hangmen, committed against the Czechoslovak population. One of the population was made public in the German newspaper, "Der Neue Tag" "In the course of the search for the murderer of Obergruppen abetting the perpetrators of the crime.
This has been proven in evidenced by other hostile acts against the Reich.
There were large quantity of rationed goods held in unlawful possession.
The entire adult male population was executed by firing squads.
Women places for their further upbringing.
All buildings in this village away with."
Czechoslovakia. In the report of the Czechoslovak Government, which are cited numerous cases of terrorism:
shooting of hostages, mass That is how directive "Gruen" worked.
2. Attack on Poland.
territory, in treacherous violation of existing treaties. The presented to the Tribunal by my colleagues.
Among such documents the "present situation and the political aims."
Hitler said:
"The Pole is not an unexpected enemy. Poland will always be on the side of our opponents.
The matter does not concern only Danzig.
It is the question of 'Lebensraum' (living space) in the East and "Thus," said Hitler, "sparing Poland is out of question, and it remains for us to attack her at the first opportunity.
We Czechoslovakia.
This time it means war."
Hitler then said, "The important fact in the conflict with only be successful for us if the West does not participate.
If this powers and at the same time destroy Poland."
The second part of Hitler's statement was especially devoted to decision to attack Poland.
This is how the gangster assault of Hitler's Germany on Poland was prepared in advance.
It was put into 3. Attack on Yugoslavia.
of a sudden attack on the part of the Hitlerite Germany. It is well known that, on numerous occasions, Hitler's Government had intentions towards Yugoslavia.
Thus, on 28 April, 1939, Hitler, "close ties of friendship."
(DNB) had announced, "Confidential representatives have informed the Yugoslav Government on Germany's behalf that Germany's intentions remain inviolate."
Hitler's armies invaded Yugoslavia on 6 April, 1941 and occupied this country.
This attack was unexpected only by the victims, for German Army only, the Fuehrer said:
"My intention is to invade Yugoslavia by powerful thrusts from against Greece.
By promising the return of Macedonia and Bauat, "The internal crisis in Yugoslavia will be aggravated by political guarantees promised to the Croats."
THE PRESIDENT: Would that be a convenient time to break off for 10 minutes?
(A recess was taken from 11.15 to 11.30 hours.)
GENERAL RUDENKO: May it please the Tribunal, I will now describe thecrimes committed by the Hitlerite aggressors against my own country, against the Union of Soviet Socialisst Republics.
On June 22, 1941, USSR was perfidiously attacked by Hitlerite Germany. However, it is not this date, that should be considered as the actual beginning of the execution of Hitlerite Germany's plan of aggression against the Soviet Union. What took place on June 22, 1941 was conceived, prepared and planned long before that. All Germany's aggressive action against a number of European states, during the period between 1938 and 1941, were, actually, only preliminary measures for the main blow in the East. territory of the Soviet Union in order to plunder and to exploit the peoples of the USSR.
We need not seek confirmation thereof in Hitler's "Mein Kampf" or in the writings of the Hitlerite ring-leaders, which, as is known, contained together with a direct menace to the USSR, indications that the aggression of German imperialism must be directed towards the East, in order to conquer the so-called "living space". This tendency of predatory German imperialism is expressed in the well-known formula: "Drang nach Osten." government, which fully disclose the defendant's guilt in committing the criminal actions with which they are charged under the present Indictment. titled "Report concerning the conference of May 23rd 1939". As can be seen from this document, this conference took place in Hitler's study, at the new Reich Chancellery, and the minutes were taken down by Lieut. Col. Schmundt, of the German General Staff. There were present at this conference Hitler, Goering, Raeder, Brauchitsh, Keitel, Colonel-General Milch, General-of-the-Artillery Halder and other representatives of the German High Command. The report states that the subject of the conference was "Instructions concerning the present situation and the objects of our policy." Speaking at this conference, Hitler frequently broached the subject of the seizure of territory in the East.
He declared:
"......if fate forces us into a conflict with the West, it would be desirable that we by that tame possess more extensive space in the East." And further:
"Our problem is to extend our living space in the East, secure our food supplies and solve the Baltic problem. As regards food supplies, we can only rely upon the thinly populated areas. The thoroughness of German agriculture, together with the fertility of our sail, will show itself favorably in the manifold increase of food production."
