Chapter 109 Comments on the Berlin Statement[1]

(October 16, 1942) The Berlin spokesman has officially issued a statement on October 12.The statement said: "The German army has turned from the offensive to the defensive." The statement also said: "This should not be regarded as our future combat plan, nor does it mean that any country in the Triple Pact has decided or is forced to take the initiative. Giving it to the enemy means only that Germany and its allies have won a position of invulnerability after three years of fighting, and that changes are to be observed with a calm attitude and confidence in victory." This latter paragraph is a lie.But this lying is extremely necessary for the current status of fascism, because Hitler's transition from the offensive to the defensive this year is very different from his transition from the offensive to the defensive last year.

Last year, because Germany still had enough power, it could prepare for another offensive this year; because the Japanese fascists and Hitler made an agreement that the Pacific War would break out soon, and this was considered to be enough to anesthetize the people and contain the United States , Weaken Britain, and there will be no second front; in addition, because Japanese fascists promised Hitler that under certain conditions (for example, Germany’s second summer offensive achieved its strategic goals, etc.), it can attack Siberia and join forces with Germany to attack the Soviet Union: These three conditions all existed or were possible at that time, so when Hitler failed to attack Moscow and went on the defensive, he didn't need to tell such pitiful lies as he is now, and he could withdraw The front-line commander-in-chief Bruzzi showed his soldiers and civilians, saying that the war was broken by Bruzzi, and he would naturally have a way as commander-in-chief.

Sure enough, the Pacific War broke out, Britain and the United States suffered great losses, and Japan made a big noise. This incident immediately had an anesthesia effect on the people of Germany and Europe. Trauma, this anesthetic relieved his pain a lot.When Hitler launched his summer offensive this year, there really was no second front. Last year, while Hitler was coping with the Red Army's winter offensive, he also replenished the strength of the old troops, re-equipped new troops, and brought dozens of divisions from Italy, Romania, Hungary and other countries. And all their fascist partners believe that it is the most important foundation for their future, and they feel that they still have strength.On this basis, Hitler really launched this year's offensive. Although it was not as grand as last year, it was quite confused for a while in July, August, and September, making people seem to think that Hitler still had a lot of strength.

Only the third condition has remained silent so far.If it is still possible, then there seems to be only one opportunity, that is, when Britain and the United States launch an attack on Germany or approach such an attack, the fascists will try to escape death, or the Japanese warlords will still do it.But using this condition to match Hitler's planned offensive this year is bankrupt. From last year to this year, two of the three conditions have been fulfilled. This is the side of the German fascists who can still be complacent when they settle the bill for a year. But there is another side, that is, all three conditions are bankrupt.The first, this year's offensive was completely bankrupt.Last year there was this magic weapon, which could comfort oneself and the people, but it is gone this year.The so-called "defense should not be regarded as a future battle plan", it seems that there is still hope for a third offensive, but this is just a complete lie.Hitler's old army was worn out, and the elite part was exhausted.Even if his human resources and armament resources are collected, they will not be able to form a decent offensive.The basic condition used to maintain people's hearts and prolong the life of fascism in the past - Germany's offensive power has now turned to its opposite, and this condition has basically been destroyed.At such times, fascists need to use complete lies to maintain people's hearts, but there is no one in the world who can maintain people's hearts by lying instead of strength.Stalin said modestly: "The strength of the Soviet Union is neither greater nor smaller than that of fascism." After the collapse of Hitler's offensive, the strength of the Red Army was stronger than that of fascism.In this case, there will be a crisis of division within fascism, and the unity of the past will no longer be possible.The contradiction between fascism and the people must expand, and it will be difficult to maintain the morale of the people and the army.Relations between Germany and Italy, Romania, Hungary, Finland, and even Japan tended to become turbulent, and Italy was even in danger of defecting.The attitudes of several European neutral countries will also change, and some countries may join the Allies.

