jack lahm

IT WAS a fateful hour, on the first of September of this year, when you met here as representatives of the German people. I had to inform you then of serious decisions that had been forced upon us as a result of the intransigent and provocative action of a certain State. Since then five weeks have gone by. I have asked you to come here today to give you an account of what has passed, the necessary insight into what is happening at present and, so far as that is possible, into the future as well. For the last two days, our towns and villages have been decorated with flags and symbols of the new Reich. Bells are ringing to celebrate a great victory, which, of its kind, is unique in history. A State of no less than 36,000,000 inhabitants, with an army of almost fifty infantry and cavalry divisions, took up arms against us. Their arms were far-reaching, their confidence in their ability to crush Germany knew no bounds.