"The Fuehrer announces the Battle for the Justice and Security of the Reich." I hand the original volume ... 1 September, 1939, the date of the attack on Poland, identified by our number 2322-PS; and I read from that the paragraphs indicated to the interpreter:
"For more than six years now..."
I beg your pardon. On the Court's mimeographed copy it is the bottom of page 3, the last starting paragraph of the page.
"For more than six years now, I have been engaged in building up the German Armed Forces. During this period more than ninety billion Reichsmarks were spent building up the Wehrmacht. Today, ours are the best-equipped armed forces in the world, and they are superior to those of 1914. My confidence in them can never be shaken." early development is illustrated by a reference to the secret training of flying personnel, back in 1932, as well as the early plans to build a military air force. A report was sent to the defendant Hess, in a letter from Schickedantz to the defendant Rosenberg, for delivery to Hess. should get this letter, and therefore sent it to Rosenberg for personal delivery to Hess.
This document points out that the civilian pilots should be so organized as to enable their transfer into the military ear force organization. in evidence as U. S. Exhibit 40. It starts: "Lieber Alfred", (referring to Alfred Rosenberg) and is signed "Mit bestem Gruss, Amo". Amo, I think, was the first name of Schickedantz.
"Dear Alfred: I am sending you enclosed a communication from the RWM forwarded to me by our confidential man (Vertrauensmann) which indeed is very interesting. I believe we will have to take some steps so that the matter will not be procured secretly for the Stahlhelm. This report is not known to anybody else. I intentionally did not inform even our long friend". (I suppose that means "our tall friend". I may interpolate that the defendant Rosenberg, in an interrogation on 5 October 1945, identified this "long friend" or "tall friend", as being Von Albensleben).
"I am enclosing an additional copy for Hess, and ask you to transmit the letter to Hess by messenger, as I do not want to write a letter to Hess for fear that it might be read somewhere. Mit bestem Gruss, Yours Amo."
Then enclosed in that is "Air Force Organization".
"Purpose: Preparation of material and training of personnel to provide for the case of the armament of the air force.
"Entire management as a civilian organization will be transferred to Col. Von Willberg, at present commander of Breslau, who, retaining his position in the Reichwehr, is going on leave of absence.
"(a) Organizing the pilots of civilian air lines in such a way as to enable their transfer to the air force organization.
"(b) Prospects to train crews for military flying. Training to be done within the organization for military flying of the Stahlhelm. . ."
I believe that means the "steel helmet". .
". . . which is being turned over to Col. Hanel, retired.
"All existing organizations for sport flying are to be used for military flying. Directions on kinds and tasks of military flying will be issued by this Stahlhelm directorate. The Stahlhelm organization will pay the military pilots 50 marks per hour flight. These are due to the owner of the plane in case he himself carries out the flight.
They are to be divided in case of non-owners of the plane, between flight organization, proprietor and crew in the proportion of 10:20:20. Military flying is'now paid better than flying for advertisement (40). We therefore have to expect that most proprietors of planes or flying associations will go over to the Stahlhelm organization. It must be achieved that equal conditions will be granted by the RWM, also the NSDAP organization." and breaching the Versailles Treaty are forcefully shown by a number of Navy documents, showing the participation and cooperation of the German Navy in this rearmament programme, secret at first.
