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7 Nov. 45
reprisal from other countries. At the same time Germany attached
so much importance to this action, that they considered the
possibility of the application of sanctions by other countries.
Anticipating the probable nature of such sanctions and the countries
which might apply them, plans were made for military preparations for
armed resistance on land, at sea, and in the air, in a directive from
the Reichsminister for Defense Blomberg, to the Head of the Army High
Command Fritsch, the Head of the Navy High Command Raeder, and the
Reichsminister of Air Göring.
We have this captured document in our series C-140, which offer
in evidence as Exhibit USA-151. It is a directive dated 25 October
1933, 11 days after the withdrawal from the Disarmament Conference
and the League of Nations.
"1) The enclosed directive gives the
basis for preparations of the Armed Forces in the case of sanctions
being applied against Germany.
"2) I request the Chiefs of the Army and Navy High Commands
and the Reichsminister for Air to carry out the preparations in
accordance with the following points:
"(a) Strictest secrecy. It is of the utmost importance that
no facts become known to the outside world from which preparation for
resistance against sanctions can be inferred or which is incompatible
with Germany's existing obligations in the sphere of foreign policy
regarding the demilitarized zone. If necessary, the preparations must
take second place to this necessity."
I think that makes the point without further reading. One the
immediate consequences of the action was that following the
withdrawal from the League of Nations, Germany's armament program was
still further increased.
I introduced this morning document C-153, as Exhibit USA-43, ` so
that is already in. From that, at this point, I wish to read
Paragraph 5. That, as you recall, was a document dated 12 May 1934:
"5) Owing to the speed of military
political development, since Germany quitted Geneva, and based on the
progress of the Army, the new R-plan will only be drawn up for a
period of 2 years. The third 'A' phase lasts accordingly from 1.4.34
to 31.3.36."
Then the next allegation of the Indictment, if the Tribunal
please: "On 10 March 1935 the Defendant Göring announced
that Germany was building a military air force."
That is an historical fact of which I ask the Court to take
judicial notice, and I am quite certain that the Defendant
Göring would not dispute it.