HITLER'S CONFESSION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 83, 4 October 1941, Page 9

HITLER'S CONFESSION

DECIDED ON WAR

WHY HE STRUCK AT SOVIET

(Rec. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 3

Hitler's speech was 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 hundred years," 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.

"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. 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 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.