HITLER AS SWITCHMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 111, 6 November 1941, Page 8

HITLER AS SWITCHMAN

Like a man perched in a signalbox, Hitler operates various Russian levers. He pulls one, and the train of war is diverted on to the line that leads to Leningrad. Pause follows violent action. Then another lever is pulled, and the war-train is hammering at the door of Moscow. Alternatively, action is switched to South Russia, and back again to Moscow. This is exactly what happened during the last week. After the news that certain Russian officials had quitted Moscow had created some gloom concerning the capital, the clouds of war were transferred to South Russia, but today Russian advices suggest that the headlines on Hitler's time-table this week concerned Moscow rather than the Crimea, for Hitler had a special desire to stand on Lenin's tomb on the anniversary of the Russian revolution. Lozovsky is confident that Hitler's devout wish will not be fulfilled; and, corroboratively, it is stated that the latest Berlin communique is silent about Moscow and enlarges on Crimean advances. This power to alternate his high-pressure points along the long Russian warfront proves that Hitler still has the initiative. Ifi he cannot win outright with the initiative, he cannot win without it. Using every golden moment, Hitler has accomplished much against Russia, but not enough for victory, and his brilliant achievements only thinly veil his own inner impatience and anxiety over the drift of the war and its long-term implications.