TALK BY HITLER

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 9, 6 October 1941, Page 7

TALK BY HITLER

War Situation In Review EASTERN FRONT Big Things Said To Be Shaping

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright,) LONDON, October 3.

“Enormous things are shaping on the eastern front. For 48 hours a gigantic operation has been in progress which will help to defeat the enemy in the east,” said Hitler in a speech made on the occasion of the inauguration of the winter help campaign. “The decision in this war will decide the fate of Europe for the next 100 years,” he said.

Hitler spoke for an hour from Berlin, his broadcast being directed to the German people and the peoples of the occupied territories, ' . Reviewing the war situation, he said: “It was clear that England s friendship could not be secured, and therefore I decided it was better to have war when I was in charge of the affairs of Germany. In May we saw that the Russians would undoubtedly take the first opportunity to strike, and I decided to take the first step myself. The greatest struggle in history then began. “Full attack against Britain, for which we needed the entire Luftwaffe, was impossible while the Russians were at our backs, massing armies and building aerodrome after aerodrome. Now three German armies have gone into Russia and our first task is mainly solved. x ~ “We have occupied Russian territory twice the size of Germany in 1933. Fifteen thousand miles of Russian railways have been reconstructed and 10,000 miles converted to the German gauge. Question of Transport.

“In contrast with the last war we have unlimited quantities of ammunition at the front. It is only a question of transport. Our ammunition factories have been producing so much that I have ordered some of them to cease production, because there is no enemy with which we have to deal who cannot be overwhelmed with the existing stocks.” During his speech Hitler maintained an even tone, except when he mentioned the democracies or the Soviet, and then it rose to a scream. “It was a personal humiliation when in 1939 I sent a Minister to Moscow, Hitler continued, “I sincerely kept my obligations to Russia, but Russia did not keep her promises. Her treachery was first evident in the attack against Finland and the Baltic States, “I learned that Russia had reached the hour to advance against us last autumn. I therefore invited M. Molotov to Berlin. He gave me four conditions. In the first place, he said that Finland must be liquidated, I refused. Secondly, he asked if the German guarantee protected Rumania against Russia. I stood by my word to Rumania. Thirdly, M. Molotov demanded the right to garrisons in Bulgaria. I said that that depended on Bulgaria's wishes. Fourthly, Jm demanded bases in the Dardanelles. I rejected the demand. Further talks were useless. Surprise for Nazis. "Not for a single second has the initiative on the Eastern Front been taken from our hands, We have not been disappointed in anything, We have only been surprised by one thing; we had no idea of the enemy’s gigantic preparations. Russia had concentrated power which was unknown to anybody, and there are still many who do not believe it. “We just missed the possibility of the destruction not only of Germany, but of the whole of Europe,” he declared. i , , He declared also that Russia had alreadj' been broken and that the chief task of the German armies on the Eastern Front had been achieved in the main. He proclaimed that everything had gone according to plan, and claimed that the German armies had taken 2,500,000 Russian prisoners, destroyed 22,000 guns and 18,000 tanks, and shot down 14,500 planes.

Germany’s relations with Japan were continually improving, he said, and a particularly cordial friendship united him to the leaders of Fascist Italy. Hitler boasted openly Of how he was forcing Europe to work for Germany, and said he had put a whole continent into the service of the Reich. Behind the Russian front a new German administration bad already been set up, and should the war last a long time it would be of great value to Germany and her allies, “We knew bow to organize these conquered areas,” he said. A speech by Dr. Goebbels introduced Hitler’s broadcast. Goebbels revealed some of the results of R.A.F. raids on Germany, and said that the Germans had evacuated half a million children and over 100,000 mothers from very dangerous areas. More than 2000 special trains were neededXo carry these people to safely. HITLER INTERRUPTED “Ghost Voice” Heard Again LONDON, October 3. The "ghost voice” was heard again mi the German radio tonight while Goebbels and Hitler were speaking. The voice was not distinctly heard in London then, but when Hitler’s speech wtrs rebroadeast it was more distinct.

When Hitler said, "Posterity will clearly see—the voice interrupted, saying—"that Hitler has dragged Germany into the war.”