Evening star., 1943-09-10

grimly swore that the "treachery"
Of Badoglio's government in desert
ing the Reich would be revenged by
hard measures"
This seemed borne out at the mo-
ment by the action of German
forces in Italy in seizing key point
after key point in the Italian king
dom and the bombing and shelling
Of Rome.
In another ominous gesture to-
ward the Balkans where guerrillas
and dissidents are awaiting Allied
aid to eject their oppressors, Hitler
declared. Il am not forgetting the
treachery of Yugoslavia either
Free of a heavy load which has
been upon us since long time and
from pressing expectations, the
moment has come now that I can
talk to the German people without
deluding myself or the public" he
said in the speech.
The collapse OF Italy, he declared,
was not because the necessary Ger
man support was not forthcoming,
but rather as a result OF absence Of
will of those elements who, 70 crown
their systematic sabotage, now have
brought about the capitulation."
He revealed q few hidden chapters
from the German standpoint-of
European history and to take out a
few Of the skeletons in the Musso-
lini i-Hitler family closet.
Italy was bound by treaty to de-
clare it's solidarity with Germany at
once at the outbreak of war, he
said, but "the elements which have
brought about the capitulation to-
day, prevented immediate entry Of
Italy into the war in 1889"
Mussolini was determined to honor
the treaty, he added, but Il had to
show understanding Of II Duce's diff
ficulties and did not press him. left
1t to Mussolini not to enter the war
at all, or to enter 1t at any time
convenient for him"
Turning to Mussolini's fall, he
charged II Duce was ousted because
Of his demands for more complete
powers to carry on the war after
his last meeting with Hitler at Bren-
ner Pass.
Sure Of Victory.
Hitler said he and Mussolini had
never doubted the outcome OF the
war, but many German offers OF
help to her ally were refused by
certain of Italy's rulers"
Then turning his fire directly upon
Premier Marshal Pietro Badogiio
Hitler declared the Italian govern
ment did not even inform its Ger
man ally of its intention to ask for
an armistice. but in fact, on the day
the armistice was signed, assured
the German Charge D'Affaires that
Italy would not capitulate.
Both Badoglio and King Victor
Emanuel had given such assurances,
he asserted.
Cites Aid to Ally.
May the blood of German soldiers
be upon the treacherous Italians!'
he exclaimed in declaring that North
Africa would have been lost to Italy
IN 1910 or l94l but for German
assistance.
He also recalledl that Germany
had rescued Italy in the Balkans.
Declaring the Italian people would
look back on the overthrow of Mus
solini with deepest shame" he
went on to assure Germans that the
surrender of Italy meant little In a
military sense and that the Reich
would continue the fight with more
fanatical will than ever before.
I'VE always knew that heroic re-
sistance is better than cowardly sur
render" he declared. THE Reich
will never be destroyed"
He added that effective prepara-
ton was being made to counteract
British American "air terror" and
concluded his .,l6-minute speech
without making any other startling
disclosures or statements.