Hitler Testament Read at Trial

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 281, 28 November 1945, Page 7

Hitler Testament Read at Trial

War Plans of the Nazis Revealed

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) NUREMBERG, Nov. 26. The American prosecutor, Mr. Sydney Alderman, at the war crimes trial today, read an eight-page “Hitler Testament, ’ ’ describing it as one of the most striking of all captured documents. Hitler said that if anything happened to him he wished this statement to be regarded as his last win and testament to the German people. ‘Mr. Alderman added that Hitler told the conference at which tlfe testament was delivered that Germany needed more space in Europe because her food imports came across oceans dominated by the British, thus endangering Germany’s position in wartime. Therefore space adjacent Germany must be found, and since none was empty risks must be taken. It was not conquering a people, but conquering an agricultural area for present and future generations of Germans. Hitler and Keitel planned to kill the German Ambassador in Prague, Dr. Eisenlohr, according to the next document introduced by Mr. Alderman —a file captured near Berchtesgaden containing the originals and duplicates of papers “incidental to the annexation of Czechoslovakia” and known as the * • Green Plan. ’ ’ Mr. Alderman said this file summarised a discussion between Hitler and Keitel one month after the annexation of Austria. They discussed the proposed assassination of Dr. Eisenlohr as a possible “incident.” They referred to the Czech plan as the * ‘ Green Plan, ’' which was a full-scale military operation with simultaneous army and air attacks. “CANNOT WAIT LONGER” Hitler said: “We cannot wait longer. On the one hand, we have large armed forces with the necessity of maintaining them. There is also the ageing Nazi Party and its leaders to consider. On the other hand, there is the prospect of lowering the standard of living and a drop in the birth-rate. ’ ’. Mr. Alderman said the ‘ ‘ Green Plan” showed that Hitler and Keitel turned down a proposed swift attack without justification against Czechoslovakia because hostile world opinion might create a critical situation.

They then favoured either gradually provoking war by a series of diplomatic clashes or an incident followed by a lightning stroke. They regarded the latter as preferable because diplomatic exchanges would give the Czechs time to prepare. Hitler and Keitel agreed that it must be possible to put into action the “Red Plan” for an attack against the Western Powers at any time. Goering leaned forward and tightly gripped the rail of the dock as Mr. Alderman began to read the minutes of a meeting held in Hitler’s study on May 23, 1939, which Goering attended. All the others listened intently at this stage except Hess, who continued to read his novel.

The minutes were in the handwriting of Hitler’s aide-de-camp who was killed in an attempt on Hitler’s life. Mr. Alderman said that Keitel vouched for the authenticity of the document, which found its way to America before the prosecution located it. MUST FIGHT IN WEST

Hitler told the meeting that the Polish system was inseparable from a conflict in the west. “We are left wit.: a decision to attack Poland at the first opportunity,” said Hitler. He expressed fear of a conflict with England, which would be “a dire death struggle. ’ ’ Hitler said the possession of the Ruhr Basin would decide the duration of Germany’s resistance.

“Neutrality must be disregarded,” he said. “We must attack Holland with lightning speed. England is the driving force against Germany.” Hitler did not think Britain could be knocked out quickly from the air, but favoured a long-term blockade to bring her to her knees.

All the accused listened intently to Mr. Alderman’s reading with earphones over their heads. At a tense moment Hess reached something in his novel, which made him rock with laughter. He reared out: “Ha, ha, ha!” The tribunal granted an application by counsel for Hess to call Goering as a witness concerning Hess’s behaviour before he flew to England. The tribunal granted a number of other requests by the defence for witnesses to be called later. The approved list does not include any British or American names. Schacht is the only one of the accused who is calling witnesses to prove his opposition to the Nazi regime, claiming that he attempted to overthrow Hitler in 1938 and 1944. Doenitz has received permission to call Captain Hans Eck, the U-boat commander, in an effort to prove that the murdering of British seamen, for which Eck is under sentence of death was not the result of Doenitz’s orders! Eck’s execution has accordingly been postponed. HESS WANTS PHOTO TAKEN During the morning Rudolph Hess created a diversion by standing up and demanding to have his photograph taken - He waved his arms wildly until '

the Court photographer took a photograph. ~ Another feature of the proceedings was a request by Ribbentrop’s counsel that the former Nazi Foreign Minister should be given a secretary to assist him to handle the mass of material necessary for his defence. Another request was that several of Ribbentrop’s former colleagues from the Foreign Ministry should he summoned to Nuremberg to “help his memory.” The basis for this application was the contention that Ribbentrop’s memory had suffered as a result of his having had to take sleeping drugs for four years. Hess’s outburst at the fifth session of the war crimes trial seemed to embarass Goering, who tried to calm him. Goering, Hess, Ribbentrop, Doenitz, Raeder, and Schirach took their places in the dock three-quarters of an hour before the members of the tribunal entered. They all looked happy. Schirach recounted some incidents that set the others laughing heartily. Goering at one stage leaned forward, slapped his thigh, and roared with merriment. Hess carried another novel similar to the one he read throughout last week’s sittings. The prisoners filed into the dock in groups of three. All looked refreshed after the weekend except Ribbentrop. Jodi was unusually talkative, and addressed Keitel and his counsel and gestured excitedly.