“Germany is the protector of all Germans within and beyond our frontiers. The shots fired at Almeria are proof of that.” (D-653)

(The reference is to the bombardment of the Spanish town of Almeria, carried out by a German naval squadron on 31 May 1937 during the course of the Spanish Civil War.) After further panegyries on the Fuehrer and his leadership, Raeder hinted of what was to come:

“They all planted into a younger generation the great tradition of death for a holy cause, knowing that their blood will lead the way towards the freedom of their dreams.” (D-653)

That speech of Raeder’s illustrates his deep personal involvement in the Nazi conspiracy. There is the mixture of heroics and fatalism that led millions of Germans to slaughter. There are boasts of the violence used on the people of Almeria. There is the lip service to peace by a man who planned conquest. “Armed forces and party have become more and more united in attitude and spirit”—there is the authentic Nazi voice. There is the assertion of racialism. Finally, there is the anti-Semitic gesture, Raeder’s contribution to the outlook that produced Belsen. Imbued with these ideas, he became an active participant on both the political and military level in the Nazi conspiracy to wage wars of aggression and to wage them ruthlessly.


LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO ERICH RAEDER

DocumentDescriptionVol.Page
Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Article 6.I5
International Military Tribunal, Indictment Number 1, Section IV (H); Appendix A.I29, 67
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Note: A single asterisk (*) before a document indicates that the document was received in evidence at the Nurnberg trial. A double asterisk (**) before a document number indicates that the document was referred to during the trial but was not formally received in evidence, for the reason given in parentheses following the description of the document. The USA series number, given in parentheses following the description of the document, is the official exhibit number assigned by the court.
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 *386-PSNotes on a conference with Hitler in the Reich Chancellery, Berlin, 5 November 1937, signed by Hitler’s adjutant, Hossbach, and dated 10 November 1937. (USA 25)III295
 *498-PSTop Secret Fuehrer Order for killing of commandos, 18 October 1942. (USA 501)III416
 *503-PSLetter signed by Jodl, 19 October 1942, concerning Hitler’s explanation of his commando order of the day before (Document 498-PS). (USA 542)III426
 *798-PSHitler’s speech to Commanders-in-Chief, at Obersalzberg, 22 August 1939. (USA 29)III581
*1807-PSExtract from Jodl Diary, 16 June 1942, concerning attack on Brazilian sea and air forces. (GB 227)IV377
*2031-PSDecree establishing a Secret Cabinet Council, 4 February 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 112. (GB 217)IV654
2098-PSDecree relating to Status of Supreme Commanders of Army and Navy, 25 February 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 215. (GB 206)IV725
*2194-PSTop secret letter from Ministry for Economy and Labor, Saxony, to Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia, enclosing copy of 1938 Secret Defense Law of 4 September 1938. (USA 36)IV843
 2879-PSExtracts from The Archives.V542
*2888-PSCertificate of positions held by Raeder, 14 November 1945. (USA 13)V553
*3260-PS“Churchill Sank the Athenia”, published in Voelkischer Beobachter, 23 October 1939. (GB 218)V1008
*C-12OKW directive, signed Jodl, 20 December 1939, concerning conduct of U-Boat warfare on Merchant shipping against England. (GB 226)VI818
*C-21Extracts from file on Intensification of U-boat warfare. (GB 194)VI825
*C-23Unsigned documents found in official Navy files containing notes year by year from 1927 to 1940 on reconstruction of the German Navy, and dated 18 February 1938, 8 March 1938, September 1938. (USA 49)VI827
*C-27Minutes of Meeting between C-in-C Navy and the Fuehrer. (GB 225)VI829
*C-29Directive of 31 January 1933 by Raeder for German Navy to support the armament industry. (USA 46)VI830
 C-32Survey report of German Naval Armament after conference with Chief of “A” Section, 9 September 1933. (USA 50)VI833
*C-38Letter, 13 June 1941, requesting decision on action against enemy submarines and Order to attack Soviet submarines, 15 June 1941. (GB 223)VI855
*C-64Raeder’s report, 12 December 1939, on meeting of Naval Staff with Fuehrer. (GB 86)VI884
