VON RIBBENTROP: I remember that I discussed the fact with Best, that
this question was of no significance in Denmark. He was therefore not
proposing to do anything in particular about the Jewish question there,
and I declared myself in complete agreement with him.
M. FAURE: I ask that you be shown Document 2375-PS. This document has
not yet been submitted to the Tribunal. I would like to submit it under
French Exhibit Number RF-1503. I would like to read with you the second
paragraph of this document. It is an affidavit from Mildner, a colonel
of the police in Denmark.
“As commander, I was subordinate to the Reich Plenipotentiary,
Dr. Best. Since I was opposed to the persecution of the Jews, on
principle and for practical reasons, I asked Dr. Best to give me
the reasons for the measures that were ordered.
“Dr. Best declared to me that the Reich Foreign Minister,
Ribbentrop, obviously knew Hitler’s intention to exterminate the
Jews in Europe. He had furnished Hitler with a report about the
Jewish problem in Denmark and proposed to deport the Jews from
Denmark.
“Dr. Best declared furthermore that Ribbentrop was afraid of
being held responsible in case the Jews remained in Denmark.
“Dr. Best was now compelled to carry out the measures that were
proposed to Hitler by Ribbentrop.
“From the discussion with Dr. Best I gathered that he must have
had a discussion or a telephone conversation with Ribbentrop.”
You read that, did you not?
VON RIBBENTROP: What is written in this document is pure fantasy. It is
not true.
M. FAURE: Very well; I ask then that you be shown Document 3688-PS,
which I wish to deposit under the French Exhibit Number RF-1502. It is a
note of 24 September 1942, signed by Luther, and addressed to his
collaborators. I should like to read with you the first two paragraphs
of that document.
“The Minister for Foreign Affairs has instructed me today by
telephone to expedite as much as possible the evacuation of the
Jews from different countries in Europe, since it is certain
that the Jews stir up feelings against us everywhere and must be
held responsible for acts of sabotage and outrages.
“After a short report on the evacuation of Jews at present in
process in Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, and the occupied
territories, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has ordered us now
to approach the Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Danish Governments
with the aim of getting the evacuation started in these
countries.”
I suggest that this second document confirms the first as regards your
participation in the deportation of Jews in Denmark. Do you agree?
VON RIBBENTROP: It was the Führer’s plan, at the time, to deport the
Jews from Europe to North Africa, and Madagascar was also mentioned in
this connection. He ordered me to approach various governments with a
view to encouraging the emigration of the Jews, if possible, and to
remove all Jews from important government posts. I issued instructions
to the Foreign Office accordingly, and, if I remember rightly, certain
governments were approached several times to that effect. It was the
question of the Jewish emigration to certain parts of North Africa; that
is true. May I return to this affidavit? This sworn affidavit is pure
fantasy of Colonel Mildner’s and is absolutely untrue.