PREPARED TO DIE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26246, 2 September 1946, Page 5

PREPARED TO DIE

RAEDER’S DECLARATION NAVY BANNER UNSTAINED (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 1. In making his plea, Raeder said: “The German Navy stands before the court of the world with its banner unstained. Sir Hartley Shawcross attempted to place U-boat warfare on the same levels as the atrocities. My conscience is clear. I did my duty as a soldier for the German nation, for which I lived and for which I am prepared to die.” There was a dramatic; scene when von Papen rose, pointed an accusing finger at Sir Hartley Shawcross and said: “ Who gave him the right to pour out scorn, ridicule, and contempt and say I preferred to rule in heli rather than serve in heaven? I examined my conscience and can find no guilt except in the sense that everv man here is guilty.”

Jodi said: “Whatever might be tne verdict, I shall leawe the courtroom with my head as high as when I first entered. The Wehrmacht faced an im possible task—to fight a war -it did not want under a commander whose confidence it did not possess and jvitn methods contrary to its principles.” Sauckel said: “My veneration for Hitler has been my mistake. I saw his kindness to women and children and knew how he wanted to improve conditions. I am ready to meet my fats, as was my son, who died in the war.”

The tribunal adjourned to September 23. It sat for 217 days, held 403 open sessions and 2400 hours, heard 5,000,000 spoken words, ’ received 3.000,000 documents, and saw. 80,000 feet of film. * Twelve of the accused believe they will be hanged, said a German defence counsel. Three think they will escape the gallows, and six hope to do so. Those who expect to live, says the Associated Press, are Schacht, von Neurath, and von Papen. The hopeful ones are Doenitz, Raeder, Jodi, von Shirach, Fritsche, and Streicher. but Keitel, Jodi. Raeder, and Doenitz from the dock forthrightly declared that they were not afraid to die. The correspondent says tests carried out on all the accused by an American War Department psychiatrist indicated that each was sane and fully aware of his actions. The report of the psychiatrist states that they respond to normal tests. Hess who was rated sane to-day. made a determined effort to appear insane when making his final speech. Lord Lawrence, before the tribunal adjourned, announced that defence counsel were receiving threatening letters from Germans criticising their conduct during the proceedings. He promised them the tribunal’s protection while it was in session, and added that doubtless the Control Council would protect them afterwards.