WRECKAGE OF DICTATORSHIP

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 17 May 1945, Page 4

WRECKAGE OF DICTATORSHIP

The dramatic story of what were apparently Hitler’s last hours, told by one of his confidential typists, strongly indicates that Hitler’s remains lie buried in the ruins of the Chancellery in Berlin. The typist left the Chancellery before the end, however, so there is a remote possibility that the Fuehrer made a last-minute escape. It is important for historical purposes that the time and the manner of Hitler’s death should be discovered and no doubt the Russians are making a thorough investigation. All that is known so far, assuming Gerhardt Herrgeselle’s account to be accurate, is that when the Russians were closing in on the Wilhelmstrasse Hitler was still in the Chancellery and was affirming his intention to remain there until the end. Jodi, among others, was still there at that time, and Jodi at least escaped from the Chancellery. If he could leave, presumably Hitler had a similar opportunity. What is clear is that the proud and arrogant dictator when last reported had been brought to a full realisation of the disaster which he had brought upon Germany and himself. No leader of a nation had ever been more convincingly impressed with the utter ruin of his schemes. His period of power, his decline and miserable fall, will stand for all time beside the fate of Mussolini as a warning of the danger of the path which a fanatical dictator treads. The past 20 years will go on record as the period in which dictatorships had their day and reached their inglorious end. It was also the most disturbed and violent period in all history, which is a sufficient commentary upon dictatorial rule in general. The world has surely had enough of it. How many are now prepared to uphold that dictators “get things done”—at least in a manner that assists the progress of mankind? The sooner democratic forms of government take back the reins of power everywhere the sooner will the dawn of peace break upon a troubled world.