HITLER’S FEARS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21037, 13 February 1940, Page 5

HITLER’S FEARS

DEATH CONSPIRACY PLOT TO ASSASSINATE SECRECY MAINTAINED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON. Feb. 12 So much secrecy surrounded Hitler’s intention to speak at the Berlin Sports Palace that his address caused surprise among Germans. The extraordinary precautions taken suggested that the Fuehrer feared a death conspiracy. Reichstag members arriving in Berlin were astonishe! to find fellow-members present, since each had received the following bald message:— “You are required in Berlin on January 30. This summons is personal. Do not mention it to anybody.” It was Hitler’s first public address since the Beer Hall explosion at Munich in November. “Many Germans,” says the Daily Mail, "believe that definite clues were found indicating a plot to assassinate Hitler.” The Fuehrer did not permit the location of the meeting to be known until he was almost ready to begin speaking. Foreign journalists were refused information, but were told to report at the Propaganda Ministry at 6 p.m. There they were bundled into motorcars and the doors were locked and Storm Troopers were placed beside the drivers before the cars moved off. A double row of Storm Guards lined the way from the Chancellery to the meeting, while two cordons were placed outside the Sports Palace and another inside.

The German evening newspapers had time to print only a short paragraph announcing the speech, and no printed copies were handed to the journalists. Radio programmes were hurriedly rearranged.