that it had always been their objective to break Versailles. "The Fight of the Navy Against Versailles, 1919 to 1935." The preface refers to the fight of the navy against the unbearable regulations of the peace treaty of Versailles. The table of contents includes a variety of navy activities, such as saving of coastal guns from destruction as required by Versailles; independent armament measures behind the back of the government and behind the back of the legislative bodies; resurrection of the U-beat arm; economic rearmament; and camouflage rearmament from 1933 to the freedom from the restrictions in 1935. power by the Nazis in 1933 on increasing the size and determining the nature of the rearmament program. It also referred to the far-reaching independence in the building and development of the navy, which was only hampered insofar as concealment of rearmament had to be considered in compliance with the Versailles Treaty. of the Reich in 1935, the reoccupation of the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland, the external camouflage of rearmament was eliminated. book to which I have referred entitled "Der Kampf Der Marine Gegen Versailles" -- The Fight of the Navy against Versailles -- 1919 to 1935, written by Sea Captain Schussler. There is the symbol of the Nazi Party with the Swastika in the spread eagle on the cover sheet, and it is headed "secret", underscored. It is our document C-156. It is a book of seventy-six pages of text followed by index lists and charts. I offer this in evidence as exhibit U.S.A. 41. I may say that the defendant Raeder identified this book in a recent interrogation and explained that the navy tried to fulfill the letter of the Versailles Treaty and at the same time to make progress in naval development. I should like to read from this book, if the Court please. I certainly shall not read the entire book, but I should like to read the preface and one or two other portions of the book.
"The object and aim of this memorandum under the heading 'Preface', is to draw a technically reliable picture based on documentary records and the evidence of those who took part in the fight of the navy against the unbearable regulations of the peace treaty of Versailles. It shows that the Reich Navy after the liberating activities of the Free Corps and of Scapa Flow did not rest, but found ways and means to lay with unquenchable enthusiasm in addition to the building up of the 15,000-man navy the basis for a greater development in the future, and so create by work of soldiers and technicians the primary condition for a later rearmament. It must also distinguish more clearly the services of these men, who, without being known in wide circles, applied themselves with extraordinary zeal in responsibility in the service of the fight against the peace treaty, thereby stimulated by the highest feeling of duty, they risked, particularly in the early days of their fight, themselves and their position unrestrainedly in the partially self-ordained task. This compilation makes it clearer, however, that even such ideal and ambitions plans can be realized only to a small degree if the concentrated and united strength of the whole people is not behind the courageous activity of the soldier.
Only when the Fuehrer had created the second and even more important condition for on affective rearmament in the coordination of the whole nation and in the fusion of the political, financial and spiritual power, could the work of the soldier find its fulfillment. The framework of this peace treaty, the most shameful known in world history, collapsed under the driving power of this united will. Signed, the Compiler."
Now, I wish to invite the court's attention merely to the summary of content, because the chapter titles are sufficiently significant for my present purpose.
I. First, defensive action against the execution of the Treaty of Versailles (from the end of the war to the occupation of the Ruhr, 1923).
Under that sub-first: Saving of coastal guns from destruction to removal of artillery equipment and ammunition, hand and machine weapons.
II. Independent armament measures behind the back of the Reich Government and of the legislative body (from 1923 to the Lomann case in 1927).
1. An attempt to increase the personnel strength of the Reich Navy.
2. Contributing to the strengthening of patriotism among the people.
3. Activities of Captain Lomann.
with the story about Captain Lomann.
4. Preparation for the resurrection of the German U-boat arm.
5. Building up of the air force.
6. Attempt to strengthen our mine arm (Die Mine).
7. Economic rearmament.
8. Miscellaneous measures.
a. The Aerogiadetic, and;
b. Secret evidence.
III. Planned armament work countenanced by the Reich government but behind the back of the legislative body from 1927 to the seizure of power, 1933.
IV. Rearmament under the leadership of the Reich Government in camouflage (from 1933 to the freedom from restrictions, 1935). turn to chapter four, page seventy-five-- do you find Roman four?-Concealed rearmament under the leadership of the government of the Reich (from 1933 until military freedom in 1935). taking over of power on 30 January 1933 was of the decisive influence on the size and shape of further rearmament. withdrew as a legislative body, the Reichstag assumed a composition which could only take a one-sided attitude toward the rearmament of the armed forces. The government took over the management of the rearmament program upon this foundation.
