There are documents appended to the official report regarding German crimes against Czechoslovakia. Among these documents there are laws, decrees and orders issued and officially published by the German fascist authorities; documents from the archives of the Czechoslovak Government; and affidavits by persons who held prominent positions in Czechoslovakia during the occupation.
There will be shown a special film concerning the destruction of Lidice. It was, in its time, prepared by official German agencies. The film was found by officials of the Czechoslovak!an Ministry of the Interior.
The official report on the German crimes against Czechoslovakia, as well as the documents appended thereto, on the strength of Article 21 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, represent unquestionably admissable evidence and will be presented to the Tribunal as USSR Exhibit No. 60.
The Soviet Prosecution shall likewise present evidence regarding the crimes perpetrated by the conspirators in Poland. The basic document to be presented on this subject by the Soviet Prosecution will be the report of the Polish Government dated January 22, 1946. The official documents of the Polish Government were the primary source of the report of the Polish Government on the German crimes committed in Poland. Both the official report of the Polish Government and the documents appended thereto, on the strength of Article 21 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, unquestionably represent admissable evidence.
And finally, the Soviet Delegation shall present to the Tribunal documents concerning the crimes of German aggressors committed on Yugoslav territory.
The investigation of the criminal activity of the German Command and of the German Occupation authorities in Yugoslavia was carried out by the Yugoslav State Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Committed by German occupants. The Commission was created on November 29, 1943, by a decision of the Yugoslav Anti-fascist Council for People's Liberation. This Commission, which, from the beginning, has always been presided over by Dr. Douchan Nedelkovitch, professor of the Belgrade University, started its work when half of Yugoslavia was still under the domination of the German, Italian, Hungarian, and other occupants.
The investigation of the crimes committed by the German fascist aggressors, besides the Yugoslav State Commission, was also carried out by the special eight Federal Commissions.
The Commission has issued 36 communications.
This report represents unquestionable evidence, and is submitted by us as Exhibit USSR 36.
It is my duty to mention that documentary evidence which was already presented by our honorable American, British and French colleague's will, to some extent, be used by the representatives of the Soviet Prosecution.
May it please your Honors, in conclusion I would like to make known to the Tribunal the order in which the prosecutors from the USSR will present their case.
The Count dealing with "The Crimes Against Peace (aggression against Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia)", will be presented by the Deputy USSR Chief of Counsel, Colonel Pokrovsky.
The Count dealing with "The Aggression Against the USSR" will be presented by the State Councillor of Justice, Third Class, Zorya.
Thereupon, Colonel Pokrovsky will present to the Tribunal the crimes committed in violation of the laws and customs of war relating to the treatment of prisoners of war.
TheCount "The Crimes Against the Peaceful Population of the USSR, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia" will be presented by the Senior Councillor of Justice Smirnov.
Report on the subject of the "Plunder of Private, Public, and State Property" will be made by Mr. Sheinin, State Councillor of Justice of the Second Class.
Report on the "Plunder and Destruction of Cultural Treasures" and "Wanton Destruction and Annihilation of Towns and Villages" will be presented by Mr. Raginsky, State Councillor of Justice of the Second Class.
Mr. Zoria, State Councillor of Justice of the Third Class, will speak on the subject of "Forced Labor and Deportation into German Slavery."
Finally, the Senior Councillor of Justice, Mr. Smirnoff, will present the report on the last subject, "Crimes Against Humanity."
COLONEL Y. V. POKROVSKY:May it please Your Honors, the opening statements of the Chief Prosecutors have enlightened us as to how fascist Germany pursued the ideological preparation of aggressive war.
The connection between Hitlerite propaganda and acts of aggression against peace was revealed in the statement of the USSR Chief of Counsel also. There fore, may I be allowed, to quote just one short extract from Horst von Metsch's book entitled "Krieg als Saat"--"War as Seed"--which was published in Breslau in 1934?
