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AT THE TURNING POINT OF THE WAR

HITLER GERMANY IN EARLY SUMMER 1943

Reports on the Situation in Germany
issued by the
Executive of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
residing in London

C o n t e n t s:

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1. OBSERVATIONS OF A NEUTRAL ON THE EFFECTS OF THE RAF-RAIDS

A merchant from a neutral country who had commercial dealings in Belgium reports on his experience and impressions during his return journey through Germany:

"My attempt to return to Berlin by direct line through the Ruhr-district failed. Even my declared intention to get in touch with commercial partners in the Ruhr-district was of no avail. It was pointed out to me, rather unfriendly, that I had to return through South Germany. Thus I lost a whole day, and for the journey from Frankfort to Berlin I needed 150% of the time indicated in the time-table. All times indicated there have only paper-value. In Frankfort they told me clearly that it would be useless to leave the train during the journey to Berlin since nobody could guarantee a possibility to travel by any later train.

I arrived at the platform very early, but the corridor train was already crowded with soldiers. Like all other civilians I had to spend the fourteen hours journey (in pre-war times not more than eight hours) in the closely packed corridor.

Before starting my journey I received travellers' ration cards for bread, butter and meat, but I had to go hungry during the whole journey, for food was obtainable neither in the train nor at the stations. Only once a Red Cross nurse gave me a cup of so-called coffee. She pointed out to me that, strictly speaking, I had no right to get it.

During the whole journey from Frankfort to Halle I noticed destroyed factories. It was clearly visible that bombing had been aimed at industrial targets only. Wherever one noticed destroyed dwelling-houses, they were situated in the neighbourhood of a factory.

The appearance of Berlin was slightly different in this respect. Kraussen-street has been heavily hit, parts of the Castle have been destroyed and so was Hedwigs Church and the Passage Unter den Linden. Many busses at Prager Square in West Berlin are destroyed. But the destruction in industrial districts like Schoeneberg and Reinickendorf is much heavier.

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In Hamburg, too, extensive damage has been done, particularly in the harbour district.

Both Berlin and Hamburg have a very sombre appearance. The closing down of many shops adds to this. The main shopping streets look deserted. The shop windows are concealed and dirty.

The mood of the population is either depressed or openly dissatisfied. People realise more and more that the tables are turned and that the Germans are now receiving the blows which others received before."

A German officer who was on leave in Berlin when the air raids happened said: "We got used to quite a lot at the Eastern Front but the hell of a concentrated air-raid on a city is far more terrible. Besides, at the front you have the feeling that you can defend yourself, but here you can only sit still and hope that you will be spared." This officer doubted that the German people can take these blows for long.

2. BERLIN AFTER THE LAST BIG RAF-RAID

An eye-witness reports on the effects of the last big RAF-raid on Berlin:

"The damage in the city is considerable. The old method to conceal the bombed sites by wooden walls has been abandoned. Too big are the districts destroyed. The transport vehicles of Berlin suffered particularly. On the morning after the bombing the factories could not start work without many hours delay. The City Railway on which the workers depend was interrupted in the inner city. People tried to reach their destinations by tram or bus. But even these vehicles run only on parts of their route. Days passed before traffic became normal again. Moreover many lines have been cancelled for lack of material and staff. The same difficulties affect the railways. The railway repair shop Niedershoeneweide is so overburdened with work that many cars can be repaired only superficially. They are returned for repair again within a few days. In this repair shop a number of highly skilled workers were recently arrested. Some key machines in the Tools Dept. had been destroyed within a short period. The management suspected sabotage. But the

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arrested workers had to be released after a few days, since nothing could be proved against them. There is a feeling of tension among the workers there owing to these arrests.

The population gives open vent to their feelings now, more frequently than ever before. On the day after the air raid the resentment was particularly strong, and Goering was the object of violent criticism.

