"Danzig enthusiastically extends to you, my Fuehrer, the feeling of endless gratitude and eternal devotion.
"Heil to my Fuehrer Albert FORSTER, Gauleiter."
of the fascist conspirators with regard to Poland, have been submitted to the Tribunal, it seems to me opportune to refer be it only summarily, to excerpts from the plan "Weiss" as well as from the speeches, and pronouncements by Hitler and Ribbentrop typical of their ideas, after which I will offer in evidence a new document, which is Exhibit USSR 172. This document represents the secret notes by Bormann concerning a conversation on Poland, which took place in Hitler's apartment on 2 October 1940. made a speech. It concerned a number of problems, including the relations with Poland.
There is no need to quote it in detail. At present, only two or three sentences can be of interest to us. I quote excerpts from Exhibit TC - 70;
"....It seems to me, that one must show by a concrete example that disagreements, however indisputable, need not prevent the finding of a 'Modus vivendi' which would serve usefully both the cause of peace and the welfare of both nations." sentences:
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Pokrovsky, it is pointed out to me, and I intervene for the purpose of getting the record correct, that the document is not the 30th of January, 1943 or 1933, but is the 30th of January, 1934. Is that what you agree with?
COLONEL POKROVSKY: In my report I see the date 30th of January 1934.
THE PRESIDENT: That is right, yes.
COLONEL POKROVSKY: I will continue my quotation.
"The German Government is resolved and prepared to develop its political and economic relations with Poland in accordance with the present agreement, in such a way as to ensure that a period of useful cooperation may follow one of fruitless reticence.
"The Chancellor has expressed here his particular satisfaction with the clarification of relationsbetween Danzig and Poland." of his usual speeches. I consider it necessary to quote a short excerpt from this speech (TC-29):
"The German-Polish relations presented that complicated problem which I had to encounter. There was a danger that the idea of mutual implacable hostility would completely dominate the imagination of our own as well as of the Polish people. I wanted to avert it." therefore omit a few sentences.
"Precisely a year later it was possible to come to an agreement which, in the first place, definitely eliminated the danger of a conflict for a period of ten years.
"We are all convinced, that the agreement will lead to a lasting peace, We realize, that the matter concerns two peoples, which have to exist side by side, and of which neither can eliminate the other.
"A state with a thirty-three million population will always strive for an exit to the sea.
"Because of that, a way to a mutual understanding had to be found. Now it is found, and will be more and more consolidated." deceitful speech of Hitler's, the defendant Ribbentrop, speaking in Warsaw on 25 January 1939, stated: (This quotation is Number 2530-PS) "It is an essential part of German Foreign Policy that the friendly relations between Germany and Poland, on the basis of the existing treaty, be progressively strengthened and deepened in accordance with the firm will of the Fuehrer."
in Court, and submitted to the Tribunal, as the documentary evidence No. 2530-PS, I wish to repeat only one sentence of it:
"Thus Poland and Germany can look forward to the future with complete reliance upon the solid basis of their mutual relations."
Need I remind the Tribunal, that in the already presented document L-79, which is a record of the conference on the 23 May 1939, at Hitler's new Reichs Chancery, among the many other openly aggressive declarations and statements of policy by Hitler, this man uttered the following sentence:
"Thus, there isno question of sparing Poland, and the decision remains to attack Poland at the first opportunity.
It is impossible to expect a repetition of the operation against Czechoslovakia.
This time it will mean war."
Poland only. The Fascist conspirators had for a long time carefully prepared for it. I now turn to Document C-120, a considerable part of which has already been read into the record. I would like to submit several excerpts from this document concerning the conspiracy of Hitlerites directed against Poland, excerpts which have not yet been read into the record. I would like to draw your attention to certain sentences, which naturally did not attract the attention of the counsel who offered this document in evidence. These sentences are neither decisive nor of primary importance, but they are highly characteristic and necessary for a correct evaluation of the material I am about to present.
In the document stamped No. 120-C, for Commanding Officers only, top secret. Matter concerning Chief of Staff. Through an officer only. General Headquarters of the Armed Forces WFA 37/39 Chefsache (L-a), just preceding the text of the document, its subject is indicated, as follows:
"Subject: Instructions for the Armed Forces for the years 1939 1940."
