Transc. Hess even tried to declare himself insane to avoid the merited 1945 punishment.
But when Hess convinced himself that such a maneuvre p. 57-58 of Hitler's regime.
He was one of these who committed the most outrageous effect and resulted in the annihilation of Jews.
By this activity of his, he won the confidence of Hitler, he was "authorized to represent the party in the field of government activity" (regulations and orders of the party chancellory v. II p. 228) and he did represent it.
Bormann not only knew of all the aggressive plans of Hitler's the aggressive plans of Hitler's Government, and appointed the party Gauleiters as Plenipotentiaries for the Reich defense in the regions of their activity.
part in all treasures of the German military and civil authorities for the inhuman exploitation of war prisoners.
This is proved by the murderous instructions and (directions issued by Bormann.
part in the measures of Hitler's government connected with the de Germanization, was carried out with Bormann's approval.
By Hitler's order of 18th October 1944, Bormann and Himmler were en trusted with the leadership of the "Volkssturm" consisting of all men PS-3018 from 16-60 years of age, capable of wearing, weapons.
On the eve of the sollapse of Hitler's Germany, Bormann headed the under-ground organization "Wehrwolf" for divertionist and subversive USA-690 Bormann took a direct part in plundering historical treasures and 1690-PS USA-692 occupied territories.
061-PS Such are the crimes of the defendant Bormann, Hitler's closest colla Hitler's government and of the Nazi party.
2829-PS USA-5 this actually occurred, and he became shortly the official advisor of the Party, inasmuch as he was the "collaborator of the Fuehrer Ribbentrop's promotion is indissolubly connected, with the development of the Nazi conspirators' activity which was directed against the In his testimony, Ribbentrop declared:
"He (Hitler) knew that I was Session of his loyal collaborator". That is why on 4 February 1938, Hitler made 2.4.46, transcript the convinced and faithful nazi-Ribbentrop, the official leader of page 19 (evening) foreign policy, a post which was one of the most important levers foreign policy.
As member of the Hitlerite Government, the Reich tion of aggressive wars.
That is why he, Ribbentrop, although he was Transcript ev.session utilization of manpower in wratime, the organization of the concentra2.4.46, pp 6-8 tion camps, and so forth, In this connection, it should be noted that USSR-120 submission of Europe to Germany.
This coincidence is no accident, out some reason.
And Hitler was not mistaken in his choice, for to the Austrian Chancellor Schussnigg and the latter's Foreign Minister 1938, during which a decision was made for the execution of plan "Gruen Doc.
On 26 January 1939, in Warsaw, the Foreign Minister of fascist 2530-PS GB-36. Germany, Ribbentrop declared: "that the consolidation of friendly reTranscript Morn.sess- lations between Germany and Poland on the basis of existing agreements, ion.6.12.45 Pages 6-7 constituted the most important factor of German's foreign policy".
Jugoslavia in April, 1938, that after the Anschluss Germany's frontiers Transcrips) carried out with the assistance of the defendant Ribbentrop.
on 12 and *.12.4-5 afternoon 13 August 1939 at the conference of Hitler and Ribbentrop with Ciano session . 6. at Salzburg an agreement was reached concerning the liquidation of the SA-135, PS-447 The defendant Ribbentrop himself admitted here, in the Court room SA-31, PS-446SSR-263 that at the end fo August and the beginning of September 1940, i.e. at SSR-149 SSR-156 the time when the elaborate plans of the plan "Barbarossa" was being 2896-PS Already after the beginning of the aggression of Germany against USA-155 to attract new accomplices to Germany's side.
Thus in a telegram to the German Ambassador in Tokio of 10th July 1941 he waid:
I beg you to try Japan start war against Russia as soon as possible.
The sooner -
the better. The final aim should be that Japan and we shake hands on the Siberian railway before winter comes on."
temporarily occupied territories of Soviet Union. The defendant, 1039-PS In his "Report about preparatory work on the EasternUS-146 European question" he wrote:
"As a result of the negoTranscript tiations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 10.12.45 latter appointed General Consul Mr. Brotigham as their morn.sess. representative to Rosenberg. Defendant Rosenberg's p.38 Office. Transcript The defendant was compelled to admit that he had known 2.4.46. the notes of the Public Commissar of Foreign Affaris W.M. afternoon Molotiv concerning the atrocities of the Hitlerites in the sess. temporarily occupied territories of the Soviet Union. He, p.13 as well as the other conspirators, had also known the other declarations of the Chief's of the Allied Governments Tr.27.
