The Indian Express (May 4, 1945)
Hitler Sacrificed His Life to Save Europe
LONDON, May 2: “The Fuehrer has fallen in battle at the head of the heroic defenders of the Reich capital. Inspired by his resolve to save his people and Europe from destruction he sacrificed his life. This example to remain true unto death is binding for all soldiers,” said to-day’s communique from the German High Command, which was datelined as usual “from Fuehrer’s headquarters”.
Hitler’s Death Report A German Subterfuge, Says Moscow Radio
Has Fuehrer Gone Under Ground to Direct Guerilla Warfare?
LONDON, May 2: ALONE OF ALL THE UNITED NATIONS’ SOURCES, THE MOSCOW RADIO SUGGESTS THAT THE REPORT OF HITLER’S DEATH MAY BE A SUBTERFUGE TO DISAPPEAR FROM THE SCENE AND TO GO UNDERGROUND TO DIRECT GUERILLA WARFARE.
Through the fog of stranger-than-fiction reports emanating to-night from the European capitals, one fact plainly emerges – Hitler’s Third Reich is in its death throes, cables Jon Kimche, Reuter’s Military Commentator.
The salient and significant developments of the past 24 hours, which have made May Day 1945 Germany’s day of destiny, can be summed up as follows, says Kimche:
(1) The acceptance of the truth of the German announcement that Hitler is dead by all except Moscow.
(2) Dramatic moves by Grand Admiral Doenitz, Hitler’s successor, which suggest that, if confirmed, there is a purge of the third Reich hierarchy in progress. The most significant of such moves is the announcement by the usually authoritative Hamburg Radio that Herr von Ribbentrop has been superseded as the German Foreign Minister. In his place, the virtually unknown Count Schwerin von Krosick has been appointed.
(3) If the leadership of the Nazi Party has been annihilated by the death of Hitler and the disappearance into the shadows of Ribbentrop, Goering and Goebbels, the brains of the Wehrmacht also have been removed by the reported capture of such ace Generals as Field Marshals Sigmund List, Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb and the most dangerous of all, Kurt von Rundstedt.
Rundstedt was found with his wife and son in a hospital at Adtoelz, 25 miles south-west of Munich by American troops, according to a Radio despatch from Reuter’s correspondent with the American Seventh Army.
Rundstedt said: “I last saw Hitler alive on March 12.” It is known that this Wehrmacht “utility man”, who is a Junker of the traditional type, had advised Hitler to surrender in February, just two months after his daring Ardennes offensive had been smashed, and he had been displaced for reasons of health by Field Marshal von Kluge.
WITHDRAWAL FROM NORWAY
(4) Nothing solid has developed from the spate of Stockholm stories.
The latest Reuter flash from Sweden states that an unnamed German representative states that an unnamed German representing Himmler and a representative of Quisling, the Norwegian Nazi leader, were present at a conference in Copenhagen between Werner Best, former German plenipotentiary to Denmark.
Another Stockholm report states that Quisling is expected to resign and that he is at present reported to be meeting the leaders of the German occupation forces in Norway.
These reports are treated with the greatest reserve in the Allied military quarters.
It is pointed out that Best has no official standing to offer the surrender of the Germans in Norway, but he may be acting as a spokesman for certain German circles in Norway. Whether these are empowered to enforce surrender is doubted.
(5) The Stockholm news of the reported surrender of the German naval forces in Denmark follows on the authoritative reports that the Germans are preparing to pull out of this territory, which is obviously the main target for the advancing Allied forces.
(6) The Norwegian Telegraph Bureau has received information of changes of the Naval Command in Denmark and Norway, and states that Admiral Cilia, Commander-in-Chief of the German naval forces in Norway, has been dismissed on the ground that he favoured surrender. He has been succeeded by the fanatical Admiral Franke.
If these reports of the German naval forces surrendering are confirmed, it is the most significant news of the day as they provide the first indication that the German Navy is not prepared to back Admiral Doenitz in his call for the continuation of the struggle against Bolshevism, “if necessary by the Navy alone”.
But the report meantime should be treated with reserve as Doenitz is known to exercise great influence over the German Navy, and all information from Germany until the catastrophic happenings of the last few days have indicated that it was the Navy that was stronger and more unified than any other German unit and would be the arm hat would hold out longest.
It looks indeed as if the Nazi Party, now led by Martin Bormann, has gone underground. There has been no appeal to its members, and no reference to it in any of Admiral Doenitz’s proclamations, or in any of the last two days’ transmissions on the North German Radio – one of the most directly-controlled by the new Fuehrer.