"It is impossible to conceive National Socialism without war. German martial glory is its father; army's finest musketeer is its leader; and war's hardy spirit is its soul."
That is not just a phrase dropped by a garrulous fascist penman; that is a program which is blurted out. War, and only war, was considered by the Hitlerite conspirators as the most effective means of attaining the objectives of their foreign policy. It is, therefore, only natural that Germany was turned into an armed camp and became a constant threat to her neighbors after the fascist had seized power in the country.
The East was the first objective of the fascist conspirators.
In his book "Mein Kampf", which is already at the disposal of the Tribunal, Hitler wrote, as early as 1930; "The movement eastwards is continuing, notwithstanding everything."
You will find that in Volume I, page 1.
I consider it necessary to tell the Court that the places which I will cite are marked by red pencil. I am quoting:
"The movement eastwards is continuing, notwithstanding everything. Russia must be erased from the list of European powers." (Page 732, 1930 edition).
By hypocritically proclaiming her love of peace, by giving her neighbors assurances of her intention to live with them in peace, Hitlerite Germany only strove to conceal her real and always aggressive intentions.
The conspirators willingly concluded any agreement on arbitration, on nonaggression, etc. They did it, not because they were really striving for peace, but with the sole intention of waiting for a suitable moment to strike the next treacherous blow and of lulling the nations of the world into a sense of false security.
Having committed one of their scheduled aggressive acts, they strove, with still greater energy, to convince everybody that from now on they had no longer any aggressive plans.
A combination of hypocrisy and fraud, of treason and aggression, ruled the entire system of German foreign policy.
With incredible insolence, the fascist conspirators violated any of their international obligations or international agreements, including those which directly prohibited the application of war as a solution of international disputes. None of the wars provoked by the Hitlerites can be classified under the conception of "defensive wars." In every case the German fascists acted as aggressors. They admitted, themselves, that they did not hesitate to resort to provocation in order to have an excuse for attacking their next victim at the most propitious moment.
Count II of the Indictment contains a complete list of the wars which were provoked, prepared, initiated and waged by the fascist conspirators.
The insane imagination of the Hitlerites visualized the East as a paradise for the fascist aggressors; a paradise built on the bones and blood of the millions of people who inhabited these lands.
Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe has told the Tribunal that the Soviet Delegation would submit some new evidence regarding the criminal conspiracy against peace, and also suggested that certain repetitions could not be avoided. Whilst striving to reduce these repetitions to a minimum, I wish to draw the attention of the Tribunal to some of the documents relating to the criminal aggression of the fascist conspirators.
As documentary evidence I submit to the Tribunal USSR Exhibit No. 60, an official Czechoslovak report. It begins with the following significant phrase-- and this sentence will be found on page O of the book of documents, Volume I, page 21.
"Czechoslovakia in obstacle to the German Drang nach Osten-- drive to the east-- and to their domination of Europe."
That is followed by an analysis of the strategic and political aspects of the aggression against Czechoslovakia.
THE PRESIDENT:Colonel Pokrovsky, when you want to put in a document in evidence you will produce the original document, will you not, and hand it to the Secretary of the Tribunal?
COLONEL POKROVSKY: Yes, the reporter of the Court.
This is followed by an analysis of the strategic and political aspects of the aggression against Czechoslovakia. I quote, beginning with the second sentence of subparagraph(a), which is marked with a red pencil. I quote: "Czechoslovakia was, indeed, of the greatest strategic importance as a natural obstacle and a fortified barrier against a military drive towards the Danube basin, and from there Eastwards, across the Eastern Carpathians and along the valley of the Danube, towards the Balkans.
The gist of sub-paragraph b. is that Czechoslovakia was a democratic country, and finally sub-paragraph c. gives an analysis of Czechoslovakia from the national point of view.
I shall quote this sub-paragraph as it is formulated in the report.
You will find this in part 1, pages 11 and 12.
"c. From the national point of view, Czechoslovakia, as far as the vast majority of its population is concerned, was a Slav country, intensely conscious of the unity of all Slavs."
