29 Nov. 45
General Muff, the military attaché, was along just to
answer a technical question, and that Seyss-Inquart asked expressly
by telephone and telegram for troops. But, perhaps to understand this
conversation, we must try to create again the actual physical scene
of the time and place as Göring talked over the phone. I quote
eight lines from Page 11 of the English text, about in the middle,
Part W:
"Göring: 'Well, do come! I
shall be delighted to see you.'
"Ribbentrop: 'I shall see you this afternoon.'
"Göring: 'The weather is wonderful here--blue sky. I am
sitting here on my balcony--all covered with blankets--in the fresh
air, drinking my coffee. Later on I have to drive in. I have to make
the speech. And the birds are twittering, and here and there I can
hear over the radio the enthusiasm, which must be wonderful over
there."'--that is, Vienna.
"Ribbentrop: 'That is marvelous."'
May it please the Tribunal, I have practically come to the end of
the material relating to the aggression against Austria. In a moment
I shall take up quite briefly the effects of the Anschluss, some of
the developments which took place after the German troops marched
across the border. What is to come after that is an epilogue, but
before developing the epilogue, it may be appropriate to pause
briefly for just a moment. I think that the facts which I have
related to the Tribunal today show plainly certain things about the
defendants involved in the conspiracy, and among the conspirators who
particularly took action in the Austrian matter were Von Papen,
Seyss-Inquart, Ribbentrop, Von Neurath, and Göring.
First, I think it is plain that these men were dangerous men.
They used their power without a bridle. They used their power to
override the independence and freedom of others. And they were more
than bullies squeezing a smaller foe. They were very sly bullies.
They compounded their force with fraud. They coupled threats with
legal technicalities and devious maneuvers, wearing a sanctimonious
mask to cover their duplicity. I think they are dangerous men.
In accordance with the directive of March 11, our Document C-182,
Exhibit USA-77, the German Army crossed the Austrian border at
daybreak, 12 March 1938. Hitler issued a proclamation to the German
people announcing the invasion, and purporting to justify it. I refer
again to Dokumente der Deutschen Politik, Volume 6, Page 140,
Number 27, "Proclamation of Hitler." The British Government
and the French Government filed protests. The German Government and
the Austrian National Socialists swiftly secured their grip on
Austria. Seyss-Inquart welcomed Hitler at Linz,