FEARED RUSSIANS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 March 1946, Page 5

FEARED RUSSIANS

Press Assn.-

Hunted German Army Chief officer tells 0f suicide

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Saturday, 11 a.m. LONDON, March 15. British intelligence has revealed that Field-Marshal Model, who has been hunted ever since the German Army was crushed in the Ruhr trap last year, committed suicide with a revolver on Apjni §i, i945, because he feared being turned over to the Russians as a war criminal if he surrendered to the Allies.

The Associated Press of Great Britain's Heivurd correspondent says the disciosure came from Model's chief intelligence officer, Lieut.-Oolonel- Michael, who was recentlv taken into custody. He said Mr lel committed suicide before him in a wood near Duisberg. Michael buried. him. He added that Model tried W hold the Ruhr against Hitlert, order for a scorched earth policy "for the encircled Ruhr. Model was supported in his decision by Albert Speer, who was a frequent visitor to Model's headquarters.

Michael described Model as a kindly man who had hid his kindness under a harsh exterior. He claimed that Model was a master of defensive strategy, which he proved in Russia. "A remark by Model to me once proved that Model was very embittered — T stabilised the Northem, Central and Southern Fronts in Russia and saved the Western Front from piling up' but no where had he a poiitician who knew how to exploit these successes."