The Wilmington morning star., 1943-08-22
Berlin and Moscow


and professional observers that if a profes-
sional military control in Germany has ac-
tually succeeded Hitler's one-man circus, it
does not mean an end of the war in Europe,
is to be found in a newspaper clipping sent
to this office by an unidentified correspondent.
The authors name is also lacking, but the
article obviously was written by someone
whose acquaintance with conditions long pre-.
vailing in the Prussan element in Germany
is fairly intimate.
1t is the authors opinion that the reported
change if made, means 1.-The waging of the
war will be directed to the end of the sur
vival of German militarism. The first step
in this policy, we are told, "would be the
planning Of future action along highly conser-
vative and economical lines-cuttirg of losses
sible effort to escape from the 'two-front war
which has proved to be Hitler's undoing."
The author then dwells upon the German
Russian situation so plausibly that quotation
at some length is justified here, not only for
the pointed references to the Prussan scheme
for later wars but for the views of Josef
Stain the author holds There is much food
for thought in the following:
Events have proven that Hitler's great
est blunder was the attack on Russia Its
consequences underline the soundness of
the Bismarckian dogma that Germany's
true interest lies in keeping the peace
with Russia. The High Command always
felt that there was wisdom in this corner
Cbonoouor'c,,
faith.
The High Command allowed itself to
be separated from that doctrine by the
Kaiser, and came to grief. 1t again per-
mltted Hitler to depart from that course
Again it has failed What we can expect
today is vigorous attempt by the High
Command to get back within the Bis
marcklan framework by obtaining set
tement of the war with Russia at all
costs. Hitler could never compromise
with Russia, but the High Command in
theory could. 1t is most likely to attempt
Should the new triumvirate offer peace
to Russia on terms involving a restoration
of the 1889 boundaries, no man can pre-
dict the outcome. Russia is committed
to the recapture of all Russian soil But
Russia has carefully not committed itself
to the destruction of Germany as
strong nation, nor to the destruction of
German military power.
Stalin's speeches have, in fact, affirmed
a Russian policy of maintaining strong
Germany and German army. The only
conditions which Stain has laid down con-
sistently and firmly is the freeing of Rus
sian soil and the elimination of Hitler and
the Nazi Party. If the new authority in
Germany should offer Stain the fulfill
ment of those conditions, would he accept
them? From Stalin's point Of view, why
not? The Kremlin only last week repeated
its feeling that British and American war
plans represent a reputation of the "sec-
ond-front'' obligation.
There is certainly enough ground for
thinking that Stain would accept peace
with Germany on these conditions to tempt
the German High Command to try it out.
If it should succeed, Berlin would be able
to present the western allies with sn en-
tirely new set of conditions 1t would give
them, according to their own lights a
chance to salvage the central core of Ger
man militarism from the defeat which is
staring them in the face.
Thus, while shift in power in Germany
into the hands of the military is a sign
of German weakness, it also is probable
prelude to new course of German policy
designed to salvage what we need most
to destroy-the breeding ground of Ger
man nilitarism itself.
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