I Kr tgau . WEATHER Cloudy with Showers VOL. LV, No. 136 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1945 FUEHRER ISDE DI * BERLI GER SS Y * * * Yanks Capture Hitler's Birthplace A Fascis Moscow Trick,' Declares * * * 41) German Hold Weakens in Capital City 14,000 Nazis Give Up; Redls Overrun Berlin LONDON, Wednesday, May 2.-(A') -German resistance in the heart of ruined Berlin neared total collapse today as 14,00 fanatical Nazi die-. hards surrendered to the Red Army yesterday after reportedly losing their leader, Adolf Hitler. .Moscow's nightly war bulletin an- nounced last night that Soviet troops had overrun more than 100 blocks of buildings in the city's administrative core as they smashed toward the Reichschancellery and the Germans' underground fortress in the Tier- garten. Charlottenburg Cleared The Soviet High Command did not announced the capture of any spe- cific buildings in Berlin's center and it was not known whether the Rus- sians had reached the Reichschan- cellery, where the Hamburg radio asserted Hitler had died in the after- noon. Soviet assault troops also cleared the city districts of Charottenburg and Schoeneberg. Some days ago the Russians said they believed -that Hitler had fled Berlin, probably leaving a double who would die "heroically", and be found amid the ruins of the Nazi capital. Last Ditch Defenders Earlier, the Nazi high command had said that the fanatical last-ditch defenders were huddld around Hit- ler; in the underground fortress in the Tiergarten, which reportedly is iked to the Reihsckhancelery. Premier Stalin, 'wo issued three orders of the day, did not announce any new developmnents in the savage 11-day battle for Berlin, but his third order told of the capture of Bohumin, Velka-Bytca, Cadca, Grystat and Skocov in the Carpathian zone of Czechoslovakia by Gen. Andre I. Yeremenko's Fourth Ukrainian Army. Pinza.To Open May Festival Concert Series Orchestral selections by Weber, Haydn and Strauss, and vocal arias by Ezio Pinza, glamorous Metropoli- tan basso, will highlight the first concert of the fifty-second annual May Festival series at 8:30 p.m. EsWT (7:v30 p.m. CWT) tomorrow in Hill Auditorium. Participating in all Festival pro- grams for the tenth consecutive year, the Philadelphia Orchestra will open tomorrow's concert with the Over- ture to "Der Freischutz" by Weber, Haydn's "Symphony No. 88 in G major" and Suite from Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier". Pinza, who is known as "the great- est singing actor of his generation," is in his nineteenth season at the Met., as preeminent basso of his time. He has the record of having sung more opening night performan- ces than any other of the company's stars, except Caruso, and was selec- ted as star of Moussorgsky's one-man opera, "Boris Godounoff", for the opening night of the' Met.'s recent Diamond Jubilee. The monologue, farewell and death scene from the opera which Pinza will perform at the Festival 'concert represnt some of the most poignant operatic literature of any race. Pinza, making his Metropolitan debut in 1926, the famed basso has been heard by audiences from coast to coast. CAMPUS EVENTS Today French play, "Ces Dames aux Chapeaux Verts" will be shown at 8:30 p. m. EWT in the Lydia Men- delssohn Theatre. Today Ruthven tea will be held from 4-6 p. m. EWT in the president's home. May 3. First concert of the May Festival will be held at Third Army Tank Forces Reach lraunwL Patton Nears Russians; Southern Trap Closes By The Associated Press PARIS, Wednesday, May 2.-Brau- nau, quaint little Austrian town where Adolf Hitler was born 56 years ago, was captured last night by U.S. Third Army tanks justasthe Ger- man radio was telling the world that the Nazi fuehrer was dead. Contact with Russians A field dispatch said Gen. Patton's forces had established radio contact with Russian columns pounding west- ward from Vienna and that the two armies were probably less than 40 miles from a junction which would trap all Germans in Czechoslovakia and isolate Nazi forces in the Alpine redoubt below Munich. The broadcast report of Hitler's death brought no comment from Gen. Eisenhower, whose several mil- lion fighting men had crushed the Nazi foe on the battlefields of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany and broken into the sanctuary of his long-planned southern redoubt. 30 Miles from Salzburg Units of the 13th Armored Division which hammered to the Braunau area on the German-Austrian border were only 30 miles from Salzburg, eastern rampart of the Nazi south- ern stronghold, and 44 miles from Berchtesgaden. The Third Army-called by field correspondents the "General Patton Express"-plunged forward along a 100-mile front.' Lt.