LAST CARD PLAYED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23166, 2 April 1945, Page 5

LAST CARD PLAYED

Hitler Realises War Is Lost Council Of War Held By Telegraph N.Z Press assn .copyright (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 31. Hitler at his headquarters yesterday held a council of war, which lasted until early this morning, but the final result was not reported, according to reports reaching Stockholm from Zurich, says the , correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency. “Tidningen” says that the German ' High Command at a council of war yesterday held at Hitler’s headquarters declared that the continuation of the war was impossible for Germany. The High Command stated that the German troops in the west were not under the control of their officers and members of the Volkssturm were capitulating without attempting to fight. Stocks of petrol were exhausted and there was not sufficient food for the troops. The same signs of disintegration can be expected when the Russian offensive opens. German army commanders said they were prepared to negotiate for an armistice, if the Nazi Government withdrew. The Zurich correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency givingfurther details of the meeting, says Berlin reports state that neither Kesselring nor Goering was present. Even Hitler realised that he had played his last card and the war was lost. The Party leaders were informed by the High Command that control had been lost of the armies on the Western Front and further organised strategical or tactical warfare could not be conducted. Hitler faced up to the fact that the High Command possessed no means to deal with the overwhelming Allied assault. The Party realised that even the most drastic measures could not cope with mass desertions and defeatism extending to the highest miltary ranks. All gauleiters with their families are now moving to a Nazi fortress in Bavaria. German opinion was that the war would end in less than three weeks. Hitler is stated to have told the council he was prepared to give up the sole leadership and form a Fuhrer’s Council headed by Kesselring, Hitler and Schoener, with Himmler, Goering and Doenitz as members. Hitler is reported to have told the generals that they could negotiate with the Allies while he and Himmler answered for internal order. The generals did not accept the proposal. The correspondent says it is generally belie'd in Berlin that Kesselring has been deprived of his rank. There have been rumours that he has committed suicide. The correspondent of the British United Press at Berne gays the German Minister to Berne, Kocher, has left for an undisclosed destination.