7 Dec.
45
"The military preparations which will
produce exceptional political results in the Balkans demand the exact
control of all the necessary measures by the High Command. The
transport through Hungary and the arrival in Romania will be reported
step by step by the High Command of the Armed Forces and are to be
explained at first as a strengthening of the German Army mission in
Romania. Consultations with the Romanians or the Bulgarians which may
point to our intentions as well as notification of the Italians are
each subject to my consent, also the sending of scouting missions and
advanced parties."
I think I
need not trouble the Tribunal with the rest. The next document, 448-PS,
which I put in as Exhibit GB-118, is again a topsecret directive
carrying the plan a little further; it deals with decidedly different
aspects, the direct support of the Italian forces in Albania. I read, if
I may, the first short paragraph and then the paragraph at the foot of
the page.
"The situation in the Mediterranean
theater of operations demands German assistance for strategical,
political, and psychological reasons due to employment of superior
forces by England against our allies."
And in Paragraph 3 after dealing with the forces to be transferred to
Albania the directive sets out what the duties of the German forces will
be:
"a) To serve in Albania for the time
being as a reserve for an emergency case should new crises arise
there.
"b) To ease the burden of the Italian Army group when later
attacking with the aim:
"To tear open the Greek defense front on a decisive point for a
far-reaching operation.
"To open up the straits west of Salonika from the back in order
to support thereby the frontal attack of List's army."
That directive was signed by Hitler and, as can be seen on the original
which I have put in, it was initialed by both the Defendant Keitel and
the Defendant Jodl. Here again, of course, a copy went to the Defendant
Raeder, and I take it that the copy sent to foreign intelligence would
probably reach the Defendant Ribbentrop.
I pass to C-134, the next document in the bundle, which becomes Exhibit
GB-119. This records a conference which took place on the 19th and 20th
of January between the Defendant Keitel and the Italian General Guzzoni
and which was followed by a meeting between Hitler and Mussolini at
which the Defendants Ribbentrop, Keitel, and Jodl were present.
I need not trouble the Tribunal with the meeting with the Italians, but
if you would pass to Page 3 of the document, there is