OTD – Josef Goebbels' Diary – 13th March 1945

From the diary of Germany’s Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda Josef Goebbels, March 13th 1945:

Goebbels“This evening’s Mosquito raid was particularly disastrous for me because our Ministry was hit. The whole lovely building on the Wilhelmstrasse was totally destroyed by a bomb.  The throne-room, the Blue Gallery and my newly rebuilt theatre hall are nothing but a heap of ruins.

I drove straight to the Ministry to see the devastation for myself. One’s heart aches to see so unique a product of the architect’s art, such as this building was, totally flattened in a second. What trouble we had taken to reconstruct the theatre hall, the throne-room and the Blue Gallery in the old style! With what care had we chosen every fresco on the walls and every piece of furniture!

And now it has all been given over to destruction.

In addition, fire has now broken out in the ruins, bringing with it an even greater risk, since 500 bazooka missiles are stored underneath the burning wreckage. I do my utmost to get the fire brigade to the scene as quickly and in as great strength as possible, so as at least to prevent the bazooka missiles exploding.

As I do all this I am overcome with sadness. It is 12 years to the day—13 March—since I entered this Ministry as Minister. It is the worst conceivable omen for the next twelve years…

…The Fuhrer telephones me immediately after the raid on the Ministry. He too is very sad that it has now hit me. So far we have been lucky even during the heaviest raids on Berlin. Now, however, we have lost not only a possession but an anxiety. In future I need no longer tremble for the Ministry.

All those present at the fire voiced only scorn and hatred for Goering. All were asking repeatedly why the Fuhrer does not at last do something definite about him and the Luftwaffe. The Fuhrer than asks me over for a short visit. During the interview I have with him he is very impressed by my account of things. I give him a description of the devastation which is being wrought and tell him particularly of the increasing fury of the Mosquito raids which take place every evening. I cannot prevent myself voicing sharp criticism of Goering and the Luftwaffe.

But it is always the same story when one talks to the Fuhrer on this subject. He explains the reasons for the decay of the Luftwaffe, but he cannot make up his mind to draw the consequences therefrom. He tells me that after the recent interviews he had with him Goering was a broken man. But what is the good of that! I can have no sympathy with him. If he did lose his nerve somewhat after his recent clash with the Fuhrer, that is but a small punishment for the frightful misery he has brought and is still bringing on the German people. I beg the Fuhrer yet again to take action at last, since things cannot go on like this. We ought not, after all, to send our people to their doom because we do not possess the strength of decision to root out the cause of our misfortune. The Fuhrer tells me that new fighters and bombers are now under construction, of which he has certain hopes. But we have heard it so often before that we can no longer bring ourselves to place much hope in such statements. In any case it is now plenty late–not to say too late–to anticipate any decisive effect from such measures.”

 

Source:  Die Tagebücher von Joseph Goebbels, Teil III Register 1923–1945 [The Diaries of Joseph Goebbels, Part III: Register, 1923-1945]:

2 thoughts on “OTD – Josef Goebbels' Diary – 13th March 1945”

  1. My bet? I, x 4,000lb ‘blockbuster’ = no more office space for Goebbels! It was amazing just how destructive a Mosquito raid could be. When the Light Night Striking Force put 100+ Mosquitoes over the Big City (usually as a ‘diversion’ from the Main Force attack elsewhere), Berliners counted this as a major raid.

  2. travelforaircraft

    Reblogged this on Travel for Aircraft and commented:
    The de Havilland Mosquito is the most undersung for what it did in WW II aircraft — join us in giving one to the public — which would be THE only flying Mossie in the public trust

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