to arouse in the German People those passions which
led them to the commission of atrocities under Counts Three and Four.
His position and official duties were not sufficiently important,
however, to inter that he took part in originating or formulating
propaganda campaigns.
Excerpts in evidence from his speeches show definite
anti-Semitism on his part. He broadcast, for example, that the war
had been caused by Jews and said their fate had turned out "as
unpleasant as the Führer predicted." But those speeches did
not urge persecution or extermination of Jews. There is no evidence
that he was aware of their extermination in the East. The evidence
moreover shows that he twice attempted to have publication of the
anti-Semitic Der Stürmer suppressed, though
unsuccessfully.
In these broadcasts Fritzsche sometimes spread false news, but it
was not proved he knew it to be false. For example, he reported that
no German U-boat was in the vicinity of the Athenia when it
was sums. This information was untrue; but Fritzsche, having received
it from the German Navy. had no reason to believe it was untrue.
It appears that Fritzsche sometimes made strong statements of a
propagandistic nature in his broadcasts. But the Tribunal is not
prepared to hold that they were intended to incite the German People
to commit atrocities on conquered peoples, and he cannot be held to
have been a participant in the crimes charged. His aim was rather to
arouse popular sentiment in support of Hitler and the German war
effort.
Conclusion
The Tribunal finds that Fritzsche is not guilty
under this Indictment, and directs that he shall be discharged by the
Marshal when the Tribunal presently adjourns.
BORMANN
Bormann is indicted on Counts One, Three, and
Four. He joined the National Socialist Party in 1925, was a member of
the Staff of the Supreme Command of the SA from 1928 to 1930, was in
charge of the Aid Fund of the Party, and was Reichsleiter from 1933
to 1945. From 1933 to 1941 he was Chief of Staff in the Office of the
Führer's Deputy and, after the flight of Hess to England, became
Head of the Party Chancellery on 12 May 1941. On 12 April 1943 he
became Secretary to the Führer. He was political and
organizational head of the Volkssturm and a general in the SS.
Crimes against Peace
Bormann in the beginning a minor Nazi, steadily
rose to a position of power and, particularly in the closing days, of
great