The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-11-16
GERMAN STRATEGY
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTIONS


A significant, but little noted fea-
ture of the Nazi campaign against
Russia this year. is the complete
revolution it marks in German stra.
tegic principles that have endured
since Moltke the elder Of Franco
Prussian war fame.
For nearly 100 years the keynote
OF German strategy has been Ma
poleon's maxim Destroy the foes
main army and occupy his political
capital" Battles Of humiliation
and enlightenment have been the
ideals alike OF generals Of the Ka!s-
er and Of Hitler. But, beginning
this spring, the Russian main
armies grouped around Moscow
have been left severely alone.
Hitler's campaign OF 1912 is being
fought with attrition as its princi-
pal objective.
In the Nazi-Soyiet campaign Of
1871, German army groups attempt
ed TO surround and destroy the
entire Russian fighting force in
the neld in q war of movement IN
eQualled in history. Ofensives
we're launched alternately, some
times simultaneously In the north,
south and center or the 2,000-mile
front.
The obvious objective was to cut
the Soviet forces into separate seq
ments that could be encircled and
pounded to pieces one at a time.
Vast advances were made, huge
territories were conquered but at
tainment of the supreme obiec-
tive, the total destruction OF the
Red army, proved impossible.
By the time General Winter ar
rived in December, the NaZi
thrusts had been definitely stopped
and forced into reverses before
Moscow, Leningrad and Rostov.
German soldiers dug in for four
terrible months Of cold billiards.,
with the Red army assuming the
offensive. an aggressive which they
have held on two-thirds OF the
front
When the period OF active cam.
paigning began in June, II became
quickly apparent that a radical
change had come over Nazi strate-
gy. II the maxim destroy the foes
main army had been the German
guiding principle, Moscow, with its
huge concentrations OF Soviet
strength. would have been the
place to strike. Instead the
best shock troops were chan
neled to the south and east
from KharkoY and Taganrog
toward the vital Vega transporta-
ton artery and the oil Of the eau
casus. This was not total war 10
a quick decision. 1t was a much
different and slower process.
Two classic methods OF defeat
ing an enemy. charted In the an
nails of war. are TO either stab him
quickly and neatly TO the heart by
destroying his armies and occupy
ing his centers OF political strength
and industrial production, or starye
him to death by cutting of his sup
plies Of food and vital raw ma
terials.
Generals in command OF great
land armies. especially since Ma
poleon, have usually preferred the
quick decisive thrust. Nations pos
sessing great sea power have adopt
ed TIE starvation plan.
High priest Of the about often
Eive method in modern annals IS
Napoleon. The little corporal de-
stroyed armies and occupied for
eign capitals by the score. He
never lost a battle decisivsly until
Waterloo. But due TO the meth.
DDS OF Russia, Spain and Britain, he
finished his life on St Helena.
The strategy OF Britains navy
paved the way for the downfall Of
Napoleon and defeated the Kaiser
Germany in the World War OF
1914-lS. In fact, as Admiral Ma.
han pointed out such British naval
tactics have won eli OF the En-.
pire's wars for more than 200
years.
Implied by the Nazi resort 10 At.
triton war against Russia may be
realization by the German high
command that defeat Of the main
concentrations Of the Red army Is
impossible. Aim OF the Volga-Cau
casus offensive is TO white them
down. Failing in that, Herr Hitle,
will have some tall explaining to
do II he IL TO keep up morale oil
his people and the fighting spirit VI
his army.
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