The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1940. Light On German Propaganda

Northern Advocate, 30 April 1940, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1940. Light On German Propaganda

A GERMAN propagandist repeated a few days ago the wellworn story that Germany was not defeated in the Great War, but merely capitulated because she was led to believe that a peace conference would recognise her as one who had been unconquered in the field. Such a declaration is of course as absurd as it is untrue, but it has been repeated so often that the average man may be pardoned, if, having forgotten the facts,, he assumes that “there may be something in the German contention.”

It is no doubt in keeping with British character that the achievements of Allied arms in the Great War should be allowed to speak for themselves, but it is open to question whether British people should not speak for them. If that were done, there would be less heed paid to German claims that their armies were not defeated because the war was not carried into their own country.

That the German Army was brought to its knees is indisputable. That fact should be driven home at the present time, when the prospects of the present war are under discussion.

It has been placed on record that the British Army, on August 8, 1918, attacked the Germans in their entrenchments and drove them back 10 miles, capturing 21,850 prisoners and 400 guns. Widening the action northwards, the First, Third and Fourth British Armies continued to attack from south of the Somme to north of Arras, capturing a further 53,000 prisoners and 470 guns. In these battles of Peronne and Bapaume the German troops were overthrown, thus starting the “rot” which later spread to the whole German Army.

In the following month, without allowing the enemy a respite, the First, Third and Fourth British Armies, with the Second Army co-operating in the north opposite Yp.res, continued the attack, capturing 53,050 prisoners and 580 guns. In October, still maintaining the pressure exerted during August and September, the Germans were driven out of Courtrai and Cambrai, losing 39,000 men taken prisoner and 900 guns.

In the meantime the Germans were hurriedly retreating from the wide gap between the Second Army in the north and the First, Third and Fourth Armies in the south, thus freeing the towns of Lille, Roubaix, Douai and many others.

The “rot” before-mentioned was now becoming very marked, the morale of the German Army having broken down completely, and the early days of November saw the retreat develop into a disorganised rout.

The Germans had lost to the Allies, from August to November, nearly 400,000 prisoners and over 6,000 guns. Where is a parallel to this to be found in military history? Yet, with the effrontery which marks the Ribbentrop of today when he charges Britain with intention to invade Norway, German propagandists ask the world to believe that Germany was on even terms with the Allies in November, 1918!

It is good that the facts should be stated today, when, as a result of the same treacherous tactics as marked the German invasion of Belgium in 1914, the German army has secured an initial and temporary advantage in Norway. The story of November, 1918, reads very differently from that of August, 1914, and Allied nations may with comfort recall the old saying that history repeats itself.