TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942 (Page 1)

LUFTPOST Distributed by the Royal Air Force

6th January, 1942, No. 1

Forbidden wherever Truth is forbidden HITLER TAKES OVER THE ARMY RETREAT ON THE WHOLE EASTERN FRONT Since December 13th there have suddenly been no more commentaries on the O.K.W. communiqués. There is nothing more to comment on, for all at once all place names except Sebastopol, Leningrad and Murmansk have disappeared from the communiqués. The German people must not learn the extent of the Russian offensive. For from Leningrad to the Crimea German troops are retreating before the Red Army. And they leave behind them the dead and wounded and valuable tanks, guns and vehicles. Up to December 25th alone more than 3,000 German tanks, 13,000 other vehicles, 1,700 guns and 1,900 machine-guns fell into Russian hands. An American correspondent, who shortly before Christmas travelled from Klin to Volokolamsk, counted on 25 miles of road more than a thousand derelict German tanks and armoured lorries. He could not count the dead, for they were covered by the snow. BACKWARDS, BACKWARDS... This retreat of the German armies began in the Southern sector of the Front. On November 29th Rostov fell into Russian hands, and on December 3rd Kleist’s Army had already been thrown back on Taganrog. A week later, at the other end of the front, east of Leningrad, the Russians recaptured Tikhvin. The O.K.W. was silent, referring only to local battles. On December 15th Kalinin and other important German key points west of Moscow were captured. In Berlin a new expression was invented: Rationalisation of the Front. On December 21st Volokolamsk fell, and on the same day it was learnt that Hitler had dismissed Brauchitsch and himself taken over the supreme command of the Army. This change in the supreme command was intended to halt the retreat of the German Army. Instead, came new Russian successes in front of Leningrad and Moscow. Then suddenly came the news that the Russians had made a surprise landing in the Crimea and recaptured Kertch and Feodosia. The first day of the New Year brought the official Russian announcement that Tula was liberated, and the Army of Field -Marshal von Kluge, more then 16 divisions, was stampeding westwards in rout. On the following day the Russians captured Staritsa, and on the next day the hotly disputed Malo Yaroslavets. “The communiqués of the O.K. W.”, declared Hitler on October 3rd, “are the communiqués of the Truth.” [Map of the Eastern Front from Leningrad to the Crimea] The shaded patches on this map show the extent of the German retreat in Russia up to January 5th, 1942.

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TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942

AFRIKA-KORPS AT BAY! On Christmas Day the Führer’s G.H.Q. reported: “In North Africa our troop movements are being carried out according to plan.” This was the day on which British Forces entered Benghazi. Last Spring Rommel was thrusting forward towards Egypt. Now Auchinleck’s patrols have entered Tripolitania. This change in the balance of power in Libya could hardly have been foreseen by the O.K.W. Rommel’s reinforcements could be brought directly from Sicily – a mere 200 tons. Auchinleck’s reinforcements, on the other hand, had to come either via the Mediterranean, a distance of 5,000 kms., or round Capetown, a distance of 20,000 kms. But the enormous British supply routes have proved – thanks to the British Fleet – safer than the short supply route of the Axis powers. The British Fleet, besides bringing gigantic convoys with aircraft, tanks and guns intact to Auchinleck, has also sunk more than a third of the ships carrying similar reinforcements to Rommel. That is why Rommel’s armoured divisions and the Italians are now retreating in disorder. Hitler is now trying to send aircraft withdrawn from the Eastern Front with petrol to Africa, in order to save Rommel. But aircraft transporting supplies of petrol for an extreme emergency are no substitute for Sea Power. JAPANESE FANFARES The fanfares of victory are sounding in Tokyo, just as at the beginning of the Russian campaign they sounded in Berlin. The Japanese lightning victories are a real gift to Goebbels’ propaganda, for they enable it to distract the attention of the German people from the miscarriage of Hitler’s two offensives. These successes have given Japan in the Far East an initial advantage similar to that gained by Hitler in the first year of the war by his invasions. But whilst in Europe at that time Hitler could overpower his victims one after the other, in the Far East the opponents of the Axis have learnt their lesson. The appointment of General Wavell as Commander-in-Chief of all Land, Sea and Air Forces in the South-Western Pacific has ensured a united conduct of the war by the Allies against the Japanese aggressor. (Pages 2)

[Picture across top of pages 2 and 3 shows German guns and transport abandoned on the side of a road in Russia. Published in “The Times” of 2nd January, 1942] Headline: RECTIFICATION OF THE FRONT ACCORDING TO PLAN – GERMAN WAR MATERIAL ON THE ROAD WEST OF KLIN

Caption reads: O.K.W. Communiqué from the Führer’s G.H.Q, on 17.12.41: “In the course of the transition from attack operations to the positional warfare of the winter months, the necessary rectifications and shortenings of the front are at present being carried out according to plan.”

