Background: This page is part of a larger project to trace the history of World War II as reflected in the headlines of the Völkischer Beobachter, the Nazi Party’s daily newspaper.
December 1944 was the last burst of optimism. After relatively desultory headlines for the first part of the month, 19 December proclaimed the beginning of what the Allies called the Battle of the Bulge. Although the battle continued into January, by the end of the month it was evident that the German offensive had failed.
Völkischer Beobachter: December 1944
1 December 1944
Betrayed by Traitors
Estonians and Latvians Who Fled to Finland Sent Back to the Soviets
Finland had signed an armistice with the Soviet Union on 19 September 1944
2 December 1944
England Wants to Swallow Libya
Bonomi’s Italy at the Mercy of the Allied Enemy Powers
3 December 1944
England Drops the Mask
Churchill Remains Moscow’s Servant
London Also Gives Arcizewski the Cold Shoulder
4 December 1944
Given War Shortages, the Vienna edition of Völkischer Beobachter was no longer published on Mondays.
5 December 1944
Growing Chaos in Invaded Europe
Crises, Starvation, and Bolshevist Revolts Everywhere behind Enemy Lines
6 December 1944
Schirach to His Political Leaders
Vienna: A Fortress of the Hardest Resistance
7 December 1944
The Führer Receives Szalasi
Hungary Will Always Be on the Reich’s Side
8 December 1944
For Orderly Prosperity and Lasting Peace
Japan’s Heroic Battle
9 December 1944
New Kamikaze Successes
Special Attack Group Sinks a Battleship and Five Transports
10 December 1944
Both Sides of Budapest
The Soviet Assault on Hungary
Battle at the Saar — Eisenhower’s New Attempt
11 December 1944
No Issue
12 December 1944
Von Ribbentrop:
We Will Never Surrender!
Radio Speech on the Anniversary of the German-Italian-Japanese Military Alliance
13 December 1944
German Victory — Or the Downfall of Europe
Reich Press Chief Dr. Dietrich Spoke about the Tragedy of the Betrayed Peoples
14 December 1944
Determination and Faith:
The German Miracle
Dr. Goebbels Spoke in a Large West German City
15 December 1944
“In the Interest of Europe’s Future”
The Führer at the Congress of Journalists
16 December 1944
To Be in Germany Is to Be in Europe
“We Are Winning with Germany”
The conclusion of the congress of journalists.
17 December 1944
Churchill Announces the War Goal for Germany
Mass Murder and Expulsion of Millions!
Demagogic Slogans of Hatred Conceal Britain’s Bankruptcy in the Polish Question
18 December 1944
No Issue
19 December 1944
Attack at the West Wall Begins
Forward American Positions between High Venn and Northern Luxembourg Seized
The Enemy Completely Surprised
The beginning of the Battle of the Bulge.
20 December 1944
The Winter Battle in the West
Attack Along the Entire Front Continues
21 December 1944
An Army Eager to Attack
The World Holds Its Breath
22 December 1944
Into the Ardenne
20,000 Prisoners from the Winter Battle in Belgium
23 December 1944
Budapest’s Fateful Hour
New Phase in the Battle for Hungary’s Capital
24 December 1944
Winter Battle in Belgium Proceeding Well
Dillingen Freed from the Enemy
25 December 1944
No Issue
26 December 1944
Enemy Has Lost 700 Tanks and Armored Vehicles
The Ring around Bastogne Tightens
Our Offensive Spearheads West of the Ourthe
This was an overly optimisted headline, as the spearhead of Patton’s Third Army reached Bastogne on the afternoon of 26 December.
27 December 1944
No Issue
28 December 1944
Confession of Someone Disappointed
The Norwegian Immigrant Chief Complains
29 December 1944
Voluntary Sacrifice
“Storm Vikings”
Dönitz to the Fighters at the Mouth of the Schelde
30 December 1944
Churchill Fails in Athens
The Battle Continues — Moscow’s Forces at Work in London
31 December 1944