-Gen. Alexander N. Patch's Sev- enth Army, fired to new peaks of fighting fury by the evidences of Nazi barbarism unfolding before them in the vicinity of captured Munich, smashed on beyond that city to with- in ten miles of Innsbruck in Austria and within 15 miles of the northern gateway to the Brenner Pass through the Aps. Southern Germany Overrun All of southern Germany was over- run except the southeast corner of Bvaria. Hailing the capture of Munich, Germany's third largest city, Gen. Eisenhower asserted in a rare order of the day that "the whole AEF con- gratulates the Seventh Army on the seizure of Munich, the cradle of the Nazi beast." CIUrchl lHihnts Big News Will develop Soon By The Associated Press LONDON, May 1.-Prime Minister Churchill told the House of Com- mons today that he might have "in- formation of importance" to impart before Saturday, but disappointed hopes that he would clarify imme- diately the prospects of peace in Europe. Never once using the word "peace", Churchill told an expectant House that "should information of impor- tance reach his majesty's govern- ment during the four days of our sitting this week as it might do-I will ask the speaker's permission to ask the indulgence of the House to interrupt the business and make a brief announcement." - AnbugWIEPOLAND HMGOBUR Md -r Emden % NebrnER bUN RUSSIAN Hammug Apa EbRensdor I AA *K 11.R'NAN Kasse{ ~ ~ ~ LIZG~ is Bres au) MY ..! uupde Ro., oerl t B Remagen pgten n rnfur Eger PRAGUE . .3 \\ ARMY yachau..." l ue'zbu b CZECHOSLOVAKIA Ue neeg * brBsueUS N OL N Hnor * m, Tabor 2n artuhelLA.^tRM-YJ Regensburg y/ *tungasrt Ingolstadt / N yA" Passau -ube oahu Moosburg ' * 9 1tBresburg Mu d . R D NIt Y - C e t emago ' Plau n CHY N Co blnbu AUSTRIA e " "KarsbadrP R Coi fo e ,u r gar 'e r , PR AGUeE Mannhei *-- J( +abo Bkurn SW OLOZERLAYGOSAVI J" Kartsru e h ARE eesbra " Stu tga RIngoistadtt " th RMARdMY* S NitaAchadRus autro o s aveoinedt '0 "s.rffomig econd link betee h Eae andWstr fots . .Thr Army alo tookaruauon dedar asile jk nthrd link p N t rnts. o Senior Alli Ticket Sales " SWI"ZERLAND ToBegin Toa i U tae h ynRan ITros ALY dAlln agormb ryasotookBrana o th Tr ie.se d r s gocte ey zepotedaneicnan Rinan rvstwr mz utifra Tusib e Veniceku fFheirmes s * REACTIONS: City Doubts Death Of Nazi Chief By PHIL ELKUS Campus and city reaction to the news of Adolf Hitler's death was that of disbelief as to the truth of the reports. At the Union, students were at first amazed by the news, then doubted if the reports were authen- tic. Professors asked for comment ex- pressed the same doubt. Prof. Henry W. Nordmeyer, of the German de- partment, summed up the situation by saying, "I would not believe it be- fore people see the body . . . Hitler might have gone into hiding. It would be a pity if Hitler became a martyr in the eyes of the German people." Keniston Comments "I have the satisfaction that all decent people must feel," said Dr. Hayward Keniston, dean of the Col- lege of Literature, Science and the Arts. Prof. A. J. Gaiss, of the German department, said, "He should have been punished. I believe that Hitler exposed himself to avoid being pun- ished and wanted to die a martyr's death." "This is the first time that Hitler has fulfilled his promise. He said that he would die with his troops and he did," said Prof. Louis C. Kr- pinski, of the Mathematics depart- ment. 'Most Incredible Man' "The mystery of his success is too great for us to understand because he was the most incredible man the world has ever known. Future gen- erations will regard him with more horror than we did," he added. Prof. Dwight L. Dumond, of the History department, summed up the whole situation by saying, "It's a good thing . .." Continued Price Controls Urged Trumian Tells Nation Tfo Double War Effort WASHINGTON, May 1.- (IP)- President Truman moved today to head off celebrations when V-E Day comes, to continue price and ration controls and to concentrate the na- tion's energy on the war against Japan. In rapid-fire sequence, the Press- dent: 1. Disclosed that lie will make a radio speech on V-E Day asking the people to refrain from celebra- tions and continue in their war jobs. 2. Vigorously defended OPA Ad- ministrator Chester Bowles from a recent storm of criticism, and asked a one-year extension of the price and ration control law, which ex- pires June 30. 