HITLER LESS CONFIDENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 2

HITLER LESS CONFIDENT

aJI his speeches, the latest by Adolf Hitler was devised partly for "home consumption" and partly for the purpose of depressing his enemies and encouraging his friends abroad. Jle could not, on this occasion, point to the accomplishment of another great victory, which always provides a war leader with the finest of speech-making material, and it Is significant that, except In a reference to Stalingrad, he made no confident predictions of victories waiting just around the corner. With the demagogue's insight, he well knew that in the minds of his audience was the knowledge that he had led them to believe last year that the defeat of Soviet Russia would soon be accomplished, and that events had belled his words. There: . his choice of speech-making material was restricted. But he could point to great advances made by his armies in Russia, he could indicate tlvt the general course which operations had followed was "according to plan," and he could encourage his Germans by telling them that their sacrifices were not in vain, for already the

"achievements in the occupied countries" were "beyond imagination." The truth of this last assertion his audience all over Germany was not in a position to confirm, but they might be expected to greet with satisfaction, at least, his statement that the "organisation" of the occupied territories would result in Germans having more food. All this was not ideal material, but it was passable, and Hitler made the most of it.

The most notable omission from the speech was the promise, or threat, of further and fresh military ipcrations. This omission is'not necessarily to !>•> interpreted as indicating lack of will or intention to attempt further conquests, but it is reasonable to assume, at lca.-t. that Hitler perceived that intimations of them might not arouse his Germans to rhapsodies of enthusiasm. The campaign in Russia has taught them, as no earlier campaign had. what war means. They have supped full of victories, but victories in Russia have been followed by casualty lists of unparalleled length. Now. as no doubt Hitler perceived, the Hermans would prefer, not a promise of further extension of Herman culture, but an assui ance that they could establish themselves in. and draw the benefits proper to the Herrenvolk from, the territories they have already conquered. So his speech was directed to furnish them with this assurance.

Hitler scorns to have made little mention either of the R.A.F. offensive or of the growing >tnngth and the mighty preparations of the United States. Yet older Hermans, who have not forgotten the last war, will not. follow him in overlooking the consequences of American intervention, and Germans both young and old are almost nightlv made aware of the power of the R.A.F. The explanation of his omission probably is that he could not hope to deal with these subjects convincinglv. It is diflicult to explain away a thousand-bomber raid, especially to those people who have experienced it! Hefore another year has passed Hitler will not be able to taunt, his enemies with inaction; he will have the task of exhorting his people to defend, not merely the occupied countries, but the Reich itself, and of driving them to still greater efT< rts before they have had time to recover from the exhaustion which the campaign in Russia will have brought upon them.