1
Dec. 45
in
1939 the thing that actually happened in 1944:
that Himmler should take things in hand. I place
before you these two men, one against the other:
Canaris and Himmler and I think I need
hardly tell you what Canaris was striving for
when he (Canaris) took part-ostensibly took part
in these activities.
DR. STAHMER: You
mentioned the name of Himmler, in this
connection, I would like to ask the following
question: Is it known to you that Admiral
Canaris, during the first years of the war, laid
great stress on his good relations with the SS
and the necessity for close co-operation with
the SS, so much so, that the Defendant Göring
had to advise him to be more independent of the
SS in his military functions?
THE
PRESIDENT: You are going too quickly and I do
not think you are observing what I said just
now, that it will help the Tribunal if you will
ask one question at a time.
DR.
STAHMER: I will put my question briefly; did the
witness know that Admiral Canaris, during the
first years of the war, had good connections
with the SS and recognized the necessity for
close co-operation with the formation, and never
failed to stress this?
LAHOUSEN: Yes,
this is known to me. I also know why.
DR.
STAHMER: And why?
LAHOUSEN: So that he
might be in a position to see and to know and
keep himself informed of everything these people
were doing, and be able to intervene wherever
and whenever possible.
DR. STAHMER:
Was it the duty of your organization, or the
duty of Canaris' department to pass on important
enemy intelligence to the military leadership in
good time?
LAHOUSEN: I do not
understand what the office of Canaris has to do
with this?
DR. STAHMER: Your section
of the office of Canaris?
LAHOUSEN:
Yes, of course, the Department I.
DR.
STAMMER: Now, according to my information, your
office did not pass on to the military
departments concerned information of the
Anglo-American landing in North Africa. Is that
true?
LAHOUSEN: I do not know. Please
do not make me responsible for the department.
This is a question which could easily be
answered by Colonel Pieckenbrock, but not by me.
DR. STAHMER: Regarding the Case "Rowehl,"
you said yesterday that a colonel of the Air
Force, Rowehl, had formed a special squadron,
which had the tasks of making reconnaissance
flights over Poland, England, and the southeast
sector prior to the Polish campaign. Is that
true? LAHOUSEN: Yes.