THE GERMAN ARMY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 6 April 1945, Page 2

THE GERMAN ARMY

FORMAL SURRENDER IMPROBABLE GUERRILLA WARFARE LIKELY EISENHOWER’S VIEW OF NAZIS (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) Washington, April 5. “A clean-cut military surrender of the Nazis is improbable and extensive guerrilla warfare is likely,” said General Eisenhower in a letter to President Roosevelt. General Eisenhower added that he was hopeful of launching operations at the proper time that would paitially prevent guerrilla control of any large area, such as ihc southern mountain bastion, but based on past performances he expressed the opinion that V Day would come about only by a proclamation on our part rather than by any definite and decisive collapse or surrender of German resistance. The White House, releasing the letter, said that such a proclamation if it does come, will probably be issued by General Eisenhower himself. General Eisenhower’s letter said: "The further this campaign progresses the more probable it appears that there will never be a clean-cut military surrender of the forces on the Western Front.” General Eisenhower envisaged a condition which would mean that eventually all areas in which fragments of the German Army, particularly paratrooper, panzer and SS elements may be located will have to be taken by the application or threat of force. This, he said, would lead to a form of guerrilla warfare which would require a large number of troops to suppress. General Eisenhower further expressed the view that if the German Government or any group that could take over political control would make a national surrender then all armed bodies remaining in the field would no longer be classed as soldiers of a recognised government but would occupy the status of brigands or pirates, since if captured under these conditions they would not be entitled to protection afforded by the laws of war. “It is my conviction that except for extreme fanatics they would largely surrender,” said General Eisenhower. “As long as any Hitler gang retains a semblance of political power I believe an effort will be made to continue resistance, not only throughout Germany but in all outlying areas, including the western port areas of France, Denmark and Norway. To counteract this, our local propaganda stations are constantly pointing out that the Germans should now be planting crops for next winter’s food instead of fighting. It is always posible that there might be in Germany a sudden upsurge of popular resentment against the war which would lead to a much easier pacification. My are based on the supposition that our'experience to date provides the best basis of future prediction. At the best we should be prepared for the eventuality described.”