the Reichs President, but in spite of PAPEN's persuasions, HINDENBURG was extremely hesitant-until the end of Januaryto make HITLER chancellor. He wanted to have PAPEN as chancellor once more. PAPEN finally won him to HITLER with the argument that the representatives of the other right wing parties which would belong to the Government would restrict HITLER's freedom of action. In addition PAPEN expressed his misgiving that, if the present opportunity should again be missed, a revolt of the National Socialists and civil war were likely. Many of HINDENBURG's personal friends, such as OLDENBURG-JANUSCHAU, worked in the same direction as PAPEN, also General von BLOMBERG. The President's son and adjutant, Oskar von HINDENBURG, was opposed to the Nazis up to the last moment. The turning point which changed his mind came at the end of January. Then, at the suggestion of PAPEN, a meeting had been arranged between HITLER and Oskar von HINDENBURG in the house of RIBBENTROP. Oskar von HINDENBURG asked me to accompany him, and we took a taxi, in order to keep the appointment secret, and drove out to RIBBENTROP's house. When we arrived we found a large company assembled; among those present were GOERING and FRICK. Oskar von HINDENBURG was told that HITLER wanted to talk to him under four eyes, and as HINDENBURG had asked me to accompany him, I was somewhat astonished that he accepted this suggestion and disappeared in another room for a talk which lasted quite a while-about an hour. What HITLER and Oskar von HINDENBURG discussed during this talk I do not know. In the taxi on the way back Oskar von HINDENBURG was extremely silent, and the only remark which he made was that it could not be helped-the Nazis had to be taken into the Government. My impression was that HITLER had succeeded in getting him under his spell. I may add the amusing fact that early next morning SCHLEICHER telephoned and asked me what had been discussed with HITLER the evening before; this shows that all our precautions to keep the matter secret had been of no avail. For a very long time I had taken a distinctly negative attitude toward the accession of HITLER to power and up to the end did nothing to dispel the doubts which the Reichs President felt about the wisdom of making HITLER Chancellor. (I had an exchange of letters with HITLER about this, which were published in the papers of the press.) I want also to add that I was eliminated from these negotiations by PAPEN, who negotiated with the Reich's President under four eyes and who barely kept me informed about his discussions with the Reich President and his negotiations with HITLER and GOERING. This was in distinct contrast to the way in which on previous occasions governments had been formed-as, for example, at the time of BRUENING's dismissal, when HINDENBURG, SCHLEICHER and I spent considerable time going over various names suggested as possible candidates for the position as Chancellor before the name of PAPEN was definitely decided upon. In view of this difference, what I know now in regard to the last maneuvers to place HITLER in office comes from the Reich President himself. 8. I also had no part in PAPEN's negotiations on the personnel which should compose the new government. Only after this issue had been settled did I receive the list and the order to write out the formal documents of appointments and to prepare the swearing of the Chancellor and of the new Reich's ministers. On the other hand, when I saw that despite his hesitations HINDENBURG had decided to accept PAPEN's proposals, I gave up my opposition. 9. The facts stated above are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. This declaration is made by me voluntarily and without compulsion. After reading over this statement I have signed and executed the same at Oberursel, Germany, this 28 day of November 1945. [Signed] OTTO MEISSNER TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 3546-PS Extract from "DAS AHNENERBE" (Diary 1944) 2. SS Hstuf. Dr. Rascher (c) Letter from RFSS to Ogruf. Pohl about assist ance for scientific research work. (d) Rooms for carrying through of freezing experiments. Lecture to RFSS together with Ostubaf. Dr. Brandt: 1. We shall receive the reports of Prof. Schilling. Page 30-28 January 0900 hours-RFR, SS Brif. Prof. Dr. Schwab: 2. Cooperation with Institute R, Dachau. Page 32-29 January 1730 hours-With SS Hstuf. Rascher and Dr. Pacholegg to Dahlem. Page 37-2 February 13. CA-Work-first picture of living cancer cells and the fight against them. Hirt succeeded in picturing living cancer cells and thereby proving the Tripaflavin penetrates into the heart of the cell as coloring matter detrimental to the cancer cells. 21. Protectional vaccination for spotted fever-by Prof. Haagen. The protectional vaccination for spotted fever in Natzweiler goes on with good results. Page 53-22 February 1330-1500 hours. 