The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1941. NAZIS’ DEFENSIVE PLANS.

Evening Star, Issue 24004, 1 October 1941, Page 6

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1941. NAZIS’ DEFENSIVE PLANS.

According to Herr Fritscho, a Nazi ministerial director who has evidently gone on tour with a view to expounding the gospel of Goebbels, Germany, after defeating Russia, will stand on the defensive in the war. This is one way of 'breaking the news to the German people that they must not expect their Fuhrer to be driving through the streets of London at an early date, and that the armies of the Reich will have much to claim their attention in endeavouring to persuade dwellers in the occupied countries that their future happiness is linked up with Nazism. It is, of course, by no means certain that Germany will defeat Russia, but, even if she did, Hitler would require a lengthy period of recuperation before ho dare attempt that shattering blow at Britain which seems to be the dominating ambition of his life. But while some of his divisions were resting others would he kept busy trying to repress guerrillas, saboteurs, and other embarrassing persons of that ilk. Among the leaders there might also be a revival of the diplomatic approaches to countries such as Spain, which, though still neutral, have not been excluded by the Nazis as potential allies. Possibly a new “ peace offensive ” would be born at the Wilhelmstrasse, incorporating an effort to prove to Britain that, without the numerical strength of the Soviet army to help her, the war was as good as lost. Tu that event Britain would once more turn a deaf ear. She would keep to her vow to fight on till Hitlerism was crushed', and would not risk another extended armistice and the oncoming of a third Gorman war of aggression.

On© of tho most significant statements made by Fritsche was: “ It becomes necessary to take energetic steps against those many disbelievers who now, after the Russian war, daro state that Germany won many 'battles in the Great War but just the same lost it. Some people point to Napoleon’s eastern war and ask whether Germany is able to win this war.” His words constitute a frank admission that all is not well on the German homo front. Although .the Germans dread tho consequences of humiliating defeat more than they fear further sacrifices, and will therefore struggle on until their land forces have been practically routed', their attitude reflects a weakening of confidence which cannot help but have an adverse effect on production and perhaps also on tho fighting spirit of the army. Fritsche adds that tho eastern war will be won owing to the fact that the Red Army has already lost such a great part of its military strength and material that it is now unnecessary to penetrate too deeply into unlimited territory. But Germany must also be losing a large proportion of her military strength, and if the Crimean Peninsula is to be occupied sacrifice of crack storm troops and paratroops will be entailed. In short, the German army faces a grim future, and! the satellites of Goebbels will be hard put to it to make the people believe that nebulous promises of an “ iron ring ” around the Continent will compensate for mounting casualty lists.