TRIALS AT NUREMBERG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 287, 5 December 1945, Page 5

TRIALS AT NUREMBERG

PROOF OF NAZI TRICKERY CONQUEST OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA CAREFULLY PLANNED Recd. 7 p.m. Nuremberg, Dec. 3. Opening' the prosecution’s case on Czechoslovakia at the war criminals’ trial, the American prosecutor, Mr. Aiderman described how Germany planned the conquest of her neighbour against a background of friendly diplomatic relations. Goering nodded his agreement when Mr. Alderman quoted him as saying: “I give my word of honour that Germany has no aggressive intentions toward Czechoslovakia.” The conquest had reached the stage of practical planning, however, by the middle of April, 1938.

Continuing the presentation of 70 documents dealing with the aon quest of Czechoslovakia, Mr. Aiderman read a secret directive dated May 30, 1938, in which Hitler disclosed his unalterable decision to smash Czechoslovakia in the near future. Keitel transmitted the order to the commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force, with a footnote: “Execution must be assured by October 1, 1938, at the latest.”

Mr. Alderman then presented Germany’s “Red Plan” for the Western campaign prefaced by a General Stafi report dated August 25, 1938, stating: “The basic assump ion is that France will declare war during the ‘Green Plan.’ Britain will follow , and Russia will probably immediately side with the We tern Poweis.”

The General Staff report showed that the Germans had completed before Sep ember, 1936, target maps of London and Hull, showing docks, Britain’s food and oil supply systems, and airfields. The report listed French targets as Number One priority, after which the Luftwaffe would attack Britain’.; food supply, notably London, bu only if strong forces were available because of the strength of London’s defences. Mr. Aiderman pointed out that Hungary from the lii st was considered a possible participant in the “Green Plan.” The records of a secret conference be ween Ribbentrop and Hungarian envoys on Augu t 23, 1938, reported him as saying: “Britain and France will remain tranquil, because England will not needlessly risk her Empire.” Mr. Aiderman read a document which, he said, demonstrated beyond the slightest doubt the complicity of the General Staff in the shameful fabrication of an incident as an excuse for war.

The document war signed by Keitel. It declared: “The ‘Green Plan’ will be set in motion by means of an incident in Czechoslovakia, which will give Germany provocation for military intervention.”

The document emphasised the utmost importance of fixing the exact time for the incident when weather conditions were favourable for Germany’s superior air forces. In discussions between Hitler and Admiral Horthy six months before the Munich settlement Hitler remarked that if Hungary wanted to participate? in “eating” her neighbours she mu t participate in the “cooking” by taking part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia. One High Command document dealing with projected violations of international law said ‘hat the use of poison gas could be ordered after publication of a report that the Czechs had already used it.

If it was pos ible to prove the assertion that the Czechs used prohibited gas it must be given out to the public, but if the assertion was unfounded, or only partially founded, then the German gas attacks would be represented as the need for carrying out a justified reprisal in the same way as the I alians did in the Abyssinian wax CHAMBERLAIN TRICKED Mr. Aiderman, after an adjournment, dealt with what he called the inside story of the setting for Munich. “We are now able to spread over the pages of hi tory the truth about the fraud and deceit which the Nazi consnirato. s practised in achieving the Munich Pact as a stepping-stone for further aggression,” said the prosecutor. “The hope for peace af er Munich was a snare carefully ;et by men whose evil character is demonstrated by their own documents.” The documents showed that whereas Mr. Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement under threat of war from Germany and Italy, .he Axis had already decided to go to war. Moreover, an order signed by Jodi showed that two Death’s Head battalions were operating across the Czech border before the Munich Pact was signed. The prosecution declared tha. only two weeks atte Hitler had publicly stated that Germany did not any more Czechs, Hitler and Keifci Were busy calculating the forces nece sary to break resistance in Bohemia and Moravia. Secret files of Hitler's adjutant revealed that in May, 1938, llitle ■ wrote: “It is my unalterable decision .o smash Czechoslovakia by military action in the near future.” Another document disclosed that Henlein, who led the Sudeten Germans, wa in Nazi pay, and his parly got 15 000 marks a month from Berlin. To-morrow the British prosec Lion onens its case.