HINDENBURG’S WILL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 305, 23 November 1945, Page 6

HINDENBURG’S WILL

FALSE NAZI DOCUMENT

(Rec. 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, N0v.22. The Associated Press correspondent in Nuremberg says Von Papen’s last act before entering the Nuremberg Courtroom to fight for his life was the reconstruction of Hindenburg’s will. He adds that Von Papen, as Hindenburg’s Vice-Chancellor, prepared the testament in April, 1934, and handed it to Hitler after Hindenburg’s death. The Nazis, later in 1934, published a purported Hindenburg testament in which he called on Hitter to concentrate the power of Germany in a single hand and to deliver the German people from the disorders, disunity and unrest which threatened the Reich’s existence. Von Papen, reconstructing the will from memory, revealed that the Nazi version was spurious. He states that Hindenburg actually wanted the restoration of the monarchy when order had been restored. Hitler had agreed to this stipulation.

WITNESS FOR GOERING (Rec. 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22. Thomas Rantzow, the 20-year-old son of Goering’s first wife, has applied po the American Legation for permission to go to Nuremberg to testify for Goering, says Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent. ±le adds that Kantzow, who lives in a Stockholm suburb, declared that Goering secretly 'helped Jews to escape to Sweden. “Goering was always good to me,” he said. “I hope my application will be granted.” Goering’s first wife was a Swede named Carin. She died in 1931. Goering brought the body to Germany and called his estate “Carinhall” in her memory. The Associated Press correspondent in Nuremberg says the defence counsel for Ribbentrop has formally requested the International Tribunal to subpoena Lord Londonderry, Lord Beaverbrook, Lord Derby, Lord Vansittart and Lord Kemsley. He added that at present it was not intended that Mr Churchill should be summoned.