GOEBBELS'S ACCOUNT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 6

GOEBBELS'S ACCOUNT

ATTACK ON HITLER

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 1.30 p.m. ' LONDON, July 26. Goebbels broadcast tonight Avhat he described as a full account of the at-, tempt on Hitler's life. He said that tivo of his Ministerial colleagues Avere present in his office in Berlin, vi'hen, at noon on July 20, he Avas informed by telephone from the Fuhrer's headquarters of the dastardly attempt on the Fuhrer and Ills military collaborators. At 4 p.m. the assassin, Count Stauffenberg, arrived by courier plane in Berlin, AA'here he spread a false report that the Fuhrer had been killed and that the Avay was therefore open for the treacherous clique to act. Under the pretext that they Avere the new Government of the Reich, they issued orders from the Bendlerstrasse (the headquarters of the War Minister and the High Command) by means of certain channels of communication which Avere at their disposal, for a certain time. They ordered Berlin Guard detachments to occupy all Government buildings. "They forgot that the Berlin Guard is composed of fanatical National Socialists," he. continued. "Its commander. Rehmers, came to me. Thus the critical hour Avas over. From my desk, Avhich is connected with the Fuhrer. Rehmers Avas put through to the Fuhrer, who immediatly gave him clear and unambiguous orders. The order went out—'Seize the clique of. traitors. Smash them at once.' The guard assembled in my garden. Rehmers asked me to speak a few words. I have never before seen such horror and indignation on their faces. Officers and soldiers took out their automatic pistols and rifles, loaded them, and rushed out."

In the meantime, commanders elsewhere received orders, Goebbels said. The group of traitors was overcome .Avithout a shot being fired. They were tried by court-martial on. the spot and executed. He described Count Stauffenberg as the political wirepuller and commander-in-chief elect. He--Avas a colonel-general who had been thrown out of the Wehrmacht owing to a coivardly retreat on the Eastern Front.

Goebbels, who said he had just returned from a visit to the Fulirer's headquarters, stated that Count Stauffenberg gained: access to the room where the Fuhrer was in conference under a pretext that he had to make a report. He carried an explosive in an attache case which he pushed to the very feet of the Fuhrer. There AA'as only one spot in the room which Avas untouched by the explosion—the spot AA'herc the Fuhrer stood. Everyone else was bloAvn out of the AA'indovi's and their uniforms were torn to shreds.

Goebbels stressed the need for full use of man-power, and declared that total war had become a reality. "There is no doubt that we shall succeed; we must or all is lost," he said.

Another report says that parts of the furniture were thnnvn out of the ivindoivs and the uniforms torn to shreds.