 |
A week later the operations against Russia began on Hitler's order.
I now turn to point [count] two of the indictment. |
| |
| * * * * *
* * * * * |
| |
| 3. CLOSING STATEMENT FOR DEFENDANT SCHWNIEWIND* |
| |
DR. MECKEL : May it please the Tribunal. Admiral Schniewind is
charged with participation in crimes against the peace. The prosecution alleges
that the admiral had taken an important part in the planning, preparation, and
in the waging of these wars. In its opening speech, the prosecution speaks of
his, “essential and deciding influence.” So far, however, the
prosecution has failed to produce evidence for this allegation.
A large
part of the presented documents does not prove anything but this fact that the
admiral, during the period from 1938 to 1941, in his capacity as Chief of Staff
for Naval Operations, was engaged in the study and planning of military
operations. This would not have necessitated such quantities of evidence.
I cannot find any incriminating facts therein in spite of the
statements by the prosecution in its closing speech. I have produced evidence
for the fact that, not only in Germany but also in other states, it is regarded
as the obvious duty of military staffs to draft plans of offensive and
defensive nature, for a possible war. The well-known British Naval historian,
Captain Russel Grenfell, was not the only witness here to confirm this fact.
Even in the March [1948] issue of the UNO organ, “United Nations
World,” we find the following article written by Ellsworth L. Raymond who
previously worked in the Russian Economic Section of the United States Army:
|
| |
“The Soviet General Staff
headed by Marshal Alexander Vassilewsky under the personal supervision of
Premier Josef V. Stalin has detailed operational plans for offensive and
defensive wars to meet any military emergency that may arise at any time. There
is nothing belligerent in this fact. The general staffs of all armies are
obliged to draw up such plans, their peacetime job being theoretical and
practical preparation for war, whenever or wherever it may come, and whatever
form it may take.” |
| Since the prosecution has also declared that it does not incriminate
the defendants for having been soldiers and, “that they had committed acts
which are usually expected from a soldier, as |
| —————————— |
* Closing statement is recorded in
mimeographed transcript, 12 August 1949, pp. 9859-9876.
389 |
. 
