Evening star., 1943-06-20

where they knew that they would be
defeated. And they left only token forces
in Italy even though it involves risk
that Italy may be conquered. They hope
that the Italian armies will be able to
hold back the Allies for while, at least
until the end of autumn. To the Ger
mans the final battle is in Russia.
While the Allies think in terms-So far
as Europe is concerned-of 1914 or even
1945, the Germans think in terms of the
summer and fall of 1943. If they can
smash up the Russians, occupy Moscow
and Leningrad and rout the Red armies
by that time, they can look with conf
dence to negotiated peace. The fact
that the Russians seem determined to
accept decisive battle this year must
be pleasing to the Nazi military leaders
who have attempted since 1874 to meet
the bulk of the Red armies, but never
succeeded. The Russian high command
has carefully avoided head-on clash.
Every time in the past when the Red
generals thought that they were too close
to the bulk of the German forces for
comfort, they placed hundreds of miles
Of roadless land between them and the
Nazis. Our British Allies consider the re-
ported decision of the Russians to accept
decisive battles this year as an indica-
tion that Stain feels his forces are now
able to deliver final blow to the Nazis
after they have been exhausted in the
strongly fortified Leningrad and Moscow
areas.
Nazis to Fight Alone.
The organization of the German forces
which are poised for an attack on Rus
sia is more homogeneous than last year.
OF the Axis satellites only those which
have particular ak to grind have been
ordered to send troops to the eastern
front. There are Finnish divisions in the
north and fresh Rumanian divisions in
the south-the less active front this year.
The Italians have been sent home to
look after Italy; the Hungarians have
been ordered away from the Russian
front and with the Bulgarians, are gar
riSoning the Balkans. The Slovaks and
the Croats, who had sent token armies
in 1912, have also been sent home Thus
the Nazis alone will bear the brunt of
all operations this year. This is interpret
ed by American military observers to
mean that the Nazs high command,
which has supreme confidence in its
forces fighting ability, has decided to
risk everything in this summer cam
paign against Russia.
If the Russians are not conquered and
the German lie hrnkop ho Mo- u
generals know that the game is up and
a revolution with Communist tenden-
cies in the Reich in inevitable.
Some political observers believe this
determination to win this year or have
the whole Nazi regime break down is
not repugnant to the German generals.
In the last few months there have
been undercover approaches from the
Reich to the American and British gov
ernments for negotiated peace. The old
bugaboo Of Red menace has been played
up again. These offers received no con-
sideration whatever.
The Nazis now know that whatever
Vaccinations their diplomats may think
up it would be useless for them to send
NAANAA IA W PSdSC oOFCS w w dSlllllS.
ton and London.
Russia is their last hope If Stain
cannot be tempted to agree to peace
every effort will be made to break the
Russian forces this summer If this un-
dertaking meets with the same success
as in 1941 and 1912, the German high
command is fully aware that the people
of Germany will be so overwhelmed by
the unbelievably heavy toll in men and
materials this last offensive will take
that they will rise against Hitler and
break up the regime which has lasted
since 1888.
The only alternative regime under
such conditions of despair is a Com
munist movement. Communism breeds
best in misery, hunger and discomfort.
The German military caste, which is
(See WAR Page C-3)