HITLER SPEAKS TO NATION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24051, 13 September 1943, Page 5

HITLER SPEAKS TO NATION

ITALY’S SURRENDER “IT MEANS UTTLE TO GERMANY” (N.2. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON,- Sept. 10. A bitter attack against the Italian Government for capitulating was mane by Hitler in his first broadcast to the German nation from his headquarters since last March. , , . “Freed from the heavy, burden of strain and expectation which for a long time has been, laid upon us, the moment has now come when I can again speak to the German people without the necessity of lying to myself and the public,” he said. “The collapse of Italy was foreseen a long time ago, not because Italy had jiot the necessary means of defending herself effectively or the necessary German support, but because of those elements which have now brought about capitulation. The same forces which brought about the capitulation succeeded in August, 1939, in preventing Italy from entering the war. “I was bound to show an understanding of the extraordinary difficulties II Duce was meeting on the home front, and did not insist on Italy honouring her obligations under the alliance. On the contrary, I left it completely to the Italian Government whether it entered the war at all. “By June, 1940, Signor Mussolini had succeeded in establishing the prerequisites for Italy’s entry to the war, and the battle for Poland and Norway and in the Continent against England and France had been decided. Nevertheless, I had to thank II Duce for his attitude, as I knew he was meeting very great difficulties at home. Offers of Aid

“Not for one second did doubt enter the minds either of II Duce or myself that the outcome of the War would be decisive for both his and my people. Therefore Germany, while herself engaged in a bitter struggle, helped her ally. The military rulers of Italy either refused many offers of help altogether, or only accepted them under conditions which Germany could not fulfil. “At an appropriate Repent details will be published tyljigjpshow what Germany has done fpg-ner ally, and what she is willing to do in the future.

“Without the intervention of German soldiers, North Africa would have been lost to Italy as early as the winter of 1940. Marshal Rommel’s name will be for ever connected with this German feat. “With the spring of 1941, Germany decided to help Italy in the Balkans. The decision! was not taken in pursuit of our own ends, but only to assist our ally and eliminate the danger which Italy’s actions had brought about, and which, of course, also threatened Germany.

“The German Reich and I, its Fuehrer, were in a position to assume this attitude because we were conscious that there was at the head of the Italian people one of the most important men produced in contemporary times—the greatest son of the Italian land since the downfall of the ancient Roman Empire. His unswerving loyalty provided the necessary prerequisites to a common pact for a successful victory. Italy’s “Deepest Shame”

“His downfall and all that has shamefully been done to hurt him will, in future, be felt by the Italian people as their deepest shame. The final act which started the coup d’etat that had long been agreed upon was II Duce’s demand for increased authority to ehable him to carry on the war successfully.

“He demanded authority for the severest measures against open and clandestine saboteurs of the war effort, and against reactionary enemies of the social community who, consequently, were enemies of the Italian people’s strength to resist. At the very end, Signor Mussolini was still trying to eliminate the enemies of the Italian people.

“For over 20 years Signor Mussolini had only one welfare of his people; And now he, has been dealt with as though he were a common criminal. I was, and am happy to be able to call this great, true man my friend. “Furthermore, I have not learnt to change or overthrow my views according to the demends of expediency,” said Hitler. “Nevertheless, even after this shameful procedure German troops in Sicily, German airmen and the crews of Üboats and E-boats and transports of all kinds, on land and sea and in the air, continued to do their duty to the ut- ! most.

“Posterity will say that with the exception of a few brave Italian units it was the German troops who from that time onwards defended with their blood not only the German Reich but Italy’s soil. “The Italian Government may try to justify as it likes the decision to make Italy a battlefield. It may try to call it necessity, but it will never find an excuse for the fact that this was done without as much as informing its ally beforehand.

■ ‘The King, on the very day of the capitulation, called the German Charge d’Affaires, and assured him emphatically that Italy would never capitulate, but was resolved to remain loyal to the German side through thick and thin. Even one hour after the publication of the betrayal, the Italian Chief of Staff declared to German military representatives that the report was an indecent lie, and English and American propaganda. The very day he signed the armistice, BadogHp assured the German Charge d’Affaires in Rome that he would never betray Germany.

History’s Judgment

“The democratic warmongers and men in the present Italian Government may consider such an attitude a shinipg example of tactically clever statesmanship. History will judge otherwise.”

“I was bound in duty to order all those measures which could possibly be taken to preserve the German Reich from the fate which Badoglio and his men inflicted not only on II Duce and the Italian people, but which they intended also to bring upon Germany. The defection of Italy means little from the military point of view, since German forces have borne the struggle for this country for months. We shall now continue this struggle free from all burdensome restrictions.

“The attempt by international plutocratic conspiracy to make light of German resistance in Italy is childish. In so doing they mistake the German people for another people. Their hope of finding traitors among the German people as they have done in Italy, is founded on complete ignorance of the essence of the National Socialist State. “More than ever before the German command stands as a fanatically united combination opposed to this design. Every emergency will only strengthen us in our resolution.

“As far as I am concerned, my personal life has long since ceased to belong to me. I work with full consciousness of my duties, and I have the knowledge that through my contribution I can assure the life of my people for generations ahead.” The speech lasted only 18 minutes, and is believed to be the shortest ever made by Hitler.

Bulgarian Regency Council.—The Berlin radio has announced that the Boris’s brother. Prince Cyril, th? Prime Minister (Professor Bogdan Filoff), and the War Minister (General Mikhoff) have been appointed members of the Bulgarian Regency Council.— LondomSeptemberll

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