Herr Hitler And The Army

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 January 1939, Page 3

Herr Hitler And The Army

Notes on the News

It is reported that Herr Hitler, apparently without consulting his chiefs, has completed Natl dominance over the army. “From now on,” said Ilerr Hitler last May, “1 shall exercise directly and 1 personally supreme command over the ! entire armed forces.” Referring to j this statement, a British commentator i said: “One of the first things you learn as you go about Germany is that the highest caste of all is the army. Civilians step off the pavement when on officer comes along—a genuine officer of the old army, that is. But not every man in military uniform is so honoured. Even Marshal Gberiug, with all his medals, is accorded less respect than any professional soldier of far lower rank. “As for Hitler himself, the uniform he always wears is a political one—the brown tunic and cap of the Nazi party. . . . “But if the Reieliswchr were nothing more than a clique of aristocrats, even the resignation of its chief officers would not need to worry Hitler greatly. Actually the old army is the backbone of Hitler's Germany, as it was in the old Prussian Empire. . . . The officers of the Reiohswehr are the real rulers of Germany now. as they were in the days of the Prussian Empire. ... At the outset of his career ns Chancellor. Hitler had to put himself right with the army by removing those of his Nazi friends who dared to think that politicians could control the army.