Directive concerning the uniform preparation of the Armed Forces for the years 1939-1940 is hereby restated."
before 3 April 1939, there existed directives on this very question.
In paragraph 3 of the cited document the following is said:
"Any suggestion by the three branches of the Armed Forces as well on 1 May 1939."
tailed plan for an aggression against Poland. And Hitler while playing the part of one wronged by Poland, waited oily for an opportune moment to de-clare that he had no choice but to destroy the Polish State.
as #120-C, but was not read into the record - there is one feature of great importance. The document is signed by Hitler and bears the date 11 April 1939. It was prepared in five originals. I offer in evidence a copy of the second original.
"Directive concerning the uniform preparation of the Armed Forces ready to accomplish the following tasks:
(1) Securing the boundaries of the German Reich and pro (2) Operation "Weiss" (3) Occupation of Danzig.
Hitler."
3, entitled, "The Occupation of Danzig."
"In the event of a favorable political situation, the question independently of plan 'Weiss'".which was to be transmitted through officers only.
It is important "Instructions concerning the uniform preparation for war of the Armed Forces for the years 1939-1940."
Just as the previous ones, this document was not intended for a wide circle of readers.
It was typed only in seven originals.
The Fascist conspirators were not And again in the appendix to directive OKW 37/39, which I have already submitted to the Tribunal, and which is entitled, "Special Orders for Operation Weiss," there is a very significant sentence.
"In case of a public announcement of the general mobilization (Mobplan), the mobilization will automatically extend to all civilian life, including war production.
However, a public announcement of 'Plan Weiss'". And finally, I would like to point out that in Keitel's order to the Armed Forces, #37/39, of 3 April 1939, issued in connection with "Operation Weiss," the following directives by Hitler are stated for "I. The operational plans must be worked out with the view that their execution will be possible at any time beginning 1 September 1939."
The Operational Order #1, under #25039, of 21 August, 1939, issued to the command of Naval Group, "Ost," on board the battleship, "Schleswig Holstein," stated as follows.
"1. Situation
a) Political: the Armed Forces must be defeated by means of favorable for the defense of the country.
The Free City of Danzig will be declared a Reich City."
about the "free expression of will by the Danzig population," which allegedly aspired to become part of the Reich.
It must not be the above operational order No. 1, to the very day.
rqther long but exceptionally important document. I have in mind a note by the Defendant Bormann of 2/10/1940, referring to a conversation about Poland.
This conversation was held after a dinner which took place in Hitler's apartment.
"Secret. Berlin, 2/10 - 1940. Note."
2.10.1940. After a dinner, at the Fuehrer's apartment there The conversation began when the Reichsminister, Dr. Frank, could be termed very successful.
The Jews in Warsaw and other cities had been locked up in the ghetto; Cracow would very shortly be cleared of them."
"The Fuehrer further emphasized that the Poles, in direct contrast to our German workmen, are born for hard labour; we must all give all possibilities of advancement to our German workers; as to the Poles - there can be no question of improvement for them.
On the and it must not be permitted to rise."
"The Government General must under no conditions, be an isolated and a uniform economic region; the Government General must not produce subsistence; the Government General should be used by us as a source of unskilled labour (in industries such as brick manufacturing, road construction, etc.
etc.) One cannot change the nature of a Slav, the Fuehrer has emphasized.
Whilst, as a rule, our German workers are by nature assiduous and diligent, 'the Poles are lazy and it is necessary "However, there are no reasons to expect that the Government "The Fuehrer has explained that the Reich needs large estates to provide food for our large cities; these large estates, as well as produce.
The best solution would thus be to import from Poland "Our industrial districts are over-populated, while at the same time there is a lack of manpower in rural economy.
That is where we can make use of the Polish laborers.
For this reason, it would be from there.
It is indispensable to keep in mind that the Polish landlords must cease to exist; however cruel this may sound, wherever "There must of course be no sexual intercourse with Poles.
It and women, came together to the Reich.
Whatever their mutual relation "The Fuehrer stressed once more that there should be one master only for the Poles - the German:
two masters, side by side, cannot and must not exist; therefore, all representatives of the Polish intelligentsia are to be exterminated.
This sounds cruel, but such is "The Government General represents a Polish reserve of man-power a large Polish labor camp.
The Poles will also benefit from this, as we look after their health and see to it that they do not starve, etc.
