The Wilmington morning star., 1945-05-01
WITH THE AEF
Maxi Vie1u OfLinkup
BY KENNETH L. DIXON

BY KENNETH L. DIXON
IN GERMANY, April 30.-lR-
At first everybody took it as a
good joke-or a product of some
obviously stupid mind-when word
came in the command post that
one German prisoner wanted to
know when we were going to start
fighting tho Russians.
eve have been told that Russia
and America have broken diplo-
matte relations and that the Unit
ed States was going to help the
Germans fighting the Russians, -
he said. Everybody who heard it
laughed uproariously and called it
'Hitler's last secret weapon"
But if it was a joke at first to
the Yanks it certainly isn't to the
Germans. And if that one prison
er was stupid SO are thousands OF
others who have been captured
since. .-.
Because they believe it.
A German lieutenant colonel
captured by the 116 Regiment,
18th Division, the other day tolo
Capt. Alvin H. Kahling of Chicago
II believe war between Russia
and the United State is newt
able. I offer my services.
A professional soldier since boy
hood. he had served in the Aus
trian Army under Emperor Franz
Josef and had fought in Africa
Europe and Asia. He spoke sis
languages fluently and was obvl
ously well educated.
But he was sold on the newest
propaganda line which was made
perfectly plain a few minutes la
ter when German captain or
his staff said:
81 do not think Germany has
chance in the field but l an
convinced of a political splltul
among the Allies
Since then, hundreds OF surren
dering. Germans have sung this
tune.
A great many German soldiers
Immediately ask if they are golns
to fight under their own or under
American officers. One complete
German regiment surrendered In
tact so that it could stay together
and fight as one unit agalns'
the Russians.
The propaganda has gone sc
far that it was believed in some
German prisoner Of war camps
for Allied soldiers. Guards there
offered half-staved American prl
fsoners better food and clothing i
they would join the German Ar
my to help fight the Soviets.
When the Yanks laughed a
them the German guards told then
quite seriously it was going tt
come to that eventually anyway
so they might as well get start
ed at it then. Besides, they point
ed out. it would result immediate
|ly in better food and Warmel
clothes.
Chilly they slid over the fac
that it would also result lnme
diately in action on the Russian
front.
The same attitude was shown
on the eastern bank Of the Elb'
river the other day when thousands
of displaced personnel, Liberated
war prisoners and German sol
diers wishing to surrender mlllee
about on the bank. The Doughboy!
running the ferry service had only
a few boats for a big job so ma
turally they had to set up sor
of priority system.
"Why do you take Russians IN
stead of u.s." one angry German
officer asked when an escaped
Russian war prisoner was giver
precedence over his surrender
wishes. "You will only have K
fight them later and we are ready
to help you fight them now
Nobody could convince him tina
we had no intention whatever o.
fighting Russians. Neither coulc
they reassure panicky German eli
villains who also wanted to come
over before the Soviets arrived
Some of them Subsequently com
mitted suicide rather than face
the Russians.
Just what the Germans hope tt
gain by this widespread propagan
da line at first seemed doubtful
Some Army officers thought they
actually believed they could SOW
enough seeds Of suspicion in Amer
lean military minds to gain sons
18th hour tactical advantage
Generally, however. the opinion
seems accepted now that the Nazis
merely looked toward the future