HITLER’S CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1941, Page 5

HITLER’S CLAIMS

DERIDED BY MOSCOW RADIO REASONS FOR SPEECH SUGGESTED ATTEMPT TO CALM PEOPLE OF REICH. MADE DESPERATE BY LOSSES IN RUSSIA. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. “The mood of the Geriium people lias become desperate bv I lie failure of I lie blitz war againsl liussia, by 1 lie war on two IToiils, and by the bad living' conditions in Germany,” stated the Moscow radio, “and this is the real reason that Hitler came to Berlin and delivered a speech intended to calm the population. “He had to confess that the army will have to go through a winter campaign. The German High Command has repeatedly stated that the Soviet Army was destroyed, and now Hitler says the Soviet Army is strong and well equipped with good weapons. “After the blitz failed, he explained that operations were proceeding ‘according to plan.’ Was it also among Hitler’s plans that the mighty coalition of England, America and Russia should arrive to fight together till Hitler is defeated? Was it according to plan that the campaign in the east should go on through the winter? Why did he not mention the German losses with one single word when everyone can see trains coming from the east with wounded soldiers and hundreds of thousands of families are wearing mourning for relatives fallen in the east? “He was, of course, afraid of telling the truth. The German Army is bleeding to death in the east. During three months’ fighting 3,000,000 Germans have been killed, wounded or taken prisoner. “He said he has large reserves and a whole continent at his disposal. Does this include Norway, where every day the people are avenging crimes committed by the Nazis on the Norwegian people, or Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, France and the other countries, who did not stop fighting for a single second against Hitler? “Now compare the reserves of the Soviet—the united people of 200,000,000. Also, only a few days ago an agreement was concluded in Moscow which mobilised further huge reserves —the agreement which- promises all possible help from England and America needed for victory over Hitler.” OPINION IN BRITAIN ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4., The general impression created in the British Press by Hitler’s speech is that the Nazi propaganda department found it necessary to make a strong offensive against the wave of distrust and depression caused by a succession of “victories” which brings the war no nearer a conclusion favourable to GerUndoubtedly the news of the rapid and successful conclusion of the Moscow conference leaked out in Germany and further accelerated the need toi an effort to pull public opinion together. ___________