DEFIED THE MASK

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 4

DEFIED THE MASK

Messerwfenitt, Aircraft Designer MGOMES BOTCH LONDON. . <£>• derigner of Omnany’s atiadird fighter asroplane, Walther Mowerschmitt, is living in Batevia, Dutch j Bast Indies. Ha has taken out Dutch citizenship. A few years ago, a short, thick-set, jolly man was working in tha aaroplane department of Grupps for a few pounds a month. He was recognised as the most brilliant aeroplane designer in the Reich. But his anti-Nazi sentiments were so virulent that soon the Gestapo was on his track. Soon after Herman Goering began to build his “terror air force” in secret he chose a fighter designed by this anti-Hitler workman for mass production. Goering ordered Heinrich Himmler to call his Gestapo bloodhounds oil the man. Goering Protects tha Offender. Messerschmitt answered the charges ,against him by throwing a handful of inuts and bolts in the faces of his Questioner, shouting: "Leave me alone! I am jworking!” Ono day Black Guards entered Krupps’ works and began an investigation which was aimed directly at the aeroplane designer. Asked to wear a swastika brassard as an outward mark of respect for the Nazi regime, ha refused. Finally, Himmler protested to Hitler that Goering was protecting and encouraging an enemy of the State, in Krupps’ works of all places. Hitler took the matter up with Goering, who said Messerschmitt was indispensable. Goering built him a special aeroplane works at Stuttgart. But the inventor would not cease his bitter private atacks on the Nazis. Soon his Stuttgart facory became a regular anti-Hitler cell. Allowed to Leave the Belch. It became obvious that something would have to be done about it Himm,ler wanted to throw the man Into a concentration camp. But again Goering intervened and persuaded Hitler to let him leave Germany, in view of his great services to the State. So the short, pipe-smoking Inventor took a Dutch K.L.M. aeroplane to Batavia After a time he applied for Dutch citizenship, obtained it and settled down. In Batavia he is working on aeroplane designs, which he offer* to the Dutch Government-