26 Nov. 45
I have in my hand, if the Court please, the German original of
this document in the condition in which it was captured, and I wish
to offer the document in evidence and have it given the proper serial
number as the United States prosecutor's exhibit. The serial number,
I understand, is United States Exhibit 23. I would ask that the
German text of the original be handed to the German interpreters.
If the Court please, understanding the ruling just made by the
presiding justice, although I have offered the entire document, as it
is a very long speech, I shall not read into the record the entire
speech. Of course the presiding judge said defense counsel may insert
any other parts of it as they wish.
I shall begin reading at the beginning, and read a little more
than half of the first page in the English text. I am advised that
the German original is marked with a blue pencil at the point where I
shall stop reading. I will read the English translation
"November 23, 1939, 1200 hours.
Conference with the Führer, to which all Supreme Commanders are
ordered. The Führer gives the following speech:
"The purpose of this conference is to give you an idea of
the world of my thoughts, which takes charge of me, in the face of
future events, and to tell you my decisions. The building up of our
Armed Forces was only possible in connection with the
ideological"-the German word is
"weltanschaulich"-"education of the German people by
the Party."
If I may interpolate just to comment on that interesting German
word "weltanschaulich", I take it that ideological is about
as close a translation as we can get, but the word means more than
that. It means a whole attitude towards the world, a way of looking
on the world.
"When I started my political
task"-I am quoting again- "in 1919, my strong belief in
final success was based on a thorough observation of the events of
the day and the study of the reasons for their occurrence. Therefore,
I never lost my belief in the midst of setbacks which were not spared
me during my period of struggle. Providence has had the last word and
brought me success. Moreover, I had a clear recognition of the
probable course of historical events and the firm will to make brutal
decisions. The first decision was in 1919 when I, after long internal
conflict, became a politician and took up the struggle against my
enemies. That was the hardest of all decisions. I had, however, the
firm belief that I would arrive at my goal. First of all, I