Evening star., 1949-12-04

liar war games in the countries
detection. Moscow evidently be-
lieved that the fact that Rokos-
sovsky was Polish-bor might help
in handling the Poles.
Recent reports of the creation
of a new army in Eastern Ger
many-possessing real striking
power-unquestionably are cor
rect. Soviet military authorities !
in Germany, as we'll as in East
Prussia and Silesia, have been
hard at work since 1916 creating
such a force. The Free Ger
many" organization established
after the Stalingrad disaster, hav-
ing achieved its propaganda objec-
tives, was disbanded.
Former Hitlerite soldiers, par
ticularly members of the SS
(elite corps were offered i'm
munity if they joined the new
"Volksmacht," which is distinct
from the less reliable "Volkspoli-
zei," a lightly armed police force.
In recent weeks the new puppet
government in Eastern Berlin an
nounced that full citizenship
would be restored to all former
Nazis and their dependents-if
they joined the Volksmacht.
The fact that the members OF
the new Eastern German Army are
given preferential treatment inso-
far as food and other necessities
of life are concerned is not the
only inducement used to bring
them into the ranks of the ma
tional army. The prospect that
on the side of the Russians they
can contribute to the recreation
of the old Reich under the lead
ership of Prussia is even a stronger
inducement.
Significant Move
Rokossovsky, the gentleman
field marshal" is more likely to
reach close understanding with
the Prussian Junkers who are
flocking to the new army than Is
a proletarian general.
The nearly 100000 men who
form the Eastern army of Ger
many need only a refresher course
in the handling of mechanical
weapons. Most of them already
have had training in the use Of
tanks and planes.
The appearance Of Rokossovsky
in Poland, the headquarters Of
the Western Soviet forces and
their allies. is considered one OF
the most significant, and not yet
sufficiently emphasized, develop
ments in Russia's new strategy.
He Is expected to organize by
the end of next summer. at the
latest, a strong unified force
formed Of the best Soviet and
Eastern German shock troops.
The Polish Army Is said to play
only a secondary role, principally
as communication troops.
The reason is that the Russian
high command, which UNDER
stands the German psychology.
knows that Poles and Germans
do not mix well. And they prefer
to rely on the Germans, who hope
to become equal partners with the
U. S. S. r. in the domination Of
Europe. rather than on the Poles.
who for centuries have been
antagonistic to all Russian re-
gimes.
There is a national underground
in Poland today which may affect
the loyalty Of the men in the
Polish forces. Such an under
ground does not exist in Eastern
Germany, at least in any promi-
nent form. The drastic 1945
purges in that area were followed
by forced evacuation" of millions
of Germans to the Eastern con-
fines of the great Soviet empire.
Those persons in Eastern Ger
many who cannot become accus-
toned to totalitarianism are be-
ing encouraged to flee to Western
Germany. This explains why
even today about 1000 persons a
week cross the border under the
very noses Of the German and
Russian guards. Only those who
are loyal either to communism or
to the new pan-Germanism-
based on collaboration with Rus
sia-are encouraged to remain in
Eastern Germany.
Paratroopers Ominous
The creation of a genuine mil
itary unit between the Vistula
and the Oder Rivers is one Of the
tasks that Rokossovsky is expect
ed to accomplish. The uncon-
firmed but strongly suspected con-
centration Of at least three and
probably more parachute divi-
sions in the new Western COM
mand zone is regarded as omin-
Gus by most military men In Eu-
rope.
The Soviets recognized the i'm
portance Of paratroopers long be-
fore any Western nation.
At the end of the war the Red
Army had at least seven para
troop divisions. This number has
been steadily increased. The
Soviet Army is reputed now to
have at least IL such divisions.
Western strategists believe that
the Soviet airborne task force will
have as its principal assignment
the attack on the rearguards OF
Western defense: Britain and
Spain. It seems logical that
before any major operations are
undertaken by the Red Army the
|rearguard of the defense forces
should be neutralized.
It Is obvious that in the event OF
another war England will be the
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