BALKANS: Before the Storm

The suspicion that Germany may be losing the war—or may have already lost it—cankered the subject Balkans last week and brought rumblings of incipient revolt against the Nazis.

Hungary. An anti-Nazi national front including all the opposition parties was organized in Budapest to “rally … to win independence.” Its program: immediate cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Hungarian troops from Russia; severance of relations with the Axis powers; establishment of freedom of speech, press, assembly; abolition of anti-Semitic laws; agrarian reforms. Berlin reported that 664 “Communists” had been arrested.

Bulgaria. Some 25,000 arrests, 36 executions reportedly followed open insurrection and revolt. The insurgents were pro-Russian, many were proCommunist. The underground Communist newspaper Rabotnichesko Delo attracted enough notice to be frequently quoted in the Swedish press. Railroad and police stations were attacked. Telephone and telegraph communications between Bulgaria and all other countries were cut off for seven days. The unrest last week was attributed to reports that King Boris had agreed to send 20 divisions to help Hitler against Russia.

Greece. Greek guerrillas under onetime Army officers and a village priest, operating in mountain areas, destroyed an 80-ft.-high steel railroad bridge on a route vital to German transport. Most of the guerrilla leaders were members of the Republican-Democratic Party, violently opposed to any restoration of the Greek monarchy. Though few, they were able to hamper German efforts to construct fortifications and air bases for the defense of Southern Europe.

Rumania. Back from Hitler’s field headquarters last week came Premier Ion Antonescu after a one-day session with Adolf and several of his top-flight generals. According to reports from Bern, Hitler refused to lighten his demands for Rumanian troops, otherwise help Antonescu preserve his tottering regime. Instead, Hitler reportedly demanded more Rumanian petroleum and troops, less noise. In Geneva last week was pro-British Grigore Gafencu, onetime Rumanian Foreign Minister, the logical man to extend any peace overtures to Allied representatives.

Turkish Worries. Across the silvery, snakelike Bosporus, Ankara watched anxiously. It was clear that Germany had lost the initiative, but beyond that hazy problems loomed: If widespread revolutions broke out in the Balkans it might be wise for Turkey to establish order in the name of the Allies, risk war against Germany. Allied and Axis diplomats in Ankara last week noted that Ambassador Franz von Papen had gone to Berlin to confer with Adolf Hitler.