“MEAN AND UNGRATEFUL”

Evening Star, Issue 24007, 4 October 1941, Page 10

“MEAN AND UNGRATEFUL”

GERMANS WHO LISTEN TO 8.8. C. ANOTHER GOEBBELS OUTBURST LONDON, October 3. The Berlin radio broadcast on Thursday another attack on the British Broadcasting Corporation (by 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.” Goebbels complains: “ Even among us there are still people who will never learn and cannot be prevented from increasing their political and military knowledge by tuning in behind locked doors to the 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 the radio in London? Is it not dull and stupid? While operations of gigantic proportions are being prepared by the Fuhrer and his collaborators the duty of every German is to have confidence and wait. 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 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 is also preparation for victory.” It must not be forgotten, however, that Goebbels is astute, and usually has an extremely good, if sometimes hidden, motive for propaganda. Such admissions would not be mad'e to please the British. They might not even be made to scare illicit German listeners. One commentator here hazarded the suggestion that Goebbels was ready for any eventuality, even German defeat, and was already preparing the ground for. proving that the actions of the people were the real cause of the loss of the war rather than failure of the German army.