Laurel outlook., 1947-09-24
Hitler in Panic
Near War End
Papers Show Reich in Full
Military Defeat; Find
Staff Records.

LONDON. - The downfall of the
third reich was brought about by
utter national deterioration and
total military defeat, a British ad-
miralty report says. It's conclusions
we're based on captured documents
which lay to rest forever the legend
of an unconquerable German army.
Germany suffered total military
defeat, and there was no possibility
of a%scribing that defeat to anything
except military conquest" the re-
port said.
Documents which detail the
fuehrer conferences between Hitler
and his staff in the final weeks of
the war, form the basis for the re-
port. The papers we're among the
German archives captured by Brit
ish and American intelligence off
GERS and contained a day-by-day
account of confusion and panic in
the German high command.
The beginning of the end was in
early 1945, when shortages of coal,
manpower, and oil made Ger
many's situation desperate.
Shows Self Up.
"By the beginning of 1915 Hitler's
ability had deteriorated and he
showed himself quite incapable Of
viewing the war situation as a
WHOLE" the report said.
Where one would expect to find
an acceptance of military defeat
leading to plans being made for
guerrilla warfare and for continuing
the fight underground there are in
stead nothing but a series of tao
teal schemes for bolstering individ-
ual sections of the three fronts,
neither related to nor coordinated
with any general strategy.
1.-THE conferences give a clear /
picture of Hitler and his staff des-
perate and so harassed that they
could not think beyond the imme-
date requirements of battle"
Hitler ordered his "scorched
earth" policy sent to all commands
on March 10.
Indicating dissension in the Ger
man army, Hitler on March 81 or
dered an investigation Of officers
occupying the posts of fort COM
.anders in the Channel Islands. He
said these should be filled mainly
by naval officers, "since many for
tresses have been given up, but no
were ever lost without fight
to the last man."
To add to Hitler's confusion, Gen
eral Eisenhower, on March 81, is
sued INSTRUCTION to the wehrmacht
German army" advising the
German troops to surrender. !
U-BOats a Flop. ;.
After long trials Germany's
vaunted new U-boats were ready
or operation at the end of March.
during the last five weeks
the war Allied advances squeezed
he U-boats out of the Baltic ports.
April, 81 of the U-boats were lost,
he highest monthly total for the
var.
The new U-boats were virtually
Useless because of the fuel shortage.
The manpower shortage and lack
If arms also had become desperate.
"Allied troops pressed on into the
of Germany, and the position
If the wehrmacht became hopeless
. but as the Reorganization in
Germany increased . Hitler's g..
and air forces that he so
diligently moved into action were
more than colored pins on
map"
Hit1er'c ordarc convinced Coarino
# his insanity and he attempted to
axe over the leadership. Hitler or
lered Goering's execution, the re-
'ort said, but Goering was only re-
ieved of his command. In the
Meantime Hitler received press re-
'orts that Himmler had sued for
with Britain and the United
tates and ordered Doenitz to take
immediate and decisive action"
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