NAZI EXECUTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24970, 12 August 1944, Page 7

NAZI EXECUTIONS

FAMILIES OF OFFICERS WIVES AND CHILDREN IiKVENCJE ON PLOTTERS (Reed. f».p.in.) I,ON 1)0X, Aug. II The Nazis have executed tin] wives, children and parents of tlie) eight German ollicers who were hanged for implication in the at-l tempt to assassinate Hitler. The Berne correspondent of rha British United Press says in soirfll cases all the relatives of the ofHccsi have been killed and at least in one case an intimate friend. The correspondent adds that accord ing to Swiss reports, secret trials arc proceeding throughout Germany. The first photograph of the trial of the eight officers has reached London by radiogram from Sweden. It shows that the Gestapo attempted to humiliate the prisoners as much as possible. The photograph shows Field-Marshal von Wit/.leben facing the prosecutor in a badly-titting suit irom which apparently all the buttons bad been removed. The photograph makes hini look like a half-witted degenerate. Further measures for the total mobilisation of the German people have been announced by Goobbels, states the German news agency. All foreign domestic helps are being drafted to the armament industry. German domestic helps are being drafted to war industry or to households where they are urgently needed. "Whole age groups of exempted men badly wanted at the front will have their exemptions cancelled," says the announcement. "Civilians must work on war production in their homes. All the younger film and theatre actors will be sent en bloc to war industries. Measures to reduce labour on railways, the postal service and cultural life are being prepared. Public display must give way to

puritanism. "The German people will express nothing but unswerving determination, regardless of cost, to see through this fight for our national existence which is at stake," it concludes. "Everything which does not agree with the grimness of our struggle should disappear from public life." FIGHTING IN ITALY ADRIATIC SECTOR ALLIED PROGRESS MADE (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Ausr. 11 Polish and Italian troops have gained more ground in their attack on the Adriatic coast and have taken two small towns, says the Allied communique from Italy. Fighting in heavy rain and thunderstorms, tTiey have thrown the Germans off some high ground and forced most of the enemy back across the River Cesano. British infantry, driving the Germans from all high ground in the Arno bend, east of Florence, have forced the main body of the German bridgehead troops back across the river, says Reuter's correspondent at Allied Headquarters. German patrols are now only occasionally stabbing across the river between Florence and I'ontassieve. Leghorn Harbour has been swept clear of mines and is now opened for receiving suppjies for the Allied forces along the Arno. Gun duels across the Arno have enlivened the Pisa sector, whore the Germans continue their infiltration attempts against Fifth Army positions. Allied aircraft in the .Mediterranean flew about 1300 sorties yesterday, including attacks on Ploesti and on oil targets in Yugoslavia. AIRBORNE FORCES ONE COMMAND FORMED LONDON, Auk. in Combined British and American airborne forces have been consolidated into ono command approximating to an army in size and importance. This notable development in military coordination is reported by a correspondent at Supremo Headquarters, Lieu tenant-General Lewis H. 1? re reton, formerly commanding the United States Ninth Air Force, commands the new organisation, with LicutenantGencral Frederick Browning, Commander of British Airborne Forces, as deputy-commander. The object of the consolidation is to integrate and make more effective the large airborne forces at the disposal ol' the Supreme Commander, General Kisenhower. In the new command will be combined both combat troops and planes and gliders for the transporting of the troops. The appointment is also announced of .Major-General Ralph lioyce, United States Army Air Force, as deputy-Com-mander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force.

CAPTURED RUSSIANS PROBLEM FOR BRITISH (Rrrtl. 5 .'is p.m.) LONDON, Autr. 11 Ihe future of 2000 Soviet citizens captured while fighting or working with the German Army in France is worrying the Hritish Government, savs the Daily Express. Britain has asked Moscow' for the Soviet point of view in the matter. Some of the Russians wero in the Todt labour force; others wore in German combatant battalions. All of them say they were forced by threats to join in active service against the Allies. The Daily Express says; "Marshal Stalin is believerl not to be disposed to be unduly gentle with the men. He regards them as traitors —even though they were unwilling. Some of tTie prisoners may bo treated as war criminals and brought to trial. Others may bo forgiven and readmitted as Soviet citizens." NAZI SHIPS' PLIGHT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10 There appears little prospect of escape for enemy shipping lying in Brest and I,orient. These ships must either surrender or go to sea, running the gauntlet of R.A.F. aircraft,