GERMANS AND B.B.C.

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

GERMANS AND 8.8.C.

WARNING TO LISTENERS

WILL HAVE TO BE PUNISHED

GOEBBELS'S THREAT

RUGBY, October 2. The Berlin radio broadcast today another attack on the British Broadcasting Corporation by the Minister of Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels., He admits that a number of Germans "receive their explanations from Churchill," behaviour which he describes as "not only mean, but ungrateful, and without respect to our leadership." Dr. Goebbels said: "Even among us there are still people who will never learn and cannot be prevented from increasing political and military knowledge by tuning in behind locked doors to London broadcasts. This act is not only mean, but it also proves that these people are unable to see right from wrong. "People who are listening to London ought to be sent to prison or executed for going round with false reports and spreading rumours among other Germans. Is it worth while to listen to radio London? Is it not dull1 and stupid? While operations of gigantic measure ar,e being prepared by the Fuhrer and his collaborators, the duty of every German is to have confidence and wait. WHY LAST WAR WAS LOST. "Not to have confidence is not only a crime but also unfair. We know full well what a dreadful influence was promoted by English propaganda during the last war, and we are not willing to take the risk a second time. If during the last war men could have been found to combat this propaganda, the present war would have been unnecessary. "The last war was not lost because of our cowardice, but because of our stupidity. Therefore, let us be as strong as lions and as clever as snakes in this war. If people do not want to stop listening to London they will have to be punished. This also is a preparation for victory." It must not be forgotten, however, that Dr. Goebbels is astute and usually has an extremely good, if sometimes hidden, motive for propaganda. Such admissions would not be made to please the British. They might not even be . made to scare illicit German listeners. One commentator here hazarded the suggestion that Dr. Goebbels is ready for any eventuality, even German de- : feat and is already preparing the ground for proving that the actions of the people will be the real cause i ; of the loss of the war rather than the ', failure of the German army.