"Halt Them At Any Price," Nazi Order

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 95, 23 April 1945, Page 5

"Halt Them At Any Price," Nazi Order

FANATICAL STAND Enormous Force Massed In Defence Of Berlin N.Z.P.A. —Copyright—Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, April 22. The first news from a Russian source supporting German statements that the Russians are fighting their way into the heart of Berlin came from a war correspondent of the Moscow newspaper Izvestia, who said that the Russians are meeting fanatical resistance in the blazing streets of Berlin. The Germans are throwing in all kinds of forces and detachments formed from soldiers, officers, retired officers and storm troops. The correspondent adds: "The Germans have concentrated enormous forces of artillery and have brought up tanks, planes and defence units armed with tank-destroying weapons. A German order heard by the Russians said, ' Halt them at any price.' "Bitter battles are being fought near the sports arena between Pankow and Weissensee. There is heavy fighting between Russian Stalin and Sherman tanks and German self-propelled guns along the road leading north-west to Berlin and along the roads from the east. Other Russian forces are shelling the vicinity of the Templehof airfield and positions on the Spree River. Waves of Stormoviks and bombers are keeping up incessant attacks against Templehof. The airfield is now of little use to the Luftwaffe."

The German news agency reported that strong Russian tank spearheads had reached Glienicke, a suburb about eight miles northwest of the heart of Berlin. The Associated Press comments that Russian penetrations there would throw an arc three-quarters around the city. The Germans last night announced that Russians were in the neighbourhood of the south-western suburb of Potsdam. Goebbels, in a broadcast to the people of Berlin, said: "My colleagues and I are remaining in Berlin. My wife and children also are here and will remain. Lieutenant-General Reymann has been appointed to command the military defences of the capital, in which many thousands of tank barriers, barricades, road blocks and earthworks extend from the centre of the city to the outskirts." Goebbels called for a great effort. He instructed civilians IN obey military orders, keep off the streets and assist the movement of the Wehrmacht and the Volkssturm. He said that armament works, utility plants and administrative departments would continue to function, and he warned cowards that they would be dealt with severely. "Local party leaders must watch for cowardly hoisters of white flags and act swiftly and ruthlessly," he said.