TROUBLE ON HIGH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 August 1941, Page 5

TROUBLE ON HIGH

STORY BEHIND GOERING QUARREL Circumstances that originated a political crisis involving Field Marshal Goering, who is now said to be in effect a prisoner, were described in “Die Zeitung.” the German-language paper published in Britain, following the initial reports by Moscow radio. The origin of this crisis, it states, goes back to the period immediately following the collapse of France. At that time Goering urged the immediate invasion of England on the ground that., if the full force of the Luftwaffe were employed, invasion would be sure to succeed. Hitler did not agree, adds the paper, but followed the advice of Field Marshal Keitel. Chief of Staff, to give the exhausted army a pause for rest and reorganisation. Hitler was also particularly influenced by Admiral Raeder’s opinion that the enterprise would be hopeless in view of British naval strength. REFUSED TO RETURN At that time Goering was living in the Hotel Crillon, Paris, and refused to go back to Berlin, according to “Die Zeitung.” For a time his name disappeared from German propaganda. Rumours began to circulate that he had again become addicted to morphia. After this relations between Goering and Hitler were no longer of the best. In the spring of 1941 there was a temporary reconciliation, and Goering's prestige rose in military circles after the conquest of Crete. After the flight of Hess to England there was great nervousness in the Nazi hierarchy. Hitler gave definite orders to Himmler, chief of the Gestapo. to keep a close watch over every Nazi leader no matter how highly he was trusted. Notice had to be given in advance to the head office of the Gestapo in Berlin of any intended change of residence or journeys. Goering, who was on the point of setting out on a hunting trip, showed great anger at this autocratic order of Hitler’s. A definite breach was readied declares the paper, when the attack on Russia came under discussion. Despite the Balkan campaign and the capture of Crete.. it was Goering’s policy to build up his air strategy most strongly round the western offensive bases. In the army views were divided. The younger blitzkrieg experts fa. oured the attack on Russia, while older men, who feared a war on two fronts were opposed to it. Such party leaders as Goebbels. '•ibbentrop and Himmler were definitely in favour of war on Russia. DISTORTION FOR PUBLIC Goering stated that if Russia were attacked he could no longer assume responsibility in the air in western Europe. This view of Goering's was taken over by Hitler, though in a distorted form, in his proclamation of 22nd June. Hitler twisted Goering’s statement in just the same way as he has twisted declarations b foreign statesmen. The relevant passage in the proclamation read: “Thus (namely. after the alleged Russian deployment on the German eastern frontier) came about the result intended by the British and Soviet Russian co-opera-tion. viz., the tving-up of such powerful German forces in the cast that the radical conclusion of the war in the west, particularly in the air. could no longer be vouched for by the German High Command.” Those behind the scenes were consequently able to recognise in this hardly distinguishable reproach that relations between Hitler and Goering were very troubled. Goering thereupon informed Hitler that he woul '. retire from the Supreme Command of the Luftwaffe, states “Die Zeitung.” Hitler accepted this, and declared that he would take over the Luftwaffe himself. FORM OF ARREST For all practical purposes the command is now in the hands of General Field Marshal Milch, who is immediately responsible to Hitler. For obvious reasons the change was not published. Goering is completely neglected by Goebbels’s propaganda. He is at present in his country house, Karinhall, round which, adds the paper.

Himmler lias drawn an impenetrable cordon of Gestapo. It remains to be ; ■ seen whether the breach between Hit- 1 ler and Goering is final, or whether it j. will again be overcome, at all events!, superficially. I _ [A later report has claimed that Goering is at Hitler’s military headquarters. where he is under a similar form of detention.!