KROSIGK'S STORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25204, 17 May 1945, Page 5

KROSIGK'S STORY

DOENITZ AS FUEHRER TO BRING GERMANY PEACE REASON FOR HITLER'S CHOICE (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 16 An account of an exclusive interview with the German actingPrime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of Finance, Count Schwerin von Krosigk, is given by a correspondent of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The correspondent first- asked-Krosigk what was the reason for Hitler's choice of Doenitz as his successor. Krosigk replied: "When Hitler made the decision to sacrifice himself with his troops in Berlin he wished to appoint as his successor a man he felt would he best fitted to bring peace to Germany. To fill this role a man was needed who held the high esteem and confidence of the armed forces. In other words, a high-ranking German officer was needed who was not a member of the Nazi Party." "But is not Doenitz a member of the party?" the correspondent asked. Wearer o! Party Badge "He wears the gold badge »of the party," said Krosigk, "but the fact that he is a member of the armed forces precludes the possibility of his being a party member." When the correspondent asked Krosigk if he was a party member, Krosigk replied that he was awarded the gold badge of the party in 1937. The fact that he was not a member of the armed forces automatically made him a party member. Krosigk explained that Doenitz was not the political head of the Government. He was head of the State, and as such was in a similar position to a Sovereign. When he assumed the position of Fuehrer Doenitz entrusted Krosigk with the formation of a Government of experts whose members would act as a State body in the critical situation then facing Germany. Krosigk said he took the post of acting-Prime Minister and at the same time the portfolios of Finance and Foreign Affairs. There were four other experts in their particular fields in this Government. Lack of Personal Ambition Krosigk, in the course of the interview, emphasised his complete lack of any personal ambition and the devotion to the German people which activated him and his colleagues.

"We are concerned in the fundamental task of providing food, clothing and work for the German people at this critical time of their history," he said. "I do not know if the Allied occupying Powers will allow us to continue in our positions. Speaking purely personally, if 1 am relieved of my post 1 shall be only too pleased. "Both I and my colleagues, however, feel that we_ cannot abandon the German people in this hour of need, and we feel we are the men best equipped to deal with the ta.sk and help the Allied occupying Powers." Anti-Russian Propaganda

Krosigk, says the correspondent, indulged in thinly-veiled anti-Russian propaganda during the interview.

"1 understand that Doenitz's main objective was the establishment of peace," the correspondent said. "That is so," replied Krosigk. "Then how can that be reconciled with his first declaration to the armed forces that Bolshevism would be fought until the end, and that if the British and American armies interfered they, too, would be combated?" asked the correspondent. To this Krosigk replied that when Doenitz took over the post of Fuehrer he found himself in an almost impossible position. The Russians were pressing forward, driving hundreds of thousands of refugees from the eastern provinces before them. Docnitz felt that if he gave the order for capitulation at such a time the Germans facing the Russians would refuse to obev.

He had to play desperately for time to allow the refugees to get further to the west and prevent their overrunning, bv the retreating German armies and the pursuing Russians. That was why Doenitz gave this order. The time gained by it was sufficient for the greater part of the refugees to fall back and for the German armies to retreat slowly. As soon as he felt that the object had been accomplished he surrendered.