Speaking of the second condition, this year is also the opposite of last year.Japan's victory prompted the reorganization of the U.S. military. In a year, the U.S. not only compensated for the loss of the Hawaiian battle, but also actively prepared to attack.On the same day that Berlin declared the defensive, Roosevelt [2] said: "With regard to opening a second front, we have made several major strategic decisions. One of them, which we all agree on, is the need to launch a new war against Germany and Japan. Offensive to disperse part of the enemy in the Soviet Union and China to other battlefields." Japan fears the United States like a tiger.On August 28, the spokesperson of the Japanese Navy’s intelligence department said: “Since the sinking of the Prince of Wales, the United States has added an additional 400 million yuan to the air force budget, and a total of 14 people have transformed warships into aircraft carriers or changed their design. 1, 20 merchant ships were rebuilt and 70 merchant ships under design were all converted into aircraft carriers. On September 26, Tojo [3] said: "Britain has gradually prepared its strategic line, and the United States has increasingly obvious counterattack attempts. The two countries rely on their abundant resources to rapidly increase their combat effectiveness and wait for a general counteroffensive. The Great East Asian War The normal development of Japan is yet to come." In short, Japan was trembling with fear in front of the United States.What about Germany? The same is true. On October 12, a Berlin spokesman also said: "The United States has begun a large-scale arms program. But no matter how powerful it is, it is beyond its power if it wants to regain Europe, Africa and Asia." I can." This last sentence is also a lie.In fact, the fascists clearly felt that the phantom of the second battlefield was approaching their back door day by day.On August 28, the official newspaper of Himmler, the leader of the fascist SS, went so far as to use the prestige of the Red Army to intimidate Britain and the United States and inspire the soldiers.The newspaper said: "The men and weapons of the unprecedentedly fierce war on the Eastern Front will be finally accounted for by Britain. We should ask the German armed men transferred to the West to deal with the second front after the severe test of the Eastern Front. , each of them was eager to test their 'unlimited' power on the Eastern Front to Britain, or rather the United States, both enemies. When Britain declared war in 1939, he did not know that war What is it, and we know better what war is, and now we know exactly what war is." This is saying to Britain and the United States, we are students of the Red Army, do you dare to come! This is saying to German soldiers, we They fought against the Red Army, so are you still afraid of the second front? The fascists know what war is? They know that war means defeat.On October 4, Goering [4] threatened the people: "If we lose this war, the fate of Germany will be tragic. The German people will be bitten off by the fangs of the international Jews and wiped out. Germany will Wiped off the map." In short, the fascists are now relying on lies and intimidation to make a living, instead of relying on strength.Their offensive power is over, and so is their life.

The situation in Japan is slightly different. It is still capable of launching an offensive because its main force has not been mobilized in previous wars.Therefore, it cannot be determined at this time whether Japan will take another big adventure to the north or to the south.But one thing is certain, Japan faces the great danger of a U.S. counterattack.It is simply inconceivable to compare Japan's existing strength with this future danger.This fact arose from the fact that the Japanese military department expressed such deep panic about the production of American aircraft and warships.Is Japan currently standing in front of such a point of disagreement: should it pursue a risky offensive that is sure to fail like Germany's offensive this year? Or should it use Germany as a good example to preserve its strength in the hope of winning a lucky victory in the defensive battle? Suppose the Japanese fascists take the first step For Germany, the meaning is to use Japan's offensive to aid Germany's defense, that is, to use Japanese offensive to contain the offensive of the United States and the Soviet Union in Europe. Japan's Pacific War is very different from the hope that Japan will attack Siberia.Assuming that Japan adopts the second way, it will of course be beneficial to Japan, but it will be completely unfavorable to Germany. Perhaps the two fascist countries of the East and the West will quarrel with each other on this issue.Germany used Japan to attack Britain and the United States before today, but failed to use Japan to attack the Soviet Union.What will happen in the future? The situation in Germany and Japan will be very different. We will have to wait to see what kind of policy Japan will adopt.

But no matter what, the world situation has undergone fundamental changes, and all fascist countries have practically lost their initiative, whether it is Germany or Japan, and this is true regardless of Japan's policies of one kind or another. The fate of fascism is decided, only the very cowardly people are still afraid of fascism. According to the publication of "Liberation Daily" on October 16, 1942. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is an editorial written by Mao Zedong for the "Liberation Daily".

[2] Roosevelt, then President of the United States. [3] Tojo, namely Hideki Tojo.He was the Prime Minister of Japan at the time. [4] Goering (1893-1946), Marshal of Germany.In 1939, he was appointed heir by Hitler.