HITLER REJOICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1938, Page 8

HITLER REJOICES

GREAT VICTORY CLAIMED FOR GERMANY WAY OPENED TO FEAST OF PEACE. INJUSTICE TO CZECHS DENIED. (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) BERLIN, October 5. “One of the gravest crises in Europe’s history will be solved by October 10, after which Europe will be able to enjoy Christmas as a real feast of peace,’’ declared Herr Hitler, inaugurating a winter relief campaign at the Sports Palace. He added: “It amazes me to have solved this Sudeten problem without fighting. As long as Germans maintain their unity, nobody dare attack us. In my last speech, I thanked Signor Mussolini, Germany’s friend. Now I must thank other great statesmen who at the last minute declared themselves ready to co-operate in a solution of Europe’s burning problems, thus enabling me to proffer a hand for agreement. Above all, I thank my nation. During the month hundreds of thousands of mobilised men went west to build our wall of steel. There was not a single instance of hoarding and no run on the banks. If a Duff Cooper or an Eden says hair-raising injustice has been done to the Czechs, how can one so distort the truth? I was moved by two things when I visited Sudetenland Firstly, I saw people weeping with relief. Secondly, I have never seen such poverty and misery. I saw whole towns under-nourished. In a few years we must, as a debt of gratitude, liquidate poverty in these districts. The last shameful pages have been torn out of the book of fate which was once closed on us. Historians will recognise that Germany in 1938 regained the status of an honourable and great nation. Therefore the nation must show its power in domestic and social work, which must equal in size and depth its foreign success.”

Dr Goebbels announced that £2,250,000 had been allocated for the relief of the Sudetens.