Evening star., 1945-03-18
Germans Prepare
To Meet Allies Spring
Showdown Drive
Ey the Associated Press.


LONDON. Mar. I7-The. Ger.
mans said tonight the first phas'
of the Allied spring ofIensive has
begun with massive American at.
tacks in the west and Moscow
broadcast report the Nazis were
turning an area in South Germany
into a small but super-strong'
defense region for their last stand
At the same time, a Russian
military commentator declared
high commands of the Red Army
and the Western Allies had agreed
on a co-ordinated win-the-wal
strategy which soon would result
in Simultaneous blow of stu.
pendous force which will effect thu
iuncture of our armies somewhere
in Central Germany"
The German radio, beamine
abroad an article that will appear
in tomorrow's papers, said the wal
was about to enter its decisive
phase" on both the eastern anc
western fronts. 1t said the Allied
spring push began with the heavy
American attack between Coblen2
and Haguenau. and that troops
were concentrating on the Rhine
north Of CoblenZ and Bonn for
other drives.
"Operational Contact Established.
But Robert Ley, Nazi labor chief
tain who has been touring the
Rhine front, said any decisions
there would not decide the Germans
fate. He asserted in a broadcast
message:
L repeat what I said earlier in
Berlin-we fight in front of the
Rhine. on the Rhine and behind
the Rhine. Our enemies have not
broken us, and they will not break
us"
Col. Kolomeitsev, a Russian COM
mentator, wrote in an article later
broadcast that "operational con-
tact had been established between
the Allies and is becoming closer"
He added:
Allied blows at Germany are be-
coming more effective and every
thing seems to point to strictly
and timed plan of CO.
ordination between the Allied
fronts now about 300 miles apart.
The OLD tactics of successive
bloWs-now at one front, now at
another-have given way to a tactic
of concerted blows on both fronts
and I believe that in the future CO.
Allied fronts will take the
form of simultaneous concentric
blows increasing in strength and
Last Battle Expected in South.
The Allies long have figured that
the NazLs leaders intend to stage
their last battle in the mountain
ous southland. A Moscow broad
cast said Bavaria and Austria had
been chosen definitely and that
large quantities of weapons and
food already had been moved in.
Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel and
Gen. Alfred Jodl were reported to
have inspected the setup.
Associated Press War Correspon-
dent Alvin j. Steinkopf said yes
terday in dispatch from the wes-
tern front that it was believed the
Nazis were going to use the vast
salt mines in the Salzburg area as
part of their defense plan. Mr..
Steinkopf, who was stationed for
many years in Austria and Ger
many, pointed out that the tre-
mendous borings were large enough
to hold airplanes and big quanti-
ties of supplies.
The Berlin radio, talking about
how the capital had been prepared
to meet the oncoming Russians,
said defense sectors radiated fan
wise from the city and that battle
seasoned officers had been put in
command.
THE sectors are studded with eX-
tensive defense positions which
make use of natural obstacles such
as belts of lakes, chains of hills and
canals" the broadcast declared.
"On the more exposed f1anks the
defense will rest on artificial install
ations such as tank blocks, anti
tank bitches, strongpoints and fox
holes. Using the technique for plot
ting the approach of enemy aircraft,
an 'achtung' tattention1 tank ring
will warn against the approach of
any spearheads.
Defense More Closely Knit.
"As the outskirts of the city are
the defense becomes
more and more closely knit and cor
more powerful. Ar
mored waves of the attackers will
be directed into tank-busting alleys,
Communications in the capital per-
NIT the mobile deployment of hus-
banded reserves and the formation
Of surprise strongpoints."
Meanwhile, the multiple burdens
Of besieged nation were reflected
In various reports.
A Dane arriving in Sweden from
Stettin said the assaulted Baltic
city faced a catastrophe short
age" of weapons and that one-third
Of the population had been evacu-
ated while the remainder stayed to
defend the city in Volkssturm units.
The informant was quoted as say
ing the Germans had hoped to hold
out against the Russians for a
month there, but the prospects
are small" Plans of the city's de-
tense were reported disclosed to
the Soviets by a retired general
who deserted to the Russians.
1000 Deserters Executed.
Mobile courts-martial have exc
cuted 1000 men and officers of the
German Army for desertion and
other military offenses. the Ger
man home radio said in broad
cast. These courts have been set
up at key centers to try military
personnel suspected of leaving their
units.
A shortage of material brought
a decree that arm bands will be
the only token of mourning hence
IA