Page "John Reith, 1st Baron Reith" Paragraph 37

In 1975 excerpts from Reith's diary were published which showed he had, during the 1930s, harboured pro-fascist views.

On 9 March 1933 he wrote: “ I am pretty certain … that the Nazis will clean things up and put Germany on the way to being a real power in Europe again.

They are being ruthless and most determined .” After the July 1934 Night of The Long Knives, in which the Nazis ruthlessly exterminated their internal dissidents, Reith wrote: “ I really admire the way Hitler has cleaned up what looked like an incipient revolt .” After Czechoslovakia was invaded by the Nazis in 1939 he wrote: “ Hitler continues his magnificent efficiency .” Reith also expressed admiration for Mussolini .. Reith's daughter, Marista Leishman, revealed how her father in the 1930s did everything possible to keep Winston Churchill and other anti-appeasement Conservatives off the airwaves.