27 Nov. 45
Then from the Versailles Treaty, 28 June 1919, Article 42
"Germany is forbidden to maintain or
construct any fortifications, either on the left bank of the Rhine or
on the right bank, to the West of the line drawn 50 kilometers to the
East of the Rhine.
"Article 43: In the area defined above, the maintenance and
the assembly of armed forces, either permanently or temporarily and
military maneuvers of any kind, as well as the upkeep of all
permanent works for mobilization, are in the same way
forbidden."
The next allegation of the Indictment (f):
"On 7 March 1936, they reoccupied
and fortified the Rhineland, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles
and the Rhine Pact of Locarno of 16 October 1925, and falsely
announced to the world that 'we have no territorial demands to make
in Europe. "
The demilitarized zone of the Rhineland obviously was a sore
wound with the Nazis ever since its establishment, after World War I.
Not only was this a blow to their increasing pride, but it was a bar
to any effective strong position which Germany might want to take on
any vital issues. In the event of any sanctions against Germany, in
the form of military action, the French and other powers would get
well into Germany, east of the Rhine, before any German resistance
could even be put up Therefore any German plans to threaten or breach
international obligations or for any kind of aggression, required the
preliminary reoccupation and refortification of this open Rhineland
territory. Plans and preparations for the reoccupation of the
Rhineland started very early.
We have a document, a German captured document, in German script,
which we identify as C-139, and which appears to be signed by the
handwriting of Blomberg. I offer it in evidence as Exhibit USA-53
.
The document deals with what is called "Operation
Schulung" which means schooling, or training. It is dated 2 May
1935 and even refers to prior Staff discussions on the subject dealt
with. It is addressed to the Chief of the Army Command, who at that
time, I believe, was Fritsch, the Chief of the Navy High Command
Raeder, and the Reich Minister for Air, Göring.
It does not use the name "Rhineland" and does not, in
terms, refer to it. It is our view that it was a military plan for
the military reoccupation of the Rhineland, in violation of the
Treaty of Versailles and the Rhine Pact of Locarno.