The Wilmington morning star., 1945-05-02
Adm. Doenitz
Takes Over
Nazi Reins
Grand Admiral Speaks To
German People Above
Ghost Voice
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AONOON, May l. - Inc Ham.
burg Nazi radio said tonight that
Adolf Hitler had died this after.
noon in Berlin and had been sue
ceeded by Admiral Karl Doenitz.
his personal choice as heir to com.
mand Of the German nation.
TT is. reported from the Fuehr-
er's headquarters that our Fuehr-
er Adolf Hitler, fighting to the.
last breath against Bolvhevism,
fell for Germany this afternoon in
his operational headquarters in
the Reichschancellery," said the
German language announcement
recorded by the Associated Press
listening post in London at 1927
pm. (4:27 pm, Eastern War
Time).
ION April 30 the Fuehrer ap.
pointed Grand Admiral Doenit
his successor. The grand admiral
and successor of the Fuehrer now
speaks to the German people"
A speaker identifying himself IS
Doenitz then pledged continuance
Of the war, declaring:
1T is my first task to save Ger.
many from destruction by the adj
vancing Bolshevist enemy. For
this aim alone the military strug-
gle continues.
GAS far and for so long as
achievement of this aim is imped.
ed by the English and the Ameri-
cans, we shall be forced to carry
on OR defensive fight against
them as well. Under such condi-
tons, however, the Anglo-Ameri-
cans will continue the war not for
their own peoples but solely for
the spreading of Bolshevism in
Europe"
Neither Doenitz nor the Ham.
burg announcer made any men.
ton of Heinrich Himmler, Costa.
pc chief who within the past few
days had tried to surrender Ger
many to Britain and the United
States but not to Russia, and had
been rebuffed by the Western AL
lies. Yet Doenitz pointing of the
struggle against Russia was in
line with Himmler's offer and Ma
ri propaganda designed to split
the Allies.
Doenitz eulogized Hitler as \
man who had dedicated his life
to Germany and to warning
against "Bolshevisn,' and who
now had died "hero's death"
A powerful ghost voice inter.
rupted him, shouting, This IL 4
lie!''
The ghost voice continued to
heckle throughout the Doenitx
speech.
Questions Immediately arose
throughout the world whether Hit.
Ter actually died in battle against
the Russians who now are near
complete conquest of his ravaged
capital, whether he died in some
ignominious manner, or whether
he was dead at all.
Members of parliament and 9th.
ers expressed skepticism. fearing
that perhaps the dramatic death
broadcast was but an elaborate
hoax.
At the British foreign office the
report of Hitler's death was ac-
cepted as true but official sources
refused to comment on the pos.
sible accuracy Of the Hamburg &C.
count of how he died.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard
declined to confirm or deny re-
ports that British police or the
secret service had dental records,
measurements and fingerprints Of
Hitler already on file so that iden.
LITIGATION would be possible even
long after death.
The Russians in the past have
said repeatedly that they believed
Hitler long ago had fled from Ber-
lin and possibly left double" to
Idle in action there to maintain
Hitler's name as a Nazi martyr.
The Germans have insisted many
times daily, however, that he was
in Berlin, personally directing its
faltering defense.
The Germans furnished the re-
port Of Hitler death tonight with
all the trappings of drama at their
command.
At 9:43. pm. (3:43 pm, EWT),
the Hamburg radio instructed all
Germans to keep tuned in for an
important announcement. One min
ute later the renegade Englishnan
Confined on Page Two; Col. u