26 Nov. 45
As indicated earlier, the next phase of aggression was the
formulation and execution of plans to attack Austria and
Czechoslovakia, in that order.
This is the phase of the aggression covered by Paragraphs 3 (a)
(b), and (c) of Section IV (F) of the Indictment, appearing at Pages
7 to 8 of the printed English text.
One of the most striking and revealing of all the captured
documents which have come to hand is a document which we have come to
know as the Hossbach notes of a conference in the Reich Chancellery
on 5 November 1937 from 1615 to 2030 hours, in the course of which
Hitler outlined to those present the possibilities and necessities of
expanding their foreign policy, and requested--I quote: "That
his statements be looked upon in the case of his death as his last
will and testament." And so with this document we shall present
to the Tribunal and to the public the last will and testament of
Adolf Hitler as he contemplated that last will and testament on 5
November 1937. The document comes to hand through the United States
Department of State and it is authenticated by the seal of the
Secretary of State of the United States. It is Document Number 386-PS
in our series of numbered documents. I offer it in evidence as
Exhibit USA-25.
Before reading it, I note at the start that the recorder of the
minutes of this meeting, then Colonel Hossbach, was the Führer's
adjutant. I note also the presence at this conspiratorial meeting of
the Defendant Erich Raeder. The Defendant Constantin von Neurath was
present. The Defendant Hermann Wilhelm Göring was present. The
minutes of this meeting reveal a crystalization towards the end of
1937 in the policy of the Nazi regime. Austria and Czechoslovakia
were to be acquired by force. They would provide Lebensraum (living
space) and improve Germany's military position for further
operations. While it is true that actual events unfolded themselves
in a somewhat different manner than that outlined at this meeting, in
essence the purposes stated at the meeting were carried out. The
document destroys any possible doubt concerning the Nazis'
premeditation of their Crimes against Peace. This document is of such
tremendous importance that I feel obliged to read it in full into the
record:
"Berlin, 10 November 1937. Notes
on the conference in the Reichskanazlei on 5 November 1937 from 1615
to 2030 hours. "Present: The Führer and Reich Chancellor;
the Reich Minister for War, Generalfeldmarschall Von Blomberg, the
C-in-C Army, Generaloberst Freiherr Von Fritsch: the C-in-C Navy,
General-admiral Dr. H. C. Raeder. the C-in-C Luftwaffe, Generaloberst
Göring; the Reichsminister for Foreign