2. Conference with Dr. Habil Ed. May: (b) Cooperation with Dr. Ploetner and Prof. Schilling. Page 58-25 February 0900-1520 hours. 3. Report for RFR Prof. Blome (by phone): Order of the RFSS about his work in Dachau and cooperation with Rascher communicated. Page 81-22 March 1830-2100 hours SS Hstuf. Dr. Rascher: Preparation of the freezing experiments for the winter half-year, 1944-45. Page 103-14 April 1300-1515 hours Station Rascher: Situation of work, further work, orders for provisional carrying on-Hstuf. Ploetner introduced. 1515 hours Political Department about escape of Pacholegg. 1525 hours Ostubaf. Weiter about Station Rascher. Page 142-23 May 1300-1330 hours Reichsarzt SS: Conference with Agruf. Grawitz, Staf. Poppendick, and Cooperation. Division as to the work of Dr. Schilling's. 1330-1530 hours. SS Hstuf. Dr. Ploetner Taking up of personal contact with SS Stubaf. Prof. Dr. Page 150-31 May 1745-2030 hours SS Hstuf. Dr. Ploetner 1. Order Reichsarzt SS reference cooperation with Prof. Schilling. 3. Use of inmates in accordance with order of RFSS, dated 25/5/44. Page 179-27 June 1500-1900 Hours Conference with SS Staf. Dr. Brandt and SS Hstuf. Berg: 24. Creation of a scientific research station in a concenInformation about conference with tration camp. SS Ogruf. Pohl, dated 15/6/44. Page 205-25 July 0730 Hours Together with Ostubaf. Klumm to Oranienburg: Conference with SS Staf. Maurer, Oranienburg, about use of inmates for scientific purposes. Page 206-26 July 0830-1900 hours R F R SS H'Stuf. Dr. Fischer (by phone): Order in accordance with conference with SS Staf. Maurer, dated 25/7/44 to journey fastest through all concentration camps in order to fix finally the persons. Page 279-21 October 1500-1545 hours 2. Proceeding or research of SS Stubaf. Prof. Dr. Hirt. Renewed release of Staff Surgeon Dr. Wimmer for duty, and setting aside of the Chemist, SS Ostuf. Martinek in accordance with letter of 6/10/44. Page 281-23 October 1645-1655 hours. SS Staf. Dr. Poppendieck (by phone): Taking over of biological research by SS Staf. Dr. Ploetner in Dachau. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 3572-PS G/14 POL I 260 g. Rs. Appendix to the decree of 2nd April 1937 Pol. I 1686/37 g. Rs./ Since the work in the field of preparation for the mobilization has made further progress within Germany in the Armed Forces and in all civil-administrations including the Foreign Office, it is necessary now that in the case of government offices abroad cor responding measures also be taken in their area of jurisdiction without delay and that they be brought into line with the duties owed the mother-country. The commencement of a period of crisis or of the actual mobilization confronts the offices abroad in manifold fields with great and difficult tasks, the nature and extent of which will be very varied due to local and political conditions. Among others the following are mentioned: the increase of personnel, the making use of Germans for special duties (code and special W/T service, propaganda, etc.) the securing of archives and the destruction of secret matters, the safeguarding of the needed financial resources, the guaranteeing of the transmission of intelligence, the transport home of men liable for military service, the protection of German individuals and property, the cooperation in economic planning concerned with organization, which must necessarily include the economic possibilities abroad. The detailed spheres of activities will be made known in further decrees on the part of the various departments of the Foreign Office. The work to be done then by the offices abroad is to be tackled before hand. The carrying out of all preparatory mobilization measures, which are of course to be treated as "Top Secret", comes under the personal supervision and is the responsibility of the head of the office. In times of peace these measures must be taken care of by the available personnel. I request the heads of offices-without waiting for further instructions-to start considering now the measures to be taken into consideration in their sphere of activity in the case of a serious situation, and then at once to submit appropriate proposals. In the interest of absolute secrecy it must be observed strictly that the number of people informed remains as restricted as possible. If necessary the reports are to be written by hand by the head of the office himself. I request that this decree, which is to be kept sealed and under lock and key by the head of the office, be acknowledged in writing with these words only, "I have received the decree Pol. I 260/38 g. Rs. of the 25th April." To. F 20287 [signed] WEIZSACKER All diplomatic representatives, The German Consulates General in ADDIS ABABA, BATAVIA, BEYRUT, DANZIG, JERUSALEM, CALCUTTA, OTTAWA, SINGAPORE, SYDNEY. To all German Consulates in COLUMBO, HANOI, HONGKONG, LUANDA, LOURENZO, MAREQUES, MANILA, MONROVIALIBERIA, NAIROBI, TETUAN-each especially Buero R.M. Pers. F 20286 |