Thus it was that it was precisely in Stuttgart that there arose a need to found an institute for the purpose of keeping up a patriotic connection between the old homeland and the new. The German Auslandsinstitut was to serve this purpose. It had the following tasks:
"(a) Scientific research into Germanism in the world.
"(b) To keep up cultural connections with the emigrants.
"(c) The education of the home country about Germanism abroad and about foreign countries.
"For scientific research the German Auslandsinstitut had a library of over one hundred thousand volumes on folklore and a newspaper archive for Germanism abroad. For this reason nearly all newspapers in the German language published abroad and a large number of newspapers in foreign languages were kept and utilized. In one filing room an extensive collection of pictures was organized.
"As the interest of Germans abroad in the homeland increased, family research took on even greater proportions.
"Apart from its collecting and registering activities, the German Auslandsinstitut carried out no advisory or representative activities. For a long time the main subject for advice was the question of emigration. This had, as a pre-condition that the German Auslandsinstitut was informed regarding the possibility of employment and the conditions of life in the individual areas for emigration.
"The material of the German Auslandsinstitut was placed at the disposal of the various authorities and organizations on demand. The German Auslandsinstitut work of presentation consisted eventually in organizing expositions. The central point of this activity was the Museum of Germanism abroad in Stuttgart, It was to be at the same time a monument to German achievements abroad.
"The scientific work of the German Auslandsinstitut found its expression particularly in the books, magazines, and calendars of a native character published by it. Relations with the Germans abroad were kept up by the dispatch of such printed material. The guiding thought of the German Auslandsinstitut in its relations with the Germans abroad was that these Germans abroad were to be the connecting links between nations so as to deepen the mutual understanding and wish for collaboration.
They were to be the bearers of friendship between their old and their new home.
"As President of the German Auslandsinstitut, I particularly stressed this thought in my address in Madison Square Garden in New York City in October 1936 on the occasion of 'German Day'. The German Auslandsinstitut had, moreover, no installations or representatives abroad; corresponding members acred as links.
A direct or individual caring for Germans abroad was not the task of the German Auslandsinstitut. The welfare of German national abroad was undertaken by the Ausland organization of the N.S.D.A.P.. Relations with the racial Germans were maintained by the 'Volksbund fur das Deutschtum im Ausland' (Peoples Union For People of German Blood Abroad).
"The German Auslandsinstitut never carried on any activities which could be called 'fifth column' activities. No suggestion of this kind was submitted to me or to the Institute by anybody.
"The Deputy of the Fuehrer, Rudolf Hess, did not exert any influence on the activities of the Institute. He issued no directives or instructions of any kind which could have caused the Institute to undertake any activity in the way of 'fifth column' work."
Witness, are these statements correct?
DR. SEIDLE: I have at the moment no further questions to direct to the witness.
THE PRESIDENT: Do any of the defendants' counsel wish to ask any questions of this witness?
DR. von LUEDINGHAUSEN: (Defense counsel for defendant von Neurath): May it please the Tribunal, I should like to ask the witness a few questions. BY DR. von LUEDINGHAUSEN:
Q From when to when were you Lord Mayor of Stuttgart?
Q And for how long do you know von Neurath; what was he then and what was his position?
A I know von Neurath from the time of the First World War. He was at that time, at the end of the First WorldWar, chief of the cabinet of the Koenig of Wuerthemberg. In my capacity as Lord Mayor I met von Neurath frequently. In 1938 von Neurath became an honorary citizen of Stuttgart.
Czechoslovakia? neighborhood of Stuttgart and here I had closer and steady connections with him. in general?
A Von Neurath is from an old Swabian family. His father was Oberstkammerherr of Wuerthemberg. His grandfather and his great grandfather were ministers. character, a disciplined personality, always ready to help, extraordinarily humane, very conscientious. opportunity to speak about politics with him and particularly about his attitude toward politics and foreign policy? only in general terms, As Reich Foreign Minister he was convinced that Germany would succeed inpeaceful ways to get that place in the world which it deserved. He repudiated any other way. It was his effort to build up trusting relationships with other European nations and to strengthen these relations, particularly with England. It was precisely in this field that he did everything that was possible. it was particularly emphasized how extraordinarily popular von Neurath was in London at that time. I recall that we also discussed the sentence that Henderson wrote, namely, that he admired von Neurath's devotion to peace and to better relations with England. It was also his concern to cultivate better relations with the United States. I recall that he, after my trip to America, spoke to me on the subject and that it was good that I had emphasized in my address friendship with the United States.
