NAZI DECREE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1944, Page 7

NAZI DECREE

DEFENCE OF REICH

FORMATION OF HOME GUARD (By Telepraph—Press Association—Copyright.! Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, October 18.

Hitler has decreed the formation of People's Storm Troops, corresponding to the British Home Guard. Execution of the decreei has been placed in the hands of Himmler, commander of'the home army.

The German news agency states that all males'between the ages of 16 and 60 years will be trained and organised for the defence of Germany. They will not be uniformed, but will have arm bands with the words "Deutscher Volkssturn."

The deputy Press chief, Herr Sundermann, told foreign journalists that the new organisation conformed with the terms of the Hague Convention Berlin radio broadcast tonight a proclamation by Hitler relating to the formation of the Home Guard. "After a five-year struggle," he said, "the enemy, helped by the defection of all our European allies, has come at some points near, the German frontier and has reacbed it at others. We must and S + ?l\ c£\ ed ' as we succeeded from 1939 to 1941, not only in breaking the enemy s determination to destroy us but also in driving back the hostile forces and keeping them clear of the Reich until a peace is guaranteed which will safeguard the future of Germany and her allies and thereby Europe." Himmler, in his first broadcast to the German nation since 1937, said: "The enemy will pay for every mile of German soil with a river of blood Every farmstead and every tenement block will be defended by men who do not fear death, and, if they fail, by women and girls." STEONG WEST FRONT. Himmler, who was addressing a mass meeting of Home Guard companies in East Prussia, admitted that there were j People in Germany who were asking if | the Home Guard call-up was really necessary. "The days of our successes and happiness were followed by times of misfortune, but the war has now become very difficult for our enemies " he said. "They want to finish it quickly. They want and must have a breakthrough to Germany very quickly, or they will overstrain their forces. Contrary to the British and American expectations, we have formed a new west front some 540 miles in length We have fortified it strongly for defence. American soldiers are asking more and more what are they fighting for, while [ the war-weary British people are being led to expect an early end to the war. The German army, meanwhile, has

again risen after shameful setbacks as it has risen again in the past. "The British, the Americans, and the Russians will learn that penetration of German soil will be equivalent to national suicide. The Germans, like werewolves, will fall on the enemy' from the rear, cutting off their lifelines."

i He reminded the German people of the weapons with which Napoleon's army was fought in 1814—-pitch-forks, scythes, pikes, and swords. He also spoke of thfc new V-weapon, but said that all these weapons would only be successful if they, were used by Germany's strongest wonder weapon—as he called it—the German people's mass rising. He also said that if the necessity arose women would be enrolled. YOUTHFUL GERMAN TROOPS LONDON, October 17. The German news agency commentator, yon Hallensleben, describing Ger-| many's new "Volksgrenadier" troops, says that these are front-line troops in every respect, and are composed of young men aged 18 to 20, trained in the use of the most modern weapons iof attack and defence.