Evening star., 1939-11-19


European war started, reports from good
and Unconditional observers of the in
ternal situation in Germany indicate
that there is a definite restleSsness in
the spirit of the German people, rest
lessness which is worrying Hitler's po-
litical strategists.
The strong indications that there will
be an attack against Holland and Bel
gium-despite the reluctance of Gems. Won
Brauchitsch and Keitel to embark on
such an adventure-shoW that the po-
itical strategists of the Fuehrer con-
slider drastic action essential for the
continuation of the extremist regime.
The following expose of the situation
has been received recently and, while
this writer cannot vouch for everything
described below, he is satisfied that it
is the first unclouded report of what is
actually going on in Germany at the
present time.
Ever since Hitler became the Reich's
number one man, he has LED the peo-
pie from victory to victory either in the
diplomatic field-the remilitarization of
the Rhineland, Austria, Munich, etc.
or in the military field-the crushing de-
feat of Poland Whatever may be said
about the feeling of the German people
towards him, there is no doubt that he
has satisfied the pride of the German
race. Within six years Germany has
become the foremost European power
from military and diplomatic point
of view.
This was achieved by putting the Ger
man people to work, not for themselves
but for the state. Restrictions followed
restriction. Whether applied to food
or to thinking was immaterial; all were
accepted without much grumbling. The
German people, like the rest of the world,
were led to believe after each of the
Fuehrer's coups that this would be the
last adventure. Moreover, every Ger
man could always see the end of the
stick. They could see how the annexa-
ton Of Austria would help the Reich
and how the annexation of Czecho-Slo-
vakia would eventually bring to the peo-
pie of Germany increased freedom from
CALLING competition. They all thought
that after these objectives had been
achieved an era of peace would follow.
Polish Campaign Feared at First.
The campaign against Poland was
feared at first but approved by the
masses; it irked every good German to
see the Corridor and Silesia in Polish
hands. There was a certain apprehen-
sion as to how the new German military
machine would operate in a real war
and results exceeded expectations. Here
again the people of the Reich could see
the end of the stick They firmly be-
leved that once the Polish business was
over the British and the French would
not be foolish enough to continue to
fight for something that had ceased to
exist. They remembered what the for
mer French foreign secretary, Georges
Bonnet, said soon after Munich: I'VE
could not face war when we knew that
Czecho-Slovakia would be crushed in a
few weeks. What could we tell the
soldiers in the trenches behind the Magi-
not Line-that they were fighting for
Czecho-Slovakia when that country no
longer existed?" The Germans believed
that the same reasoning would apply to
the Polish case. 1t did not, despite the
frantic efforts of the German diplomats
and the caution exercised by the Ger
man army command not to open fire on
their opponents unless they were at
tackled
The weeks which have elapsed since
the conquest of Poland have been a try
ing period. For the first time the Ger
man people can not see the end of the
stick. They realize that they are up
against difficult proposition-a war
Of economic and moral attrition. A war
in which each opponent dreaded to take
the initiative Tor fear of such loss of hu-
man life that. if the struggle did not end
with a crushing victory, there would be
grave political disturbances for those
who launched the attack.
Hence the sense of insecurity regard
ing the future among the German
masses. 1t has become noticeable to OBJ
servers for the first time since Hitler
took into his slim hands the destinies of
the German people.
Russian Alliance Not Popular.
The alliance with Russia was not pop
ular with the army or the masses. The
German general staff never believed in
the efficiency of the Russian army nor
in its practical value in time of war The
German people had been indoctrinated
for six years against Communism and
the U. S. S. R. was considered an even
greater enemy than Great Britain and
Poland. 1t is not easy for q nation to
change its ideas and feelings overnight
even if the almighty Fuehrer DEGREES so.
But there was no open opposition to this
alliance. Herr Won Ribbentrop was hailed
as super Bismarck by the Fuehrer and
the press because he snatched away from
the arms of Great Britain and France
the much-wooed Russia. 1t was gen.
orally believed that the effect of the
announcement of the Russo-G German al
lance would deter the western powers
from giving more than lip-assistance to
the Poles. It was firmly believed
throughout the Reich that as soon as
Poland had been sliced and divided be-
tween Russia and Germany - even
though the white meat went to the
former-the allies would listen to Ger
many's peace propositions. This did not
happen. Indications appeared that the
Soviet government was getting the better
of the Reich.