3
Dec. 45
"In
any case we must act on the principle
that nothing must be done before the
incident which might point to
mobilization, and that the swiftest
possible action must be taken after the
incident (X-Fall).
"It is
the purpose of these notes to point out
what a great interest the Wehrmacht has
in the incident and that it must be
informed of the Führer's intentions
in good time — insofar as the
Abwehr Section is not also charged with
the organization of the incident.
"I
request that the Führer's decision
be obtained on these points." —
Signed — "J" —
(Jodl).
In handwriting, at the bottom of the page of
that document, are the notes of the
indefatigable Schmundt, Hitler's adjutant. These
reveal that the memorandum was submitted to
Hitler on August 30; that Hitler agreed to act
along these lines, and that Jodl was so notified
on 31 August. There follows Jodl's initials once
more.
On 3 September Keitel and Von
Brauchitsch met with Hitler at the Berghof.
Again Schmundt kept notes of the conference.
These will be found as Item 18 at Pages 39 and
40 of the Document Number 388-PS. I shall read
the first three short paragraphs of these
minutes:
"Colonel
General Von Brauchitsch reports on the
exact time of the transfer of the troops
to 'exercise areas' for 'Grün'.
Field units to be transferred on 28
September. From here will then be ready
for action. When X-Day becomes known
field units carry out exercises in
opposite directions.
"Führer
has objection. Troops assemble field
units a 2-day march away. Carry out
camouflage exercises everywhere." —
Then there is a question mark. — "OKH
must know when X-Day is by 1200 noon, 27
September."
You
will note that Von Brauchitsch reported that
field troops would be transferred to the proper
areas for Case Green on 28 September and would
then be ready for action. You will also note
that the OKH must know when X-Day is by 12 noon
on 27 September.
During the remainder
of the conference Hitler gave his views on the
strategy the German armies should employ and the
strength of the Czech defenses they would
encounter. He spoke of the possibility, and I
quote, "of drawing in the Henlein people."
The situation in the West still troubled him.
Schmundt further noted, and here I read the
final sentence from Page 40 of the English
transcript:
"The
Führer gives orders for the
development of the Western
fortifications: Improvement of advance
positions around Aachen and Saarbrücken;
construction of 300 to 400 battery