' Berlin W. Lennestr. 9.
12 July 1934.
Dear Reich Chancellor,
I thought for a long time over our conversation of yesterday's date, and the statements made to me—and in particular what you told me about your intentions regarding your Reichstag speech— have occupied me constantly in view of the enormous importance of the speech and its special effect on Germany's position in the sphere of foreign politics also. I therefore feel the urge—in fact I feel it to be my duty to let you know my opinion, as I have frequently done formerly on other occasions.
You explained to me yesterday that you intend to publicly accept responsibility for everything that happened, including what happened outside the crushing of the SA revolt. Allow me to say how manly and humanly great of you I think this is. The crushing of the revolt and your courageous and firm intervention have met with nothing but recognition throughout the entire world.
What are, however, at the moment a burden on Germany are solely those events that took place outside your own initiative and without any immediate connection with the revolt, such as the examples you yourself gave me. This has been given expression particularly in the British and American press.
You, as head of the state, wish to accept responsibility even for these acts which, at a time of great mental excitement and antagonism, took place without your knowledge. However, in the interest of lessening the tension in the atmosphere, particularly abroad, it seems to me to be advisable for you not to identify yourself with individual acts—even if you do throw your authority as leader into the scales.
In this connection I once again come to the Bose case, which is naturally the one which made the greatest impression on me and which you declined, during our discussion, to clarify publicly.
You assured me yesterday that you intended to give an account in the Reichstag of the events on the 30.6. concerning me and the Vice-Chancellorship, which would not only fully restore my own authority and honor, but also that of my officials, as this is the condition for my continuing to serve you and the country. It seemed to you yesterday that, in pursuance of these aims, I am stressing my own personal interests too much, although it is actually a question of the good of Germany as a whole.
Allow me to assure you once again that my person or my position—except for the restoration of my personal honor—do not matter at all, and are only at issue insofar as the events in the Vice-Chancellery on the 30th of June are being regarded by the
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public as being the consequence of a breach between you and me. As I have, to date, been unable and unwilling to make any personal statements to the press without possibly forestalling your wishes, many rumors are explained that have circulated in the world for almost a fortnight, and which are intolerable to the authority of your government as well as to .me. If therefore during these last few days I repeatedly asked for the clearing up of the Vice-Chancellory "affair," it was mainly in the interests of the state gen erally. You will understand that no official would be willing to work under me any longer, unless the Bose case is fully cleared up. I have already told you verbally the other day that the honor of my officials is my honor, too. I also told you that I am convinced that Herr von Bose was in no way guilty of any treason or treachery, and I shall continue to be so until the contrary is proved to me. I know that particularly you, Herr Chancellor, will appreciate this attitude of mine, for you have always stood by your comrades, in fact have even placed yourself before your comrades.
That the Bose affair is arousing great interest arises from the fact that Herr von Bose was known to most journalists, and in particular to foreign journalists, as a result of his former work in the Reich Press Office and as head of the Prussian Press Office, quite apart from the fact that during the events in the Vice-Chancellery a large number of visitors were present, who were also bound to note my strict imprisonment which lasted until Monday. I therefore asked you at least to state that Herr von Bose had no part in the treasonable efforts of the SA revolt. I therefore ask you once again to clarify the Bose affair by a public investigation.
The world is waiting your tomorrow's speech with great excitement. The only desire of these remarks is that the success of your explanation should aid the fulfillment of your efforts to bring about the rebirth of Germany.
With unchanged admiration and loyalty
Yours
PAPEN.
Letter to Hitler on the aftermath of the suppression of the SA "revolt," including the suspicions about von Papen and his staff, asking for a public investigation to clear his reputation and position
Authors
Franz Papen, von (Vice-Chancellor; ambassador)
Franz von Papen
German general staff officer, politician, diplomat, nobleman and Chancellor of Germany (1879–1969)
- Born: 1879-10-29 (Werl)
- Died: 1969-05-02 (Sasbach)
- Country of citizenship: German Reich; Germany
- Occupation: diplomat; military personnel; politician
- Member of political party: Centre Party (until: 1932-01-01); Nazi Party
- Member of: Union-Klub
- Participant in: Hostages Trial (date: 1947-10-03; role: affiant)
- Significant person: Wilhelm List (role: acquaintance)
Date: 12 July 1934
Defendant: Franz Papen, von
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: D-716
Citation: IMT (page 11890)
HLSL Item No.: 453553