STRUGGLE FOR POWER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 35, 10 August 1943, Page 5

STRUGGLE FOR POWER

CONSPIRING GROUPS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, August 9.

A great struggle behind the scenes is being waged in Germany, reports the Stockholm correspondent of the "Daily Express."

From a maze of reports and rumours coming from inside Germany after the conference of Nazi Party heads and war leaders at Hitler's headquarters a picture emerges of the way events are shaping. There are three main contending groups:— First, Hitler himself—now a lonely, incalculable figure from whom much military and political power has been taken. Appearances increasingly indicate that Hitler will be kept in power only as long as it suits the convenience of the other two groups which are conspiring against him and also against one another, but the revolt may not come to a head for months. Secondly, there are the Left-wing Nazis led by Herr Himmler and Dr. Goebbels, both of whom are seeking increased power, and also the Bavarian Herr Bormann, who is one of the few Nazi chiefs who still have regular access to Hitler. Bormann's personal power on all home front matters has grown so much that his rivals talk sarcastically of a "Bormann dictatorship." Thirdly, there is the "old school," a group comprising several mutuallyhostile parties who are united temporarily by disdain for Hitler and jealousy against Goebbels and Himmler, and wish to find an easy way to extricate the Reich from its troubles. This group includes high German officers headed by Generals yon Haider and yon Manstein and Field-Marshal Goering—who is probably playing a subtle part as a general negotiatoi\ too—and also the big industrialists headed by Dr. Schacht, who has renounced his party membership and broken off contact with the Government. MAY BE REBELLION. Among these three big groups a great behind-the-scenes struggle is being waged similar to that which led to the fall of Mussolini. It is because of this struggle that there is so much confusion in the German propaganda and war policy. All the groups must probably keep Hitler in power for the time being for the sake of morale, but there is no doubt that if it becomes clear that the war is going fatally for the Reich one or more of these groups will try the experiment of staging a show-window rebellion in Germany. While all this intrigue goes on, reports agree that a wave of bewilderment and despondency is sweeping through the ordinary German homes, the correspondent concludes. According to a report from diplomatic quarters in Madrid, a triumvirate composed of General yon Keitel, Admiral Donitz, and Field-Marshal Goering is now the real ruler of the Reich. "The discussions which have just been held at the Fuhrer's headquarters are the natural climax of the sustained and successful Allied pressure against the Axis, which has made a stocktaking in Germany necessary," says "The Times" in a leader. "Germany has now come to a clear crisis in the war, and her leaders have seriovisly to consider their future action on the basis of the condition both of the fighting front and the home front." SHORTENING OF FRONT. The 8.8.C., in a broadcast to the Germans, said: "The military leaders I attending Hitler's conference suggested that the Russian front should be shortened by a withdrawal behind the Dnieper. The Nazi Party leaders admitted that such a withdrawal would greatly relieve the pressure on the Gorman resources, but objected on the ground that this move would dangerously affect morale on the home front." Swedish newspapers, pointing to increasing tension in Berlin, say that the army's morale is still fairly good, but that the home front is tottering. Underground anti-Nazi organisations are becoming more active, and more and more people are discarding their Nazi Party badges. The younger men in the navy are* showing increasing reluctance to volunteer for submarine service. Nazi leaders who visit bombed areas are being met by angry crowds demanding food, protection, and peace. Refugees from the bombed areas arriving at rest colonies are described as being in a state of complete mental and physical collapse. Six months ago every death sentence for any offence against the war effort was trumpeted loudly throughout Germany. Now the executions are carried out with the greatest secrecy. Algiers radio says that only 50,000 people are now living in Hamburg, which had a population of 1,000,000 before the heavy Allied raids.

Berlin radio announced that more than 1,000.000 women and children will be evacuated from Berlin. Those remaining will stay at their posts during working hours and when off duty to perform necessary A.R.P. duties.