, become anarchists and communists.
It will therefore be proper, if the Poles remain Catholics; Polish priests will receive food from us and favour.
The priests will be paid by us and will in return preach what we wish them to preach.
If any priest acts differently, we will make short work of him.
The task of the priest is to keep the Poles quiet, stupid and dull-witted.
This is entirely in our interests. Should be that man-power of which we are in need.
In other respects, it will a large farm is not at all necessary; he will have to earn his living in Germany.
It is just this cheap labor we need; every German and every German worker will benefit by this cheap labor.
A strict German the Poles.
These reserves mean for us the maintenance of agriculture, supply of labor."
go on directly to Hitler's final statements.
To sum up the Fuehrer stated once more :
"1. The lowest German workman and the lowest German peasant must always stand economically 10% above any Pole."
I omit the second paragraph and pass to the third. It is of "3. I do not wish" the Fuehrer stressed "that a German workman conditions again; if a Pole, however, works 14 hours, he is still, "4. The ideal picture is this:
a Pole must possess a small provide him and his family with food.
The money required by him for clothes, supplementary foods, etc.
, he must earn in Germany. The unskilled labor, particularly agricultural laborers.
The subsistence be made use of for cheap labor."
This document deals with the question of Hitler's attitude towards I wish only to draw your Honors' attention to three points.
that, in the "new" Fascist order in Europe, the Polish people and Polish I beg your Honors to consider the fact that by "adequate nourish ment," Hitler understands a state of affairs according to which, every By "care" he means, that the standard of living in Poland should wise than in heavy unskilled labor 14 hours a day.
Finally, Hitler to the most pitiable and beggarly level.
In their opinion their man-power for the Fascist "masters."
THE PRESIDENT: Would that be a convenient time to break off?
(The Tribunal adjourned until 11 February, 1946, at 10.
00 hours.)
COL. POKROVSKY: The Tribunal has at its disposal diaries by defendant Frank.
In the volume marked "Diary 1943, V, on pages 1070 - 1072 we find an important entry; in the Russian translation it is to be found on p. 5 of the additions to the "Excerpts from Frank's Diaries," and is marked in pencil and on page 321 of the Document Book.
"Cracow 23 October 1943.
"The Governor-General delivered an address at the Administrative Academy on the principle of leadership in government. From the point of view of State law and of the law of nations, the Government-General, as an appendage to Greater Germany, constitutes a part of the territory over which the power of Greater Germany in Europe extends. The Sovereignty over this territory belongs to the Fuehrer of Greater Germany and on his behalf it is exercised by the Governor-General who, as the deputy of the Fuehrer, possesses all his powers." of a strictly official nature. Document it is page 333, USSR 296, is published the "Fuehrer's and Reich Chancellor's decree on the administration of the occupied Polish territory", dated October 12, 1939.
I shall read paragraph 2 of this decree:
"Paragraph 2 "1. I appoint Reich Minister Dr. Frank as Governor-General of the occupied Polish territories.
"2. I appoint Reich Minister Dr. Seyss-Inquart as deputy GovernorGeneral."
is published a "Decree regarding the power to grant pardons in the occupied Polish territories". It is registered on page 336 in the Document Book. It reads:
"In the occupied Polish Territories I delegate to the Governor-General right to further delegate his powers."
perogative of a sovereign was given to the defendant Frank. who had said that he would show, by the concrete example of the relationship between the Polish and the German peoples, that a form of intercourse had been found "which would serve usefully both the cause of peace and the wellfare of both nations."
I have shown above the kind of "example" which was intended and what the "well-being" was which was referred to. prepared beforehand on the part of the Fascist conspirators. Hague Convention of 18 October 1907 and of the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 27 August 1928.
The Delegations of Great Britain and of the U.S.A. have already submitted to the Tribunal a considerable number of documents referring to the subject of the treacherous attack on Yugoslavia. I have only to submit a few new proofs and to establish a correlation between these new documents and those already presented to the court. exceptional vividness. Here German pedantry turns against the authors of the criminal plan. situation in Yugoslavia. On the same day he signed a top secret directive 025, "for higher commanders only." Both documents, filed under No. 1746-PS, are amongst the evidence already accepted by the Tribunal.
paragraph 2 of Directive 025. The first paragraph of this document was also read on 7 December 1945. I wish to add a few more lines.
