Berlin, 25th April 1938.
G/14
POL I 260 g. Rs.
Appendix to the decree of 2nd April 1937 Pol. I 1686/37 g. Rs./ Since the work in the field of preparation for the mobilization has made further progress within Germany in the Armed Forces and in all civil-administrations including the Foreign Office, it is necessary now that in the case of government offices abroad cor-
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responding measures also be taken in their area of jurisdiction without delay and that they be brought into line with the duties owed the mother-country. The commencement of a period of crisis or of the actual mobilization confronts the offices abroad in manifold fields with great and difficult tasks, the nature and extent of which will be very varied due to local and political conditions. Among others the following are mentioned: the increase of personnel, the making use of Germans for special duties (code and special W/T service, propaganda, etc.) the securing of archives and the destruction of secret matters, the safeguarding of the needed financial resources, the guaranteeing of the transmission of intelligence, the transport home of men liable for military service, the protection of German individuals and property, the cooperation in economic planning concerned with organization, which must necessarily include the economic possibilities abroad.
The detailed spheres of activities will be made known in further decrees on the part of the various departments of the Foreign Office. The work to be done then by the offices abroad is to be tackled before hand. The carrying out of all preparatory mobilization measures, which are of course to be treated as "Top Secret", comes under the personal supervision and is the responsibility of the head of the office. In times of peace these measures must be taken care of by the available personnel.
I request the heads of offices—without waiting for further instructions—to start considering now the measures to be taken into consideration in their sphere of activity in the case of a serious situation, and then at once to submit appropriate proposals. In the interest of absolute secrecy it must be observed strictly that the number of people informed remains as restricted as possible. If necessary the reports are to be written by hand by the head of the office himself.
I request that, this decree, which is to be kept sealed and under lock and key by the head of the office, be acknowledged in writing with these words only, "I have received the decree Pol. I 260/38 g. Rs. of the 25th April."
. F 202g7 [signed] WEIZSACKER
To.
All diplomatic representatives, The German Consulates General, in ADDIS ABABA, BATAVIA, BEYRUT, DANZIG, JERUSALEM, CALCUTTA, OTTAWA, SINGAPORE, SYDNEY.
To all German Consulates in COLUMBO, HANOI, HONGKONG, LUANDA, LOURENZO, MAREQUES, MANILA, MONROVIALIBERIA, NAIROBI, TETUAN—each especially Buero R.M. Pers. .
F 20286
516
Instructions to Foreign Ministry offices in other countries to begin secret preparations for tasks that will be required in case of a military mobilization, including intelligence, propaganda, the securing of documents and financial assets, and other tasks
Authors
Ernst Weizsaecker, von (State Secretary (Foreign Ministry); ambassador)
Ernst von Weizsaecker
German diplomat in the Nazi regime (1882-1951)
- Born: 1882-01-01 1882-05-25 (Stuttgart)
- Died: 1951-08-04 (Lindau)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: diplomat; politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Member of: Schutzstaffel
- Military rank: corvette captain
- Military branch: Imperial German Navy
Date: 25 April 1938
Literal Title: Appendix to the decree of 2nd April 1937
Defendant: Erich Raeder
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: PS-3572
HLSL Item No.: 453061
Trial Issue
Document Summary
PS-3572: Secret decree, 25 April 1938, by the German foreign office (weizsÄcker), instructing German representatives abroad to make certain preparations for mobilization and to submit immediate suggestions for appropriate measures "in case of war" ("fÜr den ernstfall")
PS-3572: Top Secret Letter by Weizsaecker to all the German diplomatic representatives abroad.
Top Secret Letter by Weizsaecker to all the German diplomatic representatives abroad.