Then a heading "Development of the Armed Forces."
ment developed for the armed forces in such a manner that the War Minister, General von Blomberg, and through him the three branches of the armed forces, received far-reaching powers from the Reich Cabinet for the development of the armed forces. The whole organization of the Reich was included in this way. In view of these powers the collaboration of the former inspecting body in the management of the secret expenditure was from then on dispensed with. There remained only the inspecting duty of the accounting office of the German Reich.
Another heading, "Independence of the Commander in Chief of the Navy." The commander in Chief of the Navy, Admiral Reader, honorary doctor, had received the advise of a farreaching independence in the building and development of the navy. This was only hampered Insofar as the previous concealment of rearmament had to be continued in consideration of the Versailles Treaty. Besides the public budget there remained the previous special budget, which was greatly increased in view of the considerable credit for the provision of labor, which was made available by the Reich. Wide powers in the handling of these credits were given to the Director of the Budget Department of the navy, up to 1924 Commodore Schussler, afterwards Commodore Foerster. These took into consideration the increased responsibility of the Chief of the Budget.
Another heading, "Declaration of Military Freedom". When the Fuehrer, relying upon the strength of the armed forces executed in the meanwhile, announced the restoration of the military sovereignty of the German Reich, the last-mentioned limitation on rearmament works namely, the external camouflage, was eliminated. Freed from all the shackles which have hampered our ability to move freely on and under water, on land and in the air for one and a half decades, and carried by the newly-awakened fighting spirit of the whole nation, the armed forces, that his part of it, the navy, can lead with full strength towards its completion the rearmament already under way with the goal of securing for the Reich its rightful position in the world.
blem about proof which I believe we have not discussed. I have in my hand an English transcription of an interrogation of the defendant Erich Raeder. Of course he knows he was interrogated; he knows what he said. I don't believe we have furnished copies of this interrogation to defendant's counsel. I don't know whether under the circumstances I am at liberty to read from it or not. If I do read from it I suggest that the defendant's counsel will all get the complete text of it -- I mean of what I read in the transcript.
THE PRESIDENT: Has the counsel for Defendant Reader any objection to this interrogation being read?
DOCTOR SIEMERS: So far as I have understood the trial to date, I believe that it is a question of a trial in which either proof through documents or proof through witnesses will be furnished. I am surprised that the prosecution wishes to make proof by way of protocols taken at a time when defense counsel was not present. I would be obliged to the court if I could hear whether in principle every piece of evidence of that sort will be made possible to me as defense counsel or whether it will be made possible to me as defense counsel also to present documents, that is to say, documents in which I myself interrogated witnesses myself, or whether I should be obliged to put them on the stand.
THE PRESIDENT: In the future the Tribunal thinks that if interrogations of defendants are to be used copies of such interrogations should be furnished to defendant's counsel beforehand. The question which the Tribunal wished to ask you was whether on this occasion you objected to this interrogation being used without such a copy having been furnished to you with regard to your observation as to your own rights with reference to interrogating your defendant.
The Tribunal considers that you must call them as witnesses upon the witness stand and can not interrogate then and put in the interrogations. The question for you now is whether you object to this interrogation being laid before the Tribunal at this stage.
DOCOTR SIEMERS: I should like first of all to have an opportunity to see this document before it is presented to the Tribunal. Only then will I be able to decide whether interrogations can be read, the contents of which I am not familiar with.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will adjourn now, and it anticipates that the interrogation can be handed to you during the adjournment and then can be used afterwards.
(adjourned 1230 to 1400.)
in the matter of: The United States of America, The French Hermann Wilhelm Goering, et al.
, Defendants, sitting at
MR. JACKSON: May it please the Tribunal. I should like to ask the Tribunal to note the presence and appearance on behalf of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of Mr. A. I. Vischinski of the Foreign Office, and, Mr. K. P. Gorshenin, Chief Prosecutor of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics who has been able to join us in the prosecution only now.
MR. PRESIDENT: The Tribunal notes what Mr. Justice has said, and observes that Mr. Gorshenin has taken his seat with the Russian Delegation of the Chief Prosecutor.
