Evening star., 1944-07-02
Hitler Admits Defeats,
But Says 'Fanaticism'
Will Bring Victory
10y the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
:. LONDON, July 1.-Long-silent
Adolf Hitler. speaking at the
funeral Of Gen. Eduard Dietl,
Nazi commander in Finland, who
was killed in a plane crash, said
that "in this fifth year Of the
war we often find ourselves con-
fronted with difficult situations"
but expressed belief that "na-
tional fanaticism" would bring
victory.
The speech, made at an unspeci-
Ned time and place, was distributed
tonight to the German press and
broadcast by DNB.
Hitlers last previous address was
January 80, the 11th anniversary of
his rise to power.
In this fifth year Of the war"
Hitler said, I'VE often find ourselves
confronted with difficult situations,
yet none of these bears comparison
with the Narvik expedition with
which I entrusted Gen. Dietl be-
cause I believed he was the man
to persevere to the end with what
was seemingly hopeless enter
prise"
At Narvik, Hitler said, Gen. Dietl
performed miracle of military
ability and human personality" to
beat far superior enemy"
Lauding Gen. Dietls Nazi zeal in
handling soldies, Hitler added may
all German officers and generals
learn to be equally hard yet kindly,
equally ruthless in their demands
yet understanding toward troops
May they learn to radiate confidence
in times Of crisis so as to carry men
with them.
For how could struggle which
has behind it all the fanaticism of
a nation end otherwise than in VIC
tory, quite irrespective of what the
situation may be at the moment?"
Hitler described Gen. Dietl as
"this true and dear friend who for
me was prop-a prop above all in
the German officer corps"
The death of Gen. Dietl, 81, con-
firmed by the Germans only today,
increased the toll of high-ranking
German officers since D-Day to Is
and possibly II.
Seven and possibly eight Nazi
generals have been killed, either in
action or in accidents; the Rus
slams have reported capture of at
least six generals, and the Amer
leans in Normandy have captured
two generals and one admiral.
An order from Hitlers head
quarters, preceding the funeral
oration.. awarded him the Knights
Cross of the Iron Cross with oak
leaves and swords.
Gen. Dietl commanded German
defenses in Narvik in northern Nor
way in 1910. He moved into Fin
land to open the attack on Mur-
mansk when the Nazi offensive
against Russia was launched the
next year. Though his offensive
against the Soviet Arctic port was
failure. he was decorated by Hit
Ter. He remained as commander in
Finland.
The Nazi headquarters order to-
day did not give details of the acci-
dent but Swedish reports said Gen
Dietl Was killed in plane crash in
Austria while en- route to a new
assignment. Previous Swedish re-,
ports had said the crash occurred
in Finland Neither did the order
mention Gen. Ferdinand Jodl.
brother Of Gen. Alfred Jodl, Hitler's
personal military adviser, reported
to have been killed in the same
crash.
Two days ago Berlin announced
that Col. Gen. Friedrich Dollmann.
commander of the German 7th
Army and the center of the ATTAIN
tic Wall defense" had been killed in
action in France.
In addition to Gen. Dollmann.
other German commanders killed in
France since D-day include 1t. Gen
Hellmich, Maj, Gen. Witt, Artillery
Gen. Marcks. Maj. Gen. Kallay and
Maj. Gen. Stegman.
Americans captured at Cherbourg
1t. Gen. Schlieben, Maj. Gen. Statt-
Ter and Rear Admiral Hennecke.
Russians have reported capture
Of at least six German generals. in
cluding 1t. Gen. Hitter, 1t. Gen.
Heine, commander of the 9Th In
fantry Division, and Maj. Gen. Gam