The Waikato Times. THURSDAY. MARCH 26, 1942. BALKAN UNREST ON GERMAN FLANK

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21688, 26 March 1942, Page 4

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY. MARCH 26, 1942. BALKAN UNREST ON GERMAN FLANK

As long as the master thief has undisputed control the gang may be kept together. But if that authority wavers for a moment there is likely to be trouble among the gang that has been robbing not only strangers but each other. That is the position in some of the Balkan countries. Hitler is disturbed to find at the moment when he is preparing for the spring offensive against Russia that the Balkan States are at sixes and sevens. Rumania is bitterly protesting because Hungary and Bulgaria have been given large portions of what was formerly Rumanian territory. Bulgaria is objecting to going to war against Russia, which has always been regarded as the champion of the Slavs. Bulgaria’s excuse at the moment is that she fears an attack by Turkey, In addition, Yugoslavian guerillas are still resisting the Nazis, thousands of Greeks are starving because the Nazis have stripped their country, and even Albanian nationalists are fighting the Axis forces. Before he begins his spring offensive Hitler must attempt to evolve order out of this chaos; otherwise there will be a grave danger on the flank of his armies fighting against the Russians. Representatives of the troubled countries have been summoned to a conference. Hitler may succeed by threats and bribes in maintaining some sort of allegiance among his slave countries. If he fails, Eastern Europe may see the beginning of the disintegration of Axis authority which is bound to come sooner or later. Bulgaria’s excuse of a Turkish menace to her territory is so transparent that it only serves to emphasise the Bulgars’ objection to fighting against the Russians. Turkey has maintained an attitude so impeccably neutral that Hitler is not likely to take the excuse seriously. But he needs Balkan assistance desperately. If he can impress Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary with a probability of military triumph the prospects are that he will retain their allegiance. Any suspicion that Germany is heading for disaster in Russia, however, would be fatal to Hitler’s hopes in the Balkans. The Nazi house of cards in that part of Europe is very insecure. Hitler knows, and the world knows, how much depends upon the ability of the Russians to smash the German offensive this spring and to demonstrate that the chief bandit of Europe no longer has the power to protect and control his minions in the conquered countries. Hitler is experiencing the discomfort of following Mussolini’s famous exhortation to “live dangerously.”