PANIC IN BERLIN

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22204, 25 November 1943, Page 5

PANIC IN BERLIN

CITY BURNED ALL NIGHT "HAD A HORRIBLE TIME” , LONDON, Nov. 24 “We have had a horrible time,” says the Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, in a despatch describing Monday night’s raid on the German caoital. “Berlin burned all night. Great sections of dwelling quarters and buildings were hit. The city is still burning and is covered with a great black cloud of smoke. “The raiders appeared to come m two waves. The all clear sounded after the fust wave had left. People rushed to the streets, bud rushed back to the shelters when the sirens again wailed. Wnen the final all clear sounded those in the shelters came out to assist the fire and rescue services.” Next to the demolished office of the Aftcnbladet, which is in the Pariserplaiz opcsite the Adlon Hotel, is the headquarters of the German munitions chief, Speer. Know What Total War Means A nephew of King Gustav of Sweden was caught in the raid while in Berlin on his way back from a Red Cross meeting at Geneva. He said: “Now I know' what total war means.” He added that the entire district around the Swedish Legation was heavily bombed. The staff were at dinner when the first bombs fell, and afterward they came out of thenshelters and tried to put out the fires. Then a second attack came. When it was over the fires were out of control.

The Swedes could get no help frorr the fire brigade as it was too busj elsewhere. There was so muc; confusion that the Legation official' could not get in touch with the German authorities.