3. Appealed to key personnel of wartime government agencies to stick to their posts until "the ship of. state is safe in the harbor again." Admiral Doenitz States He Will Rule Reich as Leader Appointed by Fuehrer By The Associated Press LONDON, May 2, Wednesday-The Hamburg Nazi radio said last night that Adolf Hitler died yesterday afternoon in Berlin. The announcement said he had been succeeded by Admiral Karl Doenitz, his personal choice to command the German nation. The official Moscow Radio this morning called the German broad- cast "a new Fascist trick," by which "the German Fascists evidently hope to prepare for Hitler the possibility of disappearing from the scene and going to an underground position." At the British Foreign Office, however, the report of Hitler's death -but not necessarily of the place or manner-was accepted as true. Doenitz broadcast a proclamations and an order of the day pledging continuance of the war and de- manding the same loyalty as pre- viously sworn to Hitler. v Internationally known Duke El- lington and his band will be in Ann Arbor Friday, June 1, for an all- campus Senior Ball swing session at the I-M Building. Ticket sales for the formal dance Ces Dames' To Be Given Today The Cercle Francais will present' Albert Acremant's comedy, "Ces Dames aux Chapeaux Verts" at 8:30 p. m. EWT (7:30 p. m. CWT) today in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. The play is under the direction of Prof. Charles E. Koella of the Ro- mance Language Department. Mark- ing the 39th consecutive year that the Cercle Francais has presented an annual French play, the all-student cast is headed by Evangeline Shempp in the role of Arlette, a Parisian or- phan, who goes to live with her four old maid cousins. The eldest of the four sisters, dom- ineering Telcide, is played by Shirley Schwartz. Helen Dickinson portrays studious Jeanne; Martha Sanders has the role of health-conscious Rosalie; and Pamela Wrinch plays the senti- mental Marie, youngest of the old maids. will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EWT (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CWT) today. tomorrow and Friday at the Union Travel Desk. Further sales schedules will be announced later. "The Duke" has been making mus- ical history since the day he and his five-piece band opened at a litle Harlem night spot called the Ken- tucky Club. Since then iehas toured the United States and Europe and has received ovations from the world's leading musicians.eHehas been serenaded by a 40-piece brass band in Sweden and toasted by the Prince of Wales. The Prince is reput- ed to have the finest collection of Ellington records in Europe. Constant traveling has not pre- vented Ellington from becoming a prolific composer of classic,. jazz known to millions. His writing has been done on trains, buses and steam- ships. On one occasion the band traveled on an all-night bus trip from Pennsylvania to Nw York to make a recording of a new number. Ellington wrote the music by the light of an endless succession of matches struck for him by the band's manager. Some of the tunes which have be- come dateless all-time hits are "Soli- tde", "Sophisticated Lady", "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart", and "Mood Indigo". ADOLF HITLER .. . iis body is missing. "It is reported from the Fuehrer's headquarters that our Fuehrer Adolf Hitler, fighting to the last breath against bolshevism, fell for Germany this afternoon in his operational headquarters in the Reich Chancel, Bold Doettitz Rises To Dfictate fint, woYears By TIhe.Associated Press bold andI ruthless Grand Admiral Karl Docnitz of the German navy, who now claims leadership of the b las.ted Nazi regime, has risen. witi i two years to a post of highest powerI in the Reich. Never known as an ardent Nazi, he has been ore of asnmall clique that stood steadfast at Hitler's side. Doe- nitz's constant exhortation was re- ported to be, "Kill, kill, kill!" London sources viewed his assump- tion of power as evidence of a row among top-ranking Nazis. Brought to the high command on Jan. 30, 1943, succeeding Grand Ad- miral Erich Raeder, Doenitz lost no time asserting his authority. When the abortive plot on Hitler's life last July failed, Doenitz was one of the leaders in a purge of suspected con- spirators. The Admiral publicly assailed what he termed "the most dastardly trea- chery against the Fuehrer and the German people" and pledged that the navy remained "ready to do or die". lery," said the German-language an- nouncement recorded in Lopndon. "On April 30 the Fuehrer appointed Grand Admiral Doenitz his successor. The grand admiral and successor of the Fuehrer now speaks to the Ger- man people." A speaker identifying himself as Doenitz then pledged continuance of the war, declaring: "It is my first task to save Germany from destruction by the advancing bolshevist enemy. For this aim alone the military struggle continues. "As far and for so long as achieve- ment of this aim