Hitler alive, Nazis insist; admit he yielded power
Mysterious absence continues; ‘last ditch’ tasks left to Himmler
Dramatic ‘twilight’ planned for Adolf?
London, England (UP) –
Among the interesting possibilities raised today by Adolf Hitler’s unwonted silence was a Stockholm report that Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler plans to stage a real-life “Gotterdammerung,” or “Twilight of the Gods,” at Berchtesgaden by blowing up the mountain eyrie and Der Führer with it.Thus, said a dispatch to The London Daily Telegraph, “Hitler would be added to the gallery of German gods.”
London, England (UP) –
Berlin spokesmen, struggling to counter worldwide rumors that Adolf Hitler is ill, dead or insane, declared today that he is in “excellent health,” but carefully refrained from disclosing the whereabouts of the mysteriously-silent Führer.
Taking cognizance for the first time of the recent flood of speculation caused by Hitler’s prolonged silence, the German Transocean News Agency broadcast a statement by “competent German quarters” denying that anything untoward had happened to the Nazi leader.
Transocean cited the Hitlerian language of “a fight to the last ditch” proclamation read to the German nation by Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler yesterday as “proof” that the Führer was alive.
“Adolf Hitler has never read proclamations in person but always had them read by his ministers,” the agency added in answer to one rumor that he had been unable to deliver the address personally.
Earlier, a Berlin radio commentator admitted that the Führer had been “compelled” to turn over to Himmler and other party leaders the task of rallying the German nation for the final phase of the war.
The Berlin commentator, Rudolf Semmler, told the German public in a nationwide broadcast that the decisive hours of the war are at hand.
He said:
Within a measurable space of time, the question will arise: Do we capitulate in front of superior enemy odds in men and material, or will they capitulate as they see our unshakeable determination?
Semmler declared that surrender has been ruled out by the Nazi leaders, and he exhorted the people to rally to the newly-organized “Volkssturm,” the People’s Army.
He promised:
Our leaders will not let the German people down as did the cowardly government of 1918.
Then, attempting to explain Hitler’s singular absence from public life at this critical hour, Semmler added fresh fuel to the worldwide speculation that the Führer was sick or dead, or had been driven insane by disaster.
He said:
If the Führer spoke so seldom during recent months and was compelled to pass on this task to his nearest collaborators, we know all the same that every single word of his has special importance. The whole world realizes this.
Semmler made no further mention of Hitler.
London observers speculated that Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler might be emerging as the actual ruler of Nazi Germany and that the shrewd “Hangman” was seeking only to preserve the Hitler legend while establishing himself in power.
The mystery of Hitler’s disappearance from public life and the domestic situation in Germany was deepened by:
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Hitler’s failure to show himself yesterday even for the postponed observation of the Munich Beer Hall Putsch anniversary.
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The fact the Führer’s speech was read by his Gestapo chieftain Himmler.
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Frank admission by Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda and total war mobilization, that the European war was in its last round.
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Unconfirmed reports from Sweden that Hitler was either dead or out of power and that Himmler was preparing to assume the job of No. 1 Nazi.
The proclamation, read by Himmler in a voice that occasionally sounded like a poor imitation of Hitler’s, was based almost entirely on an attempt to preserve the German nation from its inner and other enemies, which Hitler claimed his National Socialist movement in 1923 accomplished.
He charged the Allies directly with instigating the plots against his life in the “one hope that they could deliver a decisive stab in the interior of our country as was always the case when they did not know how to achieve successes against Germany in another way.”
Hitler’s proclamation said the plotters hoped to break German resistance at its root by striking at him, and he added:
As long as I am alive, Germany will not suffer the fate of European states which have been overrun by Bolsheviks, as long as there is a breath left in me, my body and my soul will serve only one thought – to make my people strong in defense and attack against the most mortal peril that is threatening it.
Blood purge hinted
The proclamation indicated the Nazis were possibly contemplating another blood purge. It recalled that the ranks were cleansed in the 1934 revolt and after the July 20 attempt on Hitler’s life, warning:
Whoever today uses a dagger or bomb against Germany will be destroyed without mercy and without consideration… The time for people who like to make compromises or reservations is definitely over.
Himmler, who is now looked upon as second to Hitler in Germany, read the proclamation from the Nazi beer hall shrine in Munich, where the anniversary celebration of Nov. 9 was postponed until yesterday because of “military necessities.”
Goebbels, in conceding that the war had entered the “last round,” asserted that the Germans “intend to win this last round, with out last breath if necessary.”
Speaking at the induction of men into the Volkssturm (People’s Army) in Berlin, the Propaganda Minister indicated the Nazis would not accede to “unconditional surrender,” maintaining that the Germans “are determined to impose on our enemies a hard and high price.”
Hitler’s death rumored
He asserted:
Our people’s tragedy of Nov. 9, 1918, will never be repeated. We shall never lay down our arms and trust the enemy who knows no mercy if we should become defenseless.
Goebbels claimed that Germany was standing “firmly on its feet” and “we are neither morally nor materially worn out.”
The induction of Volkssturm recruits in Berlin was part of a series of such services throughout Germany. the Transocean News Service said the number of inductees could not be disclosed for military reasons but explained that it was a “very considerable number running into the millions.”
Rumors of death
Meanwhile, Stockholm dispatch said the so-called Free German Press Bureau quoted alleged underground reports from Berlin that rumors were circulating that Hitler was dead or at least no longer able to exercise power after being “kidnapped” by Himmler and Goebbels and virtually held a prisoner at Obersalzberg.
The Stockholm Morgen Tidningen said the clandestine Atlantik Radio reported that four million copies of a proclamation by Himmler appointing himself “the new German Führer” had been printed and were ready in Berlin for fast distribution the moment Hitler was no longer able to exercise power.
Why didn’t Hitler’s voice read latest proclamation?
By Edward P. Morgan
London, England –
Allied propaganda experts are having a field day today with the “mystery of Adolf Hitler,” stressing that no matter what has happened to him, his curious silence at this critical stage of the war proves that the Germans have lost the emotional kingpin of their resistance.
It is generally agreed here that Hitler wrote the statement which Heinrich Himmler broadcast last night, but the British press is making a major point of the fact that he did not deliver it himself.
BBC’s European service, beamed toward Germany, is asking with ominous repetition the question: If the Führer had time to write the proclamation, why didn’t he have time to record it? It would have taken only a few minutes.
Hitler has made no political speech since shortly after plotters attempted to assassinate him on July 20.
It would be dangerous to be too optimistic and not accurate information has emerged here to explain the riddle of Hitler’s whereabouts or welfare, but despite the proclamation there is a growing temptation to think that something has happened to him. If it has, the fact cannot be withheld indefinitely from the German people.
All of Himmler’s and Goebbels’ recent propaganda efforts, of course, have been directed toward playing down the Führer and playing up the “defense of the Fatherland.” Even so, an accident involving Hitler would undoubtedly have a profound effect on the population.