I also remember how von Neurath criticized the tone of Hitler's address which in the year 1939 was given by Hitler as an answer to Roosevelt's message He said at that time that international tension was only increased by that speech of Hitler's. active participant.
Then later he spoke again and again of the tragedy that was implicit in the fact that despite all efforts, the relations between England and Germany were characterized by no lasting reciprocal confidence. He pointed out how tragic that was for Germany and for the world. he desired an understanding and peaceful settlement and from all his statement I became convinced that he would never have pursued a policy that might possibly lead to war. of Stuttgart? birthday. This appointment expressed not only Stuttgart's but also Swabia's appreciation of the efforts that he had made toward international peace and toward the betterment of international politics. It also expressed our respect for his honest and pure character.
gave assurances to foreign governments or to their representatives that Germany had no military intentions toward these states, but that these assurances were simply given for the sake of appearances in order to lull these states into a false sense of security, because von Neurath knew then and approved of the fact that Hitler did have aggressive intentions toward these states. From your knowledge of his personality do you hold von Neurath capable of such infamy? as foreign Minister? foreign ministry at the moment of his resignation. He described to me how this resignation came about. Until the end of the year 1937 von Neurath was convinced that Hitler was altogether in sympathy with the foreign policies that he was pursuing. Hitler as well as himself had not wanted to let matters come to the point of war. Now altogether unexpectedly Hitler at the end of 1937 changed his attitude. Hitler suddenly struck a different note, and it was impossible to know from this note whether it was meant seriously or not. Von Neurath then had a personal conversation with Hitler and attempted to dissuade him of this different altitude, but he had the impression that he had lost his influence over Hitler, and that induced him to submit his resignation. appointed the President of the Secret Cabinet. Do you know what his activity was in this capacity? alter his resignation, but this Secret Cabinet did not meet nor did the Reich Cabinet moot. The Secret Cabinet was to be called by Hitler personally, and Hitler never called it. Von Neurath believed later that he had been appointed president in order to conceal from foreign countries that the foreign minister had no more influence on the policy of the Reich as a whole.
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Leudinghausen, I don't see how this witness can know whether the Secret Cabinet Council was ever called. In any event we have already heard it from Goering, and presumably we shall hear it again from the defendant von Neurath, in which case it is grossly cumulative.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: Sure enough.
TIE PRESIDENT: I don't think we should waste the time of the Tribunal with it. BY DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: toward the Nazi Party?
A Von Neurath's attitude toward the Party was critical, and first he was simply waiting to see what would develop. His relations with the Party were bad. The Party realised the attitude that von Neurath was no National Socialist. Christian churches, namely, the Evangelical and the Catholic? toward the church. He particularly supported efforts to maintain religious freedom. He exercised his influence to see to it that seminaries that were closed were opened again. Here too I was with von Neurath and church minister Kerrl, and spoke with him about the policy toward the church. Church minister Kerrl was making efforts to represent positive Christianity, but he did not succeed in this because in his activity he was sabotaged, particularly by Himmler and Bormann. to him about his activities as Reich Protector? Bohemia and Moravia very unwillingly. He had refused it twice, but he finally came to believe that he must mate this sacrifice. He believed precisely that there he could bring about some reconciliation. He had considerable difficulties with Himmler and Frank , who objected to his efforts to have a better treatment of the Czechs, and made objections to Hitler on this subject. When I visited von Neurath there I was asked to visit President Hacha, and he emphasized to me how happy he was that von Neurath had been sent to Bohemia and Moravia, since he had high confidence in him and hoped for good things of him. The reason for his being called back -- von Neurath told me--was that he was too mild for the Fuehrer in his treatment of the Czechs, and that the Fuehrer subsequently preferred to have a trusted SS man in that position.
Q Who was then to be appointed?
Q Was that von Neurath's reason for resigning? (honorary Gruppenfuehrer of the SS). How did he achieve this position? having been asked whether he wanted to be or not. Hitler told him the reason for this was that Mussolini was to pay a visit and he wanted von Neurath in his entourage with a uniform on, and since von Neurath had no uniform he named him an honorary member of the SS. Von Neurath said he did not have the intention of following out Himmler's policy. Hitler told him that that was hot necessary, it was only important that he should wear a uniform.
Q What was von Neurath's attitude toward war? railroad station. He was very depressed. He called the war a terrible misfortune, a gambling with the whole existence of the people. He said that all his work from 1923 to 1938 had thereby been destroyed.
During the war von Neurath saw the Fuehrer occasionally. On each such occasion he had an opportunity to represent to the Fuehrer the thought of peace.
