South Yorkshire Times, September 9th 1944
Sparring For the Knock-Out
Where the German army overran Holland, Belgium, and France in a matter of weeks the Allies have reversed the process in days. Once on the move the British and American armoured columns have proved irresistible and the beaten Nazis have been hurled aside or driven headlong in what must be the fastest and farthest military advance in the history of wars. It has all happened with such amazing rapidity that it is hardly surprising that the Germans have been thrown into the utterest confusion. Events have quite outstripped our own highest hopes. Neutralisation of the flying-bomb sites by September was one of those things optimistically talked about but never confidently relied upon. Now the Canadians and the Poles are going in to finish off the considerable force of Germans left to dispute the Channel Ports. Hitler hopes that by denying the Allies the use of these ports, first by defence and then by destruction, he will delay the inevitable all-out attack on the Reich.
Meanwhile it is an ominous sign of the desperation of Germany’s plight, that Hitler is willing to sacrifice thousands of men in keeping us out of Brest, Le Havre, and the Channel Ports for a few weeks. The men lost in this way would have been invaluable in manning the Siegfried Line. It is extremely doubtful whether they can materially serve their country’s ends by imposing this slight delay on the Allied build-up in preparation for the knock-out blow.
The liberation campaign has moved so swiftly and spectacularly that is has raised the liveliest expectations of an early end to the war in Europe. Indeed, the fact was strongly rumoured during the week. Such a consummation, however, can scarcely be reached without the all-important prelude of an internal upheaval in Germany. The Nazis, with their Old Man of the Sea grip on the neck of the German people have sworn to fight it out to the bitter end, and even talk of guerilla warfare, as a last implacable expedient. It is therefore reasonable to support that if the Nazis envisage such extremes, they will not first neglect the last practical opportunity of co-ordinated military resistance which, such static position as the Siegfried Line or the Rhine offer. These are the obviously favourable points for a last-ditch stand. Furthermore, it seems certain that if the Allies must make some sort of a pause before attempting the final break-in across the Reich frontiers. Indications are that German resistance is stiffening where the Americans are most directly menacing German soil, though the Nazi reaction has not prevented American patrols from crossing the border. What seems to be taking place now is an alignment of Allied forces in favourable positions for the Battle of Germany, while others liquidate encircled groups of German soldiers in the rear and pile up the huge tally of prisoners. It can be taken for granted that the supply organisation which made possible the lightening drive through France, Belgium and Holland will allow the Nazis little respite in which to look to their defences before battle is joined in the last great and grim action which will wind up the war in Europe.