Berlin, 1 Vossstrasse,' W. 9. 4 July 1934.
Tel. A2 Flora 6941.
The Reich Chancellor's Deputy.
Dear Reich Chancellor,
Yesterday at 10 a.m. I had the honor of informing you verbally, of my attitude towards the events of the last days, after my stretch in police custody had been suspended on the 2.7 at 2100 hrs. At this time I pointed out to you that I could not possibly take my seat in the Cabinet until my honor and that of my officials had been restored.
On the 30.6. five of my coworkers were arrested, one of them was shot. My files have been confiscated, my office sealed, and my private secretary also arrested. This is still the position at the moment.
A procedure of this kind against the second highest official of the state could only be justified if he and his officials were guilty of complicity in the plot against Fuehrer and state.
It is in the interests not only of protecting my personal honor, but even more so of protecting the authority and cleanliness of the state, that either the guilt should be proved at once or honor be restored.
The events have become known abroad, partly in a distorted form. For this reason alone it is in the state's and my own interests that not a single hour more be lost in settling this matter.
Your soldierly sense of honor, Herr Chancellor, will tell you that the Vice Chancellor, who it is true was repeatedly ensured by Prime Minister Goering that no accusation was being made against him, cannot possibly do otherwise than to protect the honor of his officials.
The following seems to be the only possible way:
(1) The case against my officials, including the shot Herr von Bose, to be put into the hands of the Prosecutor-General immediately, on your instructions or
(2) . A communique to be published, stating that the investigation had provided no evidence of any complicity in the plot, my honor and that of my officials being thus restored.
If you do not wish to embark upon the latter path, my remaining in the cabinet any longer would be an impossibility.
I had placed my position at your disposal already on the 18th and 19th of June. I can ask for my dismissal with an even lighter heart today, since it appears that the work mutually commenced by us on the 30.1.1933 now appears to be secured against further
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revolts. At the same time I request to be relieved of my position as Commissioner for the Saar.
I take it that you will make your decision regarding the restoration of my honor ivithin the next few hours.
I remain loyally devoted to you and to your work for our Germany.
Letter to Hitler, asking that that von Papen and his staff (who had been arrested) be publicly cleared of involvement in the Rohm/SA "plot" in order to restore their honor, or that Hitler dismiss him from office
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: 04 July 1934
Defendant: Franz Papen, von
Total Pages: 1
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-714
Citation: IMT (page 11885)
HLSL Item No.: 453551
Notes:The date on the document is 4 July, while the Blue Set lists it as 14 July; document D 715 suggests that 4 July is the correct date for this letter. Von Papen had been arrested and released; several of his staff were still in custody and one had been killed.