The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-07-23
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

When the history of the second world
war is written, it will be seen that the
defeat of Germany was due to the
Nazi neglect of standard transporta-
tion means, particularly the railroads
This is the opinion of executives of
the International Transport Workers
Federation, who support their opionion
with an interesting report on the state
Of the German railway system. They
say:
The Hitler blitzkrieg served its pur-
pose as long as it was truly a "blitz-
krieg," with quick all-out victory in
sight. But when it became evident that
Hitler's smashing victories meant little
in the long run and that the war was
dragging on for years, the transpOrta-
tion shortcomings and the negligence
of the allegedly super-efficient Nazi
machine became at once visible. Fuel,
oil, lubricants and other material
shortages no less than the long drawn
out battle lines of the German armies
complicated the German position. The
railway system, which had been allow
ed to deteriorate ever since Hitler as
sumed power in 1888, wore out much
faster than it could be replaced.
4 x x
I Today the German railways are in
state of neglect which can hardly be
imagined. AS far back as 1888, more
than 100000 freight cars or the larger
part of the German rolling stock had
become obsolete. The outbreak of the
war in the following year taxed the
capacity of the German railways to the
utmost; practically no requirements
were Forthcoming except those fur
nished by conquest and seizure of roll
ing stock in the conquered countries of
Eastern, Western and Northern Europe
No modern industrial country de-
pends to such an extent on it's railway
system as Germany. Seventy-eight per
cent of the moving load is carried by
railways, 20 per cent by inland water
ways, and only 2 per cent by truck.
Notwithstanding the tremendous sig
nificance of the German railways in
peace and war the Hitler government
determined to treat this vital trans
portatiOn factor as stepchild and to
concentrate instead upon the construc-
tion and development of super-high-
ways These highways, for which there
was little economic need, are one of
Hitlers famous pet ideas. They have
proven the most vulnerable spots of
Germany's economic and war structure
AS things stand today most of the
fast trains have been cancelled I'm
moved freight is piling up higher and
higher and it takes weeks to move
air attacks have disrupted vital trans
portation centers such as Cologne,
Hanover and Hamburg, and thrown
military supply transports hopelessly
out of schedule.
Last but not least, the hostile atti-
spells disaster to the NaZi regime. Ger
many's railway workers unions have
always occupied leading place in the
international labor movement and par
ticularly in the International Trans
port Workers Federation. NOthwith-
standing Nazi prosecutions and tyranny
their members have remained true to
the cause of democracy and freedom.
Silently fighting shoulder TO shoulder
with the fellow workers Of the oppress-
ed countries, they leave nothing un-
done to hasten the collapse of the total
itarian system.
Uncounted railwaymen have sacri-
feed their lives for freedom and labor's
rebirth. The fact that Germans rail
ways have become the most serious
bottleneck of the Nazi war effort is in
La, l,.o To