NAZIS TAKE REINS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20966, 14 December 1942, Page 3

NAZIS TAKE REINS

GERMAN WAR MACHINE PARTY CHIEFS’ POWERS ARMY SUPERSEDED (British Official Wireless.) (10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Dec. .13. Herr Hitler has handed over the running of the war machine to 42 Nazi Party chiefs. This is revealed in decrees broadcast to-day, which show that gauleiters have been acting as Reich defence commissioners since December 1. The gauleiters henceforth will preside over, mixed regional commissions supervising civilian defence, factory production, labour distribution and kindred matters throughout the Reich, over which hitherto ail army officei or a member of the Ministry presided. Reuter’s 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 Naz, Party first penetrated to them when the Labour commissioner, Herr Saukel, made the gauleiters responsible for the mobilisation of labour, and then the economic controller, Dr. W. Funk, reorganised the chamber.-, of industry. But this produced friction between the Nazi Party, and the spokesmen of the army and other Ministries. It is regarded as significant that Herr Hitler’s deputy, Herr Bormann, presided at the inaugural meeting oi the commissioners, and General von Keitel attended, ensuring the army’s agreement. Reich-Marshal Goermg, 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.