In another document known as the "Minutes of the Fuehrer's conference with the Commander in Chief on November 23, 1939", Hitler stressed the necessity of solving the problem of the struggle for oil, rubber and useful minerals, And at that conference, Hitler formulated the main tasks as follows:
"....adapt the living space to the density of the population...".
"This is the eternal problem, to establish the necessary balance between the number of Germans and their territory, and to secure the necessary living space. Conceited modesty can be of no avail here. The problem can be solved only by the sword." plans concerning the drive to the East, Boasting his successful seizures of Moravia, Bohemia and Poland he no longer kept secret his intentions of pursuing his aggression eastwards.
"I did not resurrect the armed forces", said Hitler, "For the purpose of keeping them inactive. The determination to act has always been alive in me. Sooner or later I always wanted to solve this problem." existence of a non-aggression pact, signed between Germany and the USSR, on August 23, 1939. However, Hitler's cynical declaration that treaties need only be respected as long as they serve immediate purposes, is now universally known. made by the Defendant Jodl at the conference held by the Reich Gauleiters in Munich in January 1943.
In his speech, the Defendant Jodl said ...
"Hitler informed me, while we were still fighting in the West, of his plans of beginning a war against the USSR". In his turn, the Defendant Raeder at his preliminary examination, testified that the idea of a military campaign against the USSR had been in Hitler's mind long ago and it grew ever stronger with the decrease of the probability of an invasion of England in June 1940.
According to the Defendant Keitel's statement, Hitler prepared an attack against the USSR at the end of 1940. Already in the spring of 1940, a plan of assault had been worked out. Conferences on this subject had been held through the summer. In 1940, at a military conference in Reichenhall, the plan of attack on the USSR was examined. This is confirmed also by the statement of the Defendant Jodl, who at his preliminary examination, testified that the plans of attack on the USSR were actually worked out in the months of November - December 1940, and that during that period the first directives were given to the Army, to the Navy and to the Air Force. Speaking of these directives, Jodl refers to a document known as the "Case Barbarossa", This document is signed by Hitler, Jodl and Keitel. Army, contained an elaborate and detailed plan for a sudden attack on the USSR.
I quote:
"The German Armed Forces must be prepared to crush Soviet Russia in a quick campaign before the end of the war against England."
"For this purpose the Army will have to employ all available units with the reservation that the occupied territories will have to be safeguarded againstany surprises."
Directive "Case Barbarossa" emphasizes that "Great caution has to be exercised that the intention of an attack will not be recognized." for attack against the Soviet Russia will be given, eight weeks in advance of the intended beginning of operations, and that "preparations requiring more time to start are - if this has not yet been done to begin presently and are to be completed by 15 May 1941."
plan of an attack on the USSR, which plan already contemplated the actual form of participation on the part of Rumania and Finalnd in this agression. In particular, the directive says bluntly:
"Probable Allies and their tasks 1. At the flanks of our operations the active participation in the war against Soviet Russia, of Rumania and Finland may be counted upon."
The directive also states that "the opportunity to make use of Swedish railroads and highways will become available for the deployment of the German Group North, from the start of actual operations, may be relied upon." had already secured the assent: of the Rumanian and Finnish Governments for the participation of these countries, together with Germany, in the aggression against the USSR.
This is apparent not only from the text of the directive, "Case Barbarossa", but also from other facts at our disposal. For example in a statement by the German General of the Infantry, Buschenhagen which we shall present to the Tribunal, the following appears:
"At the end of December 1940 (approximately on the 20th), I as the Chief of Staff of the German Forces in Norway with the rank of Colonel, was invited to take part in a conference of the Chiefs of Staffs of the Armies at the OKH, (High Command of the Army) at Zossen (near Berlin) which lasted several days. At this meeting the Chief of the General Staff, Col. Gen. Halder expounded the plan "Barbarossa", which envisaged the attack onthe Soviet Union. During that very time, the Chief of the General Staff of the Finnish Army, General Heinriks was present at Zossen where he was conferring with Col. Gen. Halder ....". Helsinki, where together with the representatives ofthe Finnish Army, he worked but a definite plan for the attack on the USSR. On 2 or 3 March 1941, upon his return to Oslo, he compiled and submitted to the OKW a report on his mission.
