Today is the third anniversary of the speech of 25 March 1944 made by the defendant. His closing remarks on that day detail decisively the philosophy of the then field marshal of the Luftwaffe. Those assembled had been listening to their chief since midmorning. The hour was late. The hands of the clock were past twelve. Germany was in the fifth year of war. The defendant was concluding his speech. He said—
“Gentlemen, I know, not every subordinate can say: for me the law no longer exists, but he has to have someone who covers up for him. Not out of cowardice, but if you act according to the spirit of the old field service regulation, ‘Abstaining from doing something hurts us more than erring in the choice of the means’, and if, moreover, you keep in touch and immediately clarify difficult points so that something can be done, then we are willing to accept the responsibility, whether this is the law or not. I see only two possibilities for me and for Germany; either we succeed and thereby save Germany, or we continue these slipshod methods and then get the fate that we deserve. I prefer to fall, while I am doing something that is against the rules but that is right and sensible, and be called to account for it, and, if you like, hanged, rather than be hanged because Papa Stalin is here in Berlin or the Englishmen. I have no desire for that. I would rather die in a different way. But I think we can accomplish this task, too. We are in the fifth year of war—I repeat: The decision will come during the next six weeks. Heil Hitler!”
The time is at hand for another decision, a decision which will follow the dictates of sound reason. The record which will be made by this Tribunal and its judgment will be one that shall give courage to peaceful free men everywhere. Indeed, the defendant is fortunate that the decision in the present case is in the hands of those who do believe that the law exists and will continue to exist. There is no place for passion or for prejudice in the ceaseless tasks, the seeking of truth and the establishing of justice.
[143] Mr. Clark Denney delivered the closing statement before the Tribunal on 25 March 1947, Tr. pp. 2436-2488.
[144] Trial of the Major War Criminals, vol. I, p. 306, Nuremberg, 1947.
[145] Defendant in case of United States vs. Karl Brandt, et al. See Vol. I.
[146] Defendant in case of United States vs. Karl Brandt, et al. See Vol. I.
[147] Same as preceeding footnote.
[148] Same as preceeding footnote.