Bormann himself has not been heard of for three weeks. One of his last decrees, issued jointly with Hitler, ordered the separation of the State and party offices on the lower levels.
Precisely that seems now to be taking place on the highest level: men like Admiral Doenitz, who are, in fact, reliable Nazis but do not hold party office, take over for the final negotiations, while the party starts on its underground role.
It should not be forgotten that preparations for the “Werewolves” terrorist underground organisations were started last October on the order of none other than Himmler. This serves to underline that, behind the present fade-out of both Himmler and the party leaders, there is probably no split with Admiral Doenitz but a division of labour.
The proclamation of Hitler’s death in Berlin was therefore not only the final act in the manufacturing of the myth for the future generation of Nazis – it was also the signal for the new arrangement to come into force. --Reuter
SCEPTICISM IN LONDON
The Associated Press of America adds:
In London there was some scepticism as to whether Hitler actually died in battle.
Observers say that there is an obvious suggestion of a Nazi propaganda trick to create a myth of Hitler’s martyrdom and use the name of the Fuehrer to rally supporters for an attempt to re-create Nazi power after the war.
Russians have said repeatedly that they believe Hitler some time ago fled to safety elsewhere, probably leaving his double to die in his stead.
The news that Hitler had fallen at his command post came to Parliament just as it was ending its night session and many members were reluctant to believe it to be true, suspecting some ruse to permit him to escape. Others argued that the news of his death would be such a blow to the idolatrous Nazi fanatics that it would not be issued unless true because of the crushing impact it was bound to have on his followers. Even more important to many was the question of Doenitz’s policy – whether he would in fact make strong efforts to continue the fight and if he would be able to rally the SS guards and the members of the Nazi party to a cause so hopelessly and obviously lost.
How Westminster Received News
LONDON, May 2: News of Hitler’s death reached Westminster just before the Commons rose. When the news came through, some refused to credit it on the ground that nothing from the German Radio could be believed. They suspected a plot whereby the Fuehrer might attempt to make for safety and try to leave Germany under some sort of disguise. Others were inclined to believe the report. But everyone laughed when they read the terms of the announcement. Whatever else might be believed, the statement that the Fuehrer was killed in action “fighting with his last breath against Bolshevism,” was regarded as the best joke of the war.
Hitler’s death is noted as a possible fulfilment of Himmler’s prophecy, that the Fuehrer would be dead in 48 hours. There is some speculation in the lobbies whether Himmler had had anything to do in naming Admiral Doenitz as his successor, some suggesting that this surprising development might be the work of a rival group in the Nazi Party, attempting to discredit Himmler’s offer of surrender and cast doubt on his authority in the Reich.
Hitler’s Body in Russian Hands?
(From Our Correspondent)
LONDON, May 2: The report that Hitler was inside the Chancellery, where the last of the bitter battles for Berlin was raging, means that the Soviets have captured his body.
The thought arises that the Soviet doctors, who have developed the art of keeping-dead bodies intact, may preserve Hitler’s body so that the Allies may be sure that it was Hitler who died in Berlin and not his double.
Crack Russian assault troops converging on the Wilhelmstrasse, Friedrichstrasse and the Unter den Linden are expecting any moment to hoist the Red Flag over the Chancellery – Hitler’s grave.
Thousands of Katusha rocket-guns are sounding the requiem for Hitler which he never expected.
Did Hitler and Goebbels Commit Suicide?
MOSCOW, May 2: A Soviet Communique declares that Dr Goebbels has committed suicide.
The communique announced that Hitler, Goebbels and Genl. Krebs committed suicide. The communique gave as its source Goebbels’ Lieutenant, Doctor Hans Fritsche, who has been taken prisoner.
The Soviet communique says that the prisoners captured included Chiefs of Berlin defence, Lt.-Gen Wettag, Lt.-Gen. Schliess-Dankwart and Vice-Admiral Voss.
The first Deputy of Goebbels in Propaganda and Press, Hans Fritsche and Press Chief, Flick were also captured.
Doctor Fritsche deposed that Hitler, Goebbels and the newly appointed Chief of General Staff, General Krebs committee suicide.
Geoffrey Parr cables from London: Two months ago in his last great speech, Doctor Joseph Goebbels announced that he would prefer suicide to living in Germany occupied by ‘Bolshevist terror’.
He was last heard by the world when the German News Agency on April 22, issued the text of the speech he was said to have made to Berliners over the capital’s internal relay system. He then stated, “I and my colleagues are of course remaining in Berlin. My wife and children are also were and will remain.”
