GERMANY’S COLLAPSE IN THE WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 July 1925, Page 5

GERMANY’S COLLAPSE IN THE WAR

INQUIRY INTO CAUSES

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, July 18. The Morning Post’s Berlin correspondent states that a special committee appointed by Reichstag to investigate the causes of the German military collapse in 1918 have presented a report which records that they unanimously reached the conclusion that they were unable to attach criminal guilt to any s person. Regarding moral or historical 'guilt, the majority of the committee arrived at the conclusion that, nothing has been brought to light to justify judgment against any single person, but the minority, consisting of .Socialists and Communists, affirmed that such guilt attached to Hindenburg and Laidendorff. BERLIN, July 18. Professor Delbruck, one of the three expert members of the committee analysing the report, accuses Ludendorlf of deliberately misleading the German people, who thereafter lost faith and confidence, and the nation lost lighting power. Subsequently the revolution succeeded, not because it was backed by overpowering force, but. because representatives of Kniserism lost faith in themselves. Delbruck adds that the German army unquestionably suffered defeat on July 18 and August 8, lie maintains that the Germans even today are misled bv the reiteration of a phrase which is entirely meaningless, namely, that, the army life the field unconquered.