The Pittsburgh Press (June 29, 1941)
HITLER REVERTS TO MEIN KAMPF
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Nazis ‘back in groove,’ need not take all Russia
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By Louis F. Keemle, United Press war analyst
Adolf Hitler, in his war against Russia, has reverted to some of the principles of Mein Kampf.
In view of the principles expressed in Mein Kampf, the world was rocked with astonishment by the conclusion of the treaty of non-aggression between Germany and Russia in August 1939, which immediately preceded the invasion of Poland and the start of the war. Hitler had said in his book that Russia:
…is no ally for a struggle of the German nation for freedom.
‘Mesan end iof Germany’
Then, according to the Reynal-Hitchcock version of Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote:
Considered purely militarily, in the event of a German-Russian war against Western Europe, which would probably, however mean against the entire rest of the world, the relations would be simply catastrophic. The struggle would proceed not on the Russian but on German soil, without Germany being able to get from Russia even the slightest effective support.
A few hundred words farther down un his text, Hitler wrote:
Thus the conclusion of a treaty with Russia embodies the declaration of the next war. Its outcome would be the end of Germany.
False aspect removed*
In the conclusion of his book, Hitler wrote:
A state which, in the epoch of race poisoning, dedicates itself to the cherishing of its best racial elements, must some day be master of the world.
The result of the repudiation of the treaty with Russia is that a false and unbelievable aspect of the war has been removed from the picture.
Hitler’s campaign against Russia should tend to restore the confidence of the German people in his leadership, and repair the shock they suffered when he joined hands with their traditional enemy. Now it can be propagandized that the alliance was only an emergency expedient. The move also should be popular with the army element which fretted under the false alliance.
It is not necessary for Hitler to try to conquer all of vast Russia and risk the fate of Napoleon. Southwest Russia alone would be a rich enough prize.
However, holding a conquered part of Russia would present Hitler with a continued problem of defense of Russia proper remained unsubdued.