The Tribunal might have noticed, that the methods of execution of aggression by the Hitlerite conspirators nearly always followed the same pattern.
In all cases lightning speed and suddenness of military attack were considered indispensable.
They endeavored to attain the element of surprise by giving the prospective enemy treacherous and hypocritical assurances of their peaceful intentions.
Simultaneously wide use was made of the foul system of bribery, blackmail, provocation, financing of various kinds of pro-fascist organizations, and using as paid agents unprincipled politicians and downright traitors to their respective countries.
Mr. Aldermann began his presentation of documents by giving several examples of this kind.
He told the Tribunal in detail, and proved by documentary evidence, that in the person of Hans Karmazin, the representatives of the so-called Slovak autonomous movement were bought with German money.
The same also applies to the Deputy Prime Minister Dukanski, the notorious Tuka, and many other leaders of the Hlinka Party.
It was reported to you that at the beginning of March, 1939, e.g., immediately prior to the day planned for the final entry of Fascists into Czechoslovakia, the activity of the fifth column reached its climax.
I believe I should present to the Tribunal certain facts about the Hitlerite organizations, established for the purpose of subversive activity, and also about the part played by SS man Lorenz in the action against Czechoslovakia.
Himmler, holding several offices, combined in one person the position of the Reichsleiter of the security units of the SS and Reichs Commissar for consolidation of Germanism (Reichskommissar fuer die Festigung des deutschen Volkstums). As such, he was charged with the leadership of all State and Party organs within Germany, which in turn controlled the German settlements, the work amongst the German Fascist minorities in other countries and re-immigration of Germans into Germany.
In this field his executive apparatus was the so-called Volkdeutsche Mittelstelle.
The loader of this organization, and therefore the actual deputy of Himmler, in this special sphere, was Obergruppenfuehrer
SSLorenz, who will be discussed later.
There was another criminal organization I have in mind, the Foreign Organization of the NSDAP (Auslandsorganisation der NSDAP), abbreviated to AO.
It played an important part in creating the fifth column in countries which were eventually subjected to Hitlerite aggression.
AO united the Germans who were members of the Fascist Party living outside Germany.
Apart from the wide propaganda of Fascism, AO was engaged in political and other kinds of espionage.
Germans living outside Germany received material help through AO and maintained connections with various pro-German and espionage groups of the country in which they lived.
The branches of the Hitlerite party abroad were under the guidance of German diplomatic missions.
For this purpose the leader of AO, Gauleiter Ernst Wilhelm Bohle, was installed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the rank of a State Secretary.
There are several appendices to the Official Czechoslovak Report.
One of them is registered under number 3061-PS. It represents excerpts from the testimony of Karl Hermann Frank, former deputy of the Reich Protector.
I submit this document to the Tribunal and, without reading it in its entirety, I wish to refer briefly to the contents of those parts of the document which deal with the question concerning the fifth column.
At the interrogation on 9 October 1945--this is the second page of the Russian text, at page 135 of Vol.
1, number 3061-PS Frank declared that in his opinion the Henlein Party received money from Germany from 1936 onwards.
In 1938 funds were coming in from the so-called Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle in Berlin, through the German Ambassador in Prague.
Frank confirmed that, together with Henlein, he several times visited the German Ambassador in Prague, who handed him and Henlein money for the Party.
Frank admits that the acceptance of this money was incompatible with his duty as a Czechoslovak citizen.
Frank further admitted that he visited the German Embassy in Prague many times alone, informed the German Ambassador of the inner political situation of Czechoslovakia, and considering the character of the information communicated, committed high treason.
Frank testifies-what I am quoting at present will be found in Vol.
1, part 1, page 184:
"All negotiations in the summer of 1938 between Henlein and myself on the one hand and the Reich authorities, in particular Adolf Hitler, Hess and Ribbentrop on the other hand, were conducted for the purpose of providing the Reich authorities with information on the development of the political situation in Czechoslovakia.
