AT LOW EBB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1943, Page 4

AT LOW EBB

MORALE OF GERMANS IN NORWAY SIGNS OF NERVOUSNESS & DESPAIR. CONCENTRATION CAMPS OPENED FOR MUTINEERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.0 .a.m.) LONDON, May 31. The morale of the 200,000 antiinvasion troops in Norway markedly declined after the German defeat in Russia, slumped still further following the Tunisian debacle and fell to an even lower ebb when news of 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 and many deserters are escaping to Sweden. There are frequent suicides and several concentration camps have been opened for mutinous Germans. The nervousness of coastal guards has resulted ,in a number of German patrol boats being fired on and sunk. The German troops are most worried about the lack of available details of the R.A.F’s. bombing of Germany. Many are so worried that they arc seeking the truth from Norwegians who pick up news on illegal radio sets.

SUICIDES IN FRANCE INCREASING IN GERMAN ARMY, AND ALSO AMONG FIFTHCOLUMNISTS. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. Suicides in and desertions from the German Army are increasing, according to neutral reports reaching London, They are heaviest among wounded men from the Russian front who are ordered back there. An official Nazi order recently issued states that all German soldiers who have 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 last two weeks. In France large numbers of deserters from the German Army are seeking sanctuary in monasteries and Roman Catholic charitable organisations.