'On the basis of these documents - states Buschenhagen - the operational plan "Blue Fox" was drawn up, envisaging an attack on the Murmansk railroad from the area of Kuusamo, Rovaniemi and Petsamo.
The plan of operations in the area of Kirkiness-Petsamo was called "Reindeer", that in the area of Rovaniemi "Silver Fox". beginning of May 1941, he flew again to Helsinki where, "at the Finnish General Staff, negotiations took place with the Generals Heinrichs, Airo and Colonel Tapola, in the course of which we have ascertained that the Finnish General Staff was fully prepared to participate in the coming war against the Soviet Union." of the Soviet Union, which will be presented to the Tribunal, Marshal Jon Antonescu gives an account of his meetings with Hitler in November 1940, January 1941 and May 1941, at which the problems connected with the preparation of war against the Soviet Union were discussed. Ribbentrop and Hitler's personal interpreter, Schmidt took part, problems directly concerning the preparation of the German aggression against the USSR, and the Rumanian participation therein, were discussed. Antonescu, whether his first conference with Hitler should be considered as his initial step towards an understanding with the Germans for the preparation of aggressive war against the Soviet Union, he stated:
"I reply in the affirmative. Hitler undoubtedly had this in mind when working out the plans for attacking the Soviet Union." January 1941, the Defendants Ribbentrop, Keitel and Jodl, were present. Hitler requested Antonescu to permit the German armies concentrated on Hungarian territory, to pass through Rumania in order to enable then to assist the Italians in war against Greece.
Antonescu testifies: "I expressed my apprehension that the movement of German troops through Rumania might serve as a pretext for military action of the Soviet Union against Rumania, thus placing Rumania in a very difficult position as the Rumanian army was not mobilized: to this Hitler replied that he will give an order for part of the German troops intended for operations against Greece to remain in Rumania.
"Hitler also emphasized that according to the information at his disposal, the Soviet Union has no intention to fight either against Germany or Rumania. " "Being satisfied with this statement of Hitler I have agreed to allow the German troops to pass through Rumanian territory."
"Lt. Colonel Jodl who was present at this conference described to me the strategic situation of the German Army emphasizing the necessity of an attack on Greece through Bulgaria." Munich, at which the defendant Ribbentrop was present, Antonescu declared:
"At this meeting .... we had already definitely agreed upon our joint assault on the Soviet Union.
"Hitler stated that he had decided to attack the Soviet Union. 'Having prepared this attack,' said Hitler, 'we must launch it unexpectedly along the entire frontier of the Soviet Union from the Black Sea to the Baltics.'
"'The suddenness of this military attack,' continued Hitler, 'will enable Germany and Rumania to overcome in a very short time one of our most dangerous opponents.'
"In connection with his war plans, Hitler asked me to place at his disposal Rumanian territory for the concentration of German troops and in conjunction with this to take a direct part in carrying out the attack on the Soviet Union." the Soviet Union, Roumania in her turn pursued aggressive aims.
Antonescu in the same statements spoke of Hitler's promises as follows:
"Hitler emphasized that Rumania should not remain out of this war, as in order to get back Bessarabia and northern Bukovine, she had no ether way but to fight on the side of Germany. He added to this that in return for our help in the war, Rumania could occupy and administer other Soviet territories up to the Dnieper."
Antonescu further testified:
"As Hitler's proposal to start jointly the war against USSR was in line with my aggressive intentions, I declared my readiness to participate in the assault on the Soviet Union, and undertook to prepare the required number of Rumanian troops and at the same time to increase the deliveries of oil and farm produce for the needs of Germany."
"After my return to Bucharest from Munich, I began energetic preparation for the coming war."
Antonescu, which will also be submitted to the Tribunal. took place between Antonescu and Dernberg, Head of the Protocol Department of the German Foreign Office, on the 10th of February 1942 (conversation after meeting at the frontier):
"....I declared," remarks Antonescu, "that Rumania entered into an alliance with the Axis not for the purpose of altering the treaty of Versailles, but in order to fight the Slavs...." united Hitler and Antonescu in their preparation and realisation of a war of aggression.
incontestably the complicity of Hungary in the conspiracy to violate peace and in the preparations of an aggressive war against the Soviet Union. Army through the Carpathian Mountains at the very moment when the German and the Rumanian Armies were to open military operations against the Soviet Union. the peace-loving nations, with fascist Germany in the man.