MR. SIEMERS: In the meanwhile during the lunch hour I have seen the protocol. I should like to observe that I don't think it is very agreeable that the prosecution should stick to their point that the defense should not see the documents until late during the proceedings, or just before the proceedings, or at times even after the proceedings. I should be most grateful to the prosecution if it should be made possible in the future to let us be informed in good time, as to the documents -- excuse me -- yesterday a personal call was made about the documents that were to be presented today. I hesitate to say that the documents presented today were not contained in that list put before us yesterday. You will understand that through this the defense has a comparatively difficult task. In principle -- in principle therefore by today's declaration I can not give my consent to that interrogation, that should be read in order to facilitate matters. I should like to follow the suggestion of the Court, and declare myself -- to declare my consent that the protocol, that this protocol question should be ready, but I should like to make it clear, and I think that the prosecution has given its consent, that only such matters should be ready which refers to Document C-156, as I had no time to discuss the other points with the accused. As it is to the remaining points, I would prefer other documents that are cited. Moreover I request that part which refers to the book of Dr. Schuessler, that should be read in full, and I believe that the prosecutor agrees with this.
THE PRESIDENT: I understood from the counsel for Raeder that you were substantially in agreement as to what part of this interrogation you should read. Is that right Mr. Alderman?
MR. ALDERMAN: If I understand counsel correctly, he asked that I read the entire part of the interrogation which applies to the Document C-156, but I understood that he didn't agree for me to read other parts that referred to other documents. I handed the counsel the original copy of the interrogation before the lunch hour, and when he handed it in after the lunch hour, I substituted in his hand the carbon copy. I don't quite understand his statement about that document being introduced which had not been furnished to the defendant. We did file the document book.
THE PRESIDENT: This document is in the document book?
MR. ALDERMAN: My understanding is that the document book contained all the document which is stated in this interrogation. It didn't contain the interrogation --
THE PRESIDENT: Then he is right to say that.
MR. ALDERMAN: He is right in saying about this interrogation, yes.
THE PRESIDENT: You are in agreement with him then. You can read what you want to read now. It is not necessary to read that part to which he objects.
MR. ALDERMAN: I think I understand his objection to my reading anything other than the part consigned in C-156, but I anticipate that he might be willing for me to read the other part tomorrow. Document C-156, United States Exhibit -- what? -- 41, that the defendant Raeder identified as the Book, and explained that the Navy had to fulfill to the letter the Versailles Treaty, and at the same time make progress in Naval development. I refer to the interrogation of the defendant Raeder at the part we had under discussion:
"Q I have here a document, C-156, which is a photostatic copy of the work prepared by the High Command of the Navy, and covers the struggle of the Navy against the Versailles Treaty from 1919 to 1935. I ask you initially whether you are familiar with the work?
"A I know this book. I read it once when it was edited.
"Q Was than an official publication of the German Navy?
"A This Captain Schuessler indicated there was Commander in the Admiralty. Published by the OKM, which was an idea of those officers to put all these things together.
"Q Do you recall the circumstances under which the authorization to prepate such a work was given to him?
"A I think he told me that he would write such a book as he told us here in the foreword.
"Q In the preparation of this work he had access to the official Naval files, and based his work on the items contained therein?
"A Yes, I think so. He would have spoken with other persons, and he would have had the files, which were necessary.
"Q Do you know whether before the work was published, a draft of it was circulated among the officers in the Admiralty for comment?
"A No, I don't think so. Not before it was published. I saw it only when it was published.
"Q Was it circulated freely after its publication?
"A It was a secret object. I think the upper commands in the Navy had knowledge of it.
"Q It was not circulated outside of the Naval circles?
"A No.
"Q What then is your opinion concerning the comments contained in the work regarding the circumventing of the provisions of the Versailles Treaty?
