18 Dec. 45
it — the Defendant Bormann stated, "Nazism
and Christianity are irreconcilable concepts." The defendant was
never more right, but he erred grievously by his prophecy as to which of
the two would first pass away.
I next turn to the responsibility of the Leadership Corps for the
destruction of free trade unions and the imposition of the
conspiratorial control over the productive labor capacity of the German
nation.
The evidence relating to the responsibility of the Nazi conspirators
for the destruction of the independent trade unions has been previously
introduced in evidence in the U.S. Exhibit G, which was the document
book containing the evidentiary materials relating to the destruction of
the trade unions. The brief evidence which I shall now present is
offered to 'prove the responsibility of the Leadership Corps of the Nazi
Party for the smashing of the independent unions and the imposition of
conspiratorial control over the productive labor capacity of the German
nation.
Soon after the seizure of power, prominent members of the Leadership
Corps participated in the smashing and dissolution of the independent
trade unions of Germany. The Defendant Robert Ley, precisely by virtue
of his office as Reich Organization Leader and Reichsleiter in the
Leadership Corps, was directed by Hitler, in mid-April 1939, to smash
the independent unions.
I will pass on now to Document 392-PS, Exhibit Number USA- 326; and I
quote, beginning at the top of Page 1 of the English translation:
"On Tuesday, 2 May 1933 ... the
co-ordination action against the free trade unions begins ...
"The essential part of the action is to be directed against the
General German Trade Union League (ADGB) and the General Independent
Employees' Federation (AFA-Bund). Anything beyond that which is
dependent upon the free trade unions is left to the Gauleiter's
judgment.
"The Gauleiter are responsible for the execution of the
co-ordination action in their individual areas. The action will be
carried out by the National Socialist Factory Cell Organization ...
"The Gauleiter is to proceed with his measures on the basis of
the closest agreement with competent Gau or regional factory cell
directors ...
"In the Reich, the following will be occupied:
"The headquarters of the unions ... "
Then
it lists a number of offices, and I previously quoted who was to be
taken into protective custody.