FACING A CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25300, 10 August 1943, Page 3

FACING A CRISIS

GERMAN HOME FRONT URGENT DISCUSSIONS RIVAL PARTIES EMERGE (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9. Urgent discussions are taking place in Germany following the Allied successes and the fierce air offensive. On the other hand, Allied correspondents say that plans are being drawn up to drive the war home to Germany. The British, American, and Russian Governments are planning swift action. “The discussions which have just been held in the Fuhrer’s headquarters are the natural climax to the sustained and successful Allied pressure against the Axis, which has made a stocktaking in Germany necessary,” says The Times in an editorial. “ Germany has now come to a clear crisis in the war. Her leaders have seriously to consider their future action on the basis of the condition of both the fighting front and the home front.” The 8.8. C., broadcasting to the Germans, said that the military leaders attending Hitler’s conference suggested that the Russian front should be shortened by a withdrawal to behind the Dnieper. Nazi Party leaders admitted that such a withdrawal would greatly relieve the pressure on German resources, but objected on the ground that this move would dangerously affect home front morale. Increasing Tension in Berlin Swedish newspapers give the following facts pointing to increasing tension in Berlin:—The army’s morale is still fairly good, but the home front is tottering. Underground anti-Nazi organisations are becoming more active and more and more people are discarding their Nazi Party badges. Younger navy men are showing increasing reluctance to volunteer for submarine service. Nazi leaders who visited the bombed areas are being met by angry crowds demanding food; protection, and peace. Refugees from the bombed areas arriving at rest colonies are described as being in a complete state of mental and physical collapse. Six months ago every death sentence for any offence against the war effort was trumpeted loudly throughout Germany, but now executions are carried out with the greatest secrecy. ~ . . The Algiers radio says that only 50,000 people are now living in Hamburg, which had a population of 1,000,000 before the heavy Allied raids. The Berlin radio announced that more than 1,000,000 women and children will be evacuated from Berlin. Those remaining will stay at their posts during working hours, and when off duty will perform necessary A.R.P. duties. , Struggle for Power A great behind-the-scenes struggle is being waged in Germany, reports the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Express. From the maze _of reports and rumours coming from inside Germany after a conference of the Nazi Party and war leaders at Hitler’s headquarters, it appears that there are three main contending groups—(l) Hitler himself, who has now become a lonely, incalculable figure from whom much military and political power has been taken. Appearances increasingly indicate that Hitler will be kept in power only as long as it suits the convenience of the other two groups who are conspiring against him and against one another, but the revolt may not come to a head for months. • (2) The left-wing Nazis led by Herr Himmler and Dr Goebbels, both of

whom are seeking increased power, and the Bavarian Herr Bormann, the Deputy Fuhrer, who is one of the few Nazi chiefs still having regular access to Hitler. Bormann’s personal power in all home front matters has grown so much that his rivals talk sarcastically of the Bormann dictatorship. (3.) There is the “old school,” a group comprising several mutually hostile parties, who are united temporarily by disdain for Hitler and jealousy against Goebbels and Himmler. They wish to find an easy way to extricate the Reich from its troubles. This group includes high German officers headed by General von Haider and General von Manstein. and Goering probably playing a subtle part as general negotiator, too—and also the big industrialists headed by Dr Schacht, who renounced his party membership and broke off relations with the Government. Confusion Evident Among these three big groups a great struggle is being waged behind the scenes, similar to that which led to Mussolini’s fall. It is because of this struggle that there is so much confusion in German propaganda and war policy. All the groups will most probably keep Hitler in power for the time being for the sake of morale, but there is no doubt that if it becomes clear that the war is going fatally for the Reich one or more of these groups will try the experiment of staging a shop-window rebellion in Germany. While all this intrigue goes on. reports agree that a wave of bewilderment and despondency is sweeping through the ordinary German homes. According to a report from diplomatic quarters in Madrid, a triumvirate composed of General Keitel, Admiral Doenitz, and Reichmarshal Goering are now the real rulers of the Reich.