I quote from paragraph 3. This quotation is on page 337 of the Document Book. It states as follows:
" a) as soon as the concentration of sufficient forces is concluded day and night air attacks."
" b) If possible, simultaneously, but under no circumstances prior to the operation "Marita" must be started, with the limited objective at first, to seize the harbor of Salonica and the Dios mountains."
I believe that three points should be stressed here:
1) The desire to carry out the total destruction of the capital of a state.
2) The correlation between the aggression against Yugoslavia and the aggression against another country - Greece; the aggression against Greece being known under the code-name, operation "Marita".
3) The necessity to complete the concentration of German forces as well as meteorological conditions were the factors that determined the timelimits for the attack. features recur in this case too; namely the criminal intentions of a predatory invader, treachery, and cold calculation. were made a long time in advance and followed the usual Hitler routine, which has already been disclosed by the prosecutors: fifth column activities, clever manipulation with slogans playing up the defense of the German minority, deceitful practice of declaring his love for peace, combined with unceasing preparations for invasion.
On 27 March 1941, on the very day when Directive No. 025 was signed by Hitler, the latter conducted personally, in Berlin, a conference on the situation in Yugoslavia. The minutes of this conference were presented by the American Prosecution on 4 December 1945 as document 1746-PS.
under the same number. At this conference, the objectives were determined with absolute precision and a plan of action was presented. You will find the quote referred to page 349. Hitler declared:
"Not to take into consideration any possible declarations of its loyalty by the new Government, but to carry but all preparations for destruction of Yugoslav armed forces and of Yugoslavia itself as a national unit. It is especially important from the political point of view that the blow against Yugoslavia should be carried out with utmost violence and that its military destruction should be effected with lightning speed." And a little further:
"No diplomatic inquiries will be made and no ultimatum presented.... The attack will start as soon as necessary supplies and formations (means and troops) are ready." or another Yugoslav Government towards Germany, but in the practical destruction of Yugoslavia as a state, and he strove to make this destruction cruel and quick as lightning.
The operational staff of the OKW meticulously followed Hitler's directive, regarding the cruel and lightning-like destruction of Yugoslavia and speedily worked out a detailed plan for coordinated operations of German and Italian armies. It was issued as an official operational order dated 28 March 1941. I believe it necessary to read once again three lines of this document which has already been submitted to the Tribunal, under the same No. 1746-PS. You will find it on page 352 of the Document Book.
I quote paragraph I of this document:
"The task of the Germans will consist in attacking Yugoslavia with destroying it as a state."
the other Fascist conspirators. Said he:
"There can be no question of sparing Poland."
He demanded that:
"Yugoslavia be virtually eliminated as a state ruthlessly and with lightning speed."
was the style and the import of the actions of the Fascist conspirators. to destroy Yugoslavia, all these were links in the same chain. But the chain does not end with these links. USSR Prosecution will be to show that the basic aim of these criminals, the main link which was in the center of all of Hitler's thoughts was the attack on the USSR. attacking that country, the fascist conspirators were strictly following their customary methods. Even in detail they repeated their earlier crimes perpetrated against Poland, Austria and Czechoslovakia. Even in case we did not knew who actually organized the attack on Yugoslavia, the very character of the facts, the sequence of events, the manner in which the crimes were committed, would unmistakably point to the culprits.
Official Report of the Yugoslav Government.
The first section, entitled "The planned preparation of the conspiracy for the enslavement and the destruction of Yugoslavia", contains a collection of valuable information. I will quote paragraph 1 on page 3 of the Russian text (the 3rd paragraph from the top), the following quotation:
"The Government of the Third Reich and the Hitlerite party secretly organized the German minority.
The Germans who had been settled full rights, as brothers, and a cultural autonomy.
They had their local Government.
They numbered million (i.e. represented about 3% of the population)."From 1920 onwards they had their mass organization - the Swabian-German cultural union (called the "cultural Union" for short).military organ for the destruction of the country."
