HITLER DEAD?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1943, Page 4

HITLER DEAD?

BELIEF OF AMERICAN DIPLOMAT UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCE. DIFFERENCES WITH NAZI HIGH COMMAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 7. Mr Joseph Davies, former United States Ambassador to Russia, who caused a sensation by his broadcast suggestion that Hitler is dead, says he bases his belief on a series of logical deductions. “The days of mourning in Germany and Hitler’s failure to make a Nazi anniversary speech suggest the possibility that Hitler is dead,” Mr Davies observes. “I think it is as well to say it, if only to smoke him out. Either the High Command has prevented him from appearing, or it is possible that he shot himself or that the High Command has shot him. Hitler has been out of the public eye for more than a month. Why are there no personal appearances? It is commonly reported and generally accepted that when Hitler invaded the Ruhr in 1936, he told the German High Command that if his judgment was wrong he would shoot himself. Both last winter and this winter he encountered strong opposition from the German High Command. He hazarded all on Stalingrad. Knowing Hitler as we do, as a psychopathic and a paranoic, with delusions of grandeur and greatness, would he be likely to permit the Stalingrad disaster without taking the leading role and explaining it away?” An earlier message stated:— Rumours which are sweeping America that Hitler is dead are not circulating in Britain. It will be recalled that Berlin radio on Tuesday announced that Hitler had received Admiral Doenitz at his headquarters.