is impeded by the English and the Americans, we shall fight against them as well. Under such conditions, however, the Anglo-Americans will continue the war not for their, own peoples but solely for the spreading of bolshevism in Europe." ilimmler Unmentioned Neither Doenitz nor the Hamburg announcer made any mention of Heinrich Himmler, Gestapo chief who within the past few days had tried to surrender Germany to Britain and the United States but not to Russia, and had been rebuffed by the west- ern Allies. Yet Doenitz' pointing of the strug- gle against Russia was in line with Himmler's offer and Nazi propaganda designed to split the Allies. Doenitz eulogized Hitler as a man who had dedicated his life to Ger- many and to warring against "bol- shevism," and who now had died a "hero's death." . A powerful ghost voice inter- rupted him, shouting: "This is a lie!" The ghost voice continued to heckle throughout the Doenitz speech. Death Questioned Questions immediately arose throughout the world whether Hitler actually died in battle against the Russians who now are near complete conquest of his ravaged capital, whether he died in some other man ncer or w',r"^p-rn as dead at all. Members of the British Parliament See HITLER, Page 4 * * Corn missions To Start Work Molotov May Leave San Francisco Meeting SAN FRANCISCO, May 1--P)- The United Nations Conference clear- ed away details of setting up its working structure today, and it was disclosed formally that Soviet For- eign Commissar Molotov soon may leave for Moscow. Secretary of State Stettinius told a news conference that the steering and executive committees had ap- proved chairmanship assignments to the commissions and committees which will draft a proposed world charter designed to guarantee peace. Only routine approval by the full con- ference now was needed. The commissions will start work tomorrow and the committees by Thursday at the latest, Stettinius said. Stettinius expects Molotov to re- main until their work is solidly under way. But he asserted that he never had anticipated that Molotov would be able to stay in the United States for a very long time and that there is no indication when Molotov will be able to return. Ruthven Tea To Be Held Today All dental students will be special RAMPAGING ARMIES THROTTLED CONTINENT: hitler Devoted Life To Nazi Dream of World Domination Adolf Hitler's life was devoted to the conquering of the world in the name of the German super race which he invented. His unbounded ambition was nearly fulfilled as terrible, efficient armies succeeded in throttling Eur- ope from the Spanish border to the Ukraine, from Africa to northern- most Norway. This mustachioed foreigner who came to Germany from an uncertain Austrian background rose from an obscure. hero-worshipping corporal through the streets to seize the city by force. Hitler was imprisoned for a year during which he wrote, or dictat- ed his incoherent book, "Mein Kampf". Finally, in 1932, he was selected Chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg, the ancient marshal of Germany's armies in the first World War. The once-powerful trade unions were smashed. The Social Demo- eratia andC athoni cCnter nartiie This ended the German problem - of unemployment. The people were told that at last they would be avenged for the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler began the chain of events which led to full-scale war by invad- ing the Rhineland in 1935, thus vio- lating the Treaty of Locarno. In Spain, he was in the first work- ing alliance with his now-dead part- ner, Benito Mussolini, whose troops fought for Franco beside the Ger- mans. Hitler continued his march of on--iot i:- .'u nno h, ca pa -min surprising non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. German troops moved into Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, and overran the country in a few days. Great Bri- tain and France declared war against the German state. The long months of waiting in the "phoney war" began. In April, 1940, the legions of the Nazis bgan moving again, this time in neutral Denmark and Norway. On May 10, 1940, the seemingly-invincible Panzers ripped their way into the Netherlands and Belgium and by Union hold its lines at Stalingrad in 1943. The United States had declared war on Hitler's Germany after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Finally, in 1944, the last battles began when Americans, British and Canadians invaded Normandy and pushed the Nazis back within their borders. Hitler's screaming voice was no longer heard. Rumor after rumor was heard in 1945 that Hitler had died. Heinrich Himmler, dread chief of the rapacious Gestapo, was hand-