26 Nov. 45
"4. Once the Army, in
cooperation with the Air Force and Navy, has taken the most important
positions, industrial production will cease to flow into the
bottomless pit of the Army's battles, and can be diverted to benefit
the Air Force and Navy.
"The Army must, therefore, be capable of taking these
positions. Systematic preparation must be made for the attack.
"Study to this end is of the utmost importance.
"The aim will always be to force England to her knees.
"A weapon will only be of decisive importance in winning
battles, so long as the enemy does not possess it.
"This applies to gas, submarines, and air force. It would be
true of the latter, for instance, as long as the English Fleet had no
available countermeasures; it will no longer be the case in 1940 and
1941. Against Poland, for example, tanks will be effective, as the
Polish Army possesses no countermeasures.
"Where straightforward pressure is no longer considered to
be decisive, its place must be taken by the elements of surprise and
by masterly handling."
The rest of the document, if the Tribunal please,
deals more . detail with military plans and preparations. I think it
unnecessary to read further.
The document just read is the evidence which specifically
supports the allegations in Paragraph 4 (a) of Section IV (F) of the
Indictment, appearing on Page 9 of the printed English text, relating
to the meeting of 23 May 1939. We think it leaves nothing unproved in
those allegations.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Alderman, perhaps you ought to read the last
page and the last five lines, because they refer in terms to one of
the defendants.
MR. ALDERMAN: I didn't read these, Mr. President, simply because
I am convinced that they are mistranslated in the English. I will be
glad to have them read in the original German.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well, if you are of that opinion.
MR. ALDERMAN: We could get it from the original German.
THE PRESIDENT: You mean that the English translation is wrong?
MR. ALDERMAN: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: You had better inform us then if it is wrong.