HITLER AS TERRORIST

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 September 1939, Page 12

HITLER AS TERRORIST

’ REFUGEES POIGNANT STORY LONDON, July 14. A poignant description of the horrors of the persecution in Germany and of Hitler’s “reign of terror" was given to a packed audience at Queen’s Hall, Blackburn, by a German refugee who described himself as a “marked man.” A teacher who has had considerable experience of German official life, he spoke under the name of Herr P. Friedrich. His wife, who uses the name “Madeline Kent” is the authoress of the book, “I married a German," which has caused much controversy in England. He now resides in East Lancashire. Speaking with great emotion, Herr Friedrich said he had lost his dearest friends and comrades, and had witnessed appaling cruelties. He himself had hdd to flee from Germany because his life was no longer safe and because he brought danger to all .with whom he came in contact. He traced Hitler’s rise to power to the terrible humilation and starvation of . the German people after their defeat in the Great War. When Herr Hitler went preaching from north to south and east to west he soon became absolute master of the nation. Hitler, he said, was a master of the arts of speaking and acting and was, able ,to strike the responsive note in the nature, making best use of ; the" military spirit, honour and patriotism of the people. The greatest mistake his opponents made was when they laughed and sneered at him. If one.wondered why it was possible for Hitler, to remain in power, the answer/,was contained in the words “concentration camps,” the horrors of which, were indescribable. Everyone feared - these places and as a result no one dared speak a word of criticism, for there were spies in every staff, school and factory. With the Press and wireless under complete control, older people did not know what to think, and it was a blessing for them to "hear the 8.8. C. broadcasts occasionally. 1 ■ ■■■ ’•?■■■■ j ■■■ ■ ■ ■ WORLD DOMINATION Hitler’s aim, despite all the wonderful promises and agreements he might make, was world domination. He went along his chosen path carefully, step by step, and already had fulfilled many of the aims he outlined in his book without losing one soldier. As for Mussolini, he was. simply playing with him. ... Older Germans were in despair, for they felt themselves, morally isolated fromrthe. rest; of . the world. The younger generation, however, were led to believe that there was only one saviour of. Germany—Adolph Hitler, \who described himself as the greatest man in history and his predecessors as dwarfs. Alluding to Hitler’s hatred of the Jews, he said one need only mention the name for Hitler to become white and furious. The sufferings of the Jews were beyond belief and beyond description. ■< . The younger generation were kept ignorant of the true happenings in Germany, arid deified ‘Hitler. Despite all the persecutions, the leaders of the Church had stood their ground as did the early Christians. ■The intellectual arid spiritual backbone of the opposition to Hitler was -the Church, which was supported by those who had suffered the misery of 'concentration camps, and by men of -learning and science, who had been ‘forced to sweep streets and dig ’ trenches.- L , - Recording his gratitude to the English people for their kindness, Herr ‘ Friedrich said, “Every night when I go to bed I say ‘God bless you, England, for ever and ever.’”