Detroit evening times., 1945-04-30
IN
BY Maj. Gen.
D. P. Barrows

IN SPITE of unprecedented
L losses by battle and by SUR
render, two-thirds of the Ger
man wehrmaCht is believed still
TO be intact, and il holds a very
large amount of territory, AL
though most of this is non
German or foreign soil
The British intelligence Serv-
ice of their war office has been
successful in two wars in keep
ing accurate information upon
the numbers and location of the
German divisions.
This service year ago re-
ported the Germans 10 have a
little over 800 combat divisions.
They now put the number at
about 200.
The British war Office is ac-
CuStomed TO release its informa-
ton upon the enemy more freely
and in greater detail, than our
own war department. and this
gives -credibility to review
German strength made by David
Woodward Of the Manchester
Guardian, as reported by the
British information service un-
der date of April 23.
CONTACT between the Amer
~ lean armies and the Rus
slams will divide the German
power into two distinct groups
of troops and territory.
Land communication between
them will be severed.
But both northern and south
ern groups will be formidable
and must be expected to fight
desperately until they are eXtin-
guiShed.
This resistance TO the end,
with the gradual devastation of
the lands and their productive
power, is Hitler's answer to the
demand for unconditional STIR
render.
And in this policy he seems to
be supported by German soldiers
and civilians.
The northern block comprises
Norway, with 10 German divi-
SionS.
There are four in Denmark,
and seven more covering the
Bremen Hamburg area now
closely pressed by the British
Second Army.
In northern Germany between
the lower Oder and the Elbe,
Mr.. Woodward reports that
there are 30 German divisions.
This makes possible total of
81 divisions.
And this number is being
somewhat reinforced by the
gradual Withdrawals through
the Baltic Sea of the German
forces in Courland or Latvia,
but does not include the Ger
man divisions cut off in Holland
by the First Canadian Army.
The Russian armies can
L extend their advance north
ward into Mecklenburg and de-
stroy the German forces there,
this will still leave compact
enemy force in Denmark and
Norway where physical condi-
tions make their destruction diff
ficult.
Even amphibious operations
may be necessary
The way in which Allied ar
mics are now distributed indi-
Gates that this task would fall
naturally to the British army
and navy.
The southern block OF Ger
man power is considerably
larger in size and holds also a
terrain that may have to be
slowly reduced by attrition.
The American Seventh and
Third armies, with the French
First Army. have now swept
through northern Bavaria and
have reached the line of the
Elbe River.
South Of this line German re-
siStance may be strong.
II is too soon TO speculate as
10 how strong. but southern
Bavaria and the city of Munich
are the cover to the Alpine
"redoubt' and TO the city of
Salzburg, which is marked as
the final capital of Hitler's gov
ernment and military command.
THE British report gives 80
L German divisions opposing
the Russian front. This appears
to include the enemy forces in
Slovakia as well as those which
recently lost both Budapest and
Vienna.
II also allows 20 divisions
covering Bavaria, 10 in Yugo-
slavia, and 20 or more in Italy,
or q total Of 13O divisions.
Few German divisions can be
at the full strength of $4,000
men.
Some may contain no more
than 5000. but their organiza-
tion has been preserved. with
their "cadres" Of officers, nom
commissioned officers. special
lists and veterans. which allows
the ranks 10 he replenished with
all types Of drafted men whose
fanatical mood may partly make
up for ineXperience.
Altogether these estimates re-
veal two groups OF large ar
mics still 10 be conquered or
destroyed.
Though Germany may be en-