Evening star., 1947-03-12

d. KEITEL
A. p. Photos
location Of each division on q map.
A good deal Of mystery still surrounds
the evolution Of Hitlers decision to turn
on Russia.
He seems to have opened his mind
only slowly and partially-even to his
intimates. The first known revelation
Of his intentions was made to a small
military circle at Berchtesgaden on July
20, 1940.
Showdown" Becomes Inevitable.
Hitler set forth that showdown with
Russia was inevitable and that it would
be wise to strike as soon as the military
situation should permit.
He regarded Russian surprise attack
on Germany or Romania in the fall as
probable and instructed Gen. Jodl (head
Of the operations department of the
supreme command) to draw up plans
for counter-concentratio
It also seems there already was some
talk about operational objectives in the
East, where the future military from
tiers" were defined to include Trans
caucasia ard the line of the Volga-deep
inside Russia
Jodl returned to Reichenhall to spread
CONSERVATION among his stah by order
ing preparation of a preliminary direc-
tive
Jodl and Gen. Wilhelm Keitel (chief
of the Nazi high command executed Oc-
tober 16, 1916, after his conviction in the
Nuremberg war crimes trials) were
shocked to learn that Hitler no longer
spoke in terms Of preparing for a pos
sible Soviet surprise attack but was
eager to take the offensive himself dur
ing the fall. f.
The military men disapproved We
hemently. They presented their argu-
ments in a memorandum drawn up by
Keitel and read to Hitler early in Sep
tember, and Hitler reluctantly agreed to
hold of.
Even the Official aspects Of Russo
German relations had become clouded
by the autumn of 1910, however. The
sorest point was the Romanian problem.
The new dictator, Marshal Ion An
tonescu, had visited Berlin In Septem-
ber and offered to build up the Ro-
manian army to fight at Germany's side
for the recovery Of the lost territories
Romania already had been granted q
guarantee of her remaining frontiers by
Germany and Italy. Such guarantee
could only be directed against Russia,
which, moreover, had not been consulted
in the matter
The Russians were not even told Of
the action until few hours before the
signatures were affixed.
The developments concerning Ro-
mania contributed much to Russian
loneliness.
COW was the formation of the Three
Power Pact, which had been concluded
between Germany, Italy and Japan
early in September.
While this was obviously pointed
against the United States, the Kremlin
apparently felt that this detail admitted
too easily of revision.
One Final Meeting.
So it was under clouded skies that the
visit Of Molotov to Berlin was inaugu-
rated.
: Hitler and Molotov met in the after
noon Of November IL in what history
may designate one of the truly fateful
conferences of this century.
Hitler led off with a review Of the
world situation. Britains defeat, he said,
was foregone conclusion and the time
had come to consider the disposition of
her far-flung possessions.
Russia's natural road of expansion
was toward the warm waters to the
south. This plan of division, thought
Hitler, provided an admirable basis for
the inclusion Of Russia in the three
power pact.
Molotov thanked Hitler for his frank
statement but implied that the time for
such agreement had not come. A num-
ber Of difficulties had arisen which
might develop friction
First did Germany still recognize the
provision of the Moscow treaty by which
Finland was included in the Russian
orbit?
Hitler assured Molotov the Moscow
treaty stood in every respect. Germany
was engaged in hard fight with Britain
which was trying to cut of her supply
Of raw materials from the neutral north
ern states, which were important sup
pliers.
Any disturbance in this area there
fore lowered the German war potential.
Germany could not tolerate another at
tack on Finland.
Molotov denied Russia contemplated
another war with Finland
This line OF discussion having yielded
him little profit, Molotov brought up
Poland and asked whether Germany was
already making plans for the future Of
that country.
Hitler promptly shut of discussion on
this point by stating that 1t could be
considered only after the war.
(Tomorrow-War Clouds Gather.)
(Copyright, 1947,)