LETTER FROM HITLER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 13

LETTER FROM HITLER

ENEMY PROPAGANDA WOMAN CHARGED AT BATH A letter from Hitler’s private office to a woman, conveying the “Fuehrer’s thanks” was mentioned in a court case at Bath. The woman, Evelyn Baker, aged 40, giving an address at a Bath nursing home, was charged that, with intent to assist the ! enemy and to the prejudice of public safety and the efficient prosecution of the war, she unlawfully published and distributed a number of postcards relating to enemy radio propaganda. In cross-examination accused admitted writing to a woman at Watford on April 28, saying: “What a tragedy it all is and so unnecessary. You must be proud to have such a wonderful Fuehrer. I was really convinced he was definitely sent to make the world a cleaner and better place. . . . ajid the world is crucifying him.” “The Fuehrer’s Thanks” Accused denied that she had any instructions about enemy propaganda, but admitted that she had a letter from Sir Barry Domville, in which Captain Ramsay, M.P., was mentioned. Counsel said that in view of accused’s letter he did not intend to address the court on her behalf. Detective-Inspector Coles said that he found in accused’s possession an amazing quantity of documents, many of which had to do with the Fascist movement. Referring to three of the documents, he said that one of them was a pass in German alleged to be signed by Goebbels; a second was a document from Hitler’s private office, addressed to accused and acknowledging receipt of a communication addressed to the Fuehrer. A pass/ge i'n the letter read:— “The Fuehrer conveys his best thanks on the part you played on the occasion of the criminal attempt on the ironclad Deutschland.” (The German pocket battleship Deutschland was attacked by Spanish Government bombers in May, 1937, during the Spanish civil war). A Third Document A third document, Inspector Coles said, was signed by a person giving the name of Unity Mitford. Detective-Sergeant Skirton said the letter signed “Unity Mitford” was dated May 5, 1939, and one portion read: “What a lot of English people are pro-Germam” The letter from Hitler’s office was dated June, 1937. In accused’s room, witness said, were also eight different photographs of Hitler, four photographs of German S.S. troops—Hitler’s bodyguard —and in her jacket pocket a small wallet containing a photograph of Hitler on one side and a man in a German uniform on the other. Sergeant Skirton added that accused made a voluntary statement, in which she said: “I did not write the cards with intent to help the enemy. I did not know there was a regulation against it. I did not even know it was a German station, and even if I had known it was, I do not see what harm there was in writing the cards.” Accused Committed for Trial Accused, who pleaded not guilty, said in evidence that the pass signed by Goebbels was an ordinary invitation to an ordinary garden party in Germany, and the letter from the Fuehrer’s office was in reply to a letter of sympathy from her when the Deutschland was attacked. She had had no communication with Hitler since 1937. She had been a schoolmistress in Germany and left there on September 4—the day after war was declared. She had never been engaged to a man in the German Army. Accused was committed to the assizes at Bristol.