Evening star., 1942-06-25
Free German Group
Formed 10 Help Dust
Ndzis, Set Up Republic
Leader of Movement
Says Hitler has Sold
Democracy in Reich

Hitler has done more than any
other agency to make the German
people realize the value of the
democracy they have lost and has
given rise to strong underground
sentiment of opposition that will
strike from the inside at the first
serious German military reverse,
Gerhart H Seger, former member
of the German Reichstag and at
present leading anti-Nazi author
and lecturer, said at press con-
ference at the Willard Hotel yes
terday.
He would make no prediction as
to how long the war will last,
explaining that it depended on Ger
many's oil supply. but he said
emphatically that the United Ma
tions will win.
A German aviator during the
World War and now a citizen of
the United States, Mr.. Seger con-
ferred with neWSpapermen in con-
nection with the first formal
introduction of the Association of
Free Germans. Inc, an organization
formed to broadcast to the world all
available information as to develop
ments inside Germany. Present
also were Albert c. GrzeSinski,
president, and DR.. Rudolf Katz,
executive secretary.
Group Favors Disarmament.
The group, Mr.. Seger explained,
Is made up of the Social Demo-
cratic, Catholic and Liberal parties
of Germany and is concerned with
the development of the German
republic after Hitler has been
crushed 1t is in favor of COM
plete disarmament and military
control of Germany, he said.
The anti-Nazi spokesman de-
clared that a false impression has
been circulated in the United
States and other countries TO the
effect that Hitler is supported
wholly by the German people. He
added that there is much opposition
and cited a long list of names of
German people who have been given
sentences ranging from a few
months to death because they were
found guilty of listening to radio
broadcasts from abroad.
The list, he continued, proves
beyond doubt the value of the
broadcasts made from the United
States to Germany and said it
shows that Hitler has to take spe-
cial care to protect the national
morale
1T is negative admission that
Hitler is afraid Of being under
mined" said Mr.. Seger.
But the editor cautioned that the
German revolution is not just
around the corner. The opposition
movement, he explained. is not on
a national scale and is severely re-
stricted by the reign of terror in
Germany. 1t will come to the fore
front as soon as there are severe
Nazi military reverSeS, he added,
then there will be an uprising and
possible overthrow of the govern
ment
Air Superiority Needed.
Discussing the proposed western
front. he said it should never be
attempted by the United Nations
unless they have absolute superiority
in the air, adding it would be dis
astrous at present to have another
Dunkirk. But if it is attempted and
carried out successfully he sees grave
effects on the German people be-
cause of three things:
/. This will be the first war in
more than 100 years that the Ger
mans have had in their back yard
2. The German people are not
prepared for such a setback, living
instead on the hopes given them by
the easy capture of Western Europe
8 The German people are bad
losers
Mr.. Seger named as Hitlers three
eravest problems the OF! supply, the
manpOWer supply and the occupa-
ton Of captured countries. The last
item, he added is a potential mill
stone, that Hitler apparently was
aware Of it because of his failure to
occupy all of France and because Of
his evacuation of the civilian popu-
lation from certain areas.