Nazis call Roosevelt death a stroke of luck
Goebbels and his propagandists exploit passing of President to the fullest
By Paul Ghali
Saturday, April 14, 1945
BERNE, Switzerland – Like a drowning man clutching at straws, the German propaganda machine today seized on the death of President Roosevelt as a stroke of luck and exhorted the tottering Reich to fight on at all costs because “other welcome surprises may be in store for us.”
As had been expected, the President’s death, which had shocked and saddened the entire democratic world, was being exploited to the fullest by Dr. Joseph Goebbels.
The German press developed the theme that it was Roosevelt’s fault that the war had not “remained localized,” actually an admission that the Germans had not expected to find in him such a staunch opponent of their aggression.
The death of the American President was described as one of those events by which a benevolent God sometimes extricates the Reich from disaster. It was compared with the death of Empress Catherine of Russia, which saved Frederick II of Prussia from complete defeat.
The press mouthpieces of the new Fascist regime in Northern Italy openly gloated over repercussions that the President’s death might have. They asserted that the event had caused a feeling of uncertainty among Allied troops, which might slow the impetus of their offensive.
The northern Italian papers asserted that Mr. Roosevelt’s death was not due to natural causes and implied that there was a strong anti-war opposition in the United States.
The Milan radio, which yesterday abused the President’s memory, has taken a more moderate tone. Reports reaching here say that public reaction to the radio outbursts was far from favorable.
In Switzerland, Roosevelt’s death remains the one item of news and the avalanche of victories in the east and west impress the Swiss less than the passing of “America’s greatest statesman of modern times.”
A special memorial service will be held Monday in Bern’s 14th-century Gothic Cathedral in memory of the President.