HITLER'S SUCCESSOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25053, 17 November 1944, Page 5

HITLER'S SUCCESSOR

HIMMLER APPOINTED OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION LONDON, Nov. 15 Himmler was formally appointed as Hitler's successor, by order of Hitler himself, at a meeting of party leaders at the Chancellery in Berlin two days ago, according to neutrals who have arrived in Sweden from Germany, says the Daily Mail's correspondent in Stockholm. Hitler was not present at the meeting, but he sent Lammers, head of the Nazi Party secretariat, to read his proclamation, which stated: "I declare Heinrich Himmler my deputy and my successor." Those present at the meeting included Goebbels, Himmler, Bormann, Doenitz, Keitel and Kaltenbrunner, who is Himmler's right-hand man.

A decree signed by Hitler, Goering and Keitel, rescinding the 1935 law forbidding Germans in the armed forces to be members of the Nazi Party, was broadcast by the German radio. The decree, which states that it will "further cement unity with the Wehrmacht Party," says that men in the armed forces may now be active in the party and hold office. It calls on the Wehrmacht to act according to Nazi principles, and urges officers and non-com-missioned officers to dedicate their men in the Nazi sense. When Hitler became Fuehrer in 1933 he appointed as his deputy and successor Rudolf Hess. Hess maintained this position until the outbreak of the war. On September 1, 1939, Hitler made formal declaration to the Reichstag, which he had summoned for the purpose, that after his death Goering was to assume the leadership of the Reich. In the event of anything happening to Goering, Hess was to succeed him. When Hess caused a world sensation in May, 1941, by making an aeroplane flight from Germany and landing by parachute in Scotland, Hitler issued a decree saying: "The former office of the Fuehrer's Deputy henceforth will be known as the Party Chancellery, and it will be personally responsible to me. Its leader will be Martin Bormnnn." Bormayn had been chief of staff to Hess. Heinrich Himmler, who is 44, first became notorious as Chief of the Gestapo and the S.S. This ruthless and sinister figure gained new powers in August, 1943, when Hitler appointed him Minister of the Interior and General Plenipotentiary for Reich Administration. In this appointment was seen the possibility of Himmler eventually becoming Fuehrer, even before Hitler should formally go. After the plot on Hitler's life in July of this year Himmler was made Commander-in-Chief of the German Home Army, thus giving him still greater control over all activities in the Reich. SUPPLIES FOR GREECE LONDON, Nov. 15 It is reported from Salonika, Greece, that good progress is bcitijj made with unloading stores and supplies, says the. British c&tial-wireless. 1