WHEREABOUTS OF HITLER

Southland Times, Issue 25739, 1 August 1945, Page 5

WHEREABOUTS OF HITLER

Russians Carry Out Investigation

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, July 30. The Russian Military Government authorities in Berlin have no definite proof of Hitler’s death and do not exclude the possibility that he is still alive and iii hiding, declared, ColonelGeneral Gorbatov, the Russian commander, at a Press conference in Berlin. The Russians are pursuing an investigation of his fate and are convinced that if he is still alive he is not in the Red Army zone. The Nazi Party put out many circumstantial stories with the obvious intention of discouraging more investigations of Hitler’s whereabouts. The party also started many rumours that he is still alive to encourage the Nazi underground. Colonel-General Gorbatov said that after the Red Army occupied Berlin it encountered some resistance and sabotage. Nazi agents were trying to prevent the Germans from working on the clearance of the city. He revealed some cases of deliberate misdirection of food supplies, and sabotage and arson to both civilian and Red Army stores. The Nazis, in addition, attempted to intimidate German technicians whom they knew were particularly necessary for the work of reconstruction.

The population of Berlin at present was between 3,000,000 and 3,500,000, of which 2,800,000 were registered for ration cards. Many were unwilling to register for various reasons and were still living on the black market. The distribution of food was based solely on the amount and the nature of the work done by individuals, irrespective of race, creed or politics. Certain known Nazis, however, received low category rations and performed harder work.