GEN. RUDENKO: And on political matters?
GÖRING: It depended on what question came up for discussion, and on whether the Führer had consulted anybody or asked his opinion.
GEN. RUDENKO: Can you tell me, who were these collaborators and associates?
GÖRING: The close collaborators of the Führer as I said before were first I, myself. Another close associate—perhaps it is the wrong word—with whom he perhaps spoke more than with others was Dr. Goebbels. Then, of course, you must consider the different periods. It varied during the 20 years; towards the end, it was Bormann first and foremost. During the years 1933 and 1934, until shortly before the end, it was Himmler also, when certain questions were dealt with. And if the Führer was dealing with certain other specific questions, then he would, of course, as is the custom in every government, consult the person who knew most about the question and obtain the information from him.
GEN. RUDENKO: Can you also name which of his collaborators were associated with him in the field of foreign politics?
GÖRING: As far as foreign policy was concerned, Hitler only consulted his colleagues more on the, so to speak, purely technical side. The most important and far-reaching political decisions were taken by himself, and he then announced them to his collaborators and colleagues as ready-made conceptions. Only very few people were allowed to discuss them, myself for instance; and the technical execution of his decisions in the field of foreign policy, when it came to framing the diplomatic notes, was done by the Foreign Office and its minister.
GEN. RUDENKO: The Defendant Ribbentrop?
GÖRING: Yes, naturally, he was the foreign minister concerned, but he did not make foreign policy.
GEN. RUDENKO: And on questions of strategy, who advised Hitler?
GÖRING: There were several people. On purely departmental matters of strategic importance it was the three commanders-in-chief and their chiefs of general staff, and to some extent, the Supreme General Staff which was immediately attached to the Führer.