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TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942

SACKED FOR BEING RIGHT WHY BRAUCHITSCH WAS UNSTUCK The German Army on the Eastern Front is not broken, but it has spent its strength. That is the explanation of the complete turning of the tables in Russia, which Hitler is trying in vain to obscure by vague and empty communiqués. Obsessed by the thought of capturing Moscow, Hitler, against the advice of his best and most experienced officers, committed the worst blunder a military leader can commit: he over-strained his Armies. He wanted to have everything at once: both Moscow and the Caucasus, instead of following Brauchitsch’s advice and concentrating all strength on the offensive against the oil fields. As long ago as September conscientious Divisional and Corps Commanders were insisting in their reports to Headquarters that even the best troops cannot maintain an offensive indefinitely. Brauchitsch, as an experienced soldier, realised the significance of these reports, and had pointed out to the O.K.W. the danger of exhausting the Army. But Hitler, zealously supported by his handy tools, Keitel and Jodl, refused to pay any attention. “For the German soldier nothing is impossible”, he had previously once remarked. At the beginning of October he ordered simultaneous general attacks in the centre and on the right wing. Both attacks brought territorial gains, booty and prisoners, but not a decision. After nine weeks of bloody fighting, the two attacks had spent themselves. Hitler had to realise that the Army could go no further. So he decided to break off the attacks, with the object of switching over to positional warfare. But the Russian Command did not fail to notice the crippling of German fighting-power. For weeks it had been waiting for this moment, for weeks holding ready the reserves that were now flung into the battle. They were Siberian Divisions, for which the European winter had no terrors. They flung themselves with their fresh strength on the weary German formations, and threw them everywhere backwards. And in so doing they tore to ribbons Hitler’s plan of allowing the exhausted German Eastern Army to regain its strength in positional warfare. Brauchitsch had been right with his warnings. Hitler could not forgive him for this; that was why he dismissed him and himself took over the command of the Army. He, who by his disregard of all warnings had shown that he had no feeling for an Army’s needs, is now demanding confidence from his soldiers with the statement that he, the now Supreme Commander, was himself only a simple soldier in the last war. But Hitler’s taking over of the command has not been able to stop the retreat of the German Army. TYPHUS IN THE EAST No soldier at the front can escape from lice. Anyone who was on the Western Front in the last war can confirm this. The lice on the Western Front in 1914-18 were unpleasant; the lice on the Eastern Front today are worse: they carry typhus. Everywhere in the Eastern occupied territories typhus is raging amongst the civilian population. Tens of thousands of German soldiers go up to the Front, and from one sector to another they carry in their uniforms the typhus louse. If they die, their uniforms must be taken off them – on the orders of the O.K.W. This must be done before rigor mortis sets in, i.e. whilst the typhus louse is still alive. The comrade who inherits a uniform, inherits also the typhus louse. Typhus is mortal, but there are two ways of combating it. Either every soldier must be deloused – which is impossible; or every soldier must be inoculated. THE “GERMAN MEDICAL WEEKLY” ANNOUNCES IN ITS NUMBER 46, PAGE 1278: “THE SPOTTED FEVER (TYPHUS) CAN HOWEVER IN NO CASE BE COMBATED BY PROTECTIVE INOCULATION. THIS MUST BE RESTRICTED TO

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TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942

DOCTORS, MEDICAL ATTENDANTS AND SANITARY PERSONNEL.” CASUALTY FIGURES? On December 11th, Hitler announced what he claimed to be the full casualty figures for the Russian campaign: From June 22nd to December 1st – so he says – the German Army lost 162,000 killed, 572,000 wounded, 33,000 missing. Hitler states, therefore, that of the 5,000,000 German soldiers in Russia only 572,000 have been wounded. If Hitler is right, then, out of every 9 soldiers on the Eastern Front, 8 would be unscathed; that only 162,000 Germans have been killed on the Eastern Front. There are in the Third Reich – at a conservative estimate – 16,000,000 families. If Hitler is right, then, 99 German families out of a hundred would not be in mourning. Everyone can check this for himself. Hitler states that he has announced the total number of dead up to December 1st. Observe that between June 22nd and December 1st are exactly 162 days. Is it a coincidence that, according to Hitler’s figures 162,000 soldiers were killed in these 162 days? Or did Hitler decide to reckon a thousand deaths a day and present this mathematical fake to the German people instead of the true facts? Everyone should think that over Hitler states that Germany is fighting for European civilisation. Every civilised State publishes casualty lists giving the names of all killed, wounded and missing. The German Government did so in the last war. Why doesn’t Hitler? Everyone must see through this swindle! (Page 3)

