A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 282, 27 August 1942, Page 4

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Russian Tactics

DECISIVE VICTORY ELUDES HITLER When Hitler began the offensive in southern Russia six weeks ago he did so with the expressed intention of smashing the Russian military machine so' that sufficient forces could be released from the East to meet the grow ; ing threat of Great Britain and the United States In the West and even to undertake an invasion of the British Isles. How far has he progressed in his aim? He has succeeded, at immense cost, in gaining huge stretches of territory, territory which will sooner or later, if he retains it, provide his armies with supplies in categories much needed. He has succeeded in inflicting severe losses of men and material on the (Soviet armies. He has succeeded in ‘breaking the cohesion between the Soviet armies round Stalingrad and those of the Caucasus. His successes may not yet have come to an (end. These are certainly big achievements, but have they taken, him any nearer ultimate victory? As pointed out by Mr. Wickham Steed in his weekly review last weekend, Hindenburg and Ludendorff gained immense successes In the East in 19141918, but Falkenhayn, reviewing them, complained that such huge forces were tied up or lost in -the East that insufficient were left to carry the'war to a successful conclusion in the West. German Unease

Travellers arriving in -Sweden from. Berlin at the present time say that among the German people, and even in the High Command, there is a growing feeling of disquiet, said Mr. Steed. For all the great successes of their armies in Russia there is no sign to them of the attainment of the one thing Hitler, and they themselves, urgently desire, the breakdown of the Soviet armies,

Every successful advance, no matter how. carefully designed to be a component of a pincer movement has turned out a blow into the void, The southern armies do not remain to (be encircled, they are skilfully withdrawn, under the cover of minor resisting rearguards. Germany, it is stated on the authority of the German radio; has already begun to prepare for another winter in Russia. Civilians can no longer obtain clothing except perhaps of thin ersatz materials. This was the force of a decree announced a week or so ago. Moves such as this arc having a depressing effect on the German people. They see before them an even more terrible winter than the last. Their food supplies are likely to be more scarce. The potato crop was seriously affected by early frosts and will be much smaller than average. Russian territories now in German grasp are not producing the hoped-for replacements.

The prospect -before him may make even Hitler apprehensive. The Russian armies, specially in the north, are considered to (be capable of dangerous, almost decisive attack, if the opportunity arises, and toward the end of disorganizing them Hitler has only large territorial gains and huge German sacrifices Of men and material. He has weakened his own strength very materially without corresponding weakening of the Soviet. .He may well remember the strictures of Falkenhayn and feel his victories but empty shells. Dieppe

Hitler knows now, for all the propaganda put out by his radio and Press machine, that his forces in the West will soon need increased air protection and reinforcement. The large-scale invasion rehearsal 4 carried out by Canadian, British and United States forces at Dieppe has shown the reality of the second front danger. AU the hysterical stories of the -repelling of a full-scale invasion put out by Dr. Goebbels’ machine have the savour of “stamping to keep the feet warm,” and the German High Command will have no illusions about it. They will want their positions and forces strengthened at once. Hitler can take air and land forces from Russia only at the sacrifice .of abandoning his offensive and settling down to static warfare, which means that the Soviet armies will be. left capable of dangerous, even decisive, blows. This was pointed out by the leading United States military critic, Major Fielding Eliot, only a-few days ago. Hence the urgency noticeable in the Germa*n offensives in Russia today. Hitler is making a last desperate attempt to break Russian resistance, but the Russians will not give him the opportunity. They will not stand anti fight, they retreat always, allowing their enemy to exhaust 'himself, but never conceding a decisive defeat.