NAZIS FACED BY DIFFICULTIES

Southland Times, Issue 24533, 6 September 1941, Page 7

NAZIS FACED BY DIFFICULTIES

FRANK ADMISSION BY NEWSPAPER (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 4. Even if the aim is only to glorify the manner in which the German High Command is able to deal with the difficulties arising from the Eastern Front campaign, an article in the newspaper Wiener Tageblatt reveals in a curiously frank manner the problems of transport and supply to the Nazis’ eastern forces resulting partly from the Russian “scorched earth” policy. The article, which is dated the end of August from German Headquarters on the Eastern Front, says: “Contrary to all experiences arising from the war in the west, in Norway and in Libya, the eastern war has revealed the impossibility of supplying our troops with even part of their most urgent daily needs out bf the resources found in conquered territory Apart from the fact that Russians have destroyed absolutely everything—not even the water can be used and all water has to be sent up to our fighting troops—the poverty of Russia exceeds all our expectations. The army must rely on provisions entirely sent from . Germany. This is an especially difficult task because of the enormous distances and very bad roads while the railway lines have been destroyed. “A further problem is the housing of our troops during the winter as the Russians have destroyed practically every house, farm and even hut. At the same time our High Command is faced with the problem of placing sufficient quantities of petrol at the disposal of the tank units, the Luftwaffe and the transport services. The consumption is already gigantic and increases every day with the deeper penetration into Russia. The High Command, therefore, is extremely busy with the organization of supply lines to the front-line troops and finding the best means of protecting them. This latter is a matter of urgency as surprise attacks against our supply columns have recently increased and transport difficulties consequently become daily more serious.”