These discussions took place on the initiative of the Reich authorities."
I have quoted this excerpt from page 5 of the Russian document.
On page 4 you will find another translation of the document. Frank stated that he was aware of "the treason committed by the Party and its entire leadership corps, by receiving money from abroad for putting into effect measures inimical to the State."
This excerpt is on page 5 of the Russian translation of document 3061-PS.
During the interrogation on the 15th August 1945 Frank testified that Henlein and his staff had their headquarters in Tandorf Castle near Reuch.
Henlein himself was the head of the Staff of the Corps, which bore the name Frei-Korps der Fuehrers.
According to Frank the Free Corps was established by Hitler's order.
Part of the Corps which was in the territory of the German Reich was equipped with small arms in small quantities, as stated by Frank.
According to him, the Free Corps consisted of about 15,000 people, chiefly Sudeten Germans.
This information we find on page 3 of the Russian translation of document number 3061-PS in your book.
It is page 185 of Vol.
1, part 1.
The Russian delegation had at its disposal other documents which I think it is desirable to read in order to supplement the available information.
they are particularly interesting, because Hitler conspirators were referring to the desire to help their neighbors. I will refer to our Document No. 271. This you will find on page 196 and further of Vol. 1, Part 1. I quote:
"The conference was attended by gentlemen enumerated in the attached list: In his opening address the Reichminister emphasized the importance of keeping this conference strictly secret, and the, referring to the Fuehrer's instructions which the latter had given yesterday to Konrad Kenlein personally stated that primarily there were two questions of importance for the political guidance of the Sudeten-German Party.
"The Sudetan Germans must know that they are backed up by the German people of 75,000,000.
"2. It is the Sudeten-German Party's responsibility" -
THE PRESIDENT:I don't like to interrupt you, but it is not quite clear on the translation that has come through whether you have deposited the original of this document and have given it an exhibit number.
COL. POKROVSKY:All the documents which the Soviet delegation is submitting are submitted by us to the Tribunal in Russian and the organization of translators is supposed to translate them. This document is called by me by the notation which we have.
THE PRESIDENT:It must be deposited to the Tribunal in its original condition, not in Russian. It is a conference, apparently, and I suppose the original is in German.
The original, document is not in Russian. It must be deposited with the Tribunal in its original condition. I do not know what the document is. It is a conference apparently, and I suppose the original is in German. We want to see the original document in German.
COL. POKROVSKY:The original document in the German language is at the disposal of the court at present. May I continue?
THE PRESIDENT:One moment. It this the original?
COL. POKROVSKY:This is a photostat.
THE PRESIDENT: I am afraid I must insist upon having the original.
COL. POKROVSKY:The original documents are at the disposal of the Soviet Government, and if the Tribunal insists, they can be sent for and presented to the Tribunal.
THE PRESIDENT:I am afrain that is so. we must have the original document. After the original documents have been produced and exhibit numbers given to them, they will remain in the hands of the Tribunal. The subject of the translation, of course, is quite a different one, but for the purpose of insuring that we get really genuine evidence, we must have the originals deposited with the general secretary.
COL. POKROVSKY:I will obey the order of the Court and will see that the documents are delivered to the Court, but so far we have followed the practice already established that we can present the documents which have been checked in the proper way; but we could do it somewhat later.
THE PRESIDENT:Yes, so long as you undertake to do it. But I do not think you are right in saying that it is the practice that has been already established, because we have been demanding from the French prosecutors the production of the original documents and they have been produced.
COL. POKROVSKY:We will take the necessary measures so that the Tribunal will have those documents somewhat later.
I continue quoting from the point -
THE PRESIDENT:I imagine that you will be able to produce tomorrow the originals of the documents which you referred to today?
COL. POKROVSKY:I cannot promise that, because not all originals are here. A considerable part of these documents are not in Nurnberg and, therefore, are not kept here. Here are only part of the originals. Here is what I can do: The originals which are at our disposal we will submit to the Tribunal and those which we have not here we will request the Soviet Government to send over.