*C-66Memorandum from Raeder to Assman, 10 January 1944, concerning “Barbarossa” and “Weseruebung”. (GB 81)VI887
*C-105Extract from German Naval War Diary, 21 December 1940, p. 252. (GB 455)VI913
*C-115Naval deception and camouflage in invasion of Norway taken from file of naval operation orders for operation “Weseruebung”. (GB 90)VI914
 C-116Extract from German Naval file, 9 August 1941, concerning Order to blockade Norwegian ships.VI915
 C-117Extract from German Naval file, 13 July 1941, concerning preparations for laying of minefield near the Bosphorus.VI915
*C-120Directives for Armed Forces 1939-40 for “Fall Weiss”, operation against Poland. (GB 41)VI916
*C-122Extract from Naval War Diary. Questionnaire on Norway bases, 3 October 1939. (GB 82)VI928
 C-124Secret letter, 29 September 1941, concerning future of St. Petersburg.VI931
*C-126Preliminary Time Table for “Fall Weiss” and directions for secret mobilization. (GB 45)VI932
*C-135Extract from history of war organization and of the scheme for mobilization. (GB 213)VI946
*C-141Order for concealed armament of E-boats, 10 February 1932, signed by Raeder. (USA 47)VI955
*C-152Extract from Naval War Staff files, 18 March 1941, concerning audience of C-in-C of Navy with Hitler on 18 March 1941. (GB 122)VI966
*C-155Memorandum, 11 June 1940, signed by Raeder. (GB 214)VI969
*C-156Concealed Rearmament under Leadership of Government of Reich, from “Fight of the Navy against Versailles 1919-1935”. (USA 41)VI970
*C-161Memo by Raeder, 10 January 1943, entitled: Importance of German Surface forces for conducting of war by powers signatory to Three Power Pact. (GB 230)VI976
*C-166Order from Command Office of Navy, 12 March 1934, signed in draft by Groos, concerning preparation of auxiliary cruisers. (USA 48)VI977
*C-170File of Russo-German relations found in OKM files covering period 25 August 1939 to 22 June 1941. (USA 136)VI977
*C-176Extracts from War Diary of Admiral Bachmann, concerning shooting of commandos in Bordeaux. (GB 228)VI1011
 C-179Hitler’s second decree, 18 October 1942, regarding annihilation of terror and sabotage units. (USA 543)VI1014
*C-189Conversation with the Fuehrer in June 1934 on occasion of resignation of Commanding Officer of “Karlsruhe”. (USA 44)VI1017
*C-190Memorandum of conversation with Hitler on financing Naval rearmament and assembling six submarines, 2 November 1934. (USA 45)VI1018
*C-191Demands by defendant Doenitz on sinking of merchant ships, 22 September 1939. (GB 193)VI1018
*D-448Announcement of birthday celebration of Doenitz in Voelkischer Beobachter, 25 April 1942. (GB 216)VII58
*D-481Law regarding the swearing in of officials and soldiers of Armed Forces, 20 August 1934. 1934 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 785. (GB 215)VII66
*D-638Affidavit of Doenitz concerning sinking of Athenia, 17 November 1945. (GB 220)VII114
*D-653Raeder speech, 12 March 1939, published in The Archive, March 1939, pp. 1841-1846. (GB 232)VII153
*D-654Affidavit of Adolf Schmidt, 9 August 1945. (GB 219)VII156
*D-655Raeder interview with Hitler on 6 January 1943. (GB 231)VII158
*D-658Extract from SKL War Diary, 9 December 1942. (GB 229)VII164
 D-659Extract from War Diary of Chief of U-boats, 27 September 1939. (GB 221)VII164
*D-662War Diary of Commanding Officer of U-boat U-30. (GB 222)VII169
*D-663Operation Order “Atlantic” No. 56 for U-boats in Atlantic, 7 October 1943. (GB 200)VII170
*EC-177Minutes of second session of Working Committee of the Reich Defense held on 26 April 1933. (USA 390)VII328
*L-79Minutes of conference, 23 May 1939, “Indoctrination on the political situation and future aims”. (USA 27)VII847
*UK-57Keitel directives, 4 January 1944 and 21 April 1944, concerning counteraction to Kharkov show trial. (GB 164)VIII539
*UK-65Report by Raeder to Hitler, 16 October 1939, and memorandum regarding intensified naval war against England, 15 October 1939. (GB 224)VIII545
Statement IThe Laconia Case and German Submarine Warfare, by Karl Doenitz, Nurnberg, 7 and 19 October 1945.VIII657
Statement VIIThe Development of German Naval Policy—1933-1939, by Erich Raeder, Moscow, fall 1945.VIII684
Statement VIIIThe Breakthrough in the Channel Early in 1942, by Erich Raeder, Moscow, 30 August 1945.VIII701
Statement IXMy Relationship to Adolf Hitler and to the Party, by Erich Raeder, Moscow, fall 1945.VIII707

16. BALDUR VON SCHIRACH

A. SCHIRACH’S NSDAP MEMBERSHIP, NSDAP POSITIONS, AND GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.

In an affidavit (3302-PS), Schirach has declared that he held the following positions: