Evening star., 1941-07-11

il to Meet Nozi Experts
Il BIitzkrieg
place as they have in the simple
minded and trusting democracies.
the secretiveness of Russia is fully
as great as that of Germany.
The terrain is suitable enough
to fulfill the colonel's prereq-
uisites, but how absolutely as
sured" was the surprise ele-
ment"? The Russians had been
assembling on this frontier, per-
haps. for the purpose of diplo-
matte, not a military showdown
with the Nazis. However, they
may have had some warning. But
how overwhelmingly superior"
are the attacking forces? They
are certainly greatly superior in
material of all sorts, planes,
tanks and gun power.
But how superior are they in
man power, at the spot, and in
reserves?
Man power-if it is willing to
fight bitterly-counts in modern
war. 1t counted in Spain, for d.
instance, where it took the
Fascists, who were overwhelm-
ingly superior in all technical
and mechanical means, four years
to defeat the numerically superior
and recklessly fighting Loyalists.
incidentally, the Russians have
the benefit of that campaign,
with its highly effective guerilla
tactics.
81 Favorable weather conditions"
have not universally prevailed &C
cording to the Nazis, who claim
to have been held back by snow
storms in places, incidentally.
where it has never been known to
snow in July. Maybe they lied
as an excuse. but they have got
to get a decision by mid -Septem-
Der, when rain, mud and snow
will be the Russians most effec-
tive ally against mechanical
forces.
Certainly the Germans are en-
countering in Russia very differ
ent conditions than in any pre-
vious campaign. The battle at
the Stain line is a battle, not
a blitz. 1t is prolonged way be-
beyond the essential schedule of
Col. Brauns formula. And this
time the British are increasingly
pounding the rear with the Royal
Air Force.
Have Double Advantage.
1t is well to believe only those
things in which German ard
Russian communiques agree. Both
admit terrific loss of life, And
here the Russians have a double
advantage, physically and rsy-
chologically. They are biologically
more fecund than the Germans,
and there are more than three
times as many Russians as there
are Germans.
These facts influence the psy-
chology of nations. The French,
for instance. had horror OF loss
of life, realizing their diminish
ing numbers. Also, the farther
east one moves the cheaper hu-
man life becomes. The Germans
are more reckless OF life than the
French. the Russians more reck-
less than the Germans.
Enthusiasm May Wane.
What happens in Russia is also
extremely important to German
morale in the further course of
the war. For the first time the
Nazis are encountering an army
of great numbers that fights and
for the first time there is that
terrific loss of life that the
bitz is supposed to avoid. AS
German mothers receive the news
of the death of their sons. the
enthusiasm for another battle on
the beaches of England, with
another great army that also
intends to fight, may wane.
1t Is nothing to count on. Hitler
once said, The Germans endured
Attila the Hun and the Thirty
Years War, and they can endure
me-"
Just the same, if the Russians
keep on as they are doing, this
campaign may be the turning
point of the war. The 100 per
cent luck" of Hitler is certainly
not here. Seventy per cent, or
so per cent, but not 100 per cent.
And. since the idea of invin-
cibility is one OF the greatest as
sets IN his whole armory, this
change of. luck" is important.
CReleased by The Bell Syndicate. Ine.)