[For information on the referencing of Internet sources see Chapter 4 of S D Stein Learning, Teaching and Researching on the Internet. Addison Wesley Longman. 1999] COPY OF AFFIDAVIT H [Affidavit of Generaloberst Franz Halder] Nurnberg, Germany Source: Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression. Volume VIII. USGPO, Washington, 1946/pp.643-647. Document UK-81 Austria I, Franz Halder, being first duly sworn, depose and say as follows: That, on the 1st day of April 1938, I took over in the Supreme Command of the German Army the position of First Quartermaster General, responsible for working out plans for operations under the direction of the Chief of Staff. In this position, I succeeded General von Manstein, which position was under the then Chief of Staff of the German Army, General Beck. I, furthermore, state and say that, on the 11th of March 1938, at midday, General Beck ordered me to report to, the Headquarters of the Fuehrer and there act as liaison officer for the Army during the impending invasion of Austria ; that, on the following day, to-wit the 12th of March 1938, I accompanied Hitler in the aforesaid capacity to Munich. Later the same day, Hitler, following the German troops, entered into Austria. I, furthermore, state and say that, during the month of March 1938, I officially learned that plans already existed for the military measures that could be subsequently taken against Czechoslovakia. During May 1938, a written order came down from OKW ordering certain military measures to be adopted in support of political pressure that was then being applied on Czecholovakia. These orders were carried out under the direction of General Beck, by order of General von Brauchitsch. General Beck strongly objected to the policy of waging war against Czechoslovakia for, he said, such a policy would cause Germany to become involved in conflict on two fronts. I recall further that in May or June 1938, General Beck drew up a memorandum directed to General von Brauchitsch, which said as follows : "The German General Staff is opposed to any policy which would lead, or cause, Germany to be involved in aggressive war against either France or Czechoslovakia". General Beck then submitted the memorandum to von Brauchitsch. Von Brauchitsch called in the Commanding Generals of Army Corps and they all agreed unanimously, and without any reservation, with Beck's objections to Germany being involved in an aggressive war against France, Czechoslovakia, or any nation. Hitler heard of this memorandum prepared by General Beck and demanded of von Brauchitsch that the memorandum be brought to Hitler and its contents made known to him. Von Brauchitsch must have shown the memorandum to Hitler, for, subsequently, on two occasions, Hitler, in conversation, with me, referred to it when he spoke of the stupidity and resistance of the German General Staff against him. I, furthermore, state and say that, toward the end of May 1939, there was a conference called by Hitler of the Chiefs of the components of the armed forces of Germany, the Chiefs of Staff, and there he, Hitler, ordered that the armed forces of Germany would have to hold themselves ready to support with their weight of arms his political pressure that he would apply against Poland. He declared that "The Armed Forces must so apply military pressure to Poland in order that the climax of such pressure could be reached in the late summer of 1939". This was the same order as Hitler issued concerning Czechoslovakia but, in the case of Czechoslovakia, the climax of military pressure applied had to be reached on the 1st of October 1938. I, furthermore, state and affirm that Adolf Hitler, in speaking in my presence concerning treaties and his opinion of Allies said as follows : "Treaties for me are significant only so long as they are useful to my intentions". In regard to Allies, Hitler said as follows : "Allies are divided into three types-a. Those with whom I would enter into an alliance for my own purpose only and which I would let fall if they were of no further use to me; b. Those Allies with whom there exists an inter-connection but which al-liance with them I would let fall if the necessity arose; and c. Those Allies for whom I would die" (This type of allies did not exist for Adolf Hitler.) I, furthermore, state and affirm that towards the end of September 1939, there was a conference held by Adolf Hitler whereat the chiefs in command of all the branches of the armed forces and their chiefs of staff, i. e. OKM (Raeder), 0KL (Goering); OKH (Brauchitsch); OKW (Keitel) attended and, at this conference, Hitler made known his intentions to attack France. He elaborated that the alleged neutrality of Belgium could not be respected by him because such a neutrality did not exist in fact. As reasons Hitler gave the following: "Belgium has improved her territorial fortifications only on the German side and not on the French side. The assembly of the French motorized' troops and massing of the British Expeditionary Force is without doubt taking place on the Northern Frontier of France. I have definite proof that there has occurred between Belgium and France discussions between their Chiefs of Staff with a view to military cooperation". During this conference, Holland was discussed in the following terms by Hitler:" That part of Holland that lies between Belgium and Germany, the Maastrichter ' Zipfel (the Maastrict tip) I cannot respect the neutrality of this particular part of Holland but I will rectify that politically with Holland". I, furthermore, state and affirm that during the month of October 1939, in fact during the first part of October, another discussion took place concerning the violation of the neutrality of Belgium and Holland, at which discussion Hitler made the following remark : "I emphasize anew that Belgium must be regarded as an enemy power because of her close. collaboration with France which I consider is already proven. Under no circumstances