South Yorkshire Times, April 22nd, 1944
Shadow and Substance
Surely no campaign in the history of warfare has ever been so well advertised as the Second Front, which is by now generally accepted as implying an Anglo-American invasion of the Continent of Europe from the West. Every day brings some fresh reminder of the imminence of the great event. The atmosphere is built up and the tension increases. Each new move in the Allied preparations suggests finality, but the suspense remains; the finishing touches are tantalisingly prolonged. The Germans and their Vichy henchmen have been prophesying on the subject since the beginning of February, but their continued anxiety in offering more or less specific dates only betrays the rather pathetic hopes they cherish of being able to say when at last the blow falls, that they had fully expected it at that time and in that place. This claim to prescience is carefully nursed with the idea of keeping calm not only their own people, but the less complaisant folk in the conquered countries. Latest variation on the theme is that the Nazi hierarchy may even allow the German position to deteriorate still further in order to enhance the effect of the counter blow when they turn on the Allies and either throw them back into the North Sea, or annihilate them where they stand.
Previously sensitive about the analogy of 1918, the Nazi authorities now find it necessary to impress on their solders that there must be no repetition of that fatal collapse. They pooh-pooh the idea that surprise is still possible, yet it is a subject on which they seem to protest too much, and certainly a point which they scarcely dare take for granted. In the meantime, the Russians are methodically cutting to pieces the armies which Hitler cannot afford adequately to reinforce because of the Western maniacs. The Germans may well profess that they are eager for the Allied invasion to start though they are sadly deluded if they think they will derive either comfort or relief from knowing the worst.
In the nature of things, the lack of real information about the Second Front was bound to create a spate of rumours. We have all met those who believe there never will be a Second Front and even wilder stories have been put about. Recent events have, however, made it as clear as could be that the Allies mean business. The demarche over the Axis embassies in Eire, and the much more serious expedient of cancelling for the time being the diplomatic privileges of foreign countries with representatives in England do not devour of bluff. They are logical gambits in a game which has to be played with supreme nerve and skill. In due course, we hope to be able to recognise and commend the niceness of the timing of these and other moves which must be overtly made. Until that time arrives, we must take much on trust. But it can at this stage be assumed that the combined might of Britain and America is poised and ready awaiting only the fateful word. Reason adds the supposition that the weather forecast will have at least the penultimate say in the matter. The field for German guesswork is already much straitened, and it cannot now be long before the prospect becomes a stern reality for both sides.