At the second meeting between Antonescu and Hitler, which took place in January 1941, the Defendants Ribbentrop, Keitel, and Jodl were present. Hitler requested Antonescu to permit the German armies concentrated on Hungarian territory to pass through Romania in order to enable them to assist the Italians in the war against Greece.
Antonescu testifies:
“I expressed my apprehension that the movement of German troops through Romania might serve as a pretext for military action by the Soviet Union against Romania, thus placing Romania in a very difficult position, as the Romanian army was not mobilized. To this Hitler replied that he will give an order for part of the German troops intended for operations against Greece to remain in Romania.
“Hitler also emphasized that, according to the information at his disposal, the Soviet Union had no intention to fight either against Germany or Romania.
“Satisfied with this statement of Hitler’s, I have agreed to allow the German troops to pass through Romanian territory.
“General Jodl, who was present at this conference, described to me the strategic situation of the German Army, emphasizing the necessity of an attack on Greece through Bulgaria.”
Speaking of the third meeting with Hitler in May 1941, in the city of Munich, at which the Defendant Ribbentrop was present, Antonescu declared:
“At this meeting . . . we had definitely agreed upon our joint assault on the Soviet Union.
“Hitler stated that he had decided to attack the Soviet Union. ‘Having prepared this attack,’ said Hitler, ‘we must launch it unexpectedly along the entire frontier of the Soviet Union from the Black Sea to the Baltic. The suddenness of this military attack,’ continued Hitler, ‘will enable Germany and Romania to overcome in a very short time one of our most dangerous opponents.’
“In connection with his war plans, Hitler asked me to place at his disposal Romanian territory for the concentration of German troops, and in conjunction with this to take a direct part in carrying out the attack on the Soviet Union.”