THE PRESIDENT:I think the Tribunal had better adjourn for the purpose of considering this matter.
(A recess was taken from 1620 to 1655 hours.)
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal has considered the matter of the deposition of the original documents, and they wish the following procedure to be adopted;In the first place, they want original documents deposited with the General Secretary of the Tribunal wherever possible.
Secondly, where it is impossible for original documents to be deposited, or hightly inconvenient, they will accept photostat copies of the original documents, provided that a certificate accompanies the photostat document to the effect that it is a true copy of an original document, and that the original is an authentic document, giving the origin of the original document and the place of its present custody. Thirdly, they will accept photostat copies for the present, on the undertaking of Counsel that certificates such as I have indicated will be furnished as soon as possible.
Is that clear, Colonel Pokrovsky?
COL. POKROVSKY:I would ask the Tribunal to explain to me one point. Do I understand that the Tribunal confirms its former decision and practice, which was established in connection with the presentation of the document in evidence by my American colleagues, or is it something new that the Tribunal asks for?
The documents which I presented today has already been accepted as a photostat in the same session of the Court, under No. 2788-PS. So, is it a new decision or a reiteration of an old one?
THE PRESIDENT: I think what you have stated is true, that this particular document does not appear to have any certificate that it is a true copy.
But the Tribunal expects that the United States will produce such a certificate that it is a true copy of an authentic document and will state the origin and the custody of the original document.
COLONEL POKROVSKY:I wish to ask the following question, which interests all Counsel: Do I understand the decision of the Court that we have to present a supplementary document or whether it refers only to the documents which will be presented in the future?
THE PRESIDENT:I think it applies to all documents. It applies equally to all Chief Prosecutors and to all documents. In cases -
COLONEL POKROVSKY:Which have already been accepted by the Court?
THE PRESIDENT:Yes, certainly. If a document has been accepted in photostat form and there has been no certificate that it was a true copy of an authentic document, then a certificate must be given. And we desire that the certificate should always show that the document was authentic and the place of its present custody. And that applies equally to all the Chief Prosecutors.
COLONEL POKROVSKY:Now, I think I understand that the Tribunal is inclined to continue its practice, which means that we will be in a position to present the photostats with the certification and, as far as possible, to present originals. I hope I understood it correctly.
THE PRESIDENT:Yes, we desire originals, if possible. If it is impossible, or if it is highly inconvenient, then we will accept photostats. And in the meantime, for your convenience -- because this practice has not been perhaps adequately stated before -- we will accept photostat copies without certificate, on your undertaking that you will have the certificate later on.
Is that clear?
COLONEL POKROVSKY:Absolutely; that the practice adopted before is continued to be in operation. If the Tribunal will permit myself to draw your attention to the same lines when interrupted in my report; I have in mind the three last lines of page 193 of the document which is before you.
The final aim of the forthcoming negotiations between the Sudeten German German Party, and the Czechoslovakian Government is to avoid entering the government by widening the scope of their demands, and by formulating them with ever increasing precision.
In the course of negotiations it must be pointed out very clearly that the sole partner in these negotiations with the Czechoslovakia Government is the Sudeten-German Party, and not the Reich Government, Now I can omit a few lines and go to page 197.
For purposes of further collaboration, Conrad Henlein was advised to maintain the closest contact with the Reich Minister, and with the leader of the "Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle," as well as with the German Ambassador in Prague who was re presenting the Reichs minister there.
The task of the German Ambassador in Prague was to uphold the Sudeten German Party's demands in an unofficial manner, and mainly in private discussions with the Czechoslovakian statesmen, by referring to them as reasonable, but without exerting any direct influence on the scope of the party's demands.