3.46 von Ribbentrop, as the witness for the defense the former morn.sess. Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conpp.53-54. firmed, had been one of the initiators and was intended to Tr.2.4.46 Ribbentrop himself admitted at the Trial that he had negomorn.sess tiated with the Governments of European countries about the p.6 banishment of the Jews. (3688-PS According the record of Ribbentrop's conversation with Horty RF-502) "The Minister of Foreign Affairs declared to Horty that the camps.
There could be no other decision".
of the existence of the concentration camps through he In order to carry out this task, and on Ribbentrop's instructions, a "Battalion of Special Service" had been created at the Ministry of aggressive plundering wars; together with the other conspirators, he Trial may be said to form a military group.
If we do not include Goe and Taedar.
In the course of these proceedings not only have all the including those applied for by the Defense, could not but tip the scales in favor of the Prosecution.
clients had become involved in this sinister tragedy by a whim of fate in spite of themselves. court, try to appear in the role of noble simpletons. We must do the defense justice: it did its best to aid them in this attempt. We have heard a great deal about the soldier's honot, military discipline, fidelity to duty and oath of allegiance - all making obligatory, therefore, the fulfillment of Hitler's orders, including those which aroused their doubts and direct protest. Such a view of their position completely distorts the actual state of affairs. Before passing to the question of the guilt of Keitel, Jodl, Doenitz and Raeder, I deem it necessary to put the following 4 questions, and to answer them:
1) Did these defendants know that Hitlerite sive and predatory wars?
2) Did they take an active part in planning, wars?
3) Are they guilty of cynically trampling down the laws and customs of warfare?
4) Are they responsible for the atrocities and Hitlerite Reich military machine?
gone into all the details of this case, unless one remains blind to the facts, it is impossible to give other than an affirmative answer to these questions.
The documentary evidence submitted to the' Tribunal has fully proved that the military group of criminals is guilty of the heaviest crimes and that they have actively participated in the planning and execution of the common criminal conspiracy.
does not serve to mitigate their responsibility, but, on the contrary, only heightens it.
How can they try to acquit themselves by referring to "a soldier's duty", "an officer's honor", and the "obligation of fulfilling orders". Since when has "soldier's duty" and "officer's honor" become compatible with shooting without trial and branding as prisoners, extermination of women, children and aged people. generals and admirals were committing what in substance were capital crimes, lies in the fact that they were generals and admirals of Hitler's making. These are men of special metal. They are fascists in uniform, bound body and soul to the Nazi regime. and collaborated with them for so long a period of time. This is the only way to explain why they collaborated with Hitler in committing such crimes unprecedented in history. They fitted and understood one another to perfection.
KEITEL naturally begin with defendant Keitel.
Keitel held the leading post Dr. Nelte in Hitler's military machine from the very first years of its concep p. 58 tion.
Keitel's counsel adults that : -the decree (of February 4th 1938) gave Keitel the wonder title for his position - Chief of the OKW". Further he goes on to say :"....the factual significance of Keitel's activities was immense.
head of the state." Dr. Nelte the primary stage of all the future wars of aggression included p. 100 C-102 reminder of Germany's preparadeness to resort to arms was the Berlin :"for continuing negotiations."
388-PS through /ABWEHR'S department to provoke an incident with Czechoslo Jodl's vakia in order to justify the invasion by the German hordes, ready to "Fall to fall upon Czechoslovakia.
Green" "Fall Green".lies.
This was but a link in the chain of aggressive wars.
and carrying out of aggression. The directive regarding the waging of war and invasion of Poland is known to us as Keitel's and Hitler's directive of 10 May 1939.
It was forwarded to the command of the Air Forces, Navy and Land Forces.
How is it possible after this to forces of the fascist Reich ?and Greece we again come across the name of Keitel.
He appears as 443-PS GB-118 addressed to Raeder, Goering and the General Staff.
the secret directive signed by Hitler regarding the "Operation Mariza".Much has been said here of the "Plan Barbarossa" and its authors.
preventive war. This contention is to such a degree unconvincing (German documents) that I see no need for occupying the Tribunal's Keitel's defense counsel stated that the defense of this defendant is based on the point of view that Keitel -"is fighting not for his head but to save his face."
