PEACE TERMS, MOSCOW VERSION

On what terms might Russia be willing to make peace with a post-Hitler Germany? Precise terms have been laid down by the National Committee of Free Germany in Moscow--although Russia has not officially associated herself with them. Because of its potential significance, the Committee's manifesto is herewith reprinted, with only nonessential deletions for space.

Germans! Events demand of us an immediate solution. The National Committee of "Free Germany" (Freies Deutschland) has been organized at a time of mortal danger hanging over our country and threatening its very existence.

The National Committee is composed of workers and writers, soldiers and officers, trade-union functionaries and political figures, people with the most different political views and convictions who only a year ago would have considered such unification impossible.*. . .

The National Committee has the right, and is obliged in this hour, to speak on behalf of the German people, to speak clearly and firmly, as the gravity of the moment demands.

Look and see what is taking place at the fronts. The defeats of the last seven months are unparalleled in the history of Germany--Stalingrad, the Don, the Caucasus, Libya and Tunisia.

Full responsibility for these defeats rests with Hitler. . . . Never has a foreign foe hurled us Germans into such a gulf of disasters as has Hitler. The facts implacably show that the war is lost. Germany can prolong the war for a while at the price of unheard-of sacrifices and deprivations. The continuation of a hopeless war, however, would be tantamount to the nation's doom.

But Germany Must Not Die! To be or not to be--such is the question today facing our country. If the German people continue resignedly and submissively to allow themselves to be led to their doom, not only will their forces be sapped and dwindle with every passing day of the war, but also their guilt will increase.

Hitler then will be overthrown only by the force of the coalition armies. But this will signify the end of our national independence and of our state existence, the dismemberment of our fatherland, and we shall have only ourselves to blame.

If the German people in good time are courageous enough and prove in deed that they want to be a free people and that they are determined to free Germany from Hitler, they will then win the right to decide their fate themselves, and other nations will take them into consideration. This is the only way of saving the very existence, freedom and honor of the German nation.

The German people need immediate peace and long for it. But nobody will conclude peace with Hitler. Nor for that matter will anybody conduct negotiations with him.

Hence the formation of a genuine national German government is the most urgent task of our people. Only such a government will enjoy the confidence of the people and their former enemies. Only such a government can bring peace.

This Government Must Be Strong and possess the necessary power to render harmless the enemies of the people--Hitler, his patrons and satellites., It must resolutely put an end to terror and corruption, establish firm order and represent Germany with dignity to the outside world.

This government can be established only as the outcome of a liberation struggle of all sections of the German people. It will support itself on the fighting groups which will unite to overthrow Hitler. There are forces in the Army that are loyal to the country, and the people must play a decisive role.

This government will immediately cease military operations, will recall the German troops to the Reich's frontiers and embark on peace negotiations, renouncing all conquests. In this manner it will attain peace and once again place Germany on an equal footing with other nations.

Only such a government will afford the German people the opportunity to express their will in conditions of peace for sovereign solution of the question of a state system.

This Means a strong democratic power that will have nothing in common with the helpless Weimar regime; a democracy that will be implacable, that will ruthlessly suppress any attempt at new plots against the rights of free people or against European peace.

It means the annulment of all laws based on national and racial hatred; of all orders of the Hitlerite regime which degrade our people; the annulment of all measures of the Hitlerite authorities directed against freedom and human dignity.

It means the restoration and extension of the political rights and social gains of the working people; freedom of speech, press, assembly, conscience and religious beliefs. It means the freedom of economy, trade and handicraft; the guaranteed right to labor and to lawfully acquired property.

It means the restoration of property to their lawful owners, plundered by the fascist rulers; the confiscation of property of those responsible for the war and of the war profiteers; the exchange of commodities with other countries as a natural basis for ensuring national welfare.

It means the immediate release of the victims of Hitlerite terror and material compensation for the damage caused them.

It means the just, inexorable trial of those responsible for the war. of its instigators and their ringleaders and accomplices behind the scenes, of those who have hurled Germany into an abyss and branded her with shame.

But at the same time it means amnesty for all Hitler adherents who in good time will renounce him and join the movement for a Free Germany.

Forward, Germans, to struggle for a Free Germany! We know that sacrifices are inevitable. But the more determined the struggle against Hitler will be, the smaller will be these sacrifices.

These sacrifices made for the sake of saving Germany will be a thousand times less than the senseless sacrifices connected with the continuation of the war.

GERMAN SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS ON ALL FRONTS--You have weapons in your hands! Hold on to them! Under the leadership of those commanders who recognize their responsibility and move together with you against Hitler, boldly clear yourself the path leading your country to peace.

WORKING MEN AND WOMEN AT HOME--You'are a majority! Multiply your forces by organizing. Form fighting groups at the enterprises, in the villages, in the labor camps, in the universities, wherever you happen to be. Refuse to obey Hitler. Do not allow yourselves to be used as accomplices in the continuation of the war. Fight with all means available in conformity with your position in the state and economic life!

Our history sets us a great example. One hundred and thirty years ago, when German troops still stood on Russian soil as enemies, it was precisely from Russia that the finest sons of the Germans--Stein, Arndt, Clausewitz, Yorck and others--appealed to the conscience of the German people over the heads of their traitors, the German rulers, and called upon them to wage a liberation war.

Like them we will give all our strength, and if need be our very life, to rally our people for the struggle for freedom, and to hasten the overthrow of Hitler.

The struggle for a free Germany demands courage, energy and determination. But above all courage. Time does not wait. It is necessary to act and act immediately. . . .

For people and Fatherland! Against Hitler and his criminal war! For immediate peace! For the salvation of the German people! For a free and independent Germany!

*Including: Erich Weinert, anti-Nazi poet (President); Major Karl Hetz (first Vice President); Lieut. Count Heinrich von Einsiedel, great grandson of Bismarck (second Vice President); Wilhelm Pieck, onetime leader of the Communist bloc in the Reichstag, 29 other less important Germans.

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