and even offering U.S. pilots to defend Soviet skies, Stalin remained ungrateful and dismissive of anything short of a full-scale invasion of Europe. Sean McMeekin notes that Stalin's "unquenchable" bellyaching continued even after Allied landings in Italy, while he simultaneously maintained a close collaboration with Imperial Japan, refusing to open a second front in Asia to help his Western allies. (4/8)1905 BAKU