P. 23 I wish to aid the Tribunal in seeing the true face of Keitel. For Final Speech this I shall have to remind you of a number of Keitel's directives Counsel Dr. Nelte which may well lay claim to being among the foremost of all the Officers.
Keitel, the soldier, as he likes to call himself, ignoring of war at the request of the prisoners themselves.
At the trial he was unmasked.
Exhibit No. RF (v) -351 884-PS proved that this directive had been issued before the war had broken out.
We also submitted a document under Exhibit No. USSR-62 (the text of a letter of German Prisoners of War.)
This document makes it clear that even unlimited cynicism : RF-271 " Human life in these countries concerned us absolutely of no account R-98 PS-389 ... a terrifying influence can be achieved, only through unheard of brutality."
USA-554 martial in the Barbarossa region ? And of the order of 16 September killed ? L-90 What could Keitel say about the document known as "Nacht and Nebel"? USA-503 These are sanguinary documents.
No one can compute how many thou been killed and tortured in the camps of fascist Germany.
You re officers was organized in the Mauthausen camp.
You remember witness transcript I wish to mention the testimony of SS man Paul Waldman regarding the 11 January 1946 afternoon slaughter of 840 Russian prisoners of war. You remember the testimopp. 22-23 subjected to : transcript 2 February It is impossible to pass by Keitel's directive calling for the 1946, morning p. 22-23 branding of Soviet prisoners of war.
afternoon One cannot forget the Keitel directive of the 16 December 1942. It p. 2-4 USSR-16 is entitled "measure to be taken against bands". Under the word transcript 14-2-1946 "bands" defendant Keitel understood any resistance movement and dep. 13 USSR-343 manded that his troops revert to harsh methods, stopping at nothing transcript 15 Feb. 1946. Exhibit No. USSR-162. Lecurt states that he shot and burnt Soviet morning p. 1-2 citizens, razing their houses, He alone had shot over 1,200 persons and awarded the medal for service in the East.
He acted in accor Keitel's directive instituting court martials in the "Barbarossa" C-50 USA-554 region freed such persons of all responsibility.
Keitel's hands It was in carrying out Keitel's directive stating that life in the women, children and old men before their formations.
In the vil into digging:
trenches and bridges for them. USSR-261 In Yugoslavia mass shootings of hostages became a daily feature USSR-391 USSR-392 with the military command and military administration.
In a secret report dated 15.II.1940 submitted to Goering the OKW 1585-PS I wish to conclude with document USSR-336 (EC-338), which your shootings of Soviet prisoners of war.
Even the out and out fascist You will remember Keitel's notation on this report :"I approve of and back these measures".question to Keitel :"You, Defendant Keitel, known as fieldmarshal, repeatedly Do you confirm this ?"Marshal Keitel.
The highly involved arguments of the defense can The defendant Alfred Jodl bears equal responsibility together with defendant Keitel as his assistant and as closest military adviser of Hitler's All that is connected with preparation and execution of the aggressive plans of Hitlerite Germany is inseparably linked with the name of Jodl as well as with that of Keitel.
There is no need to repeat anew all those aggressive acts of Hitler's Germany which are already facts of common knowledge, each of which had been planned and executed with the direct participation of defendant Jodl. As the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I should like to emphasize once more that the criminal plan of the perfidious attack on the Soviet Union, ceded by the Hitler's gang under the name of the illfated conqueror Fredireck Barbaross, is signed not only by Hitler and Keitel but by Jodl as well. But this is more than a mere signature. conference of his staff-officers, at which the question of the possibility of an attack by Hitler Germany on Soviet Russia was discussed. It was no one else but defendant Jodl who even before the attack against the USSR actually was carried out issued his well-known "Instructions on the use propaganda in the region of 'Barbarossa". In these instructions it is unequivocally stated that "asyet propaganda aimed at the partition of the Soviet Union should not be carried on." Thus, defendant Jodl knew beforehand of the actual aims of Germany's attack on the USSR, knew of the piratical and predatory nature of the war which called for the dismembering of the Soviet Union. provocative incident on the Czech Slovak border with the aim of justifying this aggressive act of Hitler Germany against this peace loving nation. It was Jodl who signed the order of the 23 September 1938 regarding the use of the so-called Hiemlein Corps in case the "Case Green" was realized. How full of mockery sound the defendant Jodl's words of "soldiers honor" after reading his order on the destruction of Leningrad Moscow and other cities. of the Soviet Union. It was this very same Jodl who with inimitable cynicism declared at a confe rence with Hitler on the 1 December 1941 that German troops could with impunity "hang, hang by the feet and quarter" Soviet patriots.
