The Waikato Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1941 SIGNIFICANT GERMAN ADMISSIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21601, 11 December 1941, Page 4

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1941 SIGNIFICANT GERMAN ADMISSIONS

Germany’s own admission that she cannot defeat the Russian defences at Moscow this winter follows suspiciously quickly upon Japan’s entry into the war and is bound to lead to certain conclusions. No such admission was made before Japan committed herself. On the contrary, Germany presented a bold front and apparently persuaded the Japanese that all was well with the Axis schemes. Japan having been pushed over the precipice, Germany must now turn attention to her home front. It might have been dangerous to maintain the fiction that neither the Russians nor the winter could halt the victorious advance of the Nazis. Now the German public has been told that the severity of the weather has made active campaigning almost impossible.

Berlin propaganda is also trying to create the impression that fighting has not been of serious proportions for some time; in other words, that the Nazis had not seriously been attempting to capture Moscow. If they had tried, of course—. The German public is warned, however, that it cannot be expected that the front will remain completely static during the winter. Again the deception is perfectly transparent. Experience on the southern Russian front suggests that the Russians are better winter fighters than the Germans and that the offensive through Rostov and Taganrog may be repeated farther north. The mere fact of the Nazis abandoning offensive tactics will not necessarily mean a condition of stalemate for the remainder of the winter. Russia also has plans. Although the quality of the Russian soldiers had been amply demonstrated, many people abroad were not entirely confident that Moscow could be saved from the German clutches this winter. There is now a reasonable assurance that the defence will succeed. Therefore the whole scheme of the European war appears in a new perspective. Thoughts will leap forward to the spring thaw and the steps • that must be taken in the meantime to ensure that when serious campaigning is resumed the Germans will be opposed by even greater force. In this connection it is gratifying to learn that the United States has arranged for the Lease-Lend programme to continue to operate at full blast. It appears as if Germany brought Japan into the conflict not a moment too soon from the Nazi point of view. Without this bolstering, German prestige would almost surely have suffered severe shocks this winter. Indeed, even with the extra weight added by the Japanese, Germany faces the strong possibility of heavy reverses in both Libya and Russia. Hitler’s field for “diplomatic” intrigue has almost been exhausted, but during the winter solstice he can be expected to attempt further mischief in the few countries that remain outside the war. The blood-lust of the Nazi leader will not be satisfied until the whole of the human race is embroiled.