Proclamation Issued By Hitler

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23362, 23 June 1941, Page 5

Proclamation Issued By Hitler

NAZI AEROPLANES RAID SOVIET TOWNS

(TWITSD 9BCBB 4*Bool.4*lo*—OOmiOßTj (Received June 22, 11 p.m.) ' LONDON, June 22. Germany and Italy are at war with Russia.

Germany’s declaration of war was announced by Herr Hitler in a proclamation in which he said that the Germans had attacked Russia with the Finns in the north and the Rumanians in the south. Later, the Rome radio broadcast a statement saying that Italy had declared war on Russia and hostilities would begin at 3.30 this afternoon. The Soviet Vice-Premier and Foreign Commissar (M. Molotov), in a broadcast statement, called on the Russian people to stand firm in the face of the German attack and said that German aeroplanes had raided three towns and killed more than 200 people.

M. Molotov, broadcasting from Moscow, said; “I am requested by M. Stalifi to tell you that Germany at 1 o’clock this morning attacked our country without warning at many places. “Germany attacked under a pretext of lies and provocations. The Soviet has always respected the letter and the spirit of the non-aggression pact. This aggression is a murderous act by the gangster German Fascists.

“The German Ambassador called, at 6.30 a.m., and informed me that the German Government had decided to begin hostilities. I answered that the Soviet had never made such claims as the Germans alleged and declared that it was. Nazi Germany which was guilty of aggression.”

M. Molotov denied that the army and air force had violated the German frontier at any point. He referred to the bombing of Kiev, Sebastopol, and Kaunas as outrageous and unprecedented in the history of civilised peoples. Hitler would suffer the same fate as Napoleon. The Red forces had been ordered to hunt out the Germans from the country.

. He appealed to workers, engineers, and women’s units to show discipline and conquer the enemy. c Herr Hitler’s proclamation declared; “National Socialist Germans have £*• been weighed down with heavy cares for many long months. The hour has how come when I can speak openly. Jewish Bolshevists in 1936 wanted to set the whole of Europe afire. It was not Germany who threatened Russia ll but the Jews in their centre, Moscow, who wanted to spread their dommav. > tion, not merely spiritually but militarily.

“Britain incited Spain And Poland and, later, France to fight. I thought I could reach an understanding with Russia, and so I sent Herr von Kibbehtrop to break Britain’s encirclement plan. I hoped the treaty he con. eluded would remove all tension. The treaty resulted in the disappearance of thousands of German subjects from Lithuania, but I kept silent. 1 agreed to the Russian annexation of Lithuania, hoping to arrive at a lasting agreement with Russia. Germany never intended to attack Lithuania, merely to send troops to protect it.

J “The victory in Poland, which was carried out entirely by German troops, -gave me another opportunity to offer peace to the western Powers, but this offer was rejected because England still then had f of felting the co-operation of the Balkans and of Russia. That is why Sir Stefford Cripps was sent to Russia. When Russia took_over he Balt,c countries she Ivingly said she was protecting them, but her attempt to bring them and Finland under her yoke could only be { hre^fi a gainst Tn ; "Hien Russia penetrated Rumania and the Greeks acted with Britain in threatening an extension of the area of the war. Rumania reS accede to the Russian demands only under an Axis guarantee for the rest of her territory. I gave this. J “I invited M. Molotov to' Berlin. He asked if the German guarantee < to Rumania was directed against Russia. I replied: Against everyone. t M Molotov asked if Germany would undertake not to assist Finland, who waMhreatening I replied: ‘We have no pohtical interest in Finland, but we will not tolerate another attack on her. s “He asked if Germany would agree to Russian guarantees to Bulgaria. ’■ is a Jereign 1 ; ; invited the Serbs to take action against Germany and offered the herbs war materials. . ' . ‘ ’ “This was when I was advising Mr Matsuoka (the Japanese PwetfU ! Minister! to bring about a lessening of tension between Russia and Japan. S officers went to Moscow, where they were welcomed like Allies. - Tim moment arrived when I could no longer merely look on at these de- • veldpments. Waiting earn™* STdesires* : ; , & m N^ P femany N hTffie hack wlSle GerLny is engaged in a struggle for her existence. “For weeks Russia has massed troops on the frontier and clashes have been reoorted One hundred and sixty divisions threaten us. Rus« been • reportea _ frontier repeatedly in order to prove they sian c n& June lg large R uss i an patrols t ar ® masters. } t f orce d back only after lengthy exchanges of ' fire!" intention of remaining inactive in faee of this grave threat to our frontier. * . “T w therefore, ordered the German forces to oppose this menace with in the mfeht at heir disposal. The German which is t st affins ttss. Sifi™ 5». •** k 7Bolsh“vism and dear the way for true soeiaf progress m Europe.