 |
| were lucky, he said, in having here such frontiers that we were
relieved of the trouble of defending them militarily. |
| |
| * * * *
* * * *
* * |
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| [Signed] WEIZSAECKER |
| |
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PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF
DOCUMENT 444-PS* |
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PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 1173 |
|
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| FUEHRER DIRECTIVE NO. 19 TO ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND OKW, 12
NOVEMBER 1940, CONCERNING FUTURE PROSECUSTION OF THE WAR |
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| Fuehrer Headquarters, 12 November 1940. |
| |
The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Armed
Forces Operations Office Department National Defense (I)
No. 33356/40 Top
Secret, Matter for Chiefs
[Stamp]
|
Matter for chiefs
Through officer only |
10 copies – 4th copy,
[Handwritten] 55. |
|
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| Directive No. 18 |
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The preparatory measures of Supreme Headquarters for the prosecution
of the war in the near future are to be made along the following lines:
1. Relations with
France — The aim of my policy towards France is to cooperate with this
country in the most effective way for the future prosecution of the war against
England. For the time being, France will have the role of a
“nonbelligerent power” – she will have to tolerate German
military measures on her territory, especially in the African colonies, and to
give support, as far as possible, even by using her own means of defense. The
most pressing task of the French is the defensive and offensive protection of
their French possessions (West and Equatorial Africa) against England and the
de Gaulle movement. From this initial task France’s participation in the
war against England can develop fully.
For the time being, the conversations with
France resulting from my meeting with Marshal Petain are being carried on
— apart from the current work of the armistice commission entirely by the
Foreign Office in cooperation with the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.
More detailed directives will follow at the close of these talks.
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| —————————— |
* Ibid, vol. III, pp. 403-407, for
translation of entire document.
897 |
. 
