s and in Bulgaria and the Turkish Straits made before, during and after Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov's visit to Berlin in November 1940 "confirmed Hitler's doubts about the benefits of continuing the unnatural partnership with the Soviet Union" (188).
Hitler's Strategic Options and Decisions re Russia. During the summer of 1940, Germany was the dominant power in continental Europe. However, according to Stackelberg, "without mastery of the air the invasion of Britain posed too great a risk for the Germans. . . The Fuhrer now faced a dilemma how to defeat the British or at least persuade them to end the war" (186). The British under Prime Minister Winston Churchill disregarded Hitler's offer made in his July 19, 1940 Reichstag speech to make peace on the basis of acknowledging German hegemony in Europe. Hitler ordered preparations for the invasion of England, Operation Sea Lion, to begin. However, the Luftwaffe failed to obtain air superiority in the Battle of Britain. Hitler's final decision to attack
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