Nazis’ New Broom?

Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, who had twice been at the top of the Wehrmacht command ladder in the west, went down again last week—and this time probably out. His successor: bulldog-faced Field Marshal Albert Kesselring.

There was more behind the sudden shift than the ditching of an unsuccessful commander for one who bore a somewhat overblown reputation as a “stonewall” defender in Italy. To Allied minds who know the Nazi mind best it appeared likely that Kesselring was chosen not primarily for his generalship, but as the commander who might best—from the Nazi point of view—take the Allied knockout punch or throw in the towel.

“Smiling Albert” Kesselring has one positive and some negative qualifications lacked by more able German militarists. He is a shrewd diplomat. He has never been closely identified with the Nazi party.

Kesselring could play the role the Nazis may want him to play. He could surrender the bulk of the armies in the west, then plead that he had no control over Nazi-led fanatics. From their southern bastion, the Nazis could blame the final blowup on leading Army figures.