10 Dec.
45
"The task of a Reich commissioner
with his seat of office in Riga will therefore largely be an
extraordinarily positive one. A country which 700 years ago was
captured by German Knights, built up by the Hanseatic League, and by
reason of a constant influx of German blood together with Swedish
elements was a predominantly germanized land, is to be established as
a mighty German borderland. The preliminary cultural conditions are
available everywhere; and the German Reich will be able to guarantee
the right to a later settlement to all those who have distinguished
themselves in this war, to the descendants of those who gave their
lives during the war, and also to all who fought in the Baltic
campaign, never once lost courage, fought on in the hour of despair,
and delivered Baltic civilization from Bolshevism. For the rest the
solution of the colonization problem is not a Baltic question but one
which concerns Greater Germany, and it must be settled on these lines."
These two directives are, I think, sufficiently typical of the lot to
show the Tribunal the extent of the planning and preparation for this
phase of the aggression as well as the political purpose it was hoped
would be achieved thereby. However, on 28 June 1941, less than a week
after the invasion, Rosenberg himself prepared a full report of his
activities since his appointment on the 20th of April. One might almost
think he had so meticulously recorded his activities in order to be of
assistance to this prosecution.
This report is numbered 1039-PS, and I now offer it in evidence as
Exhibit USA-146. To me the most interesting things about this report are
its disclosures concerning the number of these defendants who worked
with and assisted Rosenberg in the planning and preparation for this
phase of the aggression and the extent to which practically all of the
ministries and offices of both state and Party are shown to have been
involved in this operation. The report was found in the Defendant
Rosenberg's files; and although it is rather long, it is of sufficient
importance in implicating persons, groups, and organizations, that it
must, I believe, be read in full in order that it may be made part of
the record. It is headed, "Report on the Preparatory Work in
Eastern European Territories":
"Immediately after the notification
of individual supreme Reich offices regarding the Führer's Decree
of 20. 4. 41 a conference with the Chief of the OKW" — Armed
Forces High Command — "took place" — That is the
Defendant Keitel — After presentation of the various political
aims in the proposed Reich commissions and presentation of personal
requirements for the East, the chief of the OKW explained that
reservation" — UK-Stellung — " would be too
complicated in