Hitler No Longer Acts As Fuehrer

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1944, Page 5

Hitler No Longer Acts As Fuehrer

(Spec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. The whereabouts of Hitler, his silence and apparent use of doubles to represent him at official functions, have for some time been discussed in the British Press. His voice was last heard on the radio on July 20 after the attempt on his life. Since then, his non-appearance in the annual ceremony in the Munich Beer Cellar, his absence at the swearing in of the Munich Volksturm battalions and the reading of proclamations by Himmler and Goebbels all have served to heighten interest in the question of “Where is Hitler?”

It is believed by the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Herald” that there is a struggle for supreme power now going on in Germany between Himmler and Bormann, who is the little publicised boss of the Nazi party machine.

Trio In Charge

The correspondent states whatever Hitler’s state of mind and health he no longer is acting as the Fuehrer. His office has been divided between Himmler, Bormann and Goebbels. Himmler is in charge of all armed forces and the conduct of the war, Bormann is in charge of internal affairs, including police and security and Goebbels is in charge of foreign affairs, labour, mobilisation and propaganda. Goering has been quietly pushed aside and now is little more than head of the discredited Luftwaffe and there is quite a struggle for power between Himmler and Bormann. with Goebbels ready to back the winner with all his subtie cunning. As controller of foreign affairs his task is pushing Ribbentvcp still farther into the background and three ambassadors who were proteges of Ribbentrop have been recalled from posts in Stockholm, Madrid and Lisbon.