3. A JUDGEMENT ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EDER AND MOEHNE DAMS

A representative of I.G. Farben expressed the following opinion during his stay in a foreign country, with reference to the bombing of the Eder and Moehne dams by the RAF:

"The floods caused much destruction in men, cattle and material but the consequences are not vital as far as war production is concerned. The works which are attached to the power stations could resume work within two days since they could switch over to the Ofta dam in the Eifel mountains. This connection with the Ofta dam had been prepared in advance. Moreover, the majority of big plants in the industrial area of West Germany is in possession of their own power stations, which means that mostly smaller and medium plants were affected by the interruption. On the other hand, these plants are playing a much bigger part now since many big plants are playing a much bigger part now since many big plants have been paralysed by direct attacks. If the Ofta dam were destroyed too, the consequences would be far-reaching and lasting."

4. BIG DAMAGE IN ELBERFELD

In the attack on Wuppertal-Elberfeld the well-known works of Bayers Chemical and Dye Factories were completely put out of action. Thirty per cent of the population are homeless and had to be evacuated.

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5. THE FEELING AT THE FRONTS

Since March 1943 major troop movements are taking place. The general belief is that they are caused by the disastrous lowering of morale. The armies of occupation in Denmark and Norway who feel doubly the icy contempt of the population because they have comparatively much free time, are all, to some degree, in a state of psychical depression which expresses itself not only in lack of discipline but also in an increase in suicides. As the conditions at the Eastern Front are not so good as to maintain the morale of the troops without pains, it is believed that the movement of troops (limited by the restricted capacity of transport) may bring some advantage for the time being. Thus troops from Denmark and Norway have been shifted to the East while troops from the East have been directed to the West. The gaps in Denmark and Norway have been filled by fresh recruits. It is significant that no home leave is being granted to troops who pass Germany on the way from the East to the West.

6. A WAR INVALID AGED 52 AT THE FRONT

The extent of the combing out in connection with the total mobilisation is illustrated in a letter from a German to a friend in a neutral country.

There it is stated:

"The discontent and the desire for peace are very strong. Sons and sons-in-law are at the front. We are waiting for the long promised leave which is postponed for unknown reasons again and again. My step-brother who is now 52 years old was wounded twice in the First World War. He received an allowance of forty percent after the war because two fingers of his left hand were amputated. But he was drafted again and is now at the front. Up to now three of my nephews have been killed. In the case of two the fathers are also at the front. They have not been on leave so far."

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7. FEAR OF INVASION AMONG GERMANS IN NORWAY

Leading Nazis in Norway face the prospect of invasion with uneasiness. They fear that in a short time they would be cut off from supplies from Germany. Therefore it was decreed already a year ago that the armies of occupation should establish supply stores lasting for nine months at least.

The stores could not be maintained, and the army of occupation has today only supplies for three months. Now efforts are being made to decrease the transport difficulties by using barges.

8. CORRUPTION

Corruption among Nazi leaders has no limit. For bribes they do any business. Some fashionable concert restaurants are used as black markets for dealings of this kind. Some instances of such dealings are: delivery of waggonload of coal for the gift of a set of genuine chinaware; a lady of the "society" is relieved from compulsory labour service for the gift of a box of cigars.

9. THE EXPLOITATION OF THE MIDDLE CLASS

When many shops and restaurants were closed as a result of the new decrees concerning total mobilisation, officials appeared long before the date of actual closing down and registered the store of goods.

Later on, the goods and the furniture were carried away by lorries.

They were surrendered to the armed forces and the hospitals and also to air raid victims who had a certificate to this effect.

But the shopkeepers and restaurant proprietors did not get anything. The resentment was so great that the exploitation could not always be carried out without incidents.

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10. THE PEOPLE'S CAR OF THE GERMAN LABOUR FRONT

At the end of the last financial year most of the part-payments on the big people's car project, which is worth millions, have been brought to an end. However the de jure car owners have no illusions at all about their being one day in reality car owners. In general, people have accustomed themselves to the thought that they have been stung once again.

11. DISCONTENTED WOMAN

In Wilhelmsburg, which belongs to the greater Hamburg area, about a hundred women who came under Labour Call-up regulations have been put to mending flour and potato sacks. The result of their work has been so bad that it was not possible to pay piece rates and 52 pfennige per hour had to be paid. To all complaints the women replied that they hadn't asked to be put on such work and that they had not been trained for it anyhow.