LUFTPOST Forbidden wherever Truth is forbidden OUR OPINION Nobody talks more about soldierly honour and sense of honour than Adolf Hitler. It is one of the principles of military honour, that a Commander-in-Chief gives the credit to his subordinates when his Army is victorious, but that when things go wrong he takes upon himself full responsibility for the mistakes that have been made. This is how General Wavell acted. When the British Forces in Libya were successful, he gave the credit to his officers. And when, in the following Spring, the Germans carried out their counter-attack, he was careful to state bluntly that he had not expected this attack so soon, and therefore was personally responsible for the British reverse. The Supreme Commander of the German Army does just the opposite. In the first months of the Russian campaign he ordered his Party propagandists to give all the honour to him alone. But when the great turn of the tide occurred in December, he put the blame on Brauchitsch. That is the difference between a soldier and Adolf Hitler. Another soldierly principle is: don’t whine when you are hurt. How little the soldier Hitler recognises this principle is shown by his New Year’s message to

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TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942

the German people. He who at every opportunity boosts of his soldierliness, is now whining: it was not he who wanted the war, but the rogue Churchill, who invested his fortune in armament shares (of course, a complete lie). Now that the final victory he guaranteed for 1941 has not arrived, he assails his opponents with the most ridiculous abuse – and all that to avoid admitting, with soldierly simplicity, that he has committed grave and irrevocable blunders. Adolf Hitler, who succeeded in destroying the civilian sense of honour in the German people, is now also destroying the notion of soldierly honour. RACIAL PURIFICATION IN HEIDELBERG Professor Ducken, of the Children’s Clinic at the University of Heidelberg, is a good National Socialist. He firmly believes in the doctrine of “Racial Purification”. Above all he believes that incurably sick and weakly or mentally deficient children have no right to exist. If such a child is brought to his clinic, he kills it. Professor Schminke and Professor Zibis, Pathological Anatomists of the University, share Ducken’s view, and often lend a helping hand at his “Racial Purifications”. Nothing happens to these three Heidelberg Professors. Why should it? They are only carrying out the policy of the Government, which was clearly laid down by the President of the State Health Office, Dr. Reiter, last January in the “Frankfurter Zeitung”: “The burdens on public maintenance of the weak-minded, cripples, etc., are to be considerably reduced.” Reiter calls it: “reduction of burdens”. The three Heidelberg Professors call it: “racial purification”. Outside Hitler-Germany it is called child-murder. AMERICA’S ANSWER TO JAPAN Units in Construction

Shipyard

5 45,000 ton Battleships 4 “ “ “ 3 Battleships 1 Battleship, 4 Aircraft carriers, 8 Heavy Cruisers of 13,000 tons, 6 Light Cruisers of 10,000 tons and 2 Cruisers of 6,000 tons. 1 Battleship, 7 Aircraft-carriers and 2 Cruisers of 10,000 tons. 7 Light Cruisers 6 Light Cruisers 2 Cruisers of 6,000 tons and 35 Destroyers 67 Destroyers

4 Light Cruisers and 25 Destroyers 25 Destroyers 25 Destroyers 12 Destroyers 40 Submarines 14 Submarines 10 Submarines 6 Submarines

Philadelphia Naval Yard New York “ “ Norfolk “ “ Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy.

Newport News Company. New York Shipbuilding Corp. Cramp Shipbuilding Co., New Jersey Federal Shipbuilding Corp., Kearny. Philadelphia, Norfolk, Charleston, Boston and Puget Sound Naval Yards, Mobile Bay Orange (Texas) and San Pedro. Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco. Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Bath Iron Works in Maine. Bethlehem Steel Co.,Staten Is. Electric Boat Co., Now Jersey. Portsmouth Naval Yard. Manitoxie Shipbuilding Co. Mare Island Naval Yard.

