NAZI ADMISSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1943, Page 4

NAZI ADMISSIONS

ON CONTROLLED PARIS RADIO FEARS OF IMPENDING DISASTER. GREAT CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR. Broadcasts from Radio-Paris, the German-controlled French station, are curiously interesting to follow. Broadcasters must, of course, submit everything to the Germans, even when not broadcasting texts supplied by the •Germans. It is apparent that occasionally they hoodwink their masters, and, while carrying out instructions, let their compatriots know the truth. Sometimes intonation gives the slight twist that makes their real feelings clear.

Sometimes these poor wretches at the microphone have to put over brutal, cruel messages. One of these was broadcast recently, and it was an individual named Alain Berois reading it:

“Germany will so organise things,” said the announcer to his French listeners, “that it will be France that will fall first. It will be only across the body of dead France that Germany will fall dead.

“Germany that is fighting to defend its life will use every means. Before she perishes others will perish also. “Germany knows what is at stake. A defeat in the East would mean the end of the German nation for centuries to come.”

Horrible as was this message, it yet must have conveyed hope. Only a year ago both Germany and Italy were boasting of certain victory. German radio, on February 3, last year, told listeners in Spain: “Naturally these untrained Russians cannot do anything against the well-trained and equipped German soldier.” A couple of days earlier, Mario Appelius, speaking from Rome, informed his countrymen: “We have victory within our grasp. We shall be in a strategic situation of such strength that we can face with serenity all the unknown quantities of United States industrial and financial might.”