. NMT03-T0144
Volume III · Page 144
1. Memorandum of Dr. Rothenberger — In its opening statement against Dr. Rothenberger the prosecution called particular attention to his memorandum to Hitler for the year 1942 and entered it as Document NG-075, Prosecution Exhibit 27. The prosecution characterized this as a "peculiar document" and commented upon it from its own point of view. The defense will also have to analyze the memorandum minutely and discuss in detail its previous history and what has happened to it. It appears that the chief problem here is the basically important question of the dominating position of the judge in the life of a nation. The appointment of Dr. Rothenberger as Under Secretary can be traced back to this memorandum, the character of which is clearly open to a psychological judgment. Naturally the reasons for his appointment will have to be discussed in greater detail. The memorandum presents therefore the very first of those important developments which put Dr. Rothenberger in the defendant's dock in Nuernberg.
2. Dr. Rothenberger's reaction to the Hitler speech of 26 April 1942 — The prosecution has further produced against Dr. Rothenberger his report on conditions to the Reich Ministry of justice, dated 11 May 1942, as Document NG-389, Prosecution Exhibit 76, which describes the reaction to Hitler's speech of notorious fame, dated 26 April 1942. The prosecution blames him for the measures taken after the Hitler speech, just as for the corresponding measures of autumn 1942. It will therefore be the task of the defense to show how the measures taken by Dr. Rothenberger in 1942 following the Hitler speech were meant, and what was their effect. The documents specified under this as well as the previous number, in fact in the opinion of the defense, touch upon crucial questions of the whole trial; namely, the place of the judiciary in the National Socialist state. They require therefore a full description in the presentation of evidence by this side.
3. Dr. Rothenberger's ideas on reform — Dr. Rothenberger failed with the plans for reform contained in his memorandum' It may also be conceded that they were bound to fail, by virtue of a historical necessity. However, that is not the point, but rather to demonstrate that Dr. Rothenberger exerted himself again and again to the utmost for the preservation of the foundations of justice, in particular for an independent judiciary, arid used all his strength to that end. The defense will clearly show that in the case of his discharge after be had served only 15 months as Under Secretary, not personal but decisively factual
