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KK. 2 22 I would have been stoned if I had not been right.

heard again. We, in particular, must
watch our prestige, as it is very im-
portant for us. The likelihood of an in-
tervention of the Western Powers in a
conflict is, in the opinion of the Fuehrer,
not great. The carrying out of his plans
would certainly be a daring enterprise.
It would be a grave mistake to assume
that politicians received any directives
from God. Nobody expects this from a
general but one hopes for it for a politi-
cian. This however, does just as little
apply to a politician as to a general, both
have to find their decisions in their own
heart. The alternative for us is to act
or to be destroyed in the long run.
149 19 He, the Fuehrer, could say that he had, up
to now, been right in his judgment of the
situation in crises.

150

4 He had stubbornly upheld his opinion
against everybody and he had proved to
be right. There was also great risk in-
volved in the case of the Eastmark (Aus-
tria), Sudetenland, and Czechoslovakia
and he had come through the crisis.

No.

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LL. 2 22 The most dangerous step was the
invasion of the neutral zone. Only
a week before I got a warning
through France.

MM. 2 24 I have always accepted a great risk in the conviction that it may succeed.

NN. 2 26 Now it is also a great risk. Iron nerves, iron resolution.

00. 2 27 The following special reasons strengthen me in my idea. England and France are obligated.

2 29 It has done much damage that many reluctant Germans said and wrote to Englishmen after the solution

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149 25 He reminded of the occupation of the Rhineland.

150

1 M. Poncet had seen him eight days before the re-occupation and had informed him that a march into the Rhineland would mean war to France.

No.

150 11 There was also a great risk involved in the present situation which could be mastered only through iron determination. 150 14 The Fuehrer does not believe in an intervention of the Western Powers for the following reasons. The two countries, England and France had, it is true, given a guarantee to Poland.***

150 18 In judging the situation in the two coun-
tries it must be said that England had an
excellent propaganda.

150 20 The attitude of Germans, including ones in
prominent positions, had given consider-
able support to this English propaganda

of the Czech question: the Fuehrer carried his point because you lost your nerve, because you capitulated too soon.

TT. 2 32 This explains the present propa-
ganda war. The English speak of a
war of nerves. It is one element of

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in Autumn 1938. They had said before and during the crisis: "England will intercede in favor of Czechoslovakia even with her armed forces". When this did not come off they said: "We admit we were wrong; the Fuehrer was right. He won because he had the better nerves and stuck it out."

No.

this war of nerves to present the increase of armament.

UU. 2 34 But how is British rearmament in

actual fact. The construction pro-
gram of the Navy for 1938 has not
yet been filled.

VV. 2 35 Only mobilization of the reserve
fleet. Purchase of fishing steamers.

WW.

2 36 Considerable strengthening of the Navy, not before 1941 or 1942.

Little has been done on land. England will be able to send a maximum of three divisions to the Continent.

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7 How is the present military situation in England. The Naval shipbuilding program has only partly been carried out.

No.

9 Its effect is not to be expected before 1941 or 1942. The land troops had not been noticeably increased. The possible strength on the Continent had been estimated at three divisions.

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XX. 2 39

A little has been done for the Air Force but it is only a beginning. AA defense is in its beginning stages. At the moment England has only 150 AA guns. The new AA gun has been ordered. It will take a long time until enough have been produced.

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151 12 In the air a certain success can be noted which, however, is still in its beginning. The modern antiaircraft gun had been introduced last year, there are 150 to 200 guns available in the country, the monthly deliveries amount to 15 to 20. Even with us and our better industry, an increase of this production would require 9 to 12 months. For instance to increase the production from 70 to 90, how much more so in England?

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151

2 43 This can change in two or three
years.

a.

b. 2 44 At the moment the English Air
Force has only 130,000 men.

151

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20 The Air Force itself had in England about 130,000 men.

No.

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f. 2 53 France lacks men (decline of the
birthrate). Little has been done for
rearmament.

152

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i. 2 55 The West has only two possibilities

152

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lion points gold Sterling, although she
had recently invested half a billion in
China. When Poland then requested
arms they have mentioned ridiculous fig-
ures of obsolete material, in other words
declined any serious assistance with the
reason that they need their gold and
arms themselves. Only such credit for
goods had been granted which do not
mean any serious help. The situation of
England was certainly precarious. "It
therefore seems impossible to me that
any responsible British statesman would
take the risk of a war for England in this
situation."

10 France cannot afford a long bloody war,
her conscription classes are too small,
her material not sufficient.

No.

11 France was forced into this situation
against her will.

14 Which are now the possibilities for an in-
tervention of the Western Powers?

(1) The blockade which however has
not the significance any more
as before.

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