28 Apr 1945
Page 1
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Newspaper
Lethbridge Herald
Location
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Date
Apr 28, 1945
Page
1
German soldiers revolt in Munich, birthplace of Nazism, as Nazi regime faces internal upheaval near the historic beer cellar site. The Canadian Press report notes rebels gaining temporary control amid broader turmoil in Germany.
Berlin mothers urged to join the defense as Soviet forces closed in on Berlin’s crumbling core. Red Army advances halted German resistance while a relief army reportedly neared the city from the southeast. The battle for Berlin intensified with air and ground offensives, and speculation about Hitler’s fate persisted as bombed streets burned.
In London April 28 reports say Heinrich Himmler offered unconditional surrender to Britain and the United States. Prime Minister Churchill stated only unconditional surrender to all three major powers would be accepted. He did not confirm or deny Russia involvement, noting reports that Britain and the U S would respond only if all allies, including Russia, are included.
On the German Swiss frontier April 28 an attempt to form a new German government led by Walter Funk, Reichsbank president, failed. Heavy fighting between German troops and SS, Gestapo seized the effort and arrested two members while Funk and von Brauchitsch escaped under army protection. Fighting continued and anti Nazi factions reportedly seized Salzburg radio briefly.
Easton PA youth George Wilson 21 returned from Germany with liberated prisoners. He wore a gray fur coat and bright clothing, carried German swords and a pistol marked StaLag 2A. He helped free about 150 French women, found shoes and food for prisoners, then described the town takeover and the postwar actions. A Chicago divorce study questions wartime marriage stability, noting only 6 percent of 1,606 cases granted since January.
Ottawa reports ongoing Third Week Victory Loan effort with Friday sales reaching 76.6 million and cumulative totals near 356.0 million from five days of the drive. Damp weather across Canada hampered public rallies and canvassing while armed forces investments led all divisions with 39 percent of the objective. Navy has 136 percent of quota.
Prime Minister Mackenzie King urged rapid drafting of a world security charter at the United Nations Conference, pledging Canada’s effort to prevent another tidal wave of despotism. The conference, in session near the Polish issue, cleared some chairmanship disputes and admitted White Russia and Ukraine as early members, with Canada securing a place on the 14 member executive committee. King called for quick moves in line with wartime events, noting that both large and small states must act.
Lt Gen Kurt Dittmar, a top German strategist, surrendered and claimed the war was lost militarily for failing to stop the Normandy invasion and politically after Hitler survived the July 1944 assassination attempt. He warned only Gestapo and Elite Guard resistance remained after Hitler’s death, and doubted credible Allied war-criminal trials.
Reports from the German Swiss frontier say Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler is consolidating the southern redoubt as a last stand. He has gathered the Wehrmacht’s best remnants and heavy armaments, with estimates of 30 divisions totaling 300,000 to 450,000 men in the Alpine holdout. about 20 divisions are already deployed.
Picture Butte residents of the Lethbridge Northern unit celebrated reaching the $100000 goal in the Eighth Victory Loan drive. After a near miss last night, workers went out again and pushed the total to $100350 this morning. The unit formed recently from the Cestiale and Macleod areas.
Allied forces announced seizure of Bergamo and Brescia as they drove toward the Brenner Pass and the Swiss border. Milan radio reported U S troops had reached the Swiss frontier and entered Como, with the 5th Army near Lake Como’s southern tip and a spearhead div moving on Ghedi airport near Bergamo.
Svenska Dagbladet quoted reliable circles saying Hitler suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was near death in Berlin. The report suggested that an immediate announcement of his death would trigger mass capitulation by many troops.
British troops capturing Bremen took two generals and a vice admiral along with 16 submarines and a destroyer. Gen. Becker and Maj. Gen. Werner Siber were prisoners, and the vice-admiral and his surface and undersea craft fell into Allied hands as three British divisions tightened control.
Lord Wright chairman of the United Nations War Crimes Commission and another commissioner returned from an inspection of Buchenwald concentration camp with authentic information that 52 000 prisoners perished there since 1337. Wright said detoxication found evidence of atrocities by the Germans without counterpart in history.
The defence department in a press release says demobilization of long service Canadian army personnel who have returned home can start. Eligible men with five years service, including four overseas and six months in a combat theatre, may be discharged subject to ongoing service needs. About 5,000 qualifying soldiers have returned to Canada, with more en route. The rotation leave system now allows about 2,000 men monthly to go home for 30 days, with categories split into rotational duty, specific duty, long service leave and miscellaneous cases.
News dispatches report Roberto Farinaci Mussolini’s envoy to the German command in Italy has been tried and shot by partisans. Hans Goebbels, brother of the minister, was captured at Millrath. Marshal Graziani was taken prisoner in North Africa’s remnants as allies push north. Soviet advances link with British forces in northern Germany, while U S troops prepare to occupy the American section of Germany with tighter rationing. A Swiss delegation leaves Berlin for Bavarian redoubts as news of Parkin’s release from Nazi captivity emerges.
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