NAZI DOCUMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26040, 2 January 1946, Page 5

NAZI DOCUMENTS

THE ALLIED DISCOVERY “ POLITICAL DYNAMITE ’’ (.Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 1. The documents, including Hitler’s will.' which were discovered by an Allied intelligence officer, are expected to lead to the arrest of Nazis throughout Europe. Hitler’s will was first discovered in the British zone, says Reuter's Berlin correspondent. There were three copies, one of which was found in the British zone still sewn in the clothes of the messenger to whom it was entrusted. British intelligence officers kept this copy secret and informed the American intelligence officers. Paustin slipped out of Berlin carrying important documents and when British • agents arrested him in the Bavarian village of Villhofen an American officer followed up the clues and found important documents at Tegernsee. The documents are described as political dynamite. The chief intelligence officr of the United States Third Army declared he would stake his reputation that the documents are genuine. The Associated Press correspondent in Nuremberg says the documents show that Hitler on April 29, when Berlin was crumbling under Russian gunfire, did three things—first, he married Braun; secondly, he dictated his will, recording his decision to commit suicide rather than submit to the disgrace of being forced to surrender; thirdly, he drew up a Cabinet list, of “ honourable men who would continue fhe war with all means.” Hitler nominated Goebbels as chancellor, and Doenitz as president, and excluded Himmler, Goering, and Ribbentrop. Goebbels refused to succeed Hitler as chancellor of Germany, preferring to die with his wife and children in the ruins of Berlin, according to an ap-

pendix which was found with the copy of Hitler’s will captured in the British zone. ■ Goebbels Refuses Order Goebbels declared: “ For the first time in my life I must categorically refuse an order from the Fuhrer, who directed me to leave Berlin if the defence collapses and participate as a leading member in the Government appointed by him.” Pointing out that on the ground of personal loyalty alone he was unable to leave the Fuhrer in the hour of need. Goebbels added: “ Examples, not men, would be required in rebuilding the German nation and State. Men will always be found to show the nation the way out of tribulations, but the reconstruction of our national life would be impossible if they were not inspired by examples which are clear and easily understandable by all.” Attack on Jewry The British also released the full text of the political testament, which includes an attack on -world Jewry, and announced the dismissal from the Nazi Party of Himmler and Goering for disloyalty and treason during the last days of the Reich. Hitler’s testament said: “Apart from disloyalty to me, Goering and Himmler brought irreparable shame to the whole nation by secretly negotiating with the enemy without my knowledge and against my will, and also by illegally attempting to seize control of the State. I expel Goering and withdraw all his rights and appoint Doenitz president of the Reich. I expel Himmler and appoint Gaulieter Hanke as the Reich's Fuhrer S.S. Chief of the German Police.” “ I die with a joyful heart in the knowledge of immeasurable deeds by the soldiers at the front and the women at home, of the achievements of the pease .t workers, and of the contribution from our youth who bear my name. That I express to them all the thanks which comes from the bottom of my heart is as clear as my wish that they should not therefore give up the struggle under any circumstances but carry it on wherever they may be against the enemies of the Fatherland, true to the principles of the great cause which, from the sacrifices of our soldiers and from my own comradeship with them to death itself, a seed was sown which will grow one day in the history of Germany to the glorious rebirth of the National Socialist movement and thereby to v the establishment of truly united nations. “ I ask the commanders of the armjj, navy and air force to strengthen with all possible means the spirit of resistance of our soldiers in national socialist belief with ' special emphasis on the fact that I myself as founder and creator of the movement preferred death to cowardly resignation or capitulation.”