As the closest military adviser of Hitler's, having personally participated in the preparation and execution of all the sanguinary aggressive plans of Hitlerites Germany -defendant Jodl has been justly included in the ranks of the major German War Criminals. My British colleague has proved the guilt of defendants Carl Doenitz and Erich Raeder so convincingly and thoroughly that I see no need to dwell especially on these Grossadmirals of Hitlerite Germany, who have disgraced thei admirals' uniforms with such infamous crimes. cutor that he as unaware of the reasons for which Hitler nominated him as his successor. I don't think that Doenitz was quite sincere in making this statement. One has but to refer to the transcripts of the sessions beginning with the 8th May, in order to understand without his acknowledging it, why he became Hitler's successor, when the Hitlerite Reich went to the bottom. The important point is not the fact that an Admiral was needed at a moment like this, but the fact that only the nazi Grossadmiral Doenitz, in the opinion of Hitler who was about to fade from the picture, could do anything to save the sinking ship. We know the role which the German U-boats played in this war. In this connection it is worthy of emphasis what Doenitz was proud of being the author of the so-called "wolf-pack tactics". Soviet people have not forgotten new Doenitz's submarines sunk in the Baltic and Black Seas hospital ships and steamers evacuating peaceful citizens -women and children. The last head of the Hitlerite government should be one of the first to pay for all these crimes which led to the trial of the major war criminals before the International Military Tribunal. destruction of Leningrad.
At the trial Raeder tried to play the part of an "honest soldier". But the mere fact that it was he, together with Hitler and Keitel, who conspired to "wipe Leningrad off the face of the earth" and to exterminate more than three million population of that great city, whose very name is indissolubly connected with the development of the culture and history of mankind, makes Raeder one of the major war criminals. Raeder took part in working out all the most important plans of aggression of German fascism. This participant in the criminal fascist conspiracy must therefore bear punishment together with his associates. The defendant Ernst Kaltenbrunner was considered by Himmler to be the most deserving successor to that henchman, Heidrich, executed by Czech patriots. On 30 January 1943, he was appointed Head of the Reich Main Security Office and Chief of the SD. Numerous documents, and especially orders signed by Kaltenbrunner, for the mass deportation of people into concentration camps, the testimonies of his subordinates, including the depositions of Walter Schellenberg, the former Chief of the Interior, Security Service, fully convict Kaltenbrunner of heinous crimes. At the session of 12 April 1946 in the course of Kaltenbrunner's examination the testimonies of Johann Kandutor, ex-prisoner of Mauthausen, were read into the record. In his depositions, Kandutor describes as follows Kaltenbrunner's pass-time during one of his visits to the camp:
"Laughing, Kaltenbrunner entered the gaz chambers; then the prisoners were led from the barracks to the execution and all the three methods of execution were demonstrated -hanging, shooting into the nape and asphyxiation by gas." I shall not dwell upon the numerous proofs which are available, as they have been sufficiently clarified before the Tribunal. There is only one point of the accusation against Kaltenbrunner, on which I deem it necessary to dwell. Together with other RSHA organizations, Kaltenbrunner took over from Heidrich five "Einsatzgruppen". The citizens of the Soviet Union remember well these criminal organizations of the German fascism, headed by Kaltenbrunner.
The "Einsatzgruppe A" reacted the approaches to Leningrad. It created the "Fort of Death #9" near Kaunas, the secret points for mass extermination of human beings in Panarai; it carried out the executions by shooting in the woods of Salaspinsk and Bikerneksk near Riga; it erected gallows in the pares of one of Leningrad's suburbs -the Pushkino. The "einsatzgruppe B" settled down in the vicinity of Smolensk. It burnt alive the peasants of Byelorussia; it shot down the victims of the awful Pinsk "action"; it drowned thousands of Byelorussian women and children in the Mosyr marshes; it operated with murder vans in Minsk; it liquidated the ghetto in the Upper Gardens district of USSR-14 The "Einsatzgruppe C" - was quartered in Kiev.