"A I don't remember very exactly what is in here. I can only remember that the Navy had always the object to fulfill the word of the Versailles Treaty, but wanted to have some advantages. But the flying men were exercised one year before they went into the Navy. Quite young non. So that the word of the Treaty of Versailles was filled. They didn't belong to the Navy, as long as they were exercised in flying, and the submarines were developed but not in Germany, and not in the Navy, but in Holland. There was a civil bureau, and in Spain there was an Industrialist; in Finland, too, and they were built much later when we began to act with the English Government about the Treaty of thirty-five to one-hundred, because we could see that then the Treaty of Versailles would he destroyed by such a treaty with England, and so in order to keep the word of Versailles, we tried to fulfill the word of Versailles, but tried to have advantages.
"Q Would the fair statement be that the Navy High Command was interested in avoiding the limited provisions of the Treaty of Versailles regarding the personnel and limits of armaments, but would it attempt to fulfill the letter of the treaty, although actually avoiding it?
"A That was their endeavor".
Mr. ALDERMAN: Now the rest of this is the portion that the counsel for the defendant asked me to read.
"Q Why was such a policy adopted?
"A We were much menaced in the first years after the first war by danger that the Poles would attack East Prussia and so we tried to strengthen a little our very, very weak forces in this way, and so all our efforts were directed to the aim to have a little more strength against the Poles, if they would attack us; it was nonsense to them of attacking the Poles in this state, and for the Navy. A second aim was to have some defense against the entering of French forces into the ostsee, or East Sea, because we knew the French had intentions to sustain the Poles from ships that came into the ostsee Goettinger, and so the Navy was a defense against the attack by the Poles, and against the entrance of French shipping into an Eastern Sea. Quite defensive aims.
"Q When did the fear of attack from Poles first show itself in official circles in Germany would you say?
"A When the first years they took Wilma. In the same minute we thought that they would come to East Prussia. I don't know exactly the year, because those judgments were the judgments of the German Government Ministers, of the Army and Navy Ministers, Groner and Noske.
"Q Then those views in your opinion were generally held existing perhaps as early as 1919 or 1920, after the end of the First World War?
"A Oh, but the whole situation was very very uncertain, and about those years in the beginning, I can not give you a very exact thing, because I was then ten years in the Navy archives to write a book about the war, and how the cruisers fought in the first war. Two years, so I was not with these things."
MR. ALDERMAN: Likewise, the same kind of ending and purposes are reflected in the table of contents of a history of the German Navy, 1919 to 1939, found in captured official files of the German Navy. Although a copy of the book has not been found by us, the project was, however, written by Oberst Scherff, Hitler's special military historian. We have found the table of contents, which refers by numbers to groups of documents and notes in the documents, which evidently were intended as working material for the basis of the chapter to be written in accordance with the table of contents. The title of this table of contents fairly establishes the Navy planning and preparations that were to got the Versailles Treaty out of the way, and to rebuild the Navy strength necessary for a drastic war. I say the German typewritten table of contents. It is the projected work with a German cover, typewriting entitled, "Geschichte der Deutschen Marine, 1919-1939. History of German Navy. 1919-1939." We identify that as our series C-17, and are offered in evidence as Exhibit U.S.A. 42. This table of contents include such general headings --perhaps I had better read some of the actual headings.
"Part A (1919 - The year of Transition. Chapter VII. First efforts to circumvent the Versailles Treaty and to limit its effects. Demilitarisation of the Administration, Incorporation of Naval Offices in Civil Ministries, etc. Incorporation of greater sections of the German maritime observation station and the sea-mark system in Heligoland and Kiel, of the Ems-Jade-Canal, etc. into the Reich Transport Ministry up to 1934; Noskos' proposal of 11.8.1919 to incorporate the Naval Construction Department in the Technical High School, Berlin; formation of the "Naval Arsenal Kiel".
"(b) The saving from destruction of coastal fortifications and guns. 1. North Sea (strengthening of fortifications with new batteries and modern guns between the signing and the taking effect of the Versailles Treaty; dealings with the Control Commission - information, drawings, visits of inspection, result of efforts."
