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| 5. CONTEMPORANEOUS DOCUMENTS |
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PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF
DOCUMENT CK-5
GENERAL DEFENSE EXHIBIT
57 |
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| EXTRACT FROM ADOLF HITLER'S SPEECH AT THE REICHSTAG SESSION OF 23
MARCH 1933, CONCERNING GOVERNMENT POLICY |
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The German nation wishes to live in peace with the rest of the world.
But it is for this very reason that the Government of the Reich will employ
every means to obtain the final removal of the division of the nations of the
world into two categories. The keeping open of this wound leads to distrust on
the one side and hatred on the other, and thus to a general feeling of
insecurity.
The national government is ready to extend a hand in
sincere understanding to every nation that is ready finally to make an end of
the tragic past. The international economic distress can only disappear when
the basis has been provided by stable political relations and when the nations
have regained confidence in each other. For the overcoming of the economic
catastrophe three things are necessary: 1. Absolutely authoritative leadership
in internal affairs, in order to create confidence in the stability of
conditions; 2. the securing of peace by the great nations for a long time to
come, with a view to restoring the confidence of the nations in each other; 3.
the final victory of the principles of common sense in the organization and
conduct of business, and also a general release from reparations and impossible
liabilities for debts and interest. |
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* Taken from "Reichstag
Proceedings," vol. 457. The judgment of the Tribunal quoted a large number of
the speeches of Hitler in which he proclaimed Germany's desire for peace and
peaceful solutions of international differences. A number of other statements
which he made on later occasions are reproduced hereinafter. A great many such
statements were introduced in evidence by the defense.
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