Third Promise

Adolf Hitler has promised his people three Russian cities. None has he delivered.

In October 1941 he promised not only that Moscow and Leningrad would fall "within a matter of weeks," but (remembering Napoleon) that the Red Army was beaten and would "never rise again." Moscow and Leningrad stood firm.

In September 1942 Hitler promised that Stalingrad "will be taken" (TIME, Oct. 12). Last week the German High Command abandoned the frontal assault on Stalingrad.

Trumpets of Victory. German morale never quite recovered from the disillusion of October 1941 (TIME, June 29). Last reek's disillusion may prove to have cut even deeper when World War II is history. For weeks radio and press had trumpeted the inevitability of victory. High Command communiques, though more cautious, reported an unfaltering advance toward the Stalingrad goal:

On Aug. 23 the Don was crossed northwest of Stalingrad. By Sept. 1 the Germans were 15 miles from the city. By the 15th they were in its outskirts. Then, as the battle wore on, a curious change came over the German communiques:

Sept. 16--"the victorious advance on Stalingrad is gaining ground."

Sept. 22--"In some districts of Stalingrad, which the enemy is trying to hold with fresh reinforcements, violent street fighting is going on."

Oct. 7--"In Stalingrad the German attack in embittered fighting has made a further advance."

Oct. 9--The Berlin radio announced he High Command had adopted new tactics (artillery and air bombardment instead of tank and infantry assault) to avoid "unnecessary sacrifice."

Oct. 10--No mention of Stalingrad.

Was it Victory? The German explanation was that army reports "prefer not to give any premature announcement of the complete cleaning up of the city. The time when this announcement may finally be made has not the slightest influence on military events, since the strategic objective, namely the Volga, was reached weeks ago."

The Germans had battered their way to he Volga in places; they had brought up artillery to keep the river under constant fire. For Russia the Volga's usefulness night be ended temporarily. That was a German objective. But to win the 1942 offensive the Germans must take Stalingrad to have & to hold. In Russian hands he city is an ever-present menace to German lines strung through Rostov down into the Caucasus. Unless the Germans an consolidate their hold on the Volga nd clean out Stalingrad before November rains herald winter, Stalingrad will be Russia's victory.

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