It is now a rule that in Theatre and Cinema queues working class women push in front of smartly dressed women remarking that they had done a heavy day's work and were not in a condition to queue up for admission tickets.

12. WORKING HOURS IN FOOD INDUSTRY INCREASED TO 80 HOURS PER WEEK

On account of Labour shortage it has not been possible to introduce shift work into the food-industry. In order to cope with the work at all, the 80 hours week has been introduced in the canning industry.

13. RELATIONS BETWEEN FOREIGN AND GERMAN WORKERS

It has become evident that in factories where Dutch and Belgian (Flemish) workers are occupied, there is a spirit of cordial solidarity between German and foreign workers. This is not very favourable for the faith in the grandeur and unshakability of the Nazis.

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The language difficulties between those workers who understand low German and those foreign workers are very negligible indeed. The German workers, most of whom are former Trade Unionists and Socialists, are very eager to learn from their foreign comrades about the activities of socialists in the democratic countries. The German workers have now been forbidden to communicate with foreign workers outside the factories, and inside the factories a much more severe guard is being kept in order to prevent the two groups of workers from becoming friendly with each other.

14. SABOTAGE

At the shipyard of Blohm and Voss (Steinwaerder) where the floating docks are, a great fire was started in the middle of April after the end of the first shift. It was found that the crew of a U-boat, which was lying in dock, had started the fire together with some shipyard workers. 12 persons have been taken prisoner.

In the Saale-harbour, a convoy of sugar-barges, which came from Bohemia, blocked in the locks, and completely smashed one of the lockgates. As the skipper who was in charge of the convoy, had already been to court once on account of "utterance hostile to the State", Sabotage was taken for granted and he was taken to a concentration camp.

At the Hannover Station of Oberhafen, several waggons with food for the Ruhr were derailed. One of the damaged waggons was almost wholly plundered by women railway workers, who were unloading potatoes from a nearby train.

Hamburg workers demonstrate for peace. At the beginning of April a red flag was hoisted once again on the St. Michaels Church. Workers going on the first shift stopped, and an elderly worker made a speech, concluding with a cheer for the International. The workers were just able to sing the International and to shout loudly for peace several times, before the police appeared on the scene. The police were unable to catch anyone.

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15. STRENGTHENING OF THE SS AT THE INNER GERMAN FRONT

At the beginning of April big units of the Waffen-SS arrived in Hamburg. These units have been distributed to the different NSDAP districts, so that now each district leader has got one unit of the Waffen-SS at his disposal. The population is very much embittered about the behaviour of these parasites, who put their noses into everything. They are also making regular searches of houses and flats, as the usual sneaks and informers, the block-wardens and cell-leaders have been called up for military service.

SA on the Home Front. End of May, the Sturmbann for special duties, HANSA, had their march past in the Moorheide. SA group leader Fust[1] made a speech. SS group leader Count Bassewitz-Behr[2] and Major-General Wahle[3] were present. This SA unit is doing police duty and is notorious among the population. During the propaganda march through the streets of the inner city, bystanders shouted insults at the marchers and from the ruins of a bombed dwelling stones were thrown.

The Home Front talks of 1918. On the walls of houses, in the canteens and cloakrooms of the factories, yes everywhere, one can see the figure "1918". In spite of hard prison sentences this slogan is being kept alive.

Everything is in a hopeless mess. The representative of a north-German machine factory said: "We are desperate, and we cannot understand why the army does not succeed in making it clear to Hitler that everything is in a hopeless mess. To us, they at least speak quite frankly. Unfortunately however, it's no use talking to us, for we are powerless. Our circles try again and again to make it clear to the party-leaders that Germany will have to live also in the future, and that it must not be sacrificed for some mad idea. We prove to them, that according to the production figures of the USA, Germany will soon be superfluous on the world market, but we cannot achieve a thing. Surely, many people share our opinions, but they do not dare to broadcast them.

But we can't last long now. Our workers become more and more articulate in their discontent.

