Messages of Hope
Chancellor von Papen knew this day would come. He hoped it wouldn't come but yet it has happened. Europe is now at war. As the Chancellor, he must now make the fateful broadcast that thrust his country into years of warfare and survival. In another room, all the government ministers sat in anticipation of the radio broadcast. Among them, Adolf Hitler walked back and forth waiting to hear the Chancellor's voice. After a few minutes, everyone fell silent as the speech began.
Declaration of War, Reich Chancellor Franz von Papen
I am speaking to you from the Reich Chancellery at Wilhelmstraße. This morning the German ambassador in Paris handed the French government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Flanders-Wallonia, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently, this country is at war with France and Britain.
You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to maintain peace has failed. Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more, or anything different, that I could have done and that would have been more successful. Up to the very last, it would have been quite possible to have arranged a peaceful and honourable settlement between Germany and France. But Deat would not have it. He had evidently made up his mind to attack us whatever happened, and although he now says he put forward reasonable proposals which were rejected by the Belgians, that is not a true statement. The proposals were never shown to us, and though they were announced in the French broadcast on Thursday night, Deat did not wait to hear comments on them but ordered his troops to cross the Belgian frontier the next morning.
His action shows convincingly that there is no chance of expecting that this man will ever give up his practice of using force to gain his will. He can only be stopped by force.
We have a clear conscience. We have done all that any country could do to establish peace. But the situation in which no word given by France's ruler could be trusted, and no people or country could feel itself safe, had become intolerable. And now that we have resolved to finish it, I know that you will all play your part with calmness and courage.
Hitler listens to Von Papen's speech on the radio
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The Kaiser wasn't thrilled at his country going to war for the 2nd time, having seen his people become exhausted back in 1919. 21 years later, it was looking to be the same but he knew that this time, it was going to be a righteous war. A war to save Europe from the Red plague on both sides of the continent. With his speech prepared, Wilhelm got on to the radio
Speech by Kaiser Wilhelm III, May 1940
In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.
For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.
Over and over again we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies. But it has been in vain. We have been forced into a conflict. For we are called, with our allies, to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.
It is the principle that permits a state, in the selfish pursuit of power, to disregard its treaties and its solemn pledges; which sanctions the use of force, or threat of force, against the sovereignty and independence of other states.
Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that "might is right"; and if this principle were established throughout the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole of Europe would be in danger. But far more than this -- the peoples of the world would be kept in the bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of the security of justice and liberty among nations would be ended in Marxist bondage.
This is the ultimate issue which confronts us. For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.
It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my subjects across the seas, who will make our cause their own. I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial. The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield. But we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God.
If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then, with God's help, we shall prevail.
May He bless and keep us all.
Germans listen to the radio for the Kaiser's speech
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Although he fled his country during its darkest hour, Michael Collins vowed that the Ireland he struggled to liberate 20 years ago wouldn't die in vain. Having sailed past the British all the way to Germany, Collins met with the Irish ambassador in Berlin with plans to form an organization solely to take back the island from the British. But before any of that could happen, he must first make a radio broadcast through
Deutscher Rundfunk (DRF).
The Appeal of 18 August, Michael Collins
"The Irish Government, after requesting the armistice, has now full knowledge of the conditions dictated by the enemy.
As a result, the Irish Army, Naval, and Air Forces would be completely discharged, our weapons laid down, the Ulster territory occupied and the Irish Government under the control of Britain entirely.
One can say that this armistice would not only result in capitulation but also in slavery.
However, a large number of Irish people do not accept the capitulation or the enslavement for reasons that are called honor, common sense, and the higher interest of the Nation.
I am talking about honor! Indeed, Ireland is committed to not laying down its weapons unless its allies agree to do so. As long as its allies continue fighting, our government does not have the right to capitulate. The Portuguese Government, the French Government, the Belgian Government, the Dutch Government as well as the Government of the United Kingdom, although evicted from their own countries, have understood their duty.
I am appealing to your common sense! It is absurd to consider the fight as over. Yes, we have been heavily defeated. A bad military system, the mistakes made in conducting the operations, the government's spirit of abandonment have all made us lose the Battle of Ireland. But we still have a large diaspora, an intact fleet, a lot of gold. We still have allies with immense resources who dominate the oceans. We still have the gigantic potential of the American industry. The same war conditions which led to our defeat by 5,000 aircraft and 6,000 tanks can, tomorrow, lead to victory with 20,000 tanks and 20,000 aircraft.
I am talking about the higher interest of our Nation! Because this war is not a war between Ireland and Britain that can be decided by a battle. It is a world war. Nobody can predict if the countries that have taken a neutral stand, will do so tomorrow, nor can one predict if the Comintern’s allies will remain forever its allies. If the forces of freedom finally prevail over those of slavery, what would be the fate of an Ireland which submitted to the enemy?
Honor, common sense, and the superior interest of the Nation command all the free Irishmen to continue fighting wherever they are and however they can.
I, Michael Collins, am starting this national task here in Germany.
I invite all Irish soldiers of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, I invite the engineers and workers specialized in armament that are on German soil or could go there, to join me.
I invite the leaders, the soldiers, the sailors, the pilots of the Irish Army, Navy, and Air Force, wherever they may be, to get in touch with me.
I invite all the Irishmen who want to remain free to listen to me and to follow me.
God save the Irish people & God save Ireland!