shall the allies be permitted to enter Belgium first because Belgium is the outlying area to the Ruhr district and the Ruhr district is of vital importance to Germany. Especially, it will be impossible to have air raid warning systems or air defense systems of the Ruhr area without first having control of Belgium ; the same thing is applicable to the Eastern part of Holland. I therefore propose to occupy Holland up to the Grebbe Line". I, furthermore, state and affirm that on the 5th of November 1939, General von Brauchitsch had a discussion with the Fuehrer. After this discussion, von Brauchitsch informed me that he had made known to Hitler his reasons for being in opposition to Hitler's intention to conduct the attack against Belgium and Holland in the Autumn. Von Brauchitsch informed me that 'Hitler made an ugly scene. On the same day, towit 5 November 1939, Hitler gave out the order in defiance of von Brauchitsch, that the date of readiness for the attack against Belgium and Holland and France would be the 12th of November 1939. This order, however, was recalled two days later. I, furthermore, state and affirm that in March 1941, before the start of the Russian campaign which happened in June of that year, Hitler called the Chiefs of command of the three parts of the armed forces and also high commanders to a conference in the Armed Forces' Chancery. At that meeting, Hitler first gave us the reasons for his resolution to attack Russia. In that conference, Hitler said as follows: "The aggressive intentions of Russia have been proved by the Bolshevistic claim to world rulership and to world supremacy and Russia's tendency and attitude toward Finland: Russia's policy in the Balkans and the age-old policy of Russia in the Dardanelles (Hitler had reference here to the last visit of Molotov). Russia has continuously been strengthening her forces along the demarcation line which separates us from Russia. We must count on an attack by Russia as a certainty. Furthermore, there exists secret agreements between Russia and England and, because of these secret agree-ments, England has rejected Germany's peace offers. Russia is the last resort that England has on the Continent and we there-fore have to anticipate Russia's attack against us". His talk concerning Russia continues as follows:" The war against Russia will be such that it cannot be conducted in a knightly fashion. This struggle is a struggle of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful, and unrelenting harshness. All officers will have to rid themselves of obsolete ideologies. I know that the necessity for such means of waging war is beyond the comprehension of you Generals but I cannot change my orders and I insist absolutely that my orders will be executed without contradiction. The Kommissars are the bearers of those ideologies of Russia and are directly opposed to National Socialism. Therefore they the Kommissars, will be liquidated. For the German soldiers who are guilty in this fight of breaking international law, provided that breaking of civil law, such as murder, rape or robbery are not involved, then their breach of international law shall be excused. Russia has not participated in the Hague Convention, therefore has no rights under it. Russia has proved that she will not recognize members of the SS and the German Police as members of any German military organization". When this talk given by Hitler was over, listeners on the part of the army were of course outraged by this speech of Hitler's and some officers turned to Field Marshal von Brauchitsch and gave expression to their feelings concerning it. Von Brauchitsch then assured them that he was going to fight against this resolution and that the order as given by Hitler could not be executed in their form. Immediately after the discussion, von Brauchitsch wrote down the way he understood the directives that were given by Hitler regarding the treatment of Kommissars and also regard ing the type of warfare that would be employed in Russia and then submitted his notes to the OKW, with a recommendation that we, of the OKW, could never execute such orders. Although the German General Staff included in its operational plan against Russia, the normal provisions for the care of captured prisoners, including the provision for the moving of same to the German home area, Hitler issued an order to the armies operating against Russia that no Russian prisoners would be evacuated to the German home area. The reasons were obvious. Hitler wanted no contamination of German people by the Bolshevists. I, therefore, declared that the German General Staff of OKH was not in a position to solve the Russian prisoner of war problem, for OKH then had close to a million of such prisoners of war. I informed Keitel. Keitel appreciated the tremendous problem, suddenly thrust upon OKH, and agreed to take over all Russian prisoners who were delivered to him back of the Operational boundary line. In this purpose he received part of my personnel who had been employed by me on this task. Subsequently, Keitel accepted all Russian prisoners who were delivered by OKH to him. Under Keitel's command there was organized back of the Operational line, zones or territories-for the reception and care of such Russian Prisoners of War. I later made a trip to Smolensk, and while there one of the Commanders, Oberst Freiherr von Bachtelsheim, of a zone or territory created by OKW came to me and informed me of the terrible conditions under which the Russian Prisoners in his zone were forced to live. The prisoners had no roofs over their heads; they had no blankets, little nourishment, and insufficient medical care. They died; almost whole camps died of typhus. I caused a report of this to be made to General Wagner, who is now dead, and I know Keitel had this matter brought to his attention for General Wagner reported this condition to OKW. [signed] Franz Halder FRANZ HALDER |
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