“Last Stains On Germany’s Honour Erased”

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 5

“Last Stains On Germany’s Honour Erased”

(Received 10 a.m.)

On the re-occupation of Cologne for the first time since 1918 German field grey uniforms were seen in the historic cathedral square, once familiar to the khaki-clad British armies of Occupation. The force of motorised cavalry, artillery and infantry, fully equipped with modern armaments, mechanised, and with machine-guns, mortars and anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns marched in while Herr Hitler was still speaking in the Reichstag. When it was repo: Nd that the troops were on the-r way C'ciman flags were hoisted in all parts of the city, the facades of buildings disappeared under masses of bunting, and windows were filled with sightseers. General von Kluge, commanding the Munster district, who organised the re-occupation, accompanied by local officials took up this post. Suddenly came the news that the troops had arrived. The populace, singing Deutschland Über Alles, and the Horst Wessel song, flocked to the station and saw a long column of men with full war equipment streaming out. . Tumultuous Cheers.

• BERLIN. March 7. Infantry Regiment were wearing in their steel helmets red and white carnations—the colours of the Colognerecalling the fact that before the war they had formed part of the garrison of the city. They were especially warmly 'welcomed. There were similar scenes of rejoicing in various towns in the Rhineland, including Aix-Ta-Chapelle, Treves, Saarbrucken. Coblenz, and Mannheim. Thousands of people, including children, who were seeing German soldiers for the first time, marched alongside the troops to the barracks singing and cracking jokes. French Stand and Watch. The German troops reached the French frontier at the German end of the Kehl Bridge in Strasbourg at dusk. Two hundred infantry took up their position, being the first in the neighbourhood of France since 1918. Hundreds of French inhabitants stood silently at the French end of the bridge and watched the Germans establish sentries. The re-occupation celebrations continued far into the night with monster torchlight processions. Cologne’s/ famous cathedral bell, which was last rung when the British exacuated the city in January, 1926, boomed a welcome to the German troops. The burgomaster of Frankfurt-on-Main, telegraphed to Herr Hitler: “In this historic moment all the citizens remember in grateful enthusiasm and love to whom we owe this longawaited hour of liberation.” It is officially stated in Berlin that the remainder of the troops will move in tomorrow when the Rhineland garrison will consist of 19 battalions of infantry, 13 artillery detachments, two flights of pursuit aeroplanes and two detachments of anti-aircraft guns. The majority will be stationed along the Rhine and in the Rhine Valley between Black Forest and the Rhine. There will be small garrisons at Aix-la-Chapelle, Treves, and Saarbrucken, and air squadrons at Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Mannheim. ' Berlin celebrated the “erasure of the last stains on Germany’s honour” with a torchlight procession. Twenty thoiisan4 jubilant Nazis, led by Herr Hitler’s own ’guard in black uniforms and black helmets marched with fixed bayonets through surging crowds who waved flags and handkerchiefs. En route the procession saluted Herr Hitler, Dr Goebbels and other dignatories standing on the balcony at the Chancellory in a blaze of searchlights. Herr Hitler raised his arms continuously as the procession passed. Radio stations broadcast a revised programme packed with patriotic items. Dr Goebbels in a broadcast thanked the Rhinelanders for their message of gratification. He emphasised that the re-occupation was really a peace gesture, which promised a new and better future for all Europe. The troops had entered the Rhineland not thinking of revenge but only of peace. A crowd packed the old aerodrome at Frankfurt-on-Main when the troops arrived with an anti-aircraft gun. The burgomaster sent the following message: “The populace, at this historic moment, remembers in grateful enthusiasm and love the man to whom we owe this long-waited hour of liberation.”

The crowd, flinging flowers, closed about the soldiers until only rifles could be seen above the mass of heads. A tumultuous roar of cheers and greetings drowned the • regimental bands’ marching tunes. The men of the 38th

Storm troopers lined the route from the infantry at Saarbmcken, while detachments of the German Air Force marched into Mannheim. Only 200 Reichswehr men occupied the Kehl bridgehead, while hundreds of Strasbourg residents stood silently at the French end of the bridge. Herr Hitler will shortly visit the Rhineland to inspect.the newly garrisoned towns, as he did the Saar.