GRIM CHRISTMAS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1943, Page 3

GRIM CHRISTMAS

BERLINERS' PLIGHT All Thoughts Of Festivities Cease To Exist N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON/Dec. 20. Berlin's fifth Christmas of the war will be the grimmest in the city's history, say Berlin correspondents of Swedish newspapers. It will be a more Spartan Christmas than ever before, says the Social Demokraten Berlin correspondent. All thoughts ~ of Christmas presents, trees and \ candles have ceased to exist, and it , is extremely unlikely that the people . will have more than a passing inter- . est in Christmas. There will be few family gatherings in Berlin. Most of the children , have been evacuated and thousands \ of homes are gone. Berliners are - living in most primitive conditions. . Many homes are without gas or light and have very little heating. ; A message from the Aftonbladet ! correspondent in Berlin says: "Ber- [ lin's streets show a horrible picture : of destroyed - and burned houses, in i the cellars of which coal stocks are : still burning three weeks after the ; first great November raid. There will i be no festive spirit this Christmas. ■ Business, streets, shops and restaurants are laid in ruins.