THE PRESIDENT: How can the witness say this: he wasn't present at these meetings? How can the witness tell us what the defendant von Neurath said to the Fuehrer?
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: That is what the defendant told him. That was told the witness by the defendant directly.
THE PRESIDENT: It will be all extremely cumulative.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: I don't believe so. I think that all would be necessary and that the defendant could corroborate this.
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Luedinghausen, the Tribunal imagine that the defendant von Neurath will give this evidence himself, and the Tribunal does not wish to hear evidence from witnesses that was cold to them.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: Very well, I shall forego further questions in that direction. I should like to ask only one more question. BY DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: end to the war that Hitler was leading?
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: There are matters about which the witness knows person ally.
THE WITNESS: Von Neurath, after his return from Prague, spoke to me several times about these matters. He made efforts particularly to bring about a meeting of the Reich Cabinet, but this did not succeed since Hitler regarded this Reich Cabinet as a group of defeatists. In his efforts to bring about the end of the war von Neurath tried to bring about a change of ministers and to promote someone else for the Reich Chancellorship. Also that was of no avail. In the year 1943-
THE PRESIDENT: This is the same thing over again -- nothing about what von Neurath did but all about what von Neurath said to this witness.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: That is coming, Mr. President; these are only preliminary remarks of the important matters to come. - THE PRESIDENT: I thought you said you had one last question?
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: That is coming. These questions lead up to-
THE WITNESS: After these efforts on von Neurath's part came to nought, and he saw that nothing was of any avail, and that Hitler was intrasigent, von Neurath at the beginning of 1944 came to the conviction that the salvation of Germany before complete destruction of Germany could only be brought about by the destruction of Hitler. He made one last effort to speak to Hitler and tried to persuade him to conclude the war. I was commissioned to speak to Fieldmarshal Rommel about this. The Fieldmarshal was very popular in Germany and abroad, and it was von Neurath's point of view that Rommel was such a person as could replace Hitler. Then in march of 1944 I went to Fieldmarshal Rommel and spoke to him about these matters. Rommel was just as critical of the situation as I was, so that I could speak to him perfectly openly. It was also his point of view that if the war could hot be won militarily and could simply lead to a senseless destruction and to unnecessary-
THE PRESIDENT: We really don't want all this conversation between this witness and Rommel. We don't want it. We won't hear the conversation between this witness and Rommel.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: I don't want to hear these matters discussed by the witness either.
THE PRESIDENT: Why don't you stop him then?
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: I don't want to hear it from the defendant himself, but from those persons who were in the service of the defendant in order to bring about these steps. That in my opinion is of more weight than if the defendant makes these statements himself.
THE PRESIDENT: When we come to the defendant then we will not hear him on these subjects.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: On these last matters, no. The matter will be finished in just a few words. BY DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN:
A Rommel then, on von Neurath's commission, wrote a letter to Hitler saying that because of the military situation there was no possibility of winning the war, and Rommel suggested to Hitler that he start peace negotiations.
For this reason Rommel fell into disfavour, and for this reason von Neurath's efforts to end the war through Rommel came to nought.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: And then the 20th of July came along and everything was done. I have no more questions.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will adjourn.
(A recess was taken).
THE PRESIDENT: Do any of the other defendants' counsel want to ask questions of this witness?
LT.COL. GRIFFITH-JONES: May the witness be handed GB-262. My Lord, that is the same document of which an extract has already been handed up to the Tribunal while I was cross-examining the last witness. BY LT. COL. GRIFFITH-JONES: Deutsches Auslandinstitut. Do you say that that institute had no connection with either Hess or the Ausland Organization? Ausland Organization had its meeting and rallies at Stuttgart. Auslandinstitut both had their meeting at Stuttgart is the only connection between the two organizations; is that so? of the other in factual matters for it had its own collection of material. The Ausland Organization was, as far as I know, established in the year '32.
Q Now, I don't want to stop you, but if you can answer my question "yes" or "no" it will save us all a great deal of time. I will repeat my question in case you are not quite clear about it. Do you say that the fact that both those organizations held their meeting in Stuttgart is the only connection between the two? Now you can answer that "yes" or "no".
A I cannot answer this question with one "yes" or "no". I must say that the connecting link was the fact that Stuttgart was the city of foreign Germans and was the representative city of Germans abroad, that is because of its historical background and allied field.
Q Do you read English?
Q Will you look at page 461 of the book that you have? At the botton of page 461 you will see reproduced a copy of an article from the "Stuttgarter Neues Tagblatt" of the 21st of September 1933.
reorganization in 1933 after the Nazi Party came to power. I just want to read four short extracts from that article 2 and ask you for your comments.
