GERMAN GLOOM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1943, Page 3

GERMAN GLOOM

OVER THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA. DISCUSSION IN BRITAIN. I (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 26. The intense gloom which has suddenly pervaded German propaganda is the subject of comment by military quarters in Britain. There appear to be two possible explanations. Either the Germans have the situation in hand again and hope soon to be able to point to a marvellous recovery, or the situation is still so bad that preparations are being made for even worse tidings. There is little doubt that the German people, and particularly the army, have begun to realise that Russia, if properly armed, could produce and in fact has produced a greater force than the “invincible” German Army. Months ago German soldiers were reported to be saying: “If only we had British rations and Russian equipment and were fighting the Italians, we could win the war.” However, it would be foolish for us to read into these gloomy comments in the German Press our own too easy hopes, for the German people have a certain taste for that melancholy which marks their legends and sagas. Reuter’s correspondent on the German frontier says that the repercussions of the Russian advances are again being emphasised in the Nazi radio and newspapers, which gloomily chorus the theme that the gravest days of the war threaten Germany with annihilation, and that Bolshevism is menacing European civilisation. “These and similar epigrams are featured in the newspapers in heavy type which is certain to attract attention,” the correspondent says. “An astounding factor is that Press comment pays a tribute to the British and Russian steadfastness in bad times, accompanied by urgings to emulate the enemy’s staunchness and patriotism. The newspapers are abandoning the attitude that the Russians are mere barbarians and assert that the Russians must have had masses of tanks in reserve before the war, when they bluffed the world regarding their weakness. HITLER & THE HOME FRONT. “Hitler is exploiting his own defeats in propaganda which aims to squeeze the final ounce of strength by playing on the Germans’ fear of a catastrophe. All the newspaper and radio comment indicates that the launching of a mighty official campaign to forestall a collapse of the home front and forecasting drastic measures for conscription of the last reserves, including the closing of amusement shops and businesses. “The broadcasts tonight illustrated the gloom and nervousness, referring to the people’s anxious and grim faces throughout Germany and detailing the terrific onslaught which the Russians and the winter are making on the Wehrmacht. “This spate of propaganda is believed to be a prelude to an order by Hitler for the final mobilisation of manpower when he speaks on the tenth anniversary of his accession to power on Saturday.” ANXIETY IN ITALY. Mussolini is similarly stressing the gravity of the hcJur and is demanding that the Italian people use all their reserves of energy. The streets of Rome since the fall of Tripoli are reported to have been crowded with excited people discussing the news. Police have patrolled the streets with machine-guns : and guarded the Fascist headquarters. Further anxiety is being caused by the discontinuance of any broadcast reference to the Italian troops in Russia.