28 Nov. 45
contact with the National Socialist groups in Austria. It is
certainly interesting that from the very start of his mission,
Defendant Von Papen was thinking of ways and means of using the
principle of National Socialism for national Germans outside the
border of Germany. Papen was working for the Anschluss, although he
preferred to use the principles of National Socialism rather than
rely on the Party organization as a necessary means of establishing
those principles in the German Reich.
Next we have some assurance and reassurance to Austria. The
German Government did no more than keep up a pretense of
noninterference with Austrian groups. It employed the psychological
inducement of providing assurances that it had no designs on Austrian
independence. If Austria could find hope for the execution of those
assurances, she could find her way clear to the granting of
concessions and obtain relief from the economic and internal
pressure.
I offer Document 2247-PS in evidence as Exhibit USA-64. It is a
letter from Von Papen, while in Berlin, to Hitler, dated May 17 1935.
Von Papen's letter indicated to Hitler that a forthright credible
statement by Germany reassuring Austria, would be most useful for
German diplomatic purposes and for the improvement of relationships
between Austria and German groups in Austria.
He had a scheme for pitting Schuschnigg and his Christian Social
forces against Starhemberg, the Vice Chancellor of Austria, who was
backed by Mussolini. Von Papen hoped to persuade Schuschnigg to ally
his forces with the NSDAP in order to emerge victorious over
Starhemberg. Von Papen indicates that he obtained this idea from
Captain Leopold, leader of the illegal National Socialists in
Austria.
I quote from his letter, starting at the second paragraph of the
second page. This is Von Papen writing to "Mein
Führer" Hitler:
"I suggest that we take an active
part in this game. The fundamental idea should be to pit Schuschnigg
and his Christian Social forces, who are opposed to a home-front
dictatorship, against Starhemberg. The possibility of thwarting the
measures arranged between Mussolini and Starhemberg should be
afforded to him in such a way that he would submit the offer to the
Government of a definitive German-Austrian compromise of interests.
According to the convincing opinion of the leader of the NSDAP in
Austria, Captain Leopold, the totalitarian principle of the NSDAP in
Austria must be replaced in the beginning by a combination of that
part of the Christian Social elements which favors the Greater