GERMAN ARMY MORALE

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1943, Page 5

GERMAN ARMY MORALE

DECLINE REPORTED.

LONDON, May 31.

According tot reports reaching London from neutral- sources, suicides and desertions are occurring in the German army being heaviest among wounded men. from the Russian front who have been ordered back there. In France, large numbers of deserters are seeking sanctuary in monasteries and Roman Catholic charitable organisations. An official Nazi order recently issued states that all German soldiers who committed suicide in the Haute Gardonne area of France must be buried in the parishes in which they were! stationed. There has also been an increase in the number of suicides among fifth columnists and Quislings In neutral countries in the past "two weeks. n GERMAN TROOPS. DEPRESSED IN NORWAY. LONDON, May 31. Reports received by Norwegians in London states that the morale of the 200,000 anti-invasion. troops in Norway markedly declined after the German defeat in Russia. It slumped still further following the Tunisian debacle and fell to an even lower ebb when the R.A.F.s pounding of the Reich began to leak through, state reports received by Norwegian circles in London. Germans themselves are committing- acts of # sabotage Many deserters are escaping .to Sweden, There are frequent suicides and several concentration camps ha.v.e been opened for mutinous Germans. Nervousness of the coastal guards has resulted in a number of German patrol boats being- fired on and sunk. German troops are most worried about lack of available details of the RA.F.’s bombing of Germany, Many are so worried that they are seeking the truth from the Norwegians, who pick up the news on illegal radio sets.