5
Dec. 45
It
goes on — the second paragraph:
"The
intention to unleash a European war is
held just as little by Germany.
Nevertheless, the politically fluid
world situation, which does not preclude
surprising incidents, demands a
continuous preparedness for war of the
German Armed Forces to counter attacks
at any time, and to enable the military
exploitation of politically favorable
opportunities, should they occur."
It
then goes on to set out the preparations which
are to be made, and I would particularly draw
the Tribunal's attention to Paragraph 2b:
"The
further working on mobilization without
public announcement in order to put the
Armed Forces in a position to begin a
war suddenly and by surprise both as
regards strength and time."
On
the next page, under Paragraph 4:
"Special
preparations are to be made for the
following eventualities: Armed
intervention against Austria; warlike
entanglements with Red Spain."
And
thirdly, and this shows so clearly how they
appreciated at that time that their actions
against Austria and Czechoslovakia might well
involve them in war:
"England,
Poland, and Lithuania take part in a war
against us."
If
the Tribunal would turn over to Part 2 of that
directive, Page 5 of that document:
"For
the treatment of probable warlike
eventualities (concentrations) the
following suppositions, tasks, and
orders are to be considered as basic: "1.
War on two fronts with focal point in
the West.
"Suppositions.
In the West, France is the opponent.
Belgium may side with France, either at
once or later, or not at all. It is also
possible that France may violate
Belgium's neutrality if the latter is
neutral. She will certainly violate that
of Luxembourg."
I
pass to Part 3, which will be found on Page 9 of
that Exhibit, and I particularly refer to the
last paragraph on that page under tile heading "Special
Case — Extension Red-Green". It will
be remembered that Red was Spain and Green was
Czechoslovakia.
"The
military political starting point used
as a basis for concentration plans Red
and Green can be aggravated if either
England, Poland, or Lithuania . . . .
join the side of our opponents.
Thereupon our military position would
deteriorate to an unbearable, even
hopeless extent. The political
leadership