NATIONAL MOURNING
ORDERED IN FRANCE HITLER’S GRANDILOQUENT PROCLAMATION. • FLAGS TO WAVE AND BELLS TO RING. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 25. Herr Hitler, in a proclamation in Berlin, confirmed the Italian armistice and, referring to the cessation of hostilities, stated: “The war in the west is thereby ended.” At the appointed time the order -to cease fire was sounded in France by the three combatants. Simultaneously the French radio at Bordeaux announced that an armistice had been signed with Germany and Italy. Most of the population have been ignorant of the German terms announced in London on Sunday. The French Government has ordered that today be observed as a day of national mourning. It is announced that the German and Italian terms will be published simultaneously in France, Italy and Germany today. The British United Press correspondent at Bordeaux says it is officially announced this morning that the French Government is leaving Bordeaux. German forces are remaining outside the city till the Government departs. Another message says that it is negotiating with Hitler for its return to Paris, conditionally upon a free zone being established to enable the Petain Government to function unhampered. Precisely' at 12.35 a.m. local time drums and bugles heralded a special broadcast from the German radio.
Bells were rung, after which “Deutschland Über Alles” and the Horst Wessel song were played. An announcer then said: “The nation bows with reverence before the dead heroes. All eyes in this historic hour are turned to the Fuehrer. A victory more glorious than was conceivable has been won; it is the most glorious victory in German history.” Hitler issued the proclamation to the people: “German people, your soldiers have ended in barely six weeks of heroic struggle the war in the west against a brave enemy. Thendeeds will enter history as one of the most glorious victories of all time. In humility we thank the Almighty for His blessing, and I hereby order that flags shall be flown throughout the Reich for 10 days and that the church bells shall be rung for seven days.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1940, Page 5
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346NATIONAL MOURNING Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1940, Page 5
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