German Iron Hand Revealed In The Balkans

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1944, Page 3

German Iron Hand Revealed In The Balkans

(Received 11.45 a.m.)

LONDON, March 21.

WHILE REPORTS FROM NEUTRAL COUNTRIES SAY THAT ” ALL STRATEGIC POINTS AND ALL COMMUNICATIONS IN HUNG\RY ARE NOW UNDER GERMAN CONTROL, ANKARA RADIO STATED THAT THE GERMANS HAVE ALSO ASSUMED CONTROL OF ALL TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPHIC AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IN BULGARIA. Other reports from Ankara say that South-Eastern Hungary has completely passed under German control as a military zone. It has been placed under a special German military commander. The Berne correspondent of the Associated Press, however, says that according to most reliable direct reports from the Balkans, Hungarian troops are still fighting German and Rumanian forces near hte south-eastern frontier of Hungary. A Hungarian radio station, operated by the military, is broadcasting regular appeals to troops to resist. Budapest radio today broadcast only German news and still did not refer to a crisis. Neither Budapest, which is isolated from neutral capitals, nor Berlin, has yet issued any statement on events inside Hungary.

A German Foreign Office spokesman said: “No official statement can be expected about the present political situation in South-Eastern Europe until certain developments, aimed at strengthening defence forces in this area, have been concluded.” Complete Occupation O There seems no doubt that Hungary has been taken over by the Germans and placed in the position of any other occaipied country. German troops had not previously been stationed there in any strength but they are now reported to have moved in. How far this has been done with the assistance of the Hungarians themselves is uncertain. There are reports that the Regent (Admiral I-lorthy) and some of his advisers are being held by Hitler while the operation is carried out with the complicity of Hungarian pro-Fascist extremists but this cannot be confirmedPosition In Hungary Swiss radio quoting a private report fi’om Berlin, said that the German foreign policy was now intended to force development of events rather than let themselves be surprised by events. A German Foreign Office spokesman speaking on intensification of the war effort declared: “Germany's allies must now assume burdens equal to thsoe borne by Germany.” Zurich reports say that the Wilhelmstrasse has sent a nolo to the Hungarian Minister in Berlin stating: “Military penetration of Hungary serves to demonstrate Germany's indestructible determination to act immediately and most energetically against Axis countries which, under present military setbacks on the eastern front, act like traitors and consider peace moves.” Germany has indirectly confirmed its assumption to control Hungary by allowing one Swedish correspondent in Berlin to cable that comprehensive reconstruction of the Hungarian Government already has been made. Norwegian Coup Repeated More than 6000 German soldiers controlling Budapest, already have arrested about 600 prominent Hungarians, says the British United Press correspondent on the German frontier. Kallays’ whereabouts are unknown. Some reports state he has gone south to organise armed resistance. The German advance from Vienna is stated to have encountered only slight resistance, but armed clashes are reported from the frontier of Rumania and Hungary. Hungarian troops and home guards at one place openly opposed German contingents attempting to penetrate Hungary from the south. Other Hungarians are reported to have flown to Jugoslavia,, hoping to join the partisans. Von Neich, who is German commander in the Balkans, is believed to have arrived in Budapest. Swedish businessmen, who were in Budapest when the Germans occupied Hungary, state the first warning the people received was the dropping of paratroopers on Hungarian airfields on Sunday morning says the Stockholm Correspondent of the Associated Press.

the radio transmitted in Rumanian, Slovak and German the German High Command communique in full and nothing else. Budapest radio today was tO' broadcast a talk on a Hungarian revolutionary leader, but it was not given. Instead there was a broadcast of a scientific talk.

Later reports from neutral countries speak of a crisis in Hungary. The Hungarian Legation at Stockholm says it cannot talk with Hungary. In Berlin today, at a Foreign Office Press conference, Ribbentvop’s spokesman was asked whether Germany was likely to intensify her war effort in South-East Europe in view of the military situation. He said such a development was n matter of course, and he spoke of the intensification and joint strategy of military efforts as the objective of German foreign policy.

German Demands Rejected

German invasion of Hungary followed Premier Kallay's rejection of demands put to him last week by the German Minister at Budapest, says the Stockholm “Svenskadagbladet’s” Bergen correspondent. The demands were: (1) Hungary to be totally mobilised. (2) Occupation troops to be sent to Yugoslavia. <3) Workers to be sent to Germany. (4) Increased export of food materials to Germany.

Kallay rejected the demands outright. On Thursday the German Minister told Kallay that the danger of the Russian advance necessitated protection of Hungarian territory and, as the Hungarians could not do this, German troops should occupy strategic points. The Minister asked Admiral Horthy to go to Hitler’s headquarters and discuss the situation, but it was impossible to say if the Regent approved the German action or Hitler forced him to consent.

It is reported that six German divisions so far have entered Hungary. The Stockholm Berlin correspondent says German troops first entered Hungary on Sunday. A former Premier Imredy is reported to have turned quisling and seized power to pave the way for the Germans.

Vichy radio stated that the Hungarian Parliament meets on Wednesday. Fighting Occurring The Stockholm “Svenska Dagbladet’s” Berne correspondent, quoting Budapest reports, says two Rumanian divisions are helping the Germans invade Hungary, where fighting - is occurring in many -parts between minority groups. Fifth columnists are reported to have captured radio stations. The “Daily Mail’s” Stockholm correspondent says Kallay is reported to have been arrested during a big roundup of political and military personalities in Budapest at the weekend.

One' traveller arriving at Malmoe, said clashes occurred on some fields, but there was no organised resistance. A second traveller said when he left his hotel on Sunday morning he found German soldiers guarding the street with machine-guns. Next day Budapest was full of German infantry with S.S. men and Hungarian Nazis searching everyone at the railway station. “Probably looking for Jews.” Rumanians Think It Out Reports from Bucharest state that “The rulers of Rumania held a conference for five hours, presumably planning whether to resist or surrender to the Russians.” The Rumanian committee of political opposition, consisting of 16 prominent persons, including Dr. Juliu Maniu and Geo. Bratianu appealed to Dictator Antonescu to secure an armistice with the Russians before the Red Army crosses the Pruth River, from which it is now SO miles distant.

Big Military Moves Hungarian troops are reported to have resisted when the Germans marched in, says the Berne correspondent of Stockholm “Svenska Dagbladet." Reports from Budapest state that the Germans invaded Hungary from t’ne north.

All communication from Budapest with the outside world is closing up, according to messages from neutral capitals, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. Tlie Hungarian Legation all day was unable to communicate with Hungary by telephone. The Hungarian newsagency tonight did not issue the usual news bulletin from Budapest. The Berne correspondent of the Associated Press says the indirect confirmation of the occupation came from a Berlin Foreign Office official who said that the Germans were striving to co-ordinate all resources and foi'ces in South-east Europe against the common Russian threat.

The Swiss newspaper “Neuezurcher Zeitung’s” Berlin correspondent says that the surprising reticence in Berlin indicates that military events are in progress which will not apply only to Hungary.

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says that shattering of the Ukrainian fronts has called for urgent measures and Hungary must become a base for Balkan defence. Rumania is undefendable. With the use of Hungarian railways, the Ruthenian hills, on Hungary’s northern frontier, may provide some barrier, but the Germans evidently believe that Hungarian troops need stiffening. Strange Behaviour Budapest radio has been acting in a peculiar way since late last night. Last night it used only material from the German Telegraph Agency instead of the usual Hungarian Telegraph Agency news items. This afternoon