GERMANS’ LOT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 5

GERMANS’ LOT

FORCED ON DEFENCE , DIETMAR ON GRIM OUTLOOK (By Telegraph—Prem Aaeoeln'lon—Copyright) Recd.. 7.30 p.m. London, Jan. 4. “Defencq, in 1943 became our lotdefence against three of the greatest Powers in this globe,” declared General Dietniar, Berlin radio military commentator, tn a broadcast. "In the first lew years of the war,' 1 he added, “ours was a road of steady advance, but 1943 watered down our wine considerably. There is no reason to be tormented by the thought that our storming advances of bygone' times may have been a tragic error. We are facing Russia—an enemy whose ruthless determination and compile lack of consideration for anything that elsewhere might hinder strategy, have from the beginning singled him out as deserving lhe utmost respect. The Russians cannot be measured by the yardstick of former times. Their Command learned much from us. The Russians in many respects left us behind. They surpassed us in everything wherein numbers matter. The Red Army ia an unparalleled fighting instrument. The sufferings of those who fight Russia are beyond description. They seem to go beyond human endurance. "We have not retreated voluntarily to the Dnieper. We were forced by the law of hard necessity. "We cannot gloss over the losses we suffered in 1943 in defensive battles. Tne enemy casualties, however, absolutely ana also relatively, were far greater than ours. _ "All tactical and strategical decisions after four years of war are overshadowed by the problem of maintaining fighting manpower," General Dietmar added. “The Germans do not forget the wounds which 1943 inflicted on them. The Germans a year ago were in Tunis, Tripolitania and Kuban, on the Volga, names which marked the frontiers of German power. It is bitter to call them to memory. The heavy fighting of 1943 is a timely warning to us that the days of trial have not yet ended. We would like to think the climax of our adversaries had. spent itself last summer, when everything and everyone turned against us.” Berlin radio announced a new decree designed to "increase to the maximum the war mobilisation of the whole youth of the country. "The decree follows that of December 23 ordering boys aged 16 to register for active service. The new decree provides for the employment of youth for auxiliary tasks which can be carried out without interference with school lessons. The radio added: “No individual youth will be overburdened, but the longer the war lasts the more tasks are laid on youth now working with assault commandoes of the police and fire service and also in factories, the Army, air defence and bomb-stricken areas."