“If, however, the State is to endure, this power must be
available only to the constitutional authorities. No one else
may have it; that is, not even the political parties. The
Wehrmacht must be completely nonpolitical and be composed only
of servicemen who, in full realization of this necessity, refuse
to take part in any activity of domestic politics. To have
realized this from the outset and organized the Wehrmacht
accordingly is the great and enduring achievement of Noske, the
former Reichswehrminister, whom the meritorious Minister Dr.
Gessler followed on this road with the deepest conviction.”
Then I talk about the composition of the Navy, and on the fourth page I
continue, Line 7. Perhaps this is the most important sentence:
“In my opinion, one thing is of course a prerequisite for the
inner attitude of the serviceman, namely, that he is willing to
put his profession into practice when the fatherland calls upon
him. People who never again want war cannot possibly wish to
become soldiers. One cannot take it amiss if the Wehrmacht
infuses into its servicemen a manly and warlike spirit; not the
desire for war or even a war of revenge or a war of aggression,
for to strive after that would certainly in the general opinion
of all Germans be a crime, but the will to take up arms in the
defense of the fatherland in its hour of need.”
Then I pass on to the last paragraph on Page 4.
“One must understand—for it is in accordance with the essence
of the Wehrmacht—if it strives to be as far as possible in a
position to fulfil its tasks, even under the conditions today,
dictated by the limitation of the Versailles Treaty.”
I then refer to the tasks of the small Navy, and that is on Page 5,
second paragraph, Line 6.
“Consider the extent of the German coast line in the Baltic and
North Sea, chiefly the Prussian coast line, which would be open
to invasion and to the ravages of even the smallest maritime
nation, had we not at our disposal modern mobile naval forces at
least up to the strength permitted by the provisions of the
Versailles Treaty. Above all, think of the position of East
Prussia, which in the event of the closing of the Corridor would
be wholly dependent on overseas imports, imports which would
have to be brought past the bases of foreign nations and in the
event of war would be endangered to the utmost, or even be made
impossible if we were not in possession of fighting ships. I ask
you to remember the reports about the effect of the visits of
our training ships and of our fleet to foreign countries, when,
already in 1922, the model conduct of our ship crews testified
to an improvement in the internal conditions of the Reich, and
increased considerably the esteem for the German Reich.”
So much for this speech.
THE PRESIDENT: Since you are passing from that now, we might perhaps
adjourn.
[_A recess was taken._]
DR. SIEMERS: Admiral, hanging over this Trial are the words: “Wars of
Aggression are Crimes.”
We have just seen from your speech that, as early as January, 1928, you
used these words, before the Kellogg Pact. In conclusion, I should like
to ask you, did this principle of January 1928 remain your principle
during the whole time of your command of the Navy?
RAEDER: Of course.
DR. SIEMERS: In connection with the Versailles Treaty, I should now like
to submit an affidavit, because some figures are necessary here which
are easier to present in writing than by interrogation. I shall submit
Affidavit II by Vice Admiral Lohmann, Exhibit Number Raeder-8, Document
Book 1, Page 39.
For the guidance of the Tribunal, so that there may be no
misunderstanding, I should like to point out that Vice Admiral Lohmann
has nothing to do with the Captain Lohmann who was well-known, almost
famous, in the twenties.
The Tribunal may remember that the Lohmann affair was mentioned in
connection with the breaches of the Versailles Treaty. Captain Lohmann
died in 1930, and has nothing to do with the present author of this
affidavit, Vice Admiral Lohmann. I also remind the Court that the
Lohmann affair took place before Admiral Raeder was in charge of the
Navy, before 1928.