Evening star., 1942-04-27
Hitler
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Hitler
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II Hitler planned q purge "or some
move 90 desperate that Its accom-
plishment will necessitate . rurge. I"
Most British reaction reflected
the surmise Of tn Daily Mail that
the shadow Of opposition" has
risen within the Third Reich.
The Daily Telegraph recalled that
Hitler resorted to purge in 1894
and implied that again he might
be reaching for the whip.
Hitler, In the Times view, has
found himself 'impotent to bring
his war to a victorious conclusion"
and, as compensation, has made
himself supreme law lord"
Germans Reported Astonished.
Reuters said today the Berlin
correspondent of the National
Zeitung Of Basel, Switzerland, had
cabled that the German public was
astonished at Hitler's demand yes
terday for such far-reaching
powers"
The writer was quoted as saying
1t was "the sharpest appeal ever
made to the German people"
Reuters quoted the Berlin cor
respondent of the Baseler Mach
richten Of Basel as saying the Ger
man capital was surprised that
Hitler was silent on past German
successes and that his usual predic-
ton as to the course Of events was
lacking"
The Moscow radio called the
speech "a sure sign that the Nazis
see the approach of their end" and
declared Hitler's assumption of still
greater power made it abundantly
clear that he had no other alterna-
tive than to admit his utter failure
In the field and at home"
Demands Full Control.
AS broadcast by the Berlin radio,
Hitler turned from his. assurances
that the next winter would find
Germany ready on the Russian front
and made this demand: r.
For this purpose, / expect. how
ever, one thing: That the nation
entities me to intervene and, act myrl
self Immediately, in every case
wherein the service of the greater
cause which decides on o,if existence
not the strictest, unreserved obedi-
ence Is shown. -
IT therefore beg of the German
Reichstag explicit confirmation that
I am legally entitled to hold any
one to his duties or to sentence to
cashiering or to oust from ofilce
and position any one without con-
sideration of his person who
in my conscientious opinion does
not fulfill his duties"
Experienced radio listeners in
London said they detected excite
ment in Hitler's voice when he dealt
with this phase Of his message,
which. in widespread British opin-
ion, was the chief reason for the
speech
Reichstag Rises "as One Man.
AS soon as he had finished, after
1 hour and / minute, Reichsmarshal
Hermann Wilhelm Goering, presi-
dent of the Reichstag, re-emphaSized
Hitler's account of the staggering
problems of the winter front in
Russia, asked the Reichstag to
confirm" this statement:
There can be no doubt that the
Fuehrer at the present time, when
the German people is involved In q
struggle for its existence. must be
accorded the right asked by him
to be fully empowered to do every
thing which serves to achieve VIZ
tory or contributes to it.
The Fuehrer, consequently, with
out being tied down by existing laws
and regulations - must be in a
position at any time to make every
German-be he soldier or ofhcer,
petty or high official or Judge, off-
cial of the party, worker or en-
ployer-to do his full duty, and to
remove from offlce, rank or position
any one who, after the Fuehrers
careful examination, has violated
his duties.
The Fuehrer is to be entitled to
take action against those people
without having to take recourse to
the usual procedure 49,"
Goering asked for a rising vote OF
consent and the Berlin radio said
the Reichstag, In whose midst were
many In the field gray OF Hitlers
army, rose as one man"
First Speech Since December IL.
Second only to his preoccupation
with the home front. Hitler devoted
his first speech since last December
II chiefly to the war in Russia.
The fighting in the east will be
continued he promised his people
despite the acknowledged difficulties.
"The Bolshevist colossus will be
beaten by US so long and until such
time as it has become smashed.
Altnougn ne PROMISED uitiiiidtc
victory, the man who once declared
that the Russian enemy already is
broken and viii never again rise" /"
set no date for triumph and indicat-
ed to the Germans that they must
fight through another winter.
Explaining why Germany's armies
were forced back, Hitler said the
past winter came suddenly and was
the most severe in l40 years-since
Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.
The problem which in those days
caused us the greatest trouble" he
said. was the bringing up Of sup
plies because neither the German
soldier nor the German tank nor,
unfortunately. our German railway