Evening star., 1944-06-04
Organizing Europe'sPeace
T0Be Difficult Problem
Underground Movement to Play Big Part
in Settlements Germans Believed
Ripe for Revolt Against Nazis
By Constantine Bro,pn.

ern Europe there are various
groups which are more or less
united at this time, but differ funda-
mentally in their political aspira-
tions.
In Eastern Europe the under
ground has a more definite nation
alistic tinge. The Poles, for in
stance, are cooperating to certain
extent with the Russians in order to
get rid of the Nazi rulers.
But the same underground,
skilled in guerrilla fighting and able
to handle all kinds of weapons, may
surge as the principal handicap to
the decisions reached last winter
at Teheran. The nationalism of the
Poles, be they Communist, Socialist,
bourgeois or aristocrat, is well
known apd has proved itself over a
period of nearly $50 years. The Poles
have great gift of fighting each
other when they are independent.
But they get together regardless of
political beliefs when their land is
under the domination of an alien
power.
100000 in Poland.
/ According to available informa-
ton, about 1000 900 persons are con-
nected with the various Polish un-
derground organizations. The lead
ers are taken from all walks Of life;
from among noblemen, intellectuals,
factory workers and peasants. In
their eagerness to oust the Nazis
they have offered their military CO.
operation to the Red Army. But
there is no indication that they are
willing to continue the assistance
after Poland has been freed of one
set of masters to make room for
another, regardless of what form the
Moscow domination may take.
A similar situation exists in Yugo-
slavia, where the Serbs under Gen.
Draja Mihalovich may go back to
their old favorite pastime-guerilla
fighting-when the smoke of the
battle in Europe has lifted. The
governments in exile represent a
good deal to us because We are honor
bound to accept them as such. But
1t is difficult to foresee how many of
them will succeed in getting back
to their country and continue from
where they have left off. No one in
Poland, Greece and Yugoslavia cares
much for the governments which
have established themselves in
comfort in London and Cairo. Some
sentimental ties-the ties with re-
cent past-may still exist in the
minds of few underground leaders.
But they will disappear after the
Germans have been defeated.
There is sort of underground
in Germany itself. 1t can be found
in one wing of the Nazi party and
is officially represented by the Free
Germany Committee in Moscow
where German prisoners of war are
being drilled for police duty after
Hitler's government has been
purged.
The Gestapo prevents any out
ward demonstrations of discomfort
in the Reich. But there is no ques-
ton that the millions of homeless
people in the Reich cannot feel
kindly toward the leaders who have
promised them the millennium and
have brought upon the Reich moth
ing but destruction.
Ripe for Revolution.
Without doubt, there are many
millions of Germans who will be
glad to express themselves strongly
against the present regime as soon
as the opportunity comes. But
these very Germans who would be
delighted to take revenge for the
last two years of hell will co-ordi-
nate their forces to prevent, if pos
sible. the destruction of the Reich's
political structure. Alone, they can
not do much against the organized
forces of the Allies, but in gen.
eral turmoil in Europe, with other
undergrounds biting at the policing
forces of the big three, they might
do good deal of harm.
Germany is ripe for another revo-
luton, entirely different from the
one OF 1918. At that time the Allied
governments were so afraid of the
specter of communism in Europe
and so determined to smash it that
they shut their eyes when the forces
of the defeated generals crushed
the outbursts of the Spartacus
party and other communist SYM
pathizers. The situation has
changed today. On the surface the
German people are still obedient to
their Fuehrer. So are the gen.
erals-that is, until the fate of Ger
many Is decided by the success or
failure of the Allied attack in the
west. But when they realize that
Germany is about to be defeated on
the battlefield, their apparent obedi-
ence will be transformed into open
rebellion.
For the time being the various
underground movements, including
the extraterritorial Free Germany
movement in Russia, are hailed by
us as greatly contributing to our
hnal victory. This may be the case
so far as a military victory is con-
cerned. But many responsible po-
lltlcal thinkers are worried lest these
powerful movements become our
bltterest foes If the beautifully blue
printed map of postwar Europe"
ooes not meet with their approval.