I shall skip several lines and quote further:
"In Yugoslavia, Fascist 'Gaue' were secretly formed and 'Gauleiters' had been appointed. Under the guise of various physical training and sport associations, were organized Hitlerite units half a million strong. Numerous 'toursists', 'commercial travellers' and 'relatives' came from the Reich-in reality Fascist instructors and organizers." second paragraph of the same section on page 4, that is page 336 in the Document Book, where the manner is described in which the Fifth Column was further strengthened. I now will read into the record beginning with the second sub-paragraph of paragraph 2:
"...The Hitlerites drew into their orbit all the separatist and chauvinistic elements, as, for instance, Pavelich's "Ustashi", the "Sbor", a movement headed by Lyotich, the VMRO (the Macedonian Fascist movement), hea ded by Vancha Mikhailovich, and terrorist organizations with headquarters in Berlin.
On the other hand, acting through their ority, was 'peacefully' to deliver Yugoslavia into slavery by adhering to the Tripartite pact."
Further, the report emphasizes the fact that, while organizing numerous branches of the Fifth Column, the Hitlerites continually gave new perfidious assurances about their ostensibly friendly intentions with regard to Yugoslavia. This is discussed in paragraph 3 on page 5 of the Russian text; in your Document Book it is on page 357:
"3. While both the Hitlerite government and the party were so thoroughly every opportunity to declare to the 'whole world, on behalf of the count on them as devoted friends."
On 17 January 1935, i.e. some weeks before the occupation of Austria, Hitler had a conference with the then Prime Minister of Yugoslavia. The defendants Goering and von Neurath were present at that conference. The original document from which I will quote certain excerpts was submitted to the Tribunal as TC-92. The extract which I will quote you will find on page 411 of the Document Book.
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Pokrovsky, for the sake of accuracy, I think you read, and it certainly came through to us as, "On 17 January 1935, that is, some weeks before the occupation of Austria, Hitler had a conference with the then Prime minister of Yugoslavia." through to us as 1935.
COLONEL POKROVSKY: I beg your pardon, it is evidently a mistake in the translation because on my text it is 1938. the conflict with Yugoslavia and Greece was offered in evidence. In the listing of documents it is referred to as TC-92.
document No. 28 of that collection, we have a transcript of the conversations which took place during the conference of 17 January 1938. There is no need to read into the record the entire document. I will limit myself to the following three utterances made by Hitler on that occasion:
"As regards Yugoslavia, Germany is interested in the existence of a strong Yugoslavia."
And somewhat later in the course of the same conversation:
"Whatever may happen there, Yugoslavia's present boundary will remain as inviolable as the Brenner Pass is today."
Still further Hitler professed to know:
"that the German population of Yugoslavia was loyal to the Yugoslav Government." lovak Republic, Hitler made the following declaration about Yugoslavia in his speech before the Reichstag: (This quotation is to be found on page 412 in your Document Book) "A state which since the Great War has more and more attracted the attention of our people is Yugoslavia.
"The deep respect which the German soldier once felt for that courageous people has since become ever stronger and developed into sincere friendship". document No. 32 on page 71 of the collection from which I just have quoted, TC-92.
On the 1st of June 1939, i.e., before the fascist attack on Poland, Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, whom the official report of the Yugoslav Government calls a Hitlerite agent, paid a visit to Hitler. On this occasion, Hitler stated in Berlin: (You will find this on page 413 in your Document Book).
"Germany's friendship with the Yugoslav nation is not spontaneous.
World War."
interest to the Tribunal, he continued:
"I am all the more confident that now when, as a result of the pacifying element for our nervous continent."
I quoted from this book No. TC 92, GB 114. Reichstag, on 6 October Hitler again assured Yugoslavia of his love of peace and of his friendly attitude in following words:
"After the annexation had taken place, I assured Yugoslavia in the same friendship with her."
first section of the report of the Yugoslav State Commission for the investigation of the crimes perpetrated by the aggressors. Russian text and are marked for your convenience with a red line:
"Thus Hitler regularly gave assurances about friendly relations with the ring of war around Yugoslavia.
When Yugoslavia was completely sur rounded by Hitler's armored divisions, and when the government of the to joint the Tripartite Pact on the 25th March 1941, i.e. 10 days before the attack on Yugoslavia, the defendant Ribbentrop stated as follows:"
(On page 413 of your Document Book you will find Document PS 2450).
"Germany herself - and I solemnly state this - has neither terri torial nor political interests in that region.
..."
I shall hand to the Tribunal a certified extract from document No. 72 of the above mentioned German book.