[Turning to the defendant.] We are going to hand you this document in a minute. In order to facilitate the reading of it, the paragraphs which I am going to read here are underlined in red pencil. I am going to read the first excerpt; will you please follow the text—I quote:
“Everybody, including myself, was aware that Fritzsche was not only a close associate of Goebbels, but was also a favorite of his. He gained Goebbels’ sympathy by frequently copying him in his political activities and quoting Goebbels in his speeches. Goebbels, in his printed and verbal speeches, referred to the conclusions and prognoses made by Fritzsche as having the force of official declarations.”
Please tell me, Defendant Fritzsche, is that in accordance with reality?
FRITZSCHE: May I ask you which quotation you have been reading, 1, 2, or 3?
GEN. RUDENKO: I have already told you, it is quotation Number 1.
FRITZSCHE: According to my text, the first one says:
“Everybody, including myself, was aware that Fritzsche was not only a close associate of Goebbels, but was also, a favorite of his.”
GEN. RUDENKO: Yes, that is quite correct. That is exactly what I quoted. I am asking you, is that in accordance with reality?
FRITZSCHE: I should not have expressed it like that, and I think it is a question of taste. This statement...
GEN. RUDENKO: I understand.