HIMMLER'S REPORT

Evening Star, Issue 25472, 1 May 1945, Page 5

HIMMLER'S REPORT

60ERIK GIBBEM, HITLER RAVING HE CLAIMS TO BE ONLY SANE GERMAN OFFERS HELP TO SAVE OWN CARCASS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, April 30. ' Cabinet Stands By ' and ' Big News Expected at Any Moment'—■ these are the headings in the evening papers and reflect the tension with which Germany's final surrender is expected. The 'Evening Standard's' Stockholm correspondent says Count Bernadotte is expected to return from Germany to-day after making a new contact with Himmler. " The Nazi leader is believed to have told Bernadotte' that Germany was noiv ' like one great madhouse,' says the correspondent. "It is fully believed here that Himmler is now prepared to include Soviet Russia in his surrender proposals. Himmler offers his services to bring order out of chaos, more or less in the hope that the Allies will guarantee him

his own life. " Himmler is said to have told Bernadotte that Goering is gibber-

ing, and Hitler is raving and dying. Himmler's case was that he is the only sane man left in the Reich who knew anything about Germany's affairs."

The ' Evening News ' political correspondent states that a reply can be expected - from Hi in ml er most likely on May 1.

Mr Churchill has returned from the country and it is understood that the War Cabinet will consider the reply from Hiram] er immediately it arrives; It will simultaneously be. considered in Washington and Moscow. If satisfactory, the "cease fire." may sound early this week. As the Allies nave declared that the only surrender acceptable is that of the German 'High Command, it is possible, that Himmler's reply may be unsatisfactory unless it incorporates the agreement of the leading German generals. This is to guard against the n,rmy in future saying that the Gestapo Chief surrendered against the wishes of Hitler and his generals. "If Himmler's offer is good enough, it will probably be accepted. Then would come the formal surrender by the army chiefs to both General Eisenhower and the heads of the Russian Army. After this the ' cease fire ' would be sounded, and a simultaneous announcement made from the

three victorious Allied capitals. " Complete surrender will, of course, mean the end of all resistance in the pockets—the Bavarian Alps. Norway, and Denmark.