William Joyce

William Brooke Joyce (24 April 1906 - 3 January 1946) was an American-born propagandist for Nazi Germany during World War II, known as Lord Haw-Haw, whose English-language radio broadcasts began with the words Germany Calling. He was executed for treason by the British.

If war breaks out, I will fight for Hitler since such a war would be against Jewry.

Quotes

1920s

• As a young man of pure British descent, some of whose forefathers have held high position in the British army, I have always been desirous of devoting what little capability and energy I may possess to the country which I love so dearly.
  • Letter to the University of London Military Education Committee (9 August 1922), as cited in Peter Martland, "Lord Haw Haw: The English voice of Nazi Germany" (The National Archives, 2003), p. 145. UK National Archives KV 2/245/301a.

• A Note on the Mid Back Slack Unrounded Vowel [a] in the English of Today
  • Review of English Studies, 1928 os-IV: 337-340.
  • Title of the first published work by Joyce.

1930s

• I don't regard Jews as a class. I regard them as a privileged misfortune.
  • Speech at Chiswick (1934), as cited in Francis Selwyn, Hitler's Englishman (Penguin Books, 1987), p. 43

• We know that England is crying for a leader, and that leader has emerged in the person of the greatest Englishman I have ever known, Sir Oswald Mosley ... When the history of Europe comes to be written I can assure you that his name will not be second to either Mussolini or Hitler.
  • Speech at Brighton (March 1934), as cited in Frederic Mullally, Fascism inside England (Claud Morris Books, 1946), p. 15

• I would gladly say 'Heil Hitler!' and at once part company with him, realizing what a pitiable insult it is to such a great man to try to flatter him with such an imitation which he has always disdained. His way is for Germany, ours is for Britain; let us tread our paths with mutual respect, which is rarely increased by borrowing.
  • National Socialism Now (c. 1938), pamphlet issued by the National Socialist League.

• If war breaks out, I will fight for Hitler since such a war would be against Jewry.
  • National Socialism Now.

World War Two

Lord Haw Haw

• Germany calling! Germany Calling!
  • Catchphrase used to introduce or begin his talks on German radio.

• The people of England will curse themselves for having preferred ruin from Churchill to peace from Hitler.
  • Broadcast, Radio Bremen (2 August 1940).

• To conclude this personal note, I, William Joyce, will merely say that I left England because I would not fight for Jewry against the Führer and National Socialism, and because I believe most ardently, as I do today, that victory and a perpetuation of the old system would be an incomparably greater evil for [England] than defeat coupled with a possibility of building something new, something really national, something truly socialist.
  • Broadcast (2 April 1941), as cited in Peter Martland, "Lord Haw Haw: The English voice of Nazi Germany" (The National Archives, 2003), p. 173. UK National Archives KV 2/245/285.
  • In this broadcast Joyce for the first time identified himself, in response to an article in the London Evening Standard which claimed he ran a spy ring in Britain.

• [Winston Churchill] is the servant, not of the British public, or of the British Empire, but of International Jewish Finance. This charge must be preferred against a man who has so signally violated British tradition in the course of this war.
  • Broadcast, Radio Cologne (8 April 1943).

• Churchill has renounced all British interests in Europe and those of his people who are not blind now realise that the pretext for this war was far removed from the cause of it, namely, the subservience of the so-called democratic politicians to their Jewish masters.
  • Broadcast, Radio Cologne (30 August 1944).

• Bombardment by a new device of centres essential to the British war effort. The action was long delayed, but who can deny that the moment selected for it was chosen most appropriately from the military point of view? Germany has more secret weapons than one.
  • Broadcast, German European Service (17 September 1944).
  • Refers to the first attack by the Vergeltungswaffe-1 (V-1), or "reprisal weapon".

• Britain's victories are barren; they leave her poor, and they leave her people hungry; they leave her bereft of the markets and the wealth that she possessed six years ago. But above all, they leave her with an immensely greater problem than she had then. We are nearing the end of one phase of Europe's history, but the next will be no happier. It will be grimmer, harder and perhaps bloodier. And now I ask you earnestly, can Britain survive? I am profoundly convinced that without German help she cannot.
  • Broadcast (30 April 1945), as cited in J.W. Hall (ed.), "The Trial of William Joyce" (Notable British Trials series, William Hodge & Co, 1946), p. 302
  • This was Joyce's last broadcast of the war.

• And therefore I say to you, in these last words, you may not hear from me again for a few months. I say, Es lebe Deutschland! Heil Hitler, and farewell.
  • End of Joyce's last broadcast (His voice heavily slurred due to an apparent state of intoxication)

Other documents

• The preface is usually that part of a book which can most safely be omitted. It usually represents that efflorescent manifestation of egotism which an author, after working hard, cannot spare either himself or his readers. More often than not the readers spare themselves. When, however, the writer is a daily perpetrator of high treason, his introductory remarks may command from the English public that kind of awful veneration with which £5000 confessions are perused in the Sunday newspapers, quite frequently after the narrator has taken his last leap in the dark.
  • Twilight over England (Internationaler Verlag, Berlin, 1940), preface.

• Apart from my absolute belief in National Socialism and my conviction of Hitler's superhuman heroism, I had always been attracted to Germany.
  • Twilight over England.

• On this tragic day, the death of Adolf Hitler was reported - Admiral Dönitz takes over as his nominated successor. Reach Flensburg about 8. Have to drink wine for breakfast — as nothing else is available.
  • Diary entry (1 May 1945), as cited in Peter Martland, Lord Haw Haw: The English voice of Nazi Germany (The National Archives, 2003), p. 301. UK National Archives KV 2/250/2, p. 55.

Post-WW2

• I know that I have been denounced as a traitor and I resent the accusation, as I conceive myself to have been guilty of no underhand or deceitful act against Britain, although I am also able to understand the resentment that my broadcasts have, in many quarters, aroused.
  • Statement given by Joyce under caution (31 May 1945), as cite in J.W. Hall (ed.), The Trial of William Joyce (Notable British Trials series, William Hodge & Co, 1946), p. 58

• I salute you, Freja, as your lover for ever. Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
  • Last letter to his wife Margaret before he was hanged (3 January 1946), as cite in Francis Selwyn, Hitler's Englishman op cit, p. 211

• In death as in life, I defy the Jews who caused this last war, and I defy the power of darkness which they represent. I warn the British people against the crushing imperialism of the Soviet Union. May Britain be great once again and in the hour of the greatest danger in the West may the standard be raised from the dust, crowned with the words – "You have conquered nevertheless". I am proud to die for my ideals and I am sorry for the sons of Britain who have died without knowing why.
  • Last letter to his brother Quentin before his execution, as cited in Francis Selwyn, Hitler's Englishman: The Crime of 'Lord Haw-Haw' (1987 [1993]), p. 8
  • Another version has "may the Swastika be raised from the dust" instead of "may the standard be raised from the dust"