4 Jan. 46
to south to east: Norway and Denmark; the Low
Countries; France; Italy became an ally of Germany; Tripoli and Egypt;
Yugoslavia and Greece; Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria became allies; the
western part of the Soviet Union overrun.
I would like to deal as a whole with this period from the fall of
Poland in October 1939 to the attack against the Soviet Union in June of
1941. In this period occurred the aggressive wars in violation of
treaties, as charged in the Indictment, against Norway, Denmark,
Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Yugoslavia, and Greece.
I cannot improve on or add much to the presentation of these matters by
the British Delegation. From the standpoint of proving Crimes against
Peace, our case is complete. But I would like to review this period
briefly from the military standpoint and view it as the German military
leaders viewed it. And of one thing we may be sure: neither the Nazis
nor the generals thought during this period in terms of a series of
violations of neutrality and treaties. They thought in terms of a war, a
war of conquest, a war for the conquest of Europe. Neutrality, treaties,
non-aggression pacts — these were not the major considerations.
They were annoying obstacles, and devices had to be formed and excuses
manufactured to fit the circumstances.
Von Blomberg has told us in his affidavit, which I have read, that
after 1939 some generals began to condemn Hitler's methods and lost
confidence in his judgment. Which particular Hitler methods some of the
generals condemned is not stated, but I think the Tribunal will not hear
any substantial evidence that many of the generals condemned the march
of conquest during the years 1939 to 1941. In fact the evidence is
rather that most of the generals were having the time of their lives
during those years.
Six weeks after the outbreak of war and upon the successful termination
of the Polish campaign, 9 October 1939, there was issued a memorandum
and directive for the conduct of the war in the West. This is Document
Number L-52, and becomes Exhibit Number USA-540. It is not signed. It
was distributed only to the four service chiefs, Keitel, Brauchitsch, Göring
and Raeder. From the wording there is every indication that it was
issued by Hitler. I will read the pertinent extracts, starting with Page
2 of the document, about two-thirds of the way down in the first
paragraph, starting with the words,
"The aim of the Anglo-French conduct
of war": "The aim of the Anglo-French conduct of war is to
dissolve or disintegrate the 80-million-state" — meaning
Germany — "again so that in this manner the European
equilibrium, in other words, the balance of power which serves their
ends, may be restored. This battle, therefore, will have to be fought
out by the German people one way or another. Nevertheless, the