AXIS FEARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25135, 28 January 1943, Page 5

AXIS FEARS

GLOOM IN GERMANY PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 26. The German radio and newspapers continue to emphasise the threat to Germany which is developing as a result of the Russian advances. They are gloomily chorusing the theme that “ in these, the gravest days of the war, Germany is threatened with annihilation ” and “ Bolshevism is menacing European civilisation.” “ These and similar epigrams are featured in the newspapers in heavy type, which is certain to attract attention,” says Reuters correspondent on the German frontier. "An astounding factor is that the press comment is paying tribute to the British and Russian steadfastness and patriotism. The newspapers are abandoning the attitude that the Russians are mere barbarians, asserting that the Russians must have had masses of tanks in reserve before the war, when they bluffed the world regarding their weakness. Calling Up Last Reserves

" Hitler, by playing on the Germans’ fear of a catastrophe, is exploiting his own defeats in propaganda aimed at squeezing the final ounce of strength from the nation. All the newspaper and radio comment indicates the launching of a mighty official campaign to forestall collapse on the home front. Drastic measures are forecast for the conscription of the last reserves, including the closing of amusements, shops, and businesses. “The broadcasts to-night illustrate the gloom and nervousness, referring to the anxious and grim faces throughout Germany, and detailing the terrific onslaught that the Russians and winter are making on the Wehrmacht. This spate of propaganda is believed to be the prelude to Hitler’s order for the final mobilisation of man-power when he speaks on the tenth anniversary of his accession to power on January 30. “Mussolini is similarly stressing the gravity of the hour, demanding that the Italians should use all their reserves of energy. The streets of Rome since the fall of Tripoli are reported to have been crowded with excited people, discussing the news. The police patrolled the streets, and machine-guns guarded the Fascist headquarters. Further anxiety has been caused by the discontinuance of broadcast reference to the Italian troops in Russia.” A Warning Note

A British Official Wireless message says that the intense gloom which has suddenly pervaded German propaganda has been commented on in military quarters in London. There appear to be two possible explanations— either the Germans have the situation in hand again and hope soon to be able to point to a marvellous recovery, or the situation is still so bad that preparations are being made for even worse tidings. There is little doubt that the German people, particularly the army, have begun to realise that Russia, if properly armed, could produce, in fact has produced, a greater force than the “ invincible ” German Army. Months ago German soldiers were reported as saying, “If only we had the British rations and Russian equipment, and were fighting the Italians, we could win the war.” It would, however, be foolish for the Allied peoples to read into these gloomy comments in the German press their own too easy hopes, for the German people have a certain taste for that melancholy which marks their legends and sagas.