Coming back to the so-called "Case Barbarossa", I wish to twell on the most important points of this document "Case Barbarossa" consists of three parts.
In the first its general aims are set forth, the second deals with the allies of Germany in the war against the Soviet Union. The third part is devoted to the execution of military operations on land, in the air and on the sea. This document has the highly pertinent feature of having been issued, in view of its top secret contents, in only nine copies to comply with the demand for absolute secrecy on Germany' preparations for the attack on the Soviet Union.
The first part of the plan reads as follows:
"Troops of the Russian army massed in the western part of Russia must be destroyed.
"...... The retreat into the vast expanses of Russian territory of units fit for combat must be prevented. Then, by rapid pursuit, a line must be reached from which the Russian air force will not be able to carry out attacks against German territory.--" was to consolidate the line Archangel - Volga, paralyze the last remaining industrial area in the Urals by air operations, put the Baltic fleet out of commission, and prevent the possibility of active interference on the part of the Russian air force.
In the third part of the document we find the directive: "To seize Leningrad and Kronstadt and to continue offensive operations with the objective of taking the most important center of communications and war-production Moscow".
"The seizure of this city" - according to the plan - "will mean a decisive success both politically and economically," Such was the plan to invade the USSR; conceived, worked out and prepared long in advance by Hitlerite Germany.
predatory attack against the USSR, the Nazi government conceived and planned beforehand the commission of war crimes on the territory of the USSR. The so-called "Case Barbarossa" was a strategic plan. But this plan was supplemented by a number of instructions and orders, designed to embrace all the innumerable measures, relative to the problems which would arise on the invasion of the Soviet Union. Among these measures, we must mention, in the very first place, the instruction issued on 13 March 1941, by the Headquarters of the German High Command. civilian nature and, in particular, with the problems relative to the organization of administrative power. It is of importance to note that this instruction placed German troops stationed in East Prussia and the so-called Government-General (that is to say, Poland) to be under the laws and regulations which were to be put in force in the zone of operations at least four weeks prior to the beginning of the campaign. authorized to assume executive power and to delegate it to the Commanding Generals of the Army Groups and Armies, One also cannot overlook in this instruction sub-paragraph "B" which characterizes the tasks and objectives pursued by the conspirators. In this sub-paragraph it states;
"In the theater of military operations, in connection with the preparation of political administration, the Reichsfuehrer of the SS, by order of the Fuehrer, has been given special tasks arising from the conclusive and decisive struggle between two opposing political systems. Within the limits of these tasks, the Reichsfuehrer of the SS acts independently, upon his own responsibility.
Mankind is now well aware of the meaning of these "special tasks", the execution of which was exclusively entrusted to the SS generals and officers, who made full use of this right to act "independently" and "upon their own responsibility."
It meant unheard of terror, plundering, violence and killing of prisoners of war and peaceful citizens. as the plundering and predatory exploitation of the areas occupied by the German troops. The instruction is signed by the defendant KEITEL. In another instruction, issued in June 1941, as a supplement to the "Plan Barbarossa", orders are issued, which in the guise of propaganda directives, prescribe the ruthless treatment of all those who oppose the German aggressors. As to actual propaganda, the directives frankly mention the usual dirty Nazi methods of columny, lies and provocation, which were to be used by the so-called "propaganda companies." "Orders concerning military jurisdiction in the Barbarossa area and special measures to be taken by the troops." These orders, whilst sanctioning a complete arbitrary action on the part of the German authorities and troops in regard to the civilian population in the territories seized by the German armed forces, begin with a demand made to the German troops to "protect" themselves ruthlessly against hostile actions of the civilian population. peaceful populations and partisans, we find indications as to the brutal punishment to be imposed upon persons defined in those orders as "suspected elements." these rules, Paragraphs 4 and 5.
Paragraph 4: "In those places where it is too late to adopt these measures or where it had not been possible to do so immediately, suspected elements must be handed over without delay to the officer, who will decide whether or not they should be shot."
Paragraph 5: "It is absolutely prohibited to hold these suspects for trial by courts, to be instituted for the local population at a later date."