Finally the question of the advisability of the Sudeten German Party's collaboration with other national minorities in Czechoslovakia, especially the Slovaks, was discussed. The Reichsminister decided that the Party should be given a free hand to contact other National groups with activities of a similar type which might be considered to be of use.
A list of those present at the conference on 29 March 1938, at Berlin, you will find on page 197, volume 1, part 1, and marked with a lead pencil: Reichsminister von Ribbentrop, State Secretary von Mackensen, Ministerialdirektor Weizsaecker, Minister Eisenlor, Prague, Minister Schilbe, Legationsrat von Tvardovsky, Legationsrat Altenburg, Legationsrat Kordt (Ministery of Foreign Affairs). Other of the group were SS Obergruppenfuehrer Lorenz. Professor Haushofer (Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle), Conrad Henlein, Karl Hermann Frank, Dr. Kuenzel, Dr. Kreisel (Sudeten German Party).
It is not difficult to draw proper conclusions as to the genuine intentions of the Fascist conspirators with respect to Czechoslovakia if we only take into consideration the fact that among those attending the conference were such people as the defendant Ribbentrop, two ministers, two representatives of the so-called "Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle," including one Obergruppenfuehrer of the SS, the prospective Reichsecretary of the Czech-Moravian Protekterat, Karl Hermann Frank, and the leader of the so-called Sudeten German Party, Conrad Henlein, a paid factotum and agent provocateur of Hitler.
German diplomatic missions were directing the activities of the Fascist party branches abroad. With this purpose in view the loader of AO Gauleiter, Ernest William Bohle, was made Reichs Secretary in the Ministry for Foreign affairs.
On June 3, 1938, two documents were prepared by Lorenz, a member of the SS, and one of the participants of the conference to which I have just called the attention of the Tribunal. I will read both of them. The first one referring to the interview with Ward Price indicates that Henlein was under direct control of the SS, and it was to them that he was responsible far all his activities.
This document also contains the direct threat to resort to a "decisive operation" in order to bring about the solution of the so-called Sudeten German problem.
I will read this short document under No. USSR 270:
"In connection with the interview with Ward price which appeared in the foreign press, SS Obergruppenfuehrer Lorenz requested an explanation from Henlein, who made the following, statement:
Ward price was present at the burial of those executed in the town of Eger.
He asked Henlein's collaborator, Sebekovsky, to arrange a meeting with Henlein for him.
Henlein knew of the circumstances of the interview given by the Fuehrer to Ward Price.
He had a talk with Ward Price over a cup of tea.
He did not give him a real interview.
The conversation about the Sudeten German and the Czech problems took the form of a talk on appendicitis, Henlein saying that one should now temporize with chronic attacks of appendicitis, but take radical steps and operate.
Later on, when Ward price published an account of this conversation, Henlein decided to expose him.
But at that moment through the Embassy in Prague, an order came from the Minister of Foreign Affairs that Henlein should settle the matter with Ward Price amiably, as the latter had Hitler's confidence, and was not to be insulted by the Sudeten Germans.
When Henlein met Ward Price again, he backed out, putting the blame on the members of the Sudeten German Party.
In addition, to this, he wrote a letter to Ward Price, thus settling the matter."
The second document which is on page 201, which is our number USSR-268, shows that following the orders of the SS and the leaders of the Hitlerite conspirace, Henlein negotiated with the Czech Government about the settlement of the Sudeten German question with the sole purpose of creating a provocation. These negotiations were closely followed by theleaders of the Fascist conspiracy who guided Henlein's further steps.
I will start to quote from this document: "In a conversation with SS Obergruppenfuehrer Lorenz, Henlein put the following question:
"What if Czechoslovakia under the pressure of foreign countries were to accede suddenly to all my requests, and put forward, as a counter demand, its participation in the government?"
It was quite clear that this question was not acute at this moment, and that further lengthy and gainful negotiations were inevitable.
Yet he asked for instructions concerning his possible line of action regarding this problem in case he were not able to communicate with Germany.
