VON RIBBENTROP: Yes, I distinctly remember that discussion. This was a
Führer order to the effect that immediate action be taken—I have just
spoken about this—in view of the pending invasion, to arrest all
potentially dangerous elements who could fan the flame of resistance in
the rear of the German armies. I considered this a perfectly
comprehensible measure which any Government, with the welfare of the
troops at heart, would have made.
I then held this conference. The Führer expected a far greater wave of
arrests, but only a comparatively small number, I believe, were arrested
then.
Subsequently we had comparatively little to do with the actual arrests;
they were carried out by the police.
But it is perfectly clear that this conference did take place at the
time indicated and that we did what had to be done at the moment, as
proposed, namely, the arrest of those elements which might have been
dangerous in case of an invasion. That is quite true.