Thus, according to these so-called "rules", the fate and life of every apprehended person depended exclusively on the officer, and it was prohibit as the order cynically stressed, "to hold the suspects for trial". In other words, it was a definite order to exterminate the "suspects."
Moreover in case of attacks against the German Armed Forces, the order prescribed "mass measures of repression", that is to say. the wholesale extermination of absolutely innocent people. application of sanguinary terror, can be seen from the fact that this "order freed the German soldiers, officers and officials of any responsibility for the commission of crimes against the peaceful Soviet population. According to these "orders", the German troop commanders were entitled to confirm only those "sentences" which, as the said document states, were in accordance with the "political objectives of the leaders." German High Command, whose representatives are now in the dock, planned and prepared in detail those war crimes which were subsequently committed in the territory of the USSR. These plans inexorably disclose that the defendants premeditated the monstrous crimes which were organized by them. the pact of non-aggression between the USSR and German, without a declaration of war, started an attack against Soviet territory, initiating thereby an aggressive war against the USSR, without the slightest provocation on the pa of the Soviet Union. borders beforehand, were thrown against the USSR. As planned, Finnish troop took part in the attack on the USSR in the North and Hungarian and Rumanian troops in the south. In order to create panic and confusion, the German Air force immediately began the bombing of peaceful towns subjecting them to destruction. called a conference, which was attended by Rosenberg, Goering, Bormann, Lammers and Keitel.
the outside world the true aims of the war begun by the Hitlerites. Referring to their campaign against Norway, Denmark, Holland and Belgium, Hitler stressed the necessity of continuing this line of action; i.e. to conceal by all possible means the real intentions of the conspirators.
"Therefore", said Hitler, "we shall emphasize again that we were compelled to occupy a region to establish order and security there....our method of regulation is the natural outcome of this. Thus, it must not be revealed that our campaign concerns a final solution. However, despite and not withstanding this, we shall take all necessary measures such as mass-shootings, deportation etc." German slavery, shooting, all that was called, in the words of Hitler and his accomplices: "regulation." Hitlerite Government in respect of the Soviet Union as follows :
"In the main, the problem amounts to this: first to conquer it, secondly to rule it, and thirdly, to exploit it......
"The basic idea: The creation of a military power west of the Urals must never occur again, even if, in order to prevent it, we have to fight for a hundred years. All the adherents of the Fuehrer must know this: The Reich will only be secure of no foreign military force exists west of the Urals. The iron law must be: none but the Germans shall be permitted to bear arms..... only a German has the right to carry a weapon, no Slav, no Czech, no Cossack, no Ukrainian."
Hitler continued: "The Baltic countries must become a province of the Reich. The Crimea and the surrounding area must likewise become a province of the Reich.... This surrounding area must be as extensive as possible....The Volga colonies as well as the Baku region must become a province of the Reich. The latter must become a German concession (military colony). The Finns want East Karelia. However, because of its great nickel production, the Kolsky peninsula must go to Germany.
The Finns claim the Leningrad region.... Level Leningrad to the ground, then give it to the Finns," are frankly set forth in an article by the director of the Fascist propaganda, the notorious Goebbels, under the title: "What For."
Goebbels wrote:
"This war is not a war for a throne nor an altar; this is a war for grain and bread, a war for a well-laden dinner-table, for plentiful breakfasts and suppers.......a war for raw materials, for rubber, iron and ore." Berlin Sports Palace, 5 October 1942, published in the "Voelkischer Beobachter" of Octber 6, 1942, exclaimed greedily:
"Don't forget we have taken away from the Russians their best regions....Eggs, butter and flour are there in such quantities as you can hardly imagine....We will have to see that everything is properly assimilated and properly processed at the spot..." Soviet cities, such as "Gotenburg" for Simferopol and "Theodorichshafen" for Sevastopol. This occupation Rosenberg combined with the leadership of a special staff concerned with the "assimilation" of the Caucasus. the Hitlerite aggressors against the Soviet Union. Above all these criminal designs aimed at plundering the Soviet Union and the enslavement and exploitation of the Soviet people. Hitlerite domination in Europe and in the whole world. For this reason, in a document submitted in the case which was published by the High Command of the Navy, and dealt with the plans for an invasion of North Africa, Gibraltar, Syria, Palestine and Egypt, the Hitlerite Government stated that at the realization of the above plan would depend entirely on the results of the war against the Soviet Union.
hysterically shrieked, as usual, about a danger alleged to be forthcoming from the USSR, and proclaimed that the predatory war which it started against the Soviet Union with aggressive purposes was a "preventive" war.
