JITTERS IN GERMANY

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1943, Page 5

JITTERS IN GERMANY

OVER BOMBING HAVOC Latest Accounts CAust. & N.Z. Cable AssnJ (Rec. 7.40.) LONDON, June 17. The “Daily Telegraph’s . Zuricn correspondent says:— The latest R.A.F. raids had a tremendous effect on German public opinion. An extensive evacuation of a nortnwestern town is proceeding. Eveiywhere in Germany it is novy realised that Allied air forces are going to increase the fury of their attacks and that devastation is bound to be terrific. Discussing tribulations of homed areas in west and north-west Germany, a reporter on the Berlin radio said: “Even soldiers from the Eastern Front stand silent at the windows of trains traversing this devastated region. Here war is nearer to the civilian,' and grips him more closely even than the soldier in the front line. One wishes it were possible to bring some German families herp for a day, or even an hour They would then not be so concerned about their five and six roomed fiats, which they do not wish to share with anybody. Children here cannot attend school because those schools which are standing have been converted into emergency lodgings. Bombing in Germany is having widespread results which the Nazis cannot hide. They are no,t now attempting to do so. Smashing of war industries is affecting morale to such an extent that Count Recihach. editor in chief of a Nazi Party news agency said: “It is time to purge the party of all its doubters and cowards.' The Government and the Party are not willing to tolerate critics any longer. Systematic grumbling is becoming dangerous. Germany is no longer in a position to be lenMr. Colin Bednail, a “Daily Mail” air correspondent writes: “It has been made very clear to me that the R.A.F.’s bombing of Germany has ceased to be regarded as ‘long term.' Germany is so short of reserves that she has been sending war materials direct from factories to the battle area.” What Mr Bednail calls the battle of the Ruhr began on March 5. when the first of three heavy raids against Essen was launched. Great damage was done to Essen. The devastation did not exceed the catastrophe which overtook" Dortmund. Of Duisberg, the “National Zeitung” stated: The was so terrible that one does not know quite where to start describing events. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent gave a comprehensive report of damage done to Berlin, saying: “Berlin’s west-end looks more like a battlefield than a city. In the immediate vicinity of The Prager Platz fifty-seven big houses were completely wiped out. As a result Berliners named the area ‘Sodom and Gomorra.’ ” The correspondent adds: “Morale is so bad that they chose a factory for the scene of the latest pep-talk, in which it was claimed ‘Berlin workers, you are the Fuhrer’s pride. In his thoughts the Fuhrer is always with you.’ Eye-witnesses declared _ a voice at the back of the hall immediately answered: “He ought to be here now’ At this there was laughter.” !

The “Daily Telegraph” Zurich correspondent says: “Dusseldorf, Bochum, Bremen, and Kiel, these names rouse a feeling of dread among Germans now as' the latest heavy raids have had a tremendous effect upon public opinion in Germany.. German newspapers comment on "increasing severity of ‘terror attacks’ ” The “Voelk’ischer Beobachter” stated that calm behaviour was tremendously difficult under such bombing. A “Times’s” report states: A striking new propaganda element has been introduced in Germany, generally described as “mobilisation of the intellectuals.”' Its aim is to instruct the masses, particularly the youths, and to prevent their infection by “disintegrating agitation” emanating from people who, on their own initiative, managed to leave the most heavily bombed areas 'in west and north-west Germany. “Clearly” it is considered, “these early leavers aie largely responsible for a wave of frankness about the extent of damage caused by bombings in recent months.” Germany’s morale generally is admitted sound. The Nazi Party is specially organised- to prevent any recurrence of 1918. But it is a matter for legitimate speculation how this organisation will stand up to bomb-nerves as Germany’s position grows worse. The significant of the German troops’ utter collapse in Tunisia has not been overlooked.