Evening star., 1942-01-19
brauchitsch, , 0usted
By Hitler, Reported
Undergoing Operation
Ex-Chief Declared Better:
British See Intrigue
In Reichenuus Deoth
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Jan. 19.-Field Mar
shall Gen. Walther Won Brauch-
itsch, former commander in
chief of the German Army, has
undergone an operation, de-
scribed as successful despite
the severe heart trouble which
Won Brauchitsch had two months
ago." Reuters quoted the German
news agency D.N.B. as reporting
today.
The field marshal, who was re-
placed as commander of the army
by Adolf Hitler last month, was said
to be recovering. He will have to
take a long rest, 1t was said.
DN.B. said Hitler sent him best
wishes for q speedy recovery.
Hitler announced his assumption
Of the army command December 81
and said he had been induced to
follow his intuitions." It was said
the actual replacement took place
December 10.
The field marshal in an order of
the day on December ~ said he
asked for his dismissal ION account
Of q heart ailment"
Intrigue Seen by British.
Sinister intrigue behind Hitler's
back caused the death Of Field
Marshal Gen. Walter Won Reiche-
nau, the British press reasoned yes
terday with unanimous skepticism
of the ohicial announcement that he
died Of apoplexy.
(The British radio last night
reported that Gen. Heinrich Won
Stuelpnagel had been relieved Of
his post as leader OF the 18th
German Army now fighting in
the Ukraine. The broadcast was
heard by c. B. S.
(The Swiss radio said today
that Field Marshal Gen. Will
helm Keitel. chief of the German
high command, who has been re-
ported "ill," would 60 to Buda-
pest to return the official visit to
Germany q year ago OF q Hun
garian Army representatives.
Evidence of the British press on
Gen. Won Reichenau, Of course, was
circumstantial, but newspapers Of
fered three principal arguments to
support their contention that Gen.
Won Reichenau died at the hands
Of his fellow officers, probably in .
violent outburst of dissension be-
tween the Nazi Fuehrer and his war
command.
They were:
/. Gen. Won Reichenau's reputa-
ton as Hitler's most pro-Nazi gen.
eral;
2. The background Of dismissal
and sudden illness among the Ger
mans top generals;
3. Gen. Won Reichenau's singular
physical fitness, matter he made
almost a fetish.
Always in Peak Condition.
The apoplexy diagnosis put for
ward Saturday in the official Berlin
announcement of the death was
looked on with particular suspicion
by many British writer's because
Gen. Won Reichenau was known to
have kept himself always in peak
condition, even working out at the
front with Walter Neusel, the for
mer German heavyweight boxer.
Some took the view that Gen.
Won Reichenau was eliminated as
an open challenge by the army to
Hitler. This supposition was based
on the report that he was being
considered by the Nazis as COM
mander in chief Of the army despite
the opposition Of strong, influential
elements in it.
Finally, his death following the
death of Gen. Ernst Udet, the dis
missal of Gen. Won Brauchitsch, and
a harvest of rumors that other gen.
erals had been ousted from their
commands or had begged of further
service. the press contended, should
leave no doubt of antagonism be-
tween the Nazis and the army
leaders.
Newspapers reviewed rumors that
such key commanders on the Rus
sian front as Field Marshal Gems
Ritter Won Leeb, Fedor Won Book anC
Karl Rudolf Gerd Won Rundstedt had
sought to be relieved, among others
Of only slightly lesser rank, includ.
ing the tank warfare ace, Gen. Heinz
Guderian.
Gen. Udet's Death.
OF Gen. Udet, who was said tc
have died while testing q new
weapon, the British radio has broad
cast purported rumors from Berlin
that he was put to death because hi
approved inferior materials for the
German air force, Of which he wa
quartermaSter general.
Britons even viewed the German
tributes to Gen. Won Reichenau with
suspicion. The press recalled thu
honUs paid 70 Baron Col. Gen