He believes that his largest tanks are better than
the other German tanks, and that they have repeatedly shown
their superiority in the war to date. He stated that the
two largest Russian tanks were of 48 and 52 tons respectively,
with 75 mm. armour and 85 mm. guns. They have approximate-
ly 4000 of thsse tanks at present. The Russian medium
tank of just over 30 tons has 45 mm. armour and 75 mm. guns.
The infantry tank is 13 tons and has 37 mm. armour and
45 mm. guns. They have approximately 8000 medium (30 ton)
tanks at present and 12 000 light tanks (13 tons). He stated
their present production of tanks was 1000 per month. He
stated that his production was equally divided between
medium and heavy tanks on the one hand, and light tanks on
the other. He stated they would be short of steel for
tank manufacture and urged that orders for this steel be
placed at once. He later said it would be much better if
his tanks could be manufactured in the U.S. He also wished 
to purchase as many of our tanks as possible to be ready 
for the Spring campaign.    Stalin said the all-important
thing was the production of tanks during the winter - the
tank losses on both sides were very great but that Germany
could produce more tanks per month this winter than Russia.
Hence the aid of the U.S. in supplying steel and tanks is
essential. He would like to send a tank expert to the
U.S.A. He stated that he would give the U.S. his tank 
designs.
 
He emphasised the fact that Germany has a strong
and  powerful air force, and that their present production 
of planes was probably 2,500 fighters and bombers per month,
but not more than 3,000 a month. Germany has more planes 
than the Russians at the front at this time but the
quality of m~ny of the German planes is not first-class
they are rough, plain machines, in which pilots fly without
a long training. Some pilots they have captured indicated 
that their training was short and consisted of only a
"practical course". He realises that Germany moved to