TRIAL OF NAZIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 58, 18 December 1945, Page 4

TRIAL OF NAZIS

SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS PREVENTING SUICIDE ATTEMPTS (N.Z. Press Association-—Copyright.) (Rec. 1.30) NUREMBERG, Dec. 1?. Special precautions have been taken against a possible suicide attempt by leading Nazis being tried at Nuremberg for war , crimes.

Defence counsel ave now able to speak to their clients only through line mesh wire screens. Previously the prisoners and counsel were free to pass papers between each other but now, to avoid possibility of razerblades being smuggled to prisoners, all papers are handed by the guard through a small wicket. Press interviews with the accused through counsel will not in future he permitted. ‘ The resumption of the trial, today was delayed when Kaltcn Brunner complained that he felt, ill, and was removed from the clock.

A member of the American prosecuting team, Mr Sam. Harris', produced the minutes of a conference held in July, 1941, when Hitler outlined his. plans for the domination of Europe. “We now have to face the task of ' cutting up the giant cake according to our needs,” said Hitler. Mr Harris told the court: “This document reveals a programme of mass murder to stagger the imagination.” He quoted Hitler as saying that he wanted all the Baltic countries, including his ally, Finland, incorporated in Germany. <He then outlined the plan for completely wrecking' Russian industry and transforming the Ukraine into a land .of peasant farmers feeding Germany. All food supplies for Moscow and Leningrad would be cut off, and almost all Russia except the Ukraine would be allowed to relapse into primitive state. Russians who did not starve would he sent to Siberia.

Emulate British Policy

Hitler said: “Never again must it be possible to create a military power west of (lie Urals, even if we have to wage war for 100 years. The German administrators in Oceupated Europe should emulate the British policy toward the native princes in India. The Englishman constantly pursues only one line and one aim. Wejought to learn from him in that respect.” Mr Harris quoted a letter from a group of German industrialists to Himmler in 1943 expressing great joy at his appointment as Minister of the

Interior, and placing at his disposal more than 1,000,000 Reichsmarks “ior special purposes,” Colonel Robert Storey, dealing with the leadership corps of the Nazi Party named a succession of accused for responsibilies for German misdeeds. He said the evidence would show that Rosenberg worked out a vast programme for looting and plundering art treasures in Europe. Defendants at this stage were greatly interested in large diagramatic charts from which Colonel Storey illustrated the structure of the leadership corps the “hierarchy of descending Caesars.” . Colonel Storey said that Frick shared responsibility for injury done to the rule of law. The result of his efforts was to colour the law and legalise Nazi misdeeds irrespective of human rights. Colonel Storey gave examples oi the way in which party leadership assembled the whole power of the State ini their own hands. Under the leadership system, members of the corps were each severally responsible for such misdeeds, as attempts to undermine Christianity and a successful attempts to overthrow organised labour. The prosecutor claimed that members of the leadership corps shared responsibiity for crimes against American airmen who landed in Germany and German-controlled territory.