GERMAN WAR MACHINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1942, Page 5

GERMAN WAR MACHINE

NAZI PARTY NOW IN

CONTROL

LONDON, December 12,

Hitler has handed over the running of the German war machine to 42 Nazi Party chiefs. This is revealed in a decree broadcast yesterday, which shows that the gauleiters (party district leaders) have been acting _ as Reich Defence Commissioners since December 1. The gauleiters henceforth will preside over the mixed regional commissions supervising civilian defence, factory . production, labour distribution, and kindred matters throughout the Reibh over which hitherto an army officer or a member of a Ministry has presided. A Reuter correspondent "somewhere in Europe" says that the extent of the change is indicated by the fact that there were originally 18 boards working in 18 military districts. The Nazi Party first penetrated to them when the Labour Commissioner, Herr Saukel, made the gauleiters responsible for the mobilisation of labour. Then the Economic Controller, Dr. Funk, reorganised the Chambers of Industry, but this produced friction between the Nazi Party and the spokesmen of the Ministry of the Army and other. Ministries. It is regarded as significant that Hitler's deputy, Herr Bormann, presided at the inaugural meeting of the Commissioners and that General yon Keitel, the Chief of the High Command, also attended, ensuring the army's agreement.. Field-Marshal Goering, as chairman of the Reich Defence Council, which is responsible for the. home front, would normally have presided at the meeting, and his absence is arousing comment.