SUCCESSOR TO TODT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24838, 11 February 1942, Page 5

SUCCESSOR TO TODT

; _ ♦ GERMAN APPOINTMENT

(Rec. 7.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 10. Professor Albert Spehr, inspector of works and buildings, Berlin, will succeed Dr Fritz Tbdt. Professor Spehr was recently appointed to supervise a speed-up in aircraft production and to be responsible for the reconstruction of the armaments industry.

It was announced yesterday that Dr Fritz Todt, builder of the Siegfried Line, was killed in an aeroplane accident "while carrying out military duties." Berlin radio described Todt as one of the Fuhrer's closest collaborators.

Some time after the Low Countries had been conquered 18 months ago, Hitler ordered Dr Todt to build a series of fortifications ih those countries, facing the English Channel and going back in depth, in order to be prepared for any attempted landing by British troops, and doubtless to help protect the rear of the German Army when the time arrived for its onslaught on Russia. Dr Todt was a German civil engineer who created those great motor roads throughout Germany, laid down as is now known, for the rapid movement of troops and armoured fighting vehicles. Then he was instructed to push on with the building and planning of the Siegfried-Line, which was at the time Hitler's answer to the Ma&inot Line. Dr Todt had been associated with Hitler since the Nazi rising at Munich 19 years ago.