IN THE BLITZKRIEG BELGIUM:

A Newsman's Eyewitness Account

Introduction GERMANY attacked Poland on September 1, 1939. In a matter of days the Polish air force had ceased to exist. Within a week the mechanized columns of the Wehrmacht and the planes of the Luftwaffe roamed at will over the sun-bakedplains and the skies above. Twenty-seven days after the outbreak of war Poland surrendered, and a new and fearsome word-blitzkrieg, or lightning war-entered the modern lexicon. Although both France and Great Britain had declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, it was not until the spring of 1940 that Hitler finished with Denmark and Norway and turned his attention to the west. Then, on May 10, he struck simultaneously against the three neutrals who barred his way to the English Channel: Holland, Belgium, and Luxemburg. Masses of German armor, preceded by parachutistsand glider-borneassault teams, supported by infantry and mobile artillery, and everywhere protected by the Luftwaffe, turned the Western Front into another Poland. The Dutch capitulated on May 15 and the Belgians on May 27; Dunkirk and the fall of France were less than a month away, for British tenacity and French pride availed little against German tanks. What follows is a transcript of a press communique transmitted by Louis P. Lochner to the Associated Press in New York while he was accompanying the German army in the Belgian campaign. It is of no great historical moment, yet it has a vividness and an immediacy which ex post facto accounts often lack, and it captures the atmosphere of haste, movement, and confusion in which a professional newspapermancovers a war. This snippet of eyewitness reporting is presented just as Lochner cabled it to America, lacking articles, accent marks, and umlauts,but conveying something about the holocaust of 1940. W.C.H. P.H.H.

May 20, 1940. With German western army. Airforce is Germany's superace in this war wherefore front line usually is where dive bombers heavy bombers have done their devastating work. I with German forces at last. It's been dream of every newsman in Berlin ever since 5/10 when Reich's gigantic offensive via Holland, Belgium began to see Hitler's amazing, awe inspiring armed forces in action. Not till yesterday, however, did Fuehrer's invitation and permission for three Americans join active forces come. After crossing over from last German border town in dusk in which morning mists mingled with smoke clouds from roaring planes it took us but short time realize how completely war has been revolutionized by airforce. This is how Germany operates in

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SUMMER,

1967

this decisive area: first air scouters determine just how enemy troops are moving. They learn exact strength of enemy forces, equipment, types of weapon used, etc. With this knowledge reinforced by photos Germany's terrorizing Stukas followed by heavy bombers dash madly down upon enemy, smashing towns if necessary through which moving troops are pushing, demolishing railway tracks, telephone lines, industrial plants, annihilating marching columns. Meanwhile air information service informs speedy mechanized units where bombing has been successful. Quick as lightning these dart forward, face enemy with death disdaining courage, while foe is in utter confusion. Suddenness of attack has usually proven successful. After these, mobile advance guards have thus routed enemy [so] that main army is ready move in. We had one glimpse of Germany's extreme preparedness when we saw with what speed bridges are replaced. Fact is German army engineers have exactly fitting substitute bridges ready for every strategic river or canal crossing in Belgium, France, likely to be dynamited or damaged. German reinforcement cars bring all this readymade equipment with them on heels [of] motorized vanguards. Another indication preparedness in every detail came to us when on our four hundred mile car drive from Berlin to last German frontier station we passed through Muenster in Westphalia, scene signing Westphalian peace treaty 1648. Hitler seems already to have determined that if and when he has forced England, France on knees, he'll make their representativescome to Muenster's picturesque ancient city hall to sign dotted line. In other words, Hitler isn't content now with wiping out last vestiges Versailles treaty. His mind goes back to 1648 when Holy Roman Empire of German nation was broken up into principalities and powerless miniature states. To rectify that mistake he is reported to have chosen Muenster symbolically for peace conference.1
to 1Actually France surrendered Germanyon June 22, 1940, at Compiegne,some forty miles northeast of Paris, in the famousrailwaycar in which Germany had sued for peace in 1918. 338

How completely airforce dominates situation was apparent to us during our cross country drive. Long columns of antiaircraft cannon, airforce supply cars, gasoline vehicles were moving with unabating regularity toward actual operation area. If any column paused for short rest, two antiaircraft guns were immediately mounted and sharpest outlook kept for possible enemy. With the exception of these moving motorized columns, and the fact that we saw many men uniformed in cities large and small through which we passed, nothing indicated that mad holocaust was raging only relatively short distance away. Germany seemed at peace and even Polish prisoners working in fields seemed like harbingers of peace. Not so at night, however. All along western German fringe through which our car passed, people told us how night after night they must go to air protection cellars as precautionary measure. They claim only little damage is done but it is annoying to have one's sleep broken. We had hardly reached the hotel on the German border when we, too, learned what it means drop everything run for cover as warning sirens resound. It proved false alarm, however. Where is Hitler? was one of first questions we asked. Every officer or private accosted would tell us he saw Fuehrer some time or other past week. Apparently he is moving from one formation to another with that same dash which characterizes all his actions. Naturally, his whereabouts at any given moment is closely guarded secret. May 20, 1940. With German army. Hitler today changed his general headquarters three times, so rapidly were his forces following up their ad-