-4- no need for an immediate German occupation of further Polish terri- tory. V. As regards the West, Germany does not expect Great Britain and France to favour an aggressive war against her, especially if the hopes of Russian help provo illusory. Should the Western Powers nevertheless attack her, Germany's Western army will stand on the defensive until the Polish Army has been crushed. Then the main German forces would be switched over to the West, though there would be no air raids on England or France as long as these two countries should refrain from aerial attack upon Germany. Simultaneously, with her military concentration on the West, Germany would begin a propaganda peace-offensive in which she and the Axis would offer im- mediate peace to the Western Powers who, if they rejected the offer, would be made responsible for the devastation that would ensue. Special appeals would be issued to the Governments and peoples of Holland, Belgium and Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Italian army and air force would be concentrated in Libya, not for the purpose of an immediate attack upon Egypt, (since this might ruin the peace- offensive), but as a persuasive threat. Tension would be increased between Japan and the Western Powers in the Far East. Hitler be- lieves that the success of this peace-offensive would cause him to be acclaimed as the saviour of the peace of the world. The "combined strategy" of this method is based on the assump- tion that the German forces in the West could hold up a French attack long enough for the Polish army to be crushed and the main German forces to be switched over to the West. During this period Italy would remain "neutral" so as to prevent an Anglo-French naval attack upon her, and to awaken hopes in England and France that Italy might be detached from the Axis. There would be no "counter-attack" by the Axis in the West until the whole German army and air force had been concentrated against England and France. Germany assumes further that Russia will remain neutral until and unless the Western Powers and the Axis are at death grips in a long struggle. Germany is not prepared to face a long struggle yet. To sum up: Hitler and his helpers are convinced that under present conditions the Axis cannot win a long war against the West. Hence everything depends, in their eyes, upon a diplomatic and moral defeat of the West that shall preclude any further coalition between Western and Eastern Europe. Germany could then organise her "Imperial Space" up to the borders of Russia, and lay the foundations for her continental "Eurasian" World Empire. With this empire the Western Powers could make peace on condition that they give up all idea of poltical cooperation with Eastern Europe, including Russia. As compensation Germany would be prepared to "guarantee" the British and French Empires. These are the ultimate aims which guide Hitler and his helpers in their handling of the present conflict with Poland. Their motto is: "No war; at all events no world war". The Third Reich aims at world empire without a world war. |