RAGING FIRES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 November 1943, Page 5

RAGING FIRES

RESULT OF MONDAY’S ATTACK DETAILS OF DAMAGE WHOLE TARTS OF CITY WIPED OUT London, Nov. 24. A flood of reports detailing widespread damage caused by the raid on Berlin on Monday night is still pouring in after thf R.A.F.’s second bli*s last night. The Zurich correspondent of the Exchange-Tele-graph Agency, quoting the military commentator of “Neue Zurcher Zeitung” says Monday night’s raid must be considered a military event of far-reaching importance. Berlin is definitely seriously devastated. Certain districts are extensively damaged. Berlin’s official version makes it clear that the population suffered heavy casualties. The British United Press Stockholm correspondent says that according to a young Swede whose eye-witness account appeared in the newspaper “Svenska Dagbladet,” whole parts of Berlin were literally swept off the face of the earth. It could hardly be expected that last night’s attack on Berlin could be on the same scale as Monday night’s. Nevertheless it was most substantial, says the Press Association’s aviation correspondent. Indications are that it at least equalled the raid on the night of 18th November in which 350 blockbusters, each weighing 4000 lbs were dropped on the city. HEART OF GERMAN WAR ORGANISATION Evidence from British and neutral sources and also German admissions make it abundantly clear that Berlin experienced its biggest-ever air raid on Monday night. The fact that Allied bombers struck at the heart of German war organisations by hitting priority targets in the Wilhelmstrasse area is fully borne out by Swedish correspondents. One Swedish source reported from Errlin that the German Foreign Office was among the buildings damaged. It is situated in the area around Tiergartenstrasse, which contains grim black buildings known as High Command headquarters. It is pointed out that next to the Berlin Office of the Swedish newspaper “Aftenbladet.” which was burnt down, is the headquarters of the German Munitions Chief, Professor Speer. The Swedish Legation and Finnish Legation were destroyed and the Hungarian .and Danish Legations suffered fairly severe damage. In the centre of Berlin, adds “Aftonbladet.” many theatres were hit, while the University library was set on fire and was still burning this morning. Churches which were liberally spread throughout the target area did not escape damage. Among those badly damaged was the famous Gedaechtnis Kirche. the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial, and also the Kurfurstemiamm. HITLER’S RESIDENCE BURNT OUT Reports reaching Stockholm say Hitler’s private residence adjoining the Reich Chancellery was burnt out but the Chancellery was undamaged. Ribbentrop’s private palace was obliterated. Goebbel’s private residence was seen to be on fire, and the Army Ministry was ‘burnt down except the ground floor. A choking phosphorus smoke fog hung over Berlin throughout the day. All windows in the centre of the city were broken. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm “Afton Tidnigen” says Berlin can never recover from this-blow. Neutral reports say Berlin’s industrial quarter suffered formidable damage, several factories were razed to the and Siemens’ plant was still burning to-day. while according lo the Swedish Foreign Office the Swedish Match Monopoly offices were destroyed although no Swedes were killed or injured.

Describing scenes during the raid the Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper "Aftonbladet” said the whole night raging fires were visible in different parts of the city. The raiders appeared to come in two waves. The all-clear was sounded after the first w /e left and people rushed to the streets, but rushed back to the sheltc — when sirens again wailed. When the final all-clear sounded, those in the shelters went out to assist the fire and rescue services. Fires were still raging over a wide area to-day. Traffic has practically stopped and many districts are cordoned off.

Berlin radio quoted the following statement by the Foreign Office press chief Schmidt: “One sentiment is shared by all —the indomitable hatred of an enemy who ha« striven to exterminate the German nation in a brutal will to annihilate.** The “Daily Express” in a leading article says: “Let Berliners judge from the smoking heart of their stricken city how Hitler’s war is going. He took up the sword and is about to perish by the sword.” PASSENGER TRAFFIC SUSPENDED All passenger traffic in Germany has been suspended since Sunday. Even members of diplomatic staffs traversing Germany have been unable to travel. The Berne “Gazzette de Lausanne” says this is disclosed by a German official journal and adds that such a stringent measure has not been taken since a few days before Germany invaded Poland. BO »ES STILL UNRECOVERED AT HAMBURG 1 London, Nov. 24. A message from Zurich states that the Hamburg gauleiter. Dr Kaufmann, reported* that so far it has been impossible to recover th~ bodies buried under the debris after the R.A.F. raids on Hamburg in July and August.