THIRD YEAR OF WAR

Opunake Times, 12 September 1941, Page 6

THIRD YEAR OF WAR

CONDITIONS IN GEKMANY Germany id celebrating the second anniversary of her war. She is celebrating it in a mood and manner that she did not anticipate when she -attacked Poland in 1039. In those day., she hoped that the democracies would accept the defeat of Poland and believed that if they did not the Aveight and speed of the Nazi war nutchin; would have little trouble in bringing about a decisiA'e German victory.

Time has proved her wrong. Month by month, slowly and steadily, the mood in Germany has changed. At the beginning of the war the Nazi propagandists Avere constantly stressing the normality of life in their country, the general confidence or the public in their leaders, the prevailing optimism of all classes as to the leugtn of the Avar and the abilities of their opponents.

To-day optimism lias changeu to grim endurance—the end of ti;e Avar is no lunger specifically promised for a date a few months ahead, and ‘ the Gorman people are exhorted and commanded to have faith in their leaders and realise the exigencies of the hour. “The necessity of our fight for survival must bo clear to all of us,’* said Dr. itosenburg in a broadcast speech on August “5.

“The fight against; Russia is the fight for Germany’s existence or uonThat is Avhy we must fight until final victory,” declared General Soldeu, military ebrrepondent of th 3 “Voelkischer Jieobachter,’’ making no mention of when that glad day maA* be.

“The Fuehrer will always be victorious in good time. Has he not always been justified?” proclaimed party leader Wagner at a meeting in Koenigsberg on August 23.

“Germany is waging a difficult war for the right to live; therefore, the holiday-maker must behave himself in such a way as not to have to be ashamed to think of the soldiers at the front,” stated a leaflet given to' Germans on vacation near Lake Constance.

“The material sacrifice fo r which the third war winter relief campaign calls is nothing compared to the sacrifice of life which our soldiers are making,” said Oberbefehlsleiter Hilgcrfold, addressing 13,000 Germans in an appeal for German winter-help campaign.

These are strange words from a country that has plied victory upon victory significant undertones to official acclamations.

“What we have achieved in two years gives us absolute certainty that victory. will be ours.” (Lokal Auzeigcr, September 3.) The people of Germany are troubled and apathetic. Official reassurances that “our armed forces are invincible” and official explanations that “the destruction of Great Britain, which was not originally our aim, has become necessary since the blind enemy has declined the opportunity offered him many times to co-ordinate the old wifi the new” fall on dull ears

The Germans have had too many victories and none of them decisive—they have had too many spectacular successes, in the air, on the land, and on the sea—achieving nothing. Their thirst for victory has been ouenched. “The average German,” says Charles Lanins, the American broadcaster speaking from Berlin, “looks upon the beginning- of the third year of war as just another day.”