RUDOLF HESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 3

RUDOLF HESS

HOPED TO FIND QUISLINGS IN BRITAIN FACTS GIVEN BY BRITISH MINISTER. NAZIS COUNTED ON VICTORY IN RUSSIA. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 27. “The Germans are hard pressed on the three main fronts in Russia, but there was a time when they thought their blitzkreig methods would win them a quick victory,’’ said the British Minister of Information, Mr Brendan Bracken, in New York today, explaining one of the war’s most intriguing mysteries—namely the arrival of Hitler’s lieutenant, Rudolf Hess, in England in 1941,

Mr Bracken told reporters that Hess really believed he would find Quislings so anxious for peace that they would push out the Government, leaving Hitler free to attack Russia. Hess expected that when he gave us the glittering secret of the attack on Russia, Mr Churchill would be forced out. Hess was a Nazi of very low mentality, continued Mr Bracken. He just babbled like tho usual Nazi “stooge.” He was highly excited, altogether foolish and not a grain of sense could be got out of him.

Mr Bracken issued a warning that Hitler still had a formidable army in Russia. He believed Hitler knew he could not win the war militarily, but he hoped to sow disunion among the United Nations and thus escape by political means the consequences of his brutal aggression.

Mr Bracken added that he was confident that a Three-Power conference, including Russia, would be arranged. The French Committee of National Liberation was doing admirable work. He said the Allies were definitely going to finish off Italy. This would not deter them from cultivating campaigns in other part? of Europe. He believed Marshal Badoglio was anxious to get Italy out of the war, because the longer it lasted the more onerous it would become. “I wouldn’t like to insure that country,” he said.