Referring to the group of number 85:
"2. Baltic. Taking over by the Navy of fortresses Pilau and Swinemundo; salvage for the Army of one-hundred and eighty-five movable guns and mortars there.
"3. The beginnings of coastal air defense.
"Part B (1920 - 1924, - THE ORGANISATIONAL NEW ORDER) Chapter V.
"The Navy "Fulfilment and avoidance of the Versailles Treaty "Foreign Countries "(a) The inter-allied Control Commissions "(b) Defense measures against the fulfilment of the "1. Dispersal of artillery gear and munitions, of hand "2. Limitation of demolition work in HELIGOLAND.
"3. Atempt to strengthen personnel of the Navy, from "4. The activities of Captain Lohmann (founding of formation of "sports" unions and clubs, interesting the film industry in naval recruitment) "5. Preparation for re-establishing the German U-boat (Projects and deliveries for Japan, Holland, Turkey, Argentine and Finland.
Torpedo testing) "6. Participation in the preparation for building of the Luftwaffe (preservation of aerodromes, aircraft construction, raid defence, training of pilots)."7. attempt to strengthen the mining branch.
Part C (1925 - 1932. REPLACEMENT OF TONNAGE) Chapter IV.
"The Navy, The Versailles Treaty, "(a) The activities of the Inter-allied Control Commissions (up to 31.
1.27; discontinuance of the activity of the Naval Peace Commission) "Independent armament measures behind the back of the "1. The activities of Captain LOHMANN (continuation) "2. Preparation for the re-strengthening of the German U-boat arm from 1925 (continuation), the merit of LOHMANN in relationship to SPAIN, ARGENTINE, TURKEY:
the first post war U-boat construction of the German Navy in SPAIN since 1927; 250 ton specimen in FINLAND, preparation for rapid assembly; electric torpedo; training of U-boat personnel abroad in SPAIN and FINLAND.
"3. Participation in the preparation for the recon struction of the Luftwaffe (continuation). Preparations for Luftdienst CMRH; Naval Flying School Warnemunde; Air Station questions "Air Defence Journeys", technical development, DOX etc.
, catapult aircraft, arming, engines ground organisa "4. Economic re-armament ("The Tebeg" - Technical Advice capacity and other War economic questions.)
"5. Various measures. (The NV Aerogeodetic Company secret investigations.)
"(c) Planned Armament Work with the tacit approval of bodies (1928 to the taking over of power) "1. The effect of the Lohmann case an the secret prepara tions; winding up of works which could not be advocated; re "2. Finance question.
("Black Funds" and the Special Budget)."3. The Labour Committee and its objectives "(d) The Question of Marine Attaches (The continuation under disguise; open re-appointment 1932-1933)."(e) The question of Disarmament of the Fleet abroad (The Geneva Disarmament Conference 1927; the London Naval Treaty of 1930; the Anglo-French-Italian Agreement 1931.
The League of Nations Disarmament Conference 1932). "Part D (1933-1939). The German Navy during the Military Freedom Period," which goes beyond the period with which I am at the moment dealing.
A glance at the Chapter heading following that will indicate the scope of this proposed work. Whether the history was actually ever written by Scherff, I do not know. headings, just under this "Part D - The German Navy during the Military Freedom Period.
"I. National Socialism and the question of the Fleet and of "II.
Incorporation of the Navy in the National Socialist The main heading III in the middle of the page, "The Re-armament of the Navy under the Direction of the Reich Government in a Disguised Way."
The policy development of the Navy is also reflected from the financial side. The planned organization of the Navy budget for armament measures was based on a co-ordination of military developments and political objectives. Military political development was accelerated after the withdrawal from the League of Nations. German, headed "Chef der Marineleitung, Berlin, 12 May 1934," and marked in large blue printing, "Geheime Kommandosache" - "Secret Commando Matter" which is identified as our C-153.