Figure 1.--NAZI Germany's great military victories were achieved by the professional generals of the Wehrmacht. It was not their idea to inade the Soviet Union. Tghey considered it a huge risk, but were ordered to do so by Hitler whose goal from an early stage of his political development was to seize the land and resources of the East for Germany. The failure of Barbarossa was in large measure due to his interference. After the Soviet stand bedore Moscow (Devember 1941), Hitler took over direct command. While Hitler took credit for the victories, the failure of German arms under his direct command were directed at others. The image here from the book has been defaced because of German law about images of Hitler and NAZI symbols. Notice Himmler in the background. Tge failures that followed do not seem to have slackened the devotion of Hitler Youth boys to Hitler.

The 1943 volume of Jungen: Eure Welt was released in 1943, but prepared in 1942. Thus it was 1942 events that one would expect to be found in the book. The problem was that 1942 was not like 1941 with a virtual constant stream of NAZI victories. The Wehrmacht managed to stabilize the Eastern Front fter the defeat before Moscow, but there were enormous losses of men and material. As a result, the Whermacht no longer had the capabilitybof launching its 1942 summer offensive across the entire front. Hitler chose the south rather than renewing the drive on Moscow, attracted by the resources of the Ukraine. This of course led to Stalingerad. In the west, the British and Canadians received a sharp set back at Dieppe and Rommel scored impressive victories in the Western Desert. This changed dramatically at El Alenaine (October 1942) and with America now in the War, the Allied Torch landingings (November 1942) seized Morocco and Algeria from Vichy and threatened the Afrika Korp's rear. Boys following the corse of the awr with pins in maps must hve been struck by the sudden reveral of fortunes. The British intensified the air war over the Reich. The one bright spot for the NAZIs was the continued success of the U-boats in the North Atlantic.

Created: 9:57 PM 12/31/2006
Last updated: 9:57 PM 12/31/2006