28 Nov. 45
Seyss-Inquart's support of the July
uprising. On the other side, Seyss-Inquart had a good position in the
legal field and especially well-established relations with Christian
Social politicians. Dr. Seyss-Inquart came from the ranks of the
Styrian Heimatschutz"--home defense--"and became a Party
member when the entire Styrian Heimatschutz was incorporated into the
NSDAP. Another personality who had a good position in the legal field
was Colonel Glaise-Horstenau who had contacts with both sides. The
agreement of 11 July 1936 was strongly influenced by the activities
of these two persons of whom Glaise-Horstenau was designed as trustee
to the Führer."
The Rainer report thus discloses the dual tactics of the Austrian
Nazis during this period of keeping quiet and awaiting developments
meets. They were maintaining their secret contacts with Reich
officials, and using native personalities such as Glaise-Horstenau
and Seyss-Inquart. The Nazis made good use of such figures, who were
more discreet in their activities and could be referred to as
nationalists. They presented, supported, and obtained consideration
of demands which could not be negotiated by other Nazis like Captain
Leopold.
Seyss-Inquart did not hold any public office until January 1937,
when he was made Counsellor of State. But Rainer, describing him as a
trustworthy member of the Party through the ranks of this Styrian
Heimatschutz, points him out as one who strongly influenced the
agreement of July 11, 1936. The strategic importance of that
agreement will be considered a little later. Rainer's report, as I
have said before, was hardly likely to over emphasize the
significance of Seyss-Inquart's contribution.
That the Nazis, but not the Austrian Government, did well to
trust Seyss-Inquart is indicated by the next document. I propose to
offer in evidence Document 2219-PS as Exhibit USA-62. This is a
letter dated 14 July 1939, addressed to Field Marshal Göring.
The document is a typed carbon of the letter. It ends with the
"Heil Hitler" termination, and it is not signed, but we
think it was undoubtedly written by Defendant Seyss-Inquart. It was
the carbon copy found among Seyss-Inquart's personal files, and such
carbon copies kept by authors of letters usually are not signed. On
the first page of the letter there appears a note in ink, not
indicated in the partial English translation, reading, "Air
Mail, 15 July, 1515 hours, Berlin, brought to Göring's
office." The main text of the letter consists of a plea for
intercession on behalf of one Mühlmann, whose name we shall meet
later, and who, unfortunately, got into Bürckel's bad graces. I
shall quote the extract part of the