THE NAZIS' NEW ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23542, 30 December 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE NAZIS' NEW ARMY

A Revealing StudyBy J.L.S. ON the dust cover of "The German Army,'' by Dr. Herbert Eosinski, there is a picture of the recumbent figure of the soldier warrior of the last war in the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Munich. The picture is suggestive of the contents of a great study of the German Army from the days of its creator, Frederick the Great, to the machine which the Nazis have built: In the opinion of Dr. Rosinski, although not so bluntly stated, the German Army of other days is dead. That which has taken its place is not the same. The Christian elements in the oath of allegiance of the officers have gone; loyalty is now sworn to Hitler instead of to the Kfiiser and the German Empire. The hasty products of the war colleges do not make the officers of the old army. There are now too many careerists among them, and the younger ones ' hare not the same detachment toward political parties as their predecessors. , Trenchant Criticisms Dr. Rosinski examines in some detail, but with unfailing interest, the work of Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Clauscwitz. and the elder Moltke in the building of the German Army, and he has some trenchant criticisms to make of the mechanical ideas of Ludendorff. But it is wbien he comes to more modern times that? his book becomes revealing concerning the German Army we are now fighting. He leaves one with the impression that the post-war Reicliswehr, unable to get anywhere with its detachment from parties, decided to make use of the newly-arising Nazis. They succeeded at first, but then the Nazis got full and complete control of the arrtiy. He does not find the lightning war theory supported in serious military publications, but agrees that it has advocates in the Nazr party aiid its adherents within the circle of higher commanders. Amateur Strategy "It is by no means certain," Dr. Eosinski says, "that the sober professional opinion of the majority of the commanders and of the general staff will prevail against the fantastic vagaries of Nazi amateur strategy. . . . In the 'Leader-General' of the Third Reich the German Army may well find the 'prophet who sends it to Armagerldon." Since Dr. Rosinski is now a refugee in England, it is possible that his views are prejudiced, but it must be said that one fails to find any trace of prejudice in the book. He is an acknowledged expert on his subject and he writes with natural pride in his country's ,most honourable traditions. "The German Army," by Dr. Herbert Eosinski. (The Hogarth Press.il