Q. * * * Now, I understand you to say that the first time you learned of the proposed war against Poland was on 21 August, and even then it was not very clearly indicated that a war could actually be unleashed, and that further it was not until the very end of the day, that is to say, at five o’clock in the afternoon of 31 August that you were directed to put the Luftwaffe, or all your forces, in readiness for the attack. Is that correct? Is that what you said?
A. On 31 August, not to get ready, but I received the order: “The attack starts tomorrow,” that was the order for an attack, whereas, over-all preparations had been made previously at the meeting which took place with Hitler on 22 August, only then there was still the possibility of negotiations which were still going on. These negotiations came to an end on 31 August at 1700 hours.
Q. Did you not tell this Tribunal that after the meeting of 23 May 1939 you were convinced that war was not intended?
A. 23d of May?
Q. Yes, 23 May 1939?
A. Yes.
Q. That you had no intimation that Hitler intended an aggressive war on Poland?
A. Yes, because at that time, according to my recollection, Hitler stated again and again that he was certainly going to settle the Polish problem, but that he would not allow war to break out.
Q. And that you had called to his attention the necessity of manufacturing bombs, because you believed that hostilities might break out?
A. That was before that date, before the 23d, and also after the 23d, because I myself did not share Hitler’s optimism. Although he may not have intended to wage war, his policy might nevertheless have led to war, for he alone was not the deciding factor, the others would have something to say as well.