A pitiful effort:
How can one speak of a "preventive" war when documents prove that, long in advance, Germany worked out and prepared a plan for an attack on the USSR, formulated the predatory aims of this attack, earmarked the territories of the Soviet Union which she intended to seize, established the methods for pillaging of these territories and for the extermination of their population, mobilized her army in good time and moved to the borders of the USSR 170 fully equipped divisions, which waited only for a signal to advance. as well as the original documents of the Hitlerite Government which now have been made public, definitely show to the whole world and to history how untrue and laughable was the assertion of Hitlerite propaganda about the "preventive" character of the war against the USSR.
Much, as the Fascist wolf might disguise himself in a sheep's skin, he cannot hide his teeth: Government calculated that lengthy preparation for this attack, the concentration of all the armed forces of Germany for this thrust, the participation of Rumanian and Finnish armies, as well as of Italian and Hungarian units in this operation and, finally, the advantage of surprise, would assure a rapid defeat of the USSR. heroic resistance of the Red Army, which defended the honour and the independence of its country with self-denial. The German plans of attack were broken up one after another. People against the German Fascist invaders and the great and courageous struggle of the Red Army with German, Rumanian, Finnish and other armies that invaded the Soviet soil.
be forgotten by history. unmatched in history, steadfastly defended and saved the freedom and independence of their country, and together with the Allied Armies, liberated the freedom-loving nations throughout the whole world from the terrible menace of Nazi enslavement. freedom-loving nations, Nazi Germany turned the war into a system of militarized banditry. plunder of occupied territories and other war crimes, were committed as a part of a totalitarian lightning war, Blitzkrieg, projected by the Nazis. In particular, the terrorism practised by Nazis on the temporarily-occupied Soviet territories, reached fabulous proportions and was carried out with a fiendish cruelty.
"We must", said Hitler to Rauschning, "pursue a policy of systematic depopulation. If you ask me what I mean by the term 'depopulation,' I would tell you that I understand it as the complete removal of whole racial groups. And that is what I am going to do; such, roughly speaking is my purpose. Nature is cruel, and so we have to be cruel too. If I can send the cream of the German nation into the hell of war . . .. without any regret for the shedding of precious German blood, I have surely the right to remove millions of an inferior race, who multiply like flies!" by the Extraordinary State Commission for the Prosecution and investigation of crimes committed by the German Nazi aggressors and their accomplices, which constitute irrefutable evidence of countless crimes perpetrated by German authorities.
We have at our disposal a document, known as the "Appendix #2 to the Operational Order #8 of the Chief of the SIPO and SD, dated "Berlin, 17 June 1941", and signed by Heydrich who, at that time, held the office of Himmler's deputy. This document was worked out in collaboration with the High Command of the German Armed Forces. The appendices to Order #8, as well as Orders #9 and 14 and the appendices thereto, make it evident that the systematic extermination of Soviet people in Nazi concentration camp in the territories of USSR and other countries occupied by the Nazi aggressors, was carried out under the form of "filtration", "cleaning measures", "purge", "extraordinary measures", "special treatment", "liquidation", "execution", and so on.
The perpetration of these crimes was entrusted to the "Sonder-Kommandos" especially formed for this purpose, by agreement between the Chief of Police and the SD and the High Command, of the German Armed Forces.
The Appendix #1 to Order #14 shows that these "Sonderkommandos", acted independently on the basis of their special powers and in accordance with general directives given to them within the scope of camp's regulations, maintaining close contact with the camps C.O.s and the officers of the counter intelligence. the Nazis created a special "Sonderkommando Moscow", which was supposed to carry out the mass killings of the inhabitants of Moscow.
Hitler's Government and the German Military Command were afraid that these monstrous Orders #8 and #14 might fall into the hands of the Red Army and the Soviet Government, and they took all possible measures to keep these Orders completely secret. In Order #14, Heidrich declared: