“HARSHEST DEMANDS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1943, Page 3

“HARSHEST DEMANDS”

MADE ON GERMAN PEOPLE “INFINITELY GREATER EFFORT” NEEDED. HITLER KEEPING OUT OF SIGHT. (By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright) 1 ' LONDON, February 4. German radio programmes today were completely rearranged to comply wth the official “mourning for Stalingrad.” Light music and the usual nonmilitary talks were replaced by an almost endless programme of funeral marches, ’interspersed with prose and verse extracts dealing with sacrifice t and “strength through suffering.” The usual news bulletins were full of extracts from German and other newspapers extolling the “supreme sacrifice of the heroes of Stalingrad who perished that Europe might live.” Tne German people, who have been frequently fed with derisive remarks Strout Britain’s “glorious retreats,” are rfhj; hearing long statements proving that the" events in Russia "have been a “victorious retreat.” Preceded by solemn music, the Minister of Propaganda, I)r. Goebbels, broadcasting? declared that many families have lost three or more sons and others'have 1 lost every male member: Such families are virtually extinguished. “It may not be sweet to die for the Fatherland', but it'is the path of honour,”' Goebbels said. “Our time is short, and wherever we look there are mountains of problems. The way is hard and long, but if we lose this hour, we lose all.” Other speakers told listeners throughout Germany that an infinitely greater effort was needed on the home front and that the war had reached a critical stage requiring the “harshest demands.” One commentator said that the “front cries out for men.” The Minister 'of Econdmc Affairs, Dr. • Funk, announced that 120,000 shops would be closed by March Tin order to save fuel and labour. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Tmes” says that reports received in London show that the German morale a month' ago remained steady, but has since become decidedly less firm. All the signs suggest that the Germans themselves are victims of the war of nerves they so often waged against others. The strained and extravagant method of the mourning for Stalingrad strengthens this impression. Hitler at the' morhent of trial and tribulations remains in the background. He is reported to be on the eastern front His absence and silence are strange elements in the unfolding drama. The Stalingrad defeat has doomed Hitler to inevitable ruin, says Major Eliot, writing in the New York “Her-ald-Tribune.” The unbeatable combination of Russian distances, Russian snows, and Russian valour, has once again blasted the arrogant ambitions of the conqueror. Hitler and all he represents are finished. He will fight on for a while. He is still dangerous and can still do us grievous hurt, before he goes down. He won’t yield easily, or quickly, but he is done for. He knows it and the world knows it. The legent of his invincibility is forever shattered. The tide of Nazidom has reached its height and is now ebbing forever. But the glory of the Russian achievement lives on and will never be forgotten as long as free men are willing to die for freedom.