The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-10
Hitler Tells Troops
Hour of Combat Here
CONTINUED From Page y

I Minister Joseph GoebbelS, who said
Germany had "lncontrovertible
proof" that the allies had planned 10
invade Germany through those
countries.
He said Belgium and Holland had
plotted" with the allies against
Germany, had tried to foster a Ger
man revolution" and had abetted
an attempt TO eliminate Adolph Hit
ler--a reference, 1t was believed, TO
the Munich beer cellar bombing OF
last Nov. 8.
1t was announced that Belgium
and Holland had been given memo
randa warning that "any resistance
would be crushed with every means"
and that the Dutch and Belgian
governments "alone would bear re-
sponsiblity for the consequences and
bloodshed which would become un-
avoidable"
He said Germany would not touch
the overseas possessions OF Belgium
and Hollan dand that 1t still was
possible for those countries TO save
themselves by offering no resistance.
In both Goebbels' speech and In
n high command communique Issued
today but dated May 4, II was
charged that ever since the world
war, both Belgium and Holland had
fortified their frontiers only against
Germany and not against France.
Therefore" said Goebbels, "they
are enemies"
Berlin, May l0-(UP)-The OFF,
cial news agency said today that
many Belgian and Dutch airdromes
had been captured by German forces
and that French airdromes, includ-
Ing those at Saint Omer, Vitry lie
Francois and Metz, had been bombed
and destroyed"
"Alrdromes In eastern and CEN
trail France were heavily bombed
and many planes weer destroyed"
the agency said,
"Airdromes at Saint Omer, Vitry
lie Francois and Metz were destroyed.
"Airdromes at Antwerp and Brus-
sells were severely bombed"
Metz Is one Of the biggest French
| military CenterS'
German ariforces that landed at
dawn captured many Belgian and
Dutch alrdromes and their sur
roundngs," the agency said.
Claims OF Germany
The German claimed that:
/. The Dutch capital, the Hague,
had been occupied.
| nipHfAinAR 10
Guiding tho important base at Metz,
had been totally destroyed ana
many others badly damaged.
3. All important Dutch and Bel
gian airports and surrounding dis
tricts captured.
4. The airports OF Antwerp and
Brussels successfully" bombed ana
q Belgian fort captured.
8. A broad attack successfully
launched across the western from
tiers Of Germany.
Hitler, ct field headquarters, was
directing the vast operation OF land,
sea and dir forces which swept
across the low country frontiers, at
tackled by air and landed along the
coast. The Germans were reported
using fiat bottomed naval craft to
operate In areas which the Dutch
flooded by blasting their dykes.
The high command announced
that operations were proceeding Sue
ccssiully and the official news agef1"
cy claimed sweeping triumphs for
the German forces.
Took OF Al Dawn
1.-THE German air force took OF o.
dawn on May 10th with strong
formation OF oil kinds against the
west and landed numerous units at
Belgian and Netherland airports.
"The airports and surrounding
districts were captured by the Ger
mans In q short time," the agency
said. "Airports IN east and central
France were targets for surprise
German bomb attacks which de-
stroyed airplanes and airports and
caused large fires,
"The airports at 81. Omer and
Vitry Tic Francois and Metz were ABB
solutely destroyed.
after the Belgian government
had called British and French troops
TO Belgium and after the Neither
lands government had proclaimed O
state OF war between the Neither
lands mad Germany, German air
raids were extended TO military OBJ
tectives In Belgium and Holland.
among other detectives, the air
ports OF Antwerp and Brussels were
successfully bombed.
"Air squadrons supported the adj
vance OF the army and played an
important part In the capture OF one
OF the strongest Belgian fortresses.
ION this occasion Captain Koch
and Lieutenant Witzig distinguished
themselves particularly by their
courage and daring. The F'uehrer
and supreme commander has deco
rated both officers with the knights
| npncc NJ thu 0rdar ~ tho Iron Cross"