For long the Nazi Government’s chief spokesman charged with the increasingly difficult task of justifying German actions before the world and marshalling German people in support of Hitler’s policy persisted in this attitude to the last. His final words were “The onslaught will and must be broken at the walls of our city. Our struggle will be a beacon for the most determined fight of the whole nation.”
Credited by many with having been the author of many of Hitler’s speeches, Goebbels was next to Himmler the most unpopular Nazi leader in Germany. His small stature, dark hair and shuffling gait exposed this exponent of the creed propagating blond Aryan supermen to frequent ridicule. But, there can be no doubt that if German resistance in the west and particularly in the east outlasted Allied expectations, this was in a large measure due to the psychologically very astute, propaganda issued to the German nation from Goebbel’s headquarters in the Propaganda Ministry in Berlin.
BERLIN FALLS
Russians Take Rostock
MOSCOW, May 2: Berlin, the capital of Germany, is completely captured, announces Marshal Stalin.
The garrison has laid down its arms. More than 70,000 prisoners were taken in Berlin.
Rostock and Warnemuende, important ports and German naval bases on the Baltic, have been captured by Marshal Rokossovsky’s troops, says Marshal Stalin in an Order of the Day.
The German grouping surrounded south-east of Berlin has been destroyed, said Marshal Stalin in another order of the day to-night.
Wednesday’s Soviet communique, after repeating the Order of the Day on the completion of the capture of Berlin and giving news of the suicide of Dr. Goebbels and others, says that south-east of Berlin over sixty thousand Germans were killed between April 24 and May 2. Among the prisoners taken in this area are Deputy Commander of the Ninth German Army, Lt.-Gen. Wernardt, and Commandant of Frankfurt-on-Oder, Major General Will and six other Generals. Much war equipment was taken including 304 tanks and self-propelled guns, over 1,500 field-guns and 17,600 lorries.
On the Baltic front and in the Western Carpathians 10,500 prisoners were taken and 374 field-guns captured on Tuesday.
The Soviet air communique reports a heavy Soviet bomber attack on Swinemuende during the night of Tuesday. Heavy explosions were observed.
Reading Eagle (May 4, 1945)
By Dorothy Thompson
JERUSALEM – Perhaps we will never know how Hitler died or when he really died, but it is clear just what a myth this is intended to create around his name.
With the Red flag flying over the Reichstag and American and British troops unfortunately not in Berlin, with the Soviets taking unilateral action in Poland and Austria, with France registering an unprecedented Communist vote in municipal elections, it is the intention of German leaders to dramatize in Hitler’s death the role of Germany as a last bulwark against radical Bolshevism sweeping over all Europe.
This undoubtedly is also the reason for launching the story that Himmler was willing to surrender to the British and Americans. While not confirmed, it bolsters the myth that Germany fought for Western civilization against military Bolshevism. This, therefore, will recall clearly how Hitler set about saving Europe from Bolshevism.
He, first, in his own country, destroyed all historic and traditional institutions of Western civilization, representative government, impartial courts, orderly processes and based regime on a naked force. He then made a pact with the Soviet Union, encouraged the Soviet entrance into Finland and partitioned Poland with the Soviets along the Molotov-Ribbentrop line. He then attacked the west, destroyed entire defense systems and broke down again Western civilization’s most cherished institutions, creating everywhere moral and political chaos.
Then, because he feared the Soviet Union on the rear and thought he could play on British conservatism, he attacked the Soviet Union.
Finally, by insisting that Germany fight on for months after the war was definitely lost, he brought about the utter ruin of Germany herself, leaving the country a wilderness of rubble without government, communications or food.
He who in death is proclaimed the protector of Europe is the destroyer of Europe. He and his spokesman, Goebbels, repeatedly said that either Nazism would conquer or would pull civilization down with it into chaos. That promise and that promise alone Hitler kept, but the evil that he did lives after him. That is why, here in their national home, among his worst victims, the Jews, there is no wild rejoicing.
Jewry’s worst enemy has been defeated and his country literally brought to dust, but the seeds of hatred he sowed throughout the world flourish still. Reports received here from all parts of Europe, including France and Yugoslavia, reveal great hostility over returning to European Jews property expropriated from them and resold to non-Jews under the Nazi regime.
The feeling of democracy and Sovietism based on freedom proved weak, inefficient and widespread. Though the root of Nazism is unabridged in nationalism which elevates a nation into a god, there is no sign that such nationalism is not extirpated with Hitler’s fall. Our civilization therefore confronts in victory an undiminished crisis.
