RUNDSTEDT OUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21671, 24 March 1945, Page 6

RUNDSTEDT OUT

KESSELRING TAKES OVER LONDON, March 22, 'Field Marshal Kesselring has replaced Field Marshal Von Rundstedt as commander of the German armies on the Western Front, it is officially announced by the 21st Army Group. Rundstedt has probably been relegated to a -command in the interior.

The greatest possible importance is attached to the disclosure that Kesselring has replaced von Rundstedt, says Reuter’s correspondent at 21st Army Group headquarters. Remarking that Hitler has changed horses in the middle of the Rhine, he says Rundstedt’s dismissal had been rumoured for months and is now finally confirmed by prisoners who declare that the change was made several weeks ago. The change is likely to have the worst possible effect on the German command in the west, but Rundstedt is an ageing man, and the situation is apparently going tp pieces in his hands There are -probably two explanations for the change:

.First, Rundstedt’s loyalty to Hitler was suspect after the attempted assassination last July, while after the failure of the Ardennes offensive, which Rundstedt described as the Grermans’ last throw, he is suspected of defeatism.

Secondly, Kessolring, by his conduct of the Italian campaign, gained reputation as the Wehrmacht’s best defensive general.

It is believed that the split between the general staff and the Nazi Farty is now deeper than ever. The general staff has long accepted the fact that the Reich has lost the war. Hitler, Himmler, Goebebls, etc., made it clear that they will never surrender. They will want to continue the hostilities even after the army is defeated east of the Rhine. They want the Wehrmacht to cover their retreat while, with S.S. divisions and the Gestapo, they escape to the Ravarian Alps.