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The Nazi Military Bible:
TO-DAY'S ́extracts from the German military text-book, written by Professor Ewald Banse and indiscreetly published in 1933, deals with Switzerland.
Professor Banse reveals why Germany did not invade 'Switzerland in the 1914-18 War, and why the Confederation may be invaded in the present war.
The book from which those extracts are taken was published for circulation in Ger- many only. But Messrs. Lovat, Dickson, the well-known English publishers, received a copy and decided to issue an English translation.
Strenuous efforts were made by the Nazi authorities to prevent publication and the aid of the British Foreign Office was even evoked. When- this failed, the publishers were first of fered a bribe and were then threatened by Nazi agents.
11
The text that follows is, of course, the translated expressions of a German.
SWITZERLAND forms
the
southern, the Netherlands the northern, portion of Germany's western frontier.
Two thirds of Switzer- land are German in blood and German speaking, and the country is thus one of those small states which France favours as a res- traint upon German power and which owe their political independence en- tirely to the goodwill of the great Powers and to their hostility towards the German people.
While the Netherlands in- clude, the mouths of the largest German river, Swit- zerland contains the territory in which it has its sources- evidence this, of the cunning with which our people have
INSTALMENT SIXTH
A ski pairof, clad in white to escape notice, patrols on upper Alpine ridge, Italian-Austrian experience in the World War proved that dislodging mountain troops is difficult, and the Swiss have trained for such mountain warfare for centuries.
To make certain of victory in France, says
the author of Germany's military text-book-
HITLER MUST
MARCH
INTO
SWITZERLAND
pends upon its position be-
tween the foothills of the
been-territorially confined-and-Vosges and the neutral Swiss.
its military situation pre- judicod 13 compared with France.
A Germany bounded, as in the
the Middle Ages, by
heights of Artols and the line of the Jura holds the eastern part of northern France in a pair of pincers, and in those circumstances the opening battles of n war take place within the Paris basin, that is, to say, in France's most vital parte.
To prevent this, the small.. but independent States of Holland, Belgium and Swit- zerland had to be created or guaranteed, as the case might
be,
The advantages of their existence
reserved to Are France alone, for they have been established wholly or mainly at the cost of the Ger- man people.
war
Invasion Favours
The Reich
Accordingly, a
with France would only be waged. under favourable conditions if we were permitted or able to march through Belgium and Holland in the north and through Switzerland in south.
the
Such an operation would make it possible to outflank the otherwise probably im- pregnable French fortresses between the Belgian Meuse and Belfort and to neutralise one of France's two military weapons (army and eastern fortifications).
The importance of Switzer- land from the point of view of military geography lica in the Jurn and in the Bellegarde (or Geneva) gap.
The Jura, is for the most part a chain of mountains with extensive longitudinal valleys and short transverse passes; the only tableland can easily be crossed; the moun talne not without difficulty.
Its capture, however, even if limited to the northern part as far as Porrentruy, would amko it impossible to defend Belfort, the value of which de
frontier.
Would Open
Belfort Gap
This would open for us the Belfort gap, which proved in the world war impossible to force, and would thus make an important-breach-in-the-- French eastern front.
The diversion of French corps to the western armiy Alps, and possibly also to the Pyrenees, would grently weaken the French forces on the German front; though the decision must, of course, be sought in north-east France.
The carrying of the Jura and of its modern French road bar- ricades would also of course give us the plains of the Doubs and Saone and bring the Paris basin vin Langres, vuid south eastern France towards Lyons, within our
grasp.
Not less important than the north-eastern Juma is the Geneva or Bellegarde gap, through which lles the way from the German shores of the Lake of Constance
to south eastern France.
com-
A military offensive from Gene- va could be undertaken (1) Across the southern Jura in the valley of the Lower Saone; (2) along the Rhone to Lyons, an im- portant commercial city manding the shortest line of com munication between... the south cast and the rest of France and only some 30 miles from the far- tories and arsenni of St. Etienne; (3) south eastwards straight
to the western Alps and so to the rear of the main passes the capture of which is of great Im- portance as regards the Italian
army, which therefore has the strongest possible interest seizing the Bellogarde, gap after crossing the Alps in the direction of the Rhone valley.
in
in the world war Germany res-- that of the Netherlande, pected Swiss neutrality as she did
Forcible violation would pro. bably have been more difficult than in the case, of Holland, for the German speaking popitt fation certainly, and perhaps the French population too, is a tougher proposition than the Dutch, while the country of |«fers • more" serious obstacles ---- not to entry but to egress into France or Italy. *** Age
Nevertheless a capable Gor- man commander would have had no great difficulty in reaching the tableland of the far from Swabia via the Lake of Constance
Crouching in a "fox hole" dug out of mow, this Swiss Infantryman could easily make mincemeat of an approaching enemy with his Swiss carbine,
י,
one of the best rifles in the world,
and the Rhine, or from Alsace, Although we should presumably have encountered a Franco-SwIBB line running across the Jura and the central plateau, which would have held up our advance over difficult country.
We should have added con- sidombly to our already long. front without gaining any deci Bivo advantage, unless it were the destruction of Belfort-a result, however, important enough to justify the venture and the effort. St. Gothard Pass atone would Moreover, the capture of the
have given is important access to Italy and enabled us to atriko at Milan, her industrial centre, and to outflank, the armics of Venetia
The possible advantages were very great, but the probable re- sulta alight, and we cannot therefore blame, our higher command for having allowed Switzerland to continue at her private game of soldiers.
