together. A record was made of what was said, by one
of those present. At the date of the meeting, Austria and
Czechoslovakia had been incorporated into the German Reich, Poland
had been conquered by the German Armies, and the war with Great
Britain and France was still in its static phase. The moment was
opportune for a review of past events. Hitler informed the Commanders
that the purpose of the Conference was to give them an idea of the
world of his thoughts, and to tell them his decision. He thereupon
reviewed his political task since 1919, and referred to the secession
of Germany from the League of Nations, the denunciation of the
Disarmament Conference, the order for re-armament, the introduction
of compulsory armed service, the occupation of the Rhineland, the
seizure of Austria, and the action against Czechoslovakia. He stated
"One year later, Austria came;
this step also was considered doubtful. It brought about a
considerable reinforcement of the Reich. The next step was Bohemia,
Moravia, and Poland. This step also was not possible to accomplish in
one campaign. First of all, the western fortification had to be
finished. It was not possible to reach the goal in one effort. It was
clear to me from the first moment that I could not be satisfied with
the Sudeten German territory. That was only a partial solution. The
decision to march into Bohemia was made. Then followed the erection
of the Protectorate and with that the basis for the action against
Poland was laid, but I wasn't quite clear at that time whether I
should start first against the East and then in the West or vice
versa . . . . Basically I did not organize the Armed Forces in order
not to strike. The decision to strike was always in me. Earlier or
later I wanted to solve the problem. Under pressure it was decided
that the East was to be attacked first."
This address, reviewing past events and
re-affirming the aggressive intentions present from the beginning,
puts beyond any question of doubt the character of the actions
against Austria and Czechoslovakia, and the war against Poland.
For they had all been accomplished according to plan; and the
nature of that plan must now be examined in a little more detail.
At the meeting of 23 November 1939 Hitler was looking back to
things accomplished; at the earlier meetings now to be considered, he
was looking forward, and revealing his plans to his confederates. The
comparison is instructive.
The meeting held at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin on 5 November
1937 was attended by Lieutenant Colonel Hossbach, Hitler's personal
adjutant, who compiled a long note of the proceedings, which he dated
10 November 1937 and signed.