HIS ALLY'S COLLAPSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 63, 11 September 1943, Page 7

HIS ALLY'S COLLAPSE

ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT JBy Telegraph—Presa Association—^Copyright.) Rec. 12^45 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 10. A bitter attack against the Italian Government for capitulating was made by Hitler in his first broadcast to the Geiman nation from his headquarters since last March. "M eed 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 for lying, to myself and the public," said the Fuhrer.

"The collapse of Italy had been foreseen for a long time, not because Italy had not the necessary means of defending herself effectively or had not the necessary German support, but because of the failure or absence of will of those elements who, to crown systematic sabotage, have now brought about capitulation. The same forces which brought about the capitulation succeeded in August, 1939, in preventing Italy entering the -war. I was bound to show understanding of the extraordinary difficulties the Duce was meeting with 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 into the war. The. battle for Poland and Norway and on the Continent against England and France had been decided. Nevertheless, I had to thank the Duce for his attitude* as I knew he was meeting with the greatest difficulties at home.

GERMAN ALTRUISM.

"Not for one second did doubt enter the minds of either the Duce or myself that the outcome of the war would be decisive for both his people 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 moment details will be published which will show what Germany has done for her ally and what she was 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. Rommel's name will for ever be connected with this German feat. In the spring of 1941 Germany decided to help Italy in the Balkans. The decision was not taken to^pursue 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 GREAT MUSSOLINI.

''The German Reich and I, its Fuhrer, 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 successful victory. His downfal and all that shamefully has been done hurt him, and will in future be felt by the Italian people as their deepest shame. "The final act which started a coup d'etat that had long been agreed upon was the Duce's demand for increased authority which would enable 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 the enemies of the Italian people's strength to resist. At the very end Mussolini was still trying to eliminate the enemies of the Italian people. Over twenty years Mussolini had only one care—-the welfare of his people—and now he has been dealt with as though he was a common criminal. I was and am happy to be able to call this great and true man my friend. Furthermore, I have not learnt to change or overthrow my views according to the demands of expediency.