Allies Ready
For Invasion
As a matter of fact, the Al- Hos In 1910 anticipated a German, violation of Switzer. land's neutrality as a definità possibility and thought that the plan was to get round the
French right wing behind Bel- fort and outflank the Italian army from the west.
In the winter of 1916-17, the French reckoned seriously with this danger and conferred with the Swiss military authorities re- garding joint measures, of de- fence.
The Swiss, howover, were at the same timo negotiating with German headquartera with
·
A
view to Swiss-German action in face of a French attack. But ceed far, as the German general these conversations did not pro
staff was sceptical about a French invasion of Switzerland.
Swiss neutrality, is, in fact, only_useful to the French and not to us, which explains the orl gins of the Confederation's political independency.
lation made up of different races. Two-thirds of the inhabitants are Germans, the rest French, Itali- ans and Rhetians. Racially they consist of Eastern, Dinaric, Nor- die and Mediterranean elements.
The German elemont is of Ale mannle stock, like the neighbour- *ing Alsatians and Black. Fores-
ters.
And yet the German Swiss Imagine that in conjunction with the other three racial cle- ments, which speak foreign Janguages, they constitute a single nationality, and they dig an artificial trench between themselves and us, which is deeper and wider than the Lake of Constance.
This conception, which they uphold with all the impartiality of the Eastern race, is the in- tellectual basis of the Confedera- tion, which would otherwise have no reality, since the Latin ele- ments have no such deep convic- tión.
Further, the ruling patrician and owning familles, which have for centuries directed the affairs of state and canton, are afraid that by absorption in'n larger na- tional unit they would lose their. "ancient" privileges,
Criticism' Of...
“Kinsfolk"
From the military point of view, therefore, the character of the German Swiss Is the decisive factor.
This, like the old German character, is grounded in com- mon sense and is of a very independent spirit, enterpris- ing, tough and reserved.
Its ruling features, however, are a calculating materialism, un- limited self reliance and a ten-. dency to criticism, not to any fault finding.
The latter tendency is directed mainly towards their German kinafolk across the Rhine, and reminds us of the pelican which pecks its own breast.
This anti-German feeling is so strong that even in peace time the German tourist is al ways worse trented in German Switzerland than the British, the French and American tourist.
This childish aversion de- mands our most serious alten- tion. It is an important fact fraught with possible military consequences, being of itself equivalent to a strong army corps and much more danger- ous than the anti-German feel- ing of the Alsations, since it is based upon the belief, doubtless Justified in the Middle Ages but long since obsolete, that liberty and equality, those most scared of human possessions, are at stake.
It in this idea alone that separ ates us from the Gorman Swias -only, indeed, unill they realize that they are politically in no way superior to their brethren on the right bank of the Rhine.
CHINA ASSOCIATION Election of Committee At Annual Meeting-
At the annual meeling of the Chinn. Association in London on May 7 the following were elected to Use Com- mittee:
Switzerland is very ill-equipped for war purposes, especially as the collapse of the tourist indus- try, which is, hor first source of
President, Mr. D. 0. M. Bernard; revenue and business would
Chairman, Belg.-General C. R. speedily lead to national bank-Woodrolic, C.M., C.VO, C.ME,
ruploy.
Vice-Chairman, Mr. G. W. Swire; Compellod as she la to import Hon. Treasurer, Mr. M. Wolters;
Messrs. R. G. Buchan, A. W. Dùr- foodstuffs, con! and all the raw materials for her industries, kill, o... W, R. Cockburn, E., J. Davies, G. M. Dodwell, W. B. Kon- Switzerland is at all times econo
nett, A. O. Lang, S. P. Leigh, Li- mically dependent upon one
General Sir George Moedenoga. Icast of her neighbours,, DEN
6.B.E, KGS., K.G.M.G., Capt. A.-K. Bike Belgium and the Untied.ackway...-B-George M0657 Statos: of America, Switzerland KME, A. Rose, and Bir" "Thomas has no people, but merely a popu- Strangman,
at
Monday, MAY 20, 1940.
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Situation Analysed
con-
Parls, May 19. Military circles say that the Ger- mans are expecting a French coun- ter-atinck from the south and are making preparations for that even- tually. The same circles say that once the German troops have solidated their positions along the Olse they would be in a position to attack the Maginot Line proper from the rear even if i should prove imposalble to continue their advance towards Paris.
The most important part of the front is that from the north of Loon to the sea. In the extreme north of this front the British, French and |Belgian troops are continuing their movement of a strategie retreat with- out undue pressure from the enemy.
Towards
the
and of yesterday afternoon the
maini, battle
was loculted in the area of Guise and Landrecies. The engagements were very numerous and the Germans made very violen attacks with tanks supported by plants and artillery. The lighting continued until late în the
evening and probably will bo resumed in the morning. South of Gulse and north-west of Leon the. fighting was less violent,
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ments and withdrawal in northern The Germans made u push with Belgium: heavy fighting in the area armoured columus and unsupported of Guise and Landrecies; activity of detachments--which-advanced from mallor-German detachments north- the direction of the Sambre and Olse west of Laon; Oghting on a minor around Ribemont,
of scale between Loon and Sedan: calm south-enst Guise, and Laon, 80 miles north-east cast of Sedan. of Parls.
The position of the frontier city of Maubeuge is uncertain, but fighting The general situation may be sum-pppears to be in progress west of the med up as follows: Strategle move-fortress.-Reuter,
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