17 Dec. 45
Consequently, the powers heretofore
possessed by the Reich President were transferred to the Führer
Adolf Hitler. Through this law, the conduct of the Party and State has
been combined in one hand. By desire of the Führer a plebiscite
was conducted on this law on 19 August 1934. On this day, the German
people chose Adolf Hitler to be their sole leader. He is responsible
only to his conscience and to the German nation."
A decree of 16 January 1942 provided that the Party should participate
in legislation and official appointments and promotions. I cite as proof
Document 2100-PS, which is the English translation of a directive
concerning the application of the Führer decree relating to the
Chief of the Party Chancellery, 1942 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I,
Page 35. The decree further provided that such participation should be
undertaken exclusively by the Defendant Bormann, Chief of the Party
Chancellery and Reichsleiter of the Leadership Corps. The decree
provided that the Chief of the Party Chancellery was to take part in the
preparation of all laws and decrees issued by Reich authorities,
including those issued by the Ministerial Council for Defense of the
Reich, and to give his assent to those of the Under and of the Reich
governors — the Länder being the German states. All
communications between the State and Party authorities, unless within
the Gau only, were to pass through Bormann's hands. This decree is of
crucial importance in demonstrating the ultimate control and
responsibility imputable to the Leadership Corps for governmental policy
and actions taken in furtherance of the conspiracy.
On or about the 26th of April 1942 Hitler declared in a speech that in
his capacity as leader of the nation, Supreme Commander of the Armed
Forces, Supreme Head of the Government, and as Führer of the Party,
his right must be recognized to compel with all means at his disposal
every German, whether soldier, judge, State official, or Party official,
to fulfill his desire. He demanded that the Reichstag officially
recognize this asserted right; and on the 26th of April 1942 the
Reichstag issued a decision in which full recognition was given to the
rights of the Führer which I have just asserted. I cite Document
1961-PS, which is the English translation of that decision, found in
1942 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, Page 247. I quote:
"At the proposal of the President of
the Reichstag, on its session of 26 April 1942, the Greater German
Reichstag has unanimously approved of the rights which the Führer
has postulated in his speech with the following decision:
"There can be no doubt that in the present war, in which the
German people is faced with a struggle for its existence or