"The chairman of the Deutsches Auslandinstitut, Dr Stroelin, opened the celebration."
That is yourself presumably, is that so?
Q "He greeted amongst those present, in particular, Ministerpresident and minister of Religion in Wuerthemberg, Morgenthaler as representative of the supervisory authorities, General Maushofer of Munich as representative of Rudolf Hess, who has been entrusted by the Fuehrer with the supreme direction of all matters concerning Germans in foreign countries."
Did you say that?
A I cannot remember having said that. Haushofer was for me the representative of the V.D.A., and I cannot conceive how he might have been the deputy of Hess at this occasion.
Q Do you think the Tribunal is safe in taking it that the "Stuttgarter Neues Tagblatt" on the day after that celebration would accurately report what you said in your opening address?
You didn't look at the rest of it for the moment. It is not likely that that article is untrue or incorrect, is it? point that Haushofer at that time was the deputy of Hess for Hess had no connection with the Auslandinstitut. speech, that Haushofer is representing Hess and that Hess has been charged by the Fuehrer with the supreme command of all matters concerning Germans in Foreign countries. Do you understand what you are saying there?
we never arrived at the point that I received a directive of any kind from Rudolf Hess. matters concerning Germans in foreign countries, could it not? itself in matters concerning Germans in foreign countries?
Q Then I shall leave that. Will you look down the page and omit the next -
A I would like to clarify this point. It was the first time that I made a speech for the AI and the speech was formulated in accordance with the personalities who were to be greeted. I cannot remember that Haushofer was functioning in that capacity and would like to reiterate that I as honorary president know nothing about this, that Hess gave directives for the Auslandsinstitut. chairman of the Deutsches Auslandsinstitut, were you not?
A No, I was not the chairman. The chairman was a special leader. In my capacity as Lord Mayor I was active in a side-activity. I was the president of the institute and it is impossible to say whom and how I greeted these personalities at the time. to you: Were you or weren't you the chairmen of the Deutsches Auslansinstitut on the 20th of September, 1933? Nazi Party had come to power and were reorganizing this institution? Stuttgart which was called the city of foreign Germans had very close connections with Germans abroad because of tradition.
Q Well, now, we will go on. Will you please omit the next short paragraph and look at the paragraph which starts off, "Deputy Gauleiter Schmidt representing Dr. Goebbels stated the local party leadership"-
A What page is that on, please?
A Page 61?
Q I beg your pardon. It is on page 62. We turned over the page. Page 62. And it is the third paragraph in the centre of the page.
Q "Gauleiter Schmidt representing Goebbels stated the local party leadership Gauleiter is prepared to cooperate through thick and thin with the new officers of the DAI." Hess, you know, was in charge of the party leadership, wasn't he -- the Gauleiter? We will go on: "National Socialism will dmand the blood community of all Germans as its historic right." Will you look -- now, we will leave that -- at page 463 -
A May I make a remark in connection with this, please? Deputy of the Gauleiter, but he was not the Deputy of Rudolf Hess.
Q No. But the point I am putting is that the Gauleiter came which under Hess was going to cooperate with your institution through thick and thin. You appreciate that?
Q Will you look at page 463? It is the second paragraph. In his address the new director of the DAI, Dr. Sakin, stated, "We have followed with deep pain the inner disunity of the German people. Now, since all that has been overcome, since we see that all the German volk" -- that's the Volksdeutsche -- "are standing in one line, we are filled with a feeling of pride for our German mother--country, a feeling of happiness that Germany is united. The feeling of adherence to the German people gives us a happy consciousness. In the course of centuries this or that position has been lost. We must prevent any more from being lost. It gives us a feeling of pride and self-consciousness that we are the bridges for German lebensraum."
Auslandingstitut was?
for German lebensraum but this German lebensraun also applied to the German in Hungary and Roumania, and it is true when he said there, "bridges" to this lebensraum, he referred to the space in which Germans were living, and that was always the position and the attitude of the Germans, to have bridges to the space in which these Germans were living.
No, have you ever read a book by Dr. Emil Erich, or passed it, entitled "The Ausland Organization der N.S.D.A.P."? You need not look at that. Have you ever read that bock?
Q Do you know that Dr. Emil Erich was the personal adviser to Bohle? this passage appears on page 5 of the document the Tribunal have -- and that is a reproduction of Dr. Emil Erich's book. Would you look at the second paragraph on page 305, half-way down that paragraph, starting "On the 27th of August, 1936, the Fuehrer designated Stuttgart as the city of foreign Germans and the Gauleiter of the foreign organization assumed the protection of this beautiful city, which also housed within its walls the German Foreign Institute, which works in hearty cooperation with the Ausland organization." onwards, the Deutsches Auslandsinstitut was working in the heartiest cooperation with the Ausland organization?
