CONTENTS OF HITLER'S TALK TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER AND COMMANDING GENERALS, OBERSALZBERG, 22-8-39
Decision to attack Poland in the spring. Originally it was feared that due to political combinations, England, Russia, France, and Poland had to be fought against simultaneously. Even this risk would have had to be borne. Goering has stated
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that the Four Year Plan had failed and that we were at the end if we were not victorious in the coming year.
Since Autumn, 1938, and since, I have found out that Japan does not go with us without conditions, and that Mussolini is menaced by the weak-headed king and the treacherous scoundrel of a Crown Prince. I have decided to go with Stalin. On the whole, there are only three great statesmen in the world: Stalin, myself, and Mussolini. Mussolini, the weakest, has not been able to break either the power of the crown or of the church. Stalin and I are the only ones that see only the future. So I shall shake hands with Stalin within a few weeks on the common German-Russian border and undertake with him a new distribution of the world. '
Our strength is in our quickness and our brutality. Ghengis Khan had millions of women and children killed by his own will and with a gay heart. History sees only in him a great state builder. What weak Western European civilization thinks about me does not matter. I have given the order and will have every one shot, who utters even one word of criticism that the aim of the war is not to attain certain lines, but consists in the physical destruction of the opponent. Thus for the time being I have sent to the East only my "Death's Head Units" with the order to kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of Polish race or language. Only in such a way will we win the vital space that we need. Who still talks nowadays of the extermination of the Armenians ?
Colonel General [Generaloberst] von Brauchitsch has promised me to bring the war against Poland to a conclusion within a few weeks. If he would have told me that it would take me two years or even one year only, I would not have issued the order to march and would have temporarily entered into an alliance with England instead of Russia. For we cannot conduct a long war. In any case, a new situation has now been created. I have witnessed the miserable worms Daladier and Chamberlain in Munich. They will be too cowardly to attack. They will not go any further than blockade. Against it we have our autarchy and the Russian raw materials. Poland will be depopulated and colonized with Germans. My pact with Poland was only meant to stall for time. And besides, gentlemen, in Russia will happen just what I have practiced with Poland. After Stalin's death (he is seriously ill), we shall crush the Soviet Union.
The small countries do not frighten me. After Kemal's death, Turkey will be ruled by morons and half-idiots. Carol of Rumania is a thoroughly corrupted slave of his sexual desires. The King
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of Belgium and the Northern kings are weak puppets, depending on the good digestion of their over-fed and tired peoples.
We must take into account the defection of Japan. I have left to Japan a whole year's time to decide. The Emperor is the companion piece of the late Czars. Weak, cowardly, irresolute, he may fall before a revolution. My association with Japan was never popular. We will furthermore cause unrest in the Far East and Arabia. Let us think of ourselves as masters and consider these people at best as lacquered half-monkeys, who need to feel the knout.
The occasion is favorable now as it has never been. I have only one fear and that is that Chamberlain or such another dirty swine comes to me with propositions or a change of mind. He will be thrown downstairs. And even if I must personally kick him in the belly before the eyes of all the photographers.
No, for this it is too late. The invasion and the extermination of Poland begins on Saturday morning. I will have a few companies in Polish uniform attack in Upper Silesia or in the Pro-téctorate. Whether the world believes it doesn't mean a damn to me. The world believes only in success.
Glory and honor are beckoning to you, gentlemen, as they never did for centuries. Be hard. Be without mercy. Act quicker and more brutally than the others. The citizens of Western Europe must quiver in horror. That is the most human warfare for it scares them off.
The new warfare corresponds to the new border status. A wall from Reval, Lublin, Kaschau to the Danube Estuary. The Russians get the rest. Ribbentrop has received instructions to make any offer and to accept any demand. In the West, I reserve the right to ascertain the line strategically best. Here, there will be something to do with Holland, Belgium, French Lorraine as protectorate areas.
And now, on to the enemy! In Warsaw, we will celebrate our meeting again.
The speech was listened to enthusiastically. Goering jumped on the table. Bloodthirsty thanks and bloody promises. He danced around like a savage. The few doubtful ones remained silent.
During the meal, Hitler stated that he must operate this year, as he would not be living long. His successor would not be able to do so; furthermore, the situation would be desperate in two years at the latest.
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