Evening star., 1941-11-08
Nazi Army Leaders
Reported Hatching
Own Peace Scheme
Brituin Sounded Out on
Possible Armistice if
Hitler Is Overthrow
Ry HELEN KIRKPATRICK,
Foreign Correspondent OF The Star ant
Chicago Daily News.

Chicago Daily News.
LONDON. Nov. 8.-While Hitler
and his Nazi party are reported to
be planning some kind of peace con-
ference in order to gain breathing
spell, there is increasing evidence
that the German Army leaders are
Matching a separate peace scheme
of their own in which Hitler's only
part would be to disappear.
Soundings are being taken here to
discover whether the British would
be prepared to make peace with the
Reichswehr if the Nazi regime were
overthrown. The army, it is claimed,
is confident that it would be sup
ported by the German people in
revolt. but its leaders wish aSSur-
ance beforehand that Britain would
negotiate a peace with them.
Heavy losses on the Russian front
and growing disgust with the party's
excesses, particularly in the occupied
countries, are said to be the prlncl-
pal considerations behind the plot.
Envision Long Campaign.
General staff plans for the Rus
sian campaign were based on the
belief that the Archangel-Astra
line would have been reached before
winter. the Stain regime having
collapsed at the outset. The army
chiefs are now said to recognize the
inevitability of a long campaign, not
only in the Caucasus but on the two
northern fronts as well. This will
necessitate stabilization of the front
during the winter months, reform
ing of the army and demobilization
of some units for industrial pur-
poses. This. presumably. would give
the army sufficient strength inside
Germany to seize power.
At present the most reliable eSti-
mates obtainable place the number
of German troops on the eastern
front at $500 900 and Nazi casualties
at between 100000 and 2,5000 900.
A total of 100000 men are said to
be holding down the occupied coun-
tries. with another 100000 on the
home front.
At the wars outSet-June o.
therefore, the German Armys total
strength amounted to an estimated
5000. 900 men. With about a third
of the Nazi strength sapped by losses
in killed, wounded and prisoners.
further losses in Russia would Sc
riously impair Germany's ability to
counter British attack elsewhere in
the spring.
independence Scheme.
The Nazi army's peace terms
would enable Germany to maintain
Its dominant position on the CONT
nent without further depicting her
strength. The army leaders would
be prepared according to the ver-
sion being heard in London, to re-
establish the independence of all
European countries, with Czecho-
Slovakia and Poland much reduced
in size, however and an autonomous
Ukraine set up under German pro-
lection. Austria and German-speak-
ing territories would belong to the
Greater Reich.
Germanys military would even be
prepared to discuss disarmament, it
is said.
Reactions obtained by those
taking Soundings will not greatly
encourage the Reichswehr to over
throw the party if British accept
ance of these peace terms is a pre-
requisite. Those quarters which
might be most susceptible to a nego-
tiated peace themselves doubt
whether more than 2 per cent of
the British would be interested in
any peace which would leave Ger
many armed and potentially strong
Three arguments in favor of such
a peace are being advanced by its
non-British advocates.
/. The terrific problems a long
war will create.
2. The necessity for a strong Ger
many to prevent the Communist
Asiatic hordes from overrunning
Europe"
3. It is stated "confidentially" that
the United States favors a nego-
tiated peace.
tCcpyright, 1941, Chicago Daily News, me