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much more of the same type. It is even experiencing the stockpiling
of atomic bombs without any industrialists being charged on that account for
participating in aggressive warfare. And you have to bear in mind, Your honors,
there is no nation on your country's borders which is a menace to you
industrially or ideologically, or that envies your industry.
The
problem of taking in foreign labor was one you never had to deal with. Streams
of workers go to your rich and wealthy country. You cannot possibly understand
the sentiments of a people that is pressed into a small territory and over and
over again sees that its efforts for an improvement of life are taken from it.
If it expands industrially, then there are other countries immediately stepping
in with tariff protection and depreciation of currency. Its colonies were taken
from it without any hope of regaining them. It is only in poor countries, only
in countries whose hope for reconstruction is being utterly taken that
dissatisfaction and national movements arise.
In view of the suspicion
that the party entertained against me as a former Free Mason, and for which
reason, after a short membership in the Party, I was actually expelled from the
Party from the end of 1933 to August 1939 and was placed under police
supervision, I cannot very well be called a coconspirator of Hitler in a war of
aggression during the critical times involved.
It is a matter of course
that throughout the war, being a German, I did my duty to my people and country
to the extent that I could reconcile with my conscience, with religion, and
humanity. While acting in my position I retained this attitude even under
circumstances that involved personal danger for myself. This attitude was such
a matter-of-fact thing in my case that it never even occurred to me that I
should procure testimonials for later evidence.
I trust, Your Honors,
that I have been able to convince you of my sentiment and attitude even in
instances where I have not been able to produce documentary evidence against
general charges raised by the prosecution. I ask Your Honors to pass an early
judgment. Just as some of my other colleagues, I have reached that phase of
life which the Bible designates as being three score and ten. I have been under
arrest for 14 months and every day that goes becomes more and more
irreplacable, and what has been inflicted on us physically and morally cannot
be compensated for. The point now is to have our honor reinstated, which only
yesterday, was again debased in the eyes of the world by unfounded charges
raised by the prosecution and of which there is a saying: “It is better to
lose your life than your honor.” I confidently hope that Your Honors will
reinstate the honor that we held. |
1074 |
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