THE GERMAN ARMY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3247, 2 April 1943, Page 7

THE GERMAN ARMY

J HAS REACHED ITS ZENITH SIGNS OF DETERIORATION RECORD OF.HUMAJ? CRIME In an interesting history of the German Army since 1870, Professor I. Zvovich, the well-known Russian military writer, describes the creation and growth of the German military machine. Describing it as Europe’s cancer, the professor states that the Nazi army was created according to the Prussian traditions which originated in the 18th century during the reign of Frederick 11, who regarded his soldiers as herds of animals, ruled them with a rod of iron and exacted blind obedience. The officers were looked on as a superior race.

After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, Germany spent nearly 70 years preparing for her battle for world supremacy. Milliards of the

people’s money was expanded in modernising the war machine and its equipment. Prussian barracks were crammed with thousands of men in a constant state of military preparedness. On the eve of the first world war Germany had a very large army, and the German High Command was convinced that its machine would run like clockwork. Hut the Schlieffen plan, which was based on the expectation of a lightning victory in the West, collapsed because of the exceptional bravery of the Russian soldiers. German plans for the world war of 1914-18 overlooked several factors. The most important of these was Russia's ability to render military assistance to France and Britain. Another was the possibility of a large American landing in Europe. A third factor was the fighting quality of the British soldiers at the end of the war. This came as a surprise to the German generals. They had not taken the British seriously as a fighting people. In preparing for its next war, German Imperialism considered it essential not only to create and equip a powerful army but also to turn its soldiers into machines. The German Army leaders regarded Hitler and his clique only as experienced demagogues able to cultivate in the soldiers hatred against mankind, racial hatred. The soldiers were given a zoological stimulus to fight for “Greater Germany,” to which the whole world must belong. The generals decided to make use of Hitler to turn their men into twolegrrrpd automata. But they never dreamt that Hitler would appoint himself chief strateirist that he would dictate military policy to them. H™ imposed his autocratic control over the army when he seized power after Hindenburg’s death.

In 1934 he shot Schleiohor. In 1938 Blomberg was dismissed. In 1939 von Fritsch was hanged by the Gestapo. Many generals——List, Reichnau, Keitel,

Rommel—had to get Nazi Party cards

in a hurry. Hitler organised special S.S. detachments within the army, gangs of trained hangmen to deal with unreliable elements inside the High Command.

When Germany embarked on war in 1937 Hitler became officially eoniman-der-imcliief. But the actual command was in the hands of Brauchitscli and Keitel. Their tremendously superior military strength brought the Germans victory in Poland. Blackmail and Fifth Column treachery brought them easy victories in France and many other European countries. Then, giddy with success, Hitler sent his motorised hordes east against the Soviet Union. When his 1941 plan for a lightning war was turned upside down near Moscow, he tried to put the responsibility for his failure on the generals, and at the beginning of 1942 carried out the first great purge of the High Command. He removed Brauchitscli and himself assumed the chief command. Many old, experienced generals like Reichenau and Todt were killed. General Hadler was chief of staff. New commanders were put in charge on various sectors of the Soviet front. It is w;ell known that' Halder considered Hitler’s plan for a summer campaign in the East as impracticable. Now Halder’s discharge is officially announced and Zeitzler, a creature of the Gestapo, has replaced him.

The German officer corps has now been largely wiped out. In autumn 1942 the Nazis established a “ selection centre” for officers. Candidates had to comply with the following conditions: devotion to fTitler’s policy, suitable upbringing and character,, and purity of Aryan blood. This was announced in October, 1942.

Cruelty is fundamental to the German method of warfare. It is planned, conscious. Torture, the murder of women and children, vilest sadism these are as much a part of Germany’s war strategy as her artillery, planes, tanks and mines.

Portents of doom hang over the Nazi army at Stalingrad, in the Caucasus, on the central front. But Hitler will fight to the very limit of his military strength.