He himself suggested the following: If Czechoslovakia accedes to all my requests I will answer "Yes", but will insist upon the chance of its foreign policy. This Czechoslovakia will never accept. "Henlein was promised that this question would be elucidated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lorenz."
THE PRESIDENT:Isn't it time to break off; it is now quarter past five.
(The Tribunal adjourned until 9 February 1946, at 1000 hours).
Official transcript of the International Military Tribunal in the matter of The United States of America, the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and.
Northern Ireland, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics against Hermann Wilhelm Goering, et al, Defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, on 9 February 1946, 1000-1130, Lord Justice Lawrence presiding.
COLONEL POKROVSKY:May I continue with my statement?
The end of the session prevented me from quoting a brief excerpt from a very secret and very important State Document, dated September 22, 1938. I propose to start with this document and to quote the first six lines from document USSR exhibit 267.
This short extract proves with absolute clarity what was the so-called Sudeten-German Freikorps, the existence of which was mentioned in previous sessions I quote the first six lines from the notes taken down after a telephone conversation which one of the leaders of the so-called Volksdeutsch had in Berlin at 1900 hours on the 22nd of September 1938. Allow me to quote these extracts:
"Mr. Schmidt, from the Volksdeutsch Center, phoned at 1900 as follows:
"I, The Command of the Sudetan-deutsch Freikorps just communicated the following:
"1st Lt. Kochling transmittedthe following Fuehrer's order: Freikorps has to carry out the occupation of regions cleared by Czechs. The important actions, however, may be executed only with the Fuehrer's personal approval."
The rest of this document signed by von Stechoff is of no interest, and I will not read it.
AS far as I can judge the minutes of Hitler's reception of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chvalkowsky, on 21 January 1939, that is say shortly before the complete occupation of Czechoslovakia, - are of great interest. Hitler's mendacious and pompous statements as to his respect for the independence of small nations, statements recorded in the document I am about to quote, are characteristic of his perfidious tactics. (This document is presented to the Tribunal as USSR exhibit 266): You will find this document, your Honors, on pare 203 of the first part of the document. I quote:
"Chvalkowsky began by thanking the Fuehrer for having done his country the honor of receiving twice within three months, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He had come here to inform the Fuehrer that, although it had cost his great efforts, he had strictly fulfilled the promise he had made to the Fuehrer on the 14th of October...
"The Fuehrer thanked Chvalkovsky for the fulfillment of his promises. The foreign policy of a state, he said, is determined by its home policy. It is quite impossinle to carry out a foreign policy of type "A", and at the same time, a home policy of type "B". It could succeed only for a short while. From the very start the development of events in Czechoslovakia was bound to lead to a catastrophe. And this catastrophe had been avoided thanks to Germany.
"Had Germany not struck to National-Socialist principles, - which forbade annexations, - the fate of Czechoslovakia, would have followed another course, whatever, today, remains of Czechoslovakia, has been saved not by Benesh, but only thanks to National-Socialist principles."
I pass a few sentences and continues:
"For example, the strength of the Dutch and Danish armies rested not in thenselves, but in the fact that the whole world was convinced of the absolute neutrality of these States. when war broke out, it was well known that the problem of neutrality was one of very great importance to these countries. The case of Belgium was somewhat different, as that country had had an agreement with the French General Staff. In this particular case, Germany, was compelled to forestaff possible eventualities. These small countries were defended not by their armies but by respect to their neutrality."
A further part of this quotation you will find on Page 207.
"Chavalkovsky, backed by Mastny, again spoke about the situation in Czechoslovakia, and about the attitude of the majority of the peasants. Before the crisis, he said, the people did not know what they were to expect of Germany, But when they saw that they would not be exterminated, end, that Germany wish to lead the Czech people in her wake, they heaved a sigh of relief, World propaganda, against which the Fuehrer had been struggling for so many years, was not focussed on tine Czechoslovakia. Chvalkovsky begged the Fuehrer to address, from time to time, a few kind words to the Czech people.