26 Nov. 45
to the purpose to seek raw
material-producing territory in Europe directly adjoining the Reich
and not overseas, and this solution would have to be brought into
effect for one or two generations. What would be required at a later
date over and above this must be left to subsequent generations. The
development of great world-wide national bodies is naturally a slow
process and the German people, with its strong racial root"--I
interpolate, there is that German word "Rassekern" again
(the racial root)--"has for this purpose the most favorable
foundations in the heart of the European continent. The history of
all times-Roman Empire, British Empire-has proved that every space
expansion can only be effected by breaking resistance and taking
risks. Even setbacks are unavoidable; neither formerly nor today has
space been found without an owner; the attacker always comes up
against the proprietor."
[A recess was
taken.]
MR. ALDERMAN: May it please the Tribunal, after
the somewhat jumbled discussion which I have just read of
geopolitical economic theory and of the need for expansion and
Lebensraum, Adolf Hitler, in these Hossbach notes, posed this
question--and I quote:
"The question for Germany is
where the greatest possible conquest could be made at lowest cost.
"German politics must reckon with its two hateful enemies,
England and France, to whom a strong German colossus in the center of
Europe would be intolerable. Both these states would oppose a further
reinforcement of Germany, both in Europe and overseas, and in this
opposition they would have the support of all parties. Both countries
would view the building of German military strong points overseas as
a threat to their overseas communications, as a security measure for
German commerce, and retroactively a strengthening of the German
position in Europe.
"England is not in a position to cede any of her colonial
possessions to us, owing to the resistance which she experiences in
the Dominions. After the loss of prestige which England has suffered
owing to the transfer of Abyssinia to Italian ownership, a return of
East Africa can no longer be expected. Any resistance on England's
part would at best consist in the readiness to satisfy our colonial
claims by taking away colonies which at the present moment are not in