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TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942 (Page 4)

THE SCANDAL ON THE EASTERN FRONT Who is responsible for the breakdown of organisation? “General Winter is no longer in Russian service. We need him and welcome him.” So stated the German News Agency three months ago. On December 21st the tune was different. Goebbels had to read out on the wireless the appeal which revealed all Hitler’s previous promises to be lies. All of a sudden it was disclosed that the Russian Armies were superior to the German in numbers and material, and that the German soldiers lacked sufficient equipment for the winter. On the Russian side the Quartermaster of the Red Army had already by December 1st collected 17 million sheepskins, as an additional protection to the regular winter equipment. 17 million sheepskins! And three weeks later German families were asked to give up their last stocks of woollen goods: socks, vests, pullovers, even women’s underwear and bathing pants. The Knights of the Swastika are begging for Winter Relief for the Eastern Front. They are not begging for special comforts – woollen scarves, wristlets and so forth – but for things that belong to the regular winter equipment of every soldier on active service. Who is responsible for this scandal? Not Lieutenant-General Stapf the Chief Quartermaster; he supplied everything that he was asked for. Not the dismissed Brauchitsch; he knew exactly how ill-equipped the German Armies were for a winter campaign, and had therefore been urging since September that the Army should be withdrawn into winter quarters behind Smolensk. The responsible man is Adolf Hitler. Hitler imagined that he could conquer Moscow and the Caucasus before winter, and that Russian resistance must then collapse. That is why he ordered that winter equipment should be provided only for a garrison force of a million men. This was done; but the supplies available must now suffice for 5 millions. Only one in every five German soldiers is properly clad. That is why the collectors are now going round. But the clothing collected after Christmas cannot reach the front before the end of January – supposing that the Russian partisans behind the lines allow it to get there at all. IN SEA WARFARE, TOO, HITLER’S PROMISES ARE WORTHLESS On December 17th there began on the Atlantic an attack lasting five days by German U-boats and Focke-Wolf bombers on a British convoy of 30 vessels with naval escort. On December 27th the Führer’s G.H.Q. stated that in this attack five British merchant ships, of 37,000 tons altogether, had been sunk, and two others damaged; and that the British aircraft-carrier “Unicorn” had been sunk. There was no mention of German losses. Six days later the British Admiralty announced the true facts. Two British merchant vessels, of 6,193 tons altogether, had been sunk. The sunk ship that according to the Führer’s G.H.Q. was supposed to be the aircraft-carrier “Unicorn” was in fact the former German steamer “Hannover”, which had been captured by a British warship in March 1940 and since used as a British auxiliary vessel; it was renamed “Audacity”. In addition a British destroyer was torpedoed and sunk; it was one of the 50 destroyers that America had transferred to England in the summer of 1940. On the other side, at least three German U-boats were destroyed, one by ramming and two by depth charges and gunfire. Two Focke-Wolf bombers were shot down. So ended a year of sea war, at the beginning of which Hitler had promised that he would starve England out with his U-boats. In this year British food rations have been substantially increased. British ships have carried a

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TRANSLATION OF G.2, LUFTPOST, NR. 1, 6. JANUAR 1942

strong army with tanks, aircraft and all other supplies to the Near East. British ships have carried hundreds of tanks and aircraft and thousands of tons of food to Russia. British ships have brought continually increasing quantities of foodstuffs and war material from America to England. Not a day went by throughout last year on which less than 2,000 British merchant ships were at sea. So deadly are the new and reinforced methods and devices used by the British in hunting U-boats – still more destroyers and corvettes, improved detecting apparatus, more powerful depth charges – that Hitler’s present U-boat crews consist chiefly of untrained novices. On December 31st Churchill stated that in the last five months of 1941 British shipping losses had fallen to one-fifth of the losses in the previous five months. In sea warfare, too, Hitler’s promises have proved worthless.

LONDON WIRELESS Programmes in German (German Summer Time) 02.00 hours:

News for the Forces

06.00-07.00 hours:

News, communiqués.

11.00 hours:

News

14.00 hours:

News and talks

15.00 hours:

News for women

16.00 hours:

News from the free world

18.00 hours:

News for the Forces

20.00 hours:

News and talks

22.00 hours:

News and topical commentary

23.00 hours:

News for Austria

Wavelengths:

49 and 373 metres, at various times also 25, 31, 41, 261, 285 and 1500 metres.

Programme for Seamen News of special interest for members of the Navy and Merchant Service and for people living on the coast, daily at 19.45 hours (German Summer Time). Wavelengths:

25, 31, 41, 49, 285 and 373 metres.

[Reproduction of the top half of the Front Page of the Völkischer Beobachter of October 10th, 1941] Headlines read: “THE GREAT HOUR HAS STRUCK: THE CAMPAIGN IN THE EAST DECIDED! TIMOSCHENKO’S AND VOROSHILOV’S ARMY GROUPS SURROUNDED BUDJENNY’S ARMY GROUP IN DISSOLUTION” Caption reads: The Führer is always right.

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