A It is not correct. As far as practical or scientific work was concerned, yes, but no otter connection. There was a collaboration, as I have already mentioned, but foreign Germans had their meetings in Stuttgart and that was the collaboration between the two of them. There was no other connection and it was not necessary.
Q Will you look at page 127 of this bock? I want you to tell me, looking at the last paragraph, whether that is an accurate report, "All persons who in the future " -- I beg your pardon this is a confidential report on the special schooling work conducted by the DAI for the foreign workers. You did in fact, did you not, assist the foreign organization in training their Landesgruppenleiters and other leaders abroad?
A May I ask who signed this article, or report?
Q No, I can't tell you who signed that report. I asked you a question. Did the Deutsches Auslandinstitut assist in training leaders for the Ausland organization abroad? which I will read to you quite shortly. "The Auslandsinstitut plays a part in determining the curriculum for the training camps as well as serving as an intermediary between the party authorities who run these camps and the Germans from abroad who attend them."
A May I ask the date of this report? on the evidence that you have given about the Defendant von Neurath. You have told us that he was a man of peace, with an excellent, kind character. Do you know that on the 5th of November, 1937, he attended a meeting at which Hitler addressed the leaders of his armed forces? Did you ever hear of that meeting, on the 5th of November, 1937? I was told in prison here -
Q Perhaps I could tell you quite shortly what took place: Hitler said at that meeting, amongst other things, that the only way out of the German difficulties was to secure greater living space, and he said that problem could only be solved by force. Now, having said that, he then went on to say that he had decided to attack Austria and Czechoslovakia. You never heard of that meeting? But -
A May I finish my sentence? I just said now that von Neurath suggested to me that he had serious differences of opinion with Hitler. That was toward the end of 1937.
It was only later that I realized that he must have meant the conference with Hitler and the expressions which Hitler uttered on the 5th of November; that this campaign actually took place I heard during my imprisonment and from the article in the paper
Q I'll come to all that in a moment. I just went you to get a picture of what happened at this meeting, and I quote four lines from the minutes of that meeting:
"Hitler believed that England and France had already silently written off Czechoslovakia and that they had got used to the idea that that question would one day be cleared up by Germany." Austria would constitute a conquest of food for five or six million people and that he visualized the compulsory immigration of two million people from Czechoslovakia.
Now, that is what took place at that conference. Do you know that some four months later--on 12 March 1938--Von Neurath was giving an assurance to M. Masaryk, and among other things he assured him on behalf of Herr Hitler that Germany still considered herself bound by the German-Czechoslovak Arbitration Convention of 1925? Do you know that he said that? can you understand anybody who had been at that conference and had heard what Hitler had said on 5 November giving an assurance to Czechoslovakia four months later in terms of that kind? Can you understand any honest man doing that?
A I can not judge the situation which applied at that time. I did not know from whom Von Neurath received his orders.
Q I am not asking you to judge at that time. I am asking you now what is your opinion of a man who can do that sort of thing. I want you to tell the Tribunal. picture of that situation.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN (Counsel for the defendant von Neurath):
Mr. President, I must object to these questions. It is not possible for this witness to be confronted with a question of this sort without being informed of the complete picture. The fact is, and it is correct, that in the speech of 5 November 1937, Hitler for the first time developed plans which were contrary to the peace policy of Von mind and to dissuade him from it.
Then from Hitler's reply it asked for his resignation.
On 4 February 1938 Von Neurath was permitted to resign.
He departed from active politics.
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Luedinghausen, the question was put about
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: Yes, sir, I can also clarify that statement if I can have a word. The question was considered with Ambassador Mastny
THE PRESIDENT: Do you not understand that when the light cones on, you are talking too fast?
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: Yes, Your Honor. I just said that we have made.
First, Hitler, in his speech of 5 November, spoke of the distant future, years later.
Then on 12 March when he marched into Austria-
THE PRESIDENT: We do not want to have all this argument. The question was what was the witness' opinion of a man who had done that.
DR. LUEDINGHAUSEN: Mr. President, I beg your pardon; that context.
The question was put by Mastny whether the marching into and Von Neurath answered that question.
He did not want to give any assurances or replies for years hence.
The Ambassador was concerned according to the information which my client had, he could with informed about the things that I have just stated.