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16. THE LAST HOPE: A NEGOTIATED PEACE

During a visit abroad the representative of one of the leading German chemical concerns, who was formerly a convinced Nazi, showed that nothing whatsoever remained of his former enthusiasm for the Nazis. He is convinced that Hitler cannot win the war. The only thing to be done was to prevent the worst and to come to a negotiated peace. This opinion is typical of many of the people who came to neutral countries during the last months.

A criticism of the BBC programme: "What do you want to know".

The crew of a German merchant steamer (older people who were formerly socialists and trade unionists) had the opportunity in a neutral port to listen to the BBC programme: "What do you want to know?"

In this programme, the question was discussed, what was to be done with Germany after the war.

At the following discussion among the listeners these points were put: Nothing can be said against the absolute disarmament of Germany.

The occupation of Germany could be accepted during a short transition period in order to prevent chaos, if the occupation troops were those of the Western powers. It was criticised that the BBC speakers, who rightly stressed the importance of the occupying troops in the creation of a new - that is revolutionary - executive yet wholly ignored the most important fact, namely: to whom do the English intend to give their support. It was discussed, whether the socialist workers could count on the support of the occupying forces, and if so, whether in their preparations the English authorities would seek the advice of those German socialists abroad, who are the legal representatives of the German socialist workers.

*

After having completed the above survey we have received the following report containing observations on the situation in Germany in the middle of may, 1943, by a German visitor to a neutral country.

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17. THE ARMY AND THE WAR INDUSTRY

The soldiers stationed in barracks at home now get the same ration as civilians; they grumble.

The younger age groups called up for service are still being thoroughly trained while the older age groups receive only a short training.

Special military formations are made up from persons detained in concentration camps and sent to the fronts as compact units.

It is reported from Hamburg that it was difficult to obtain spare parts for aircraft. The machines are not overhauled in time.

In Warnemuende the anti-aircraft guns are manned by youngsters of 15 or 16 years and by Russian prisoners under the supervision of German soldiers.

The water overflowing the Eder dam reached parts of Kassel within 36 hours.

18. THE TRANSPORT CRISIS

Waggons, not formerly used for transit traffic, are now being sent abroad.

On the main routes express trains are frequently late by several hours. The journey Magdeburg-Berlin, formerly two hours, now takes four hours on the average.

The Midland Canal has repeatedly been attacked with high explosive bombs by the RAF. At times the dam has burst and re-loading becomes necessary.

19. FROM THE HOME FRONT

There is a general nervous tension leading to outbursts at the slightest provocation.

In view of the distrust in newspaper reports the Propaganda Ministry uses the means of a whispering propaganda.

It is said that at one time in the Rhineland the SS introduced martial law.

Window panes, even of bedrooms, destroyed by air attacks are only replaced if there are minors in the house.

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Party favourites are allowed to shirk. A former worker who earned about 35 marks a week, a party functionary, is employed on the duplicator in a war factory or in an office and draws a salary of 250 marks a month. A forest keeper receives 200 marks a month.

As to egg supplies it is reported: Each owner of hens must report their number. He is then ordered to supply a certain number of eggs. He is paid 11 pfennigs for each egg, and 14 pfennigs for each above his quota. Special supervisors have been appointed.

It is usual for an owner to have more hens than he reports. A private person is allowed to own 1-1/2 hens per head of his household. Those not notified are hidden away each morning so that the public and the supervisors are aware only of the reported number.

In an air attack part of a garden fence, just two metres long, was blasted away. The fence was supported by a stone foundation. Stones, wood and cement were available. A builder was prepared to repair the fence in his spare time. The necessary permission was not given.

20. FROM THE INDUSTRY

Convicts are employed in essential works.

The stocks of raw materials of ceramic factories are larger than at any previous time.

By bribery everything is available. Household effects are more readily accepted as a bribe than cash.

A ceramic factory received an order for water bottles a long time ago. They were ordered for the Africa Corps. Four weeks after the Tunis debacle the order had not been cancelled. Production continues as the State has guaranteed the acceptance.

*

(Reports of the Executive Committee of the
Social Democratic Party of Germany, London.
Published end of July, 1943)

Issued by the London Representative of the German Social
Democratic Party, 33, Fernside Avenue, London N.W.7.

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