GERMANS DISAGREE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 221, 15 June 1944, Page 4

GERMANS DISAGREE

Defensive Strategy In The West ROMMEL IN ECLIPSE? (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 13. An interesting question is raised by the “Evening Standard’s” correspondent, writing from the 21st Army Group headquarters, as to whether FleldMarslials von Rumlstedt and Rommel, who were known to have different views about the planning of the defence against invasion, have disagreed, and whether Rommel has been deposed. "It is believed that Rommel is ‘out.’.” says the correspondent. "No definite news lias reached this headquarters since the invasion began, but all the pointers are that he is not’in command.” He adds that Rundstedtl who is in supreme command, based bis plans on the belief that nothing could prevent the Allies from landing in force. His policy, therefore, was to cut down on the coastal defences and dispose the mass of his men and materials for a quick, crushing coun-ter-blow.

Rommel, who is Hitler's InspectorGeneral of the Defences, however, declared that the battle must be fought on the beaches and that the invaders must be given a murderous reception and thrown into confusion, then the reserves brought up to hurl them back into the sea.

“It is now known that when Rommel was in Normandy shortly before the invasion he moved forward into the coastal defence zone troops that Rundstedt bad posted some distance behind the front line,” says the correspondent. Rommel was confident that by strengthening the coastal defences he could make a landing so costly that the invaders would be thrown back in confusion. Then he would bring un his panzers. This is exactly how General Montgomery -anticipated that Rommel would try to fight the battle. General Montgomery said on “D-Day" : “Rommel is over-impulsive for a set-piece type of battle. I think his forte is disruption. I should say that Rommel would aim at defeating us on the beaches." Rundstedt and Nazis. The correspondent says that General Montgomery defeated Rommel in North Africa because he was always able to see into the German’s mind and discern what he would do next. He has defeated Rommel again because once more he has been a jump ahead of his old adversary. The military correspondent of "The Times,” while not commenting on this theory, says that the characteristics of the hostile,leaders are of far more than personal or academic interest. Many great captains in military history have allowed their estimation of their opponents to play a large part in their strategy and tactics. The German verdict on Rundstedt is almost Wholly favourable. Though he may be less brilliantly clever than Leeb, he is the best all-round German commander, knowledgeable, reliable, calm, canny, practical and resolute. The most interesting point about Rundstedt is that he is regarded in the army as the most prominent anti-Nazi among the senior officers, and the only one who mig it possibly attempt to throw* out Hitler. At the same time, he is believed to hav: come to the conclusion that the defeat cf Germany is’inevitable at least two yetrs ago. Rundstedt s situation is truly difficult. He detests Nazidom and wants to save his caste anc the army from destruction, but he is su rounded by Nazis, doubtless detailed to watch him, and he is a patriotic man. On the other hand, Rommel is the subject of violent controversy. He is generally described as restless, difficult, capricious, a>t to change his mind, overbearing and unpopular with the officers, though there is no question of his hold upon the troops in general. He possesses the reputation of displaying terrific driving pother and keenness. He is a mast >r of the tactics of deception and makes the fullest use of his opportunities. Bi t on the other hand, what he does not I now and does not think has no existence for him. Also, if R ummel bluffs once successfully he thinks that a similar sort of bluff will succeed half a dozen times. It is to be noted that he has always been a difficult colleague, and that he and Kesselring were constantly at loggerheads in Africa.

If the theory is correct that Rommel is out then it may be an important background to the trend of events.