18 Dec. 45
"With German greetings, yours very
obediently, Baron von Eltz." But the Nazis didn't wait until all
members of the Cabinet ...
THE PRESIDENT: Was Baron von Eltz permitted to resign?
COL. STOREY: Yes. As I understand, Your Honor, every one of them was a
member, except this one; and he declined and resigned — which was
accepted. The Nazis didn't wait until all members of the Cabinet were
Party members. Shortly after they came to power, they quickly assured
themselves of active participation in the work of the Cabinet. On 1
December 1933 the Cabinet passed a law securing the unity of Party and
State. That has been introduced previously and I will not refer to it
any more. It is referred to here as our Document Number 1395-PS.
THE PRESIDENT: Why is Baron von Eltz shown as a member of the Cabinet
in 1938?
COL. STOREY: If Your Honor pleases, the "1938" simply refers
to the time the Secret Cabinet Council was created. It does not have to
do with when any of these people came to the Cabinet.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I see.
COL. STOREY: In other words, all these arrows show that these different
agencies were created during those years.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I follow it.
COL. STOREY: I say, for Your Honors' information, that in this list of
all of the Cabinet members and the members of the Reichsregierung from
1933 his name is shown in the list that we handed to Your Honors.
THE PRESIDENT: Up to 1937?
COL. STOREY: No, Sir; from 1933 down to 1945 his name is listed. If
Your Honors will recall, we handed in a separate list and it does
contain the Baron's name, with the authority of his appointment, et
cetera.
THE PRESIDENT: You mean that is a mistake?
COL. STOREY: No, Sir; it is not a mistake.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, then, he didn't resign?
COL. STOREY: He did resign; but Your Honor asked if his name was shown
up here and I said that in the separate list showing the list of all
members of the Reichsregierung, from 1933 to 1945, the Baron's name was
included and the proper reference is made in this separate list for Your
Honors' guidance. I have here a copy of an unpublished decree signed by
Hitler, dated 27 July 1934. It is Document D-138, Exhibit USA-403; and