GERMAN ATTITUDE

Grey River Argus, 10 January 1944, Page 5

GERMAN ATTITUDE

TO INVASION 100 Divisions in Reserve [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 9.50) LONDON, Jan. 9. A spokesman of the Wilhelmstrasse told neutral correspondents: “German armies must now be prepared, not merely to fight a steady retreat, but must withdraw from, and abandon, whole countries. It is now a question as to which countries German forces should give up to carry out essential plans for German defence. We have to remember that we must keep at least one hundred divisions ready for an Allied invasion in the west. The next few days will show whether it is worth while to abandon our positions on the Dnieper altogether to shorten the front. The German News Agency says: There is no doubt in Berlin that the present battles in Russia are the decisive round, and that the European war will unquestionably! be decided on the Eastern Front, and not by bombing, nor in Italy, nor by invasion from the West. Soviet attacks have now assumed the character of a general offensive, which German military circles view as an all-out effort to smash the German Eastern Front. Reports reaching Berlin in the last twenty-four hours indicate no slackening in the fury of the Soviet offensive, particularly in the Dnieper Bend. Nazis Ready for Defeat UNDERGROUND WORK PLANNED ADMINISTRATION ALREADY CUT UP. (Rec. 8 20.) NEW YORK, Jan. 9. The New York Times’ Stockholm correspondent savs: Well-informed Berlin circles say Nazi leaders have, already arranged for the Party to pass underground as soon as necessary. A vast number of the Hitler Youth Party as well as potential legions of critics of whatever conditions a defeat would impose on Germany, would be sufficient to establish a new organisation which, while working from below would become a factor of unrest and trouble in postwar Germany. Many recent statements by prominent Nazis make it plain that the idea of disaster occured to' them as something more than a remote possibility, it is clear, however, that, so long a s the Nazis remain in power, and until the last shots are fired, the Party will not acknowledge defeat any more f aaa will the military hierarchy. Both factions are working hand and glove with Himmler, and the Wilhelmstrasse blandly envisages even Generals being thrown on their own it the Eastern front splits under the weight of Soviet onslaughters With •the nerve centre at Berlin systematically hammered by air blows, the ■Nazis State is already cut up into sections, working independently, with administrative officers scattered jn dozens of different directions. This disruption naturally gives the Dictator plenty of time for loafing, makino- his office more less superfluous, a fact which Hitler probably realises in anv case. His public appearances are steadily becoming rarer, and evidently the only use that the Party has for him is a s a figurehead. (Rec. 8.40) LONDON. Jan. 9. The German News Agency says: Single British planes are dropping weapons and uniforms m Belgium. Spies are active behind the Atlantic wall. Brussels, in particular, has become an enemy listening centre. 8.0.W. RUGBY, Jan. 7. The German official attitude to the prospect of invasion is, according to reports from Stockholm, that the new tasks obviously .awaiting £he German Army will prevent the use against Russia of some hundred divisions which are being held ready in the west and the north Balkans, plus reserves at home. The object in Russia will be to maintain an organised defence causing the enemy the greatest possible losses while not hesitating to give up territory, thus ensuring the retention of the greatest strength when conditions again permit of an offensive. Meanwhile, the imminence of a third big front imposes the need ot operating everywhere in a manner securing the greatest possible freedom of action. . . “Flagging morale in Germany is nipped in the bud 'by death sentences and it is impossible for any group to organise a revolution to overthrow the Nazis,” states Christer Jaederlund, the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm paper “Tidningen ” He adds that a collapse on the German front could be precipitated by doubt as to whether to go on fighting, but doubters are being punished by death, arid the wave of executions in recent months has brightened the Germans and quieted defeatist talk. The German people have been stripped of all possibilities of organising a revolution. Opposition to ‘the regime or criticism is crushed by the all-powerful Himmler organisation. The Germans w° u J a not hesitate to conduct wholesale massacre in order to wipe out reV °German officials acknowledge that the Allied total air war is now the biggest home front as well as military problem confronting them. GENERAL SMUTS’ COMMENT. PRETORIA, Jan. 7. “Unless something unforeseen happens and unless we make some incalculable blunder this year, it is going to be a year of destiny and of decisions which will affect the fate of 'the whole world for generations to come,” said the Prime Minister of South Africa (General Smuts) in a speech. “Our programme is in order and our plans have been mapped out, politically and militarily.” Situation in France LONDON, Jan. 7. Speaking over the Paris radio, Marcel Deat, the Nazi sympathise!, said that an Allied invasion was inevitable and this coupled with the state of terrorism in France necessitated a strong government. “We must dismiss all in the Administration and ofi l6 *’?,, m An- ln F positions who are still prt>Allied, and are hampering the Government’s programme. We must arm the police effectively to deal with terrorists. The Courts must cease pussing light sentences on bandits. We have a strong Government. All we need is a united front to meet the Allied landing in France . French refugees report that a secret. French army known as the Macquis, plans vengeance against traitors, Quislings and all who have collaborated with the Nazis. French “girl friends” of German soldiers have been executed without , mercy bv special squads of Macquis, who i are stated to be highly organised and readv to heln the Albed invas-' ion In "the Haute Savoie region, south-east France the Macquis receive arms and supplies by parachutes, dropped by British airmen. Instructors drawn mainly from the old French Army train recruits in guerrilla fighting.