“The student riots of October and November 1939 were a turning
point in the history of the Protectorate. I cannot give you a
chronological repetition of the events from memory. However, I
can state the following: The manifestations which took place on
28 October 1939, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of
the constitution of the Czechoslovak State, in Prague and Brno,
mainly by the academic youth, were to be expected. Therefore,
Herr Von Neurath, previous to 28 October 1939, issued orders to
ignore them quietly as far as possible and only to interfere
when they assumed the character of a serious danger to public
peace and safety. Because of noncompliance with this order the
greater part, if not the whole of the disaster resulted.
Immediately after the conference with Hitler Frank returned to
Prague. The office of the Reich Protector, who himself was still
in Berlin, had only received knowledge of the measures taken
against the students on 15 and 16 November on the following
morning, partly through the numerous appeals which the members
of the families of the arrested students made at the office of
Herr Von Neurath. In my opinion Herr Von Neurath did not learn
of these sanctions against students until after they had taken
place. I personally did not report this matter to him, and I
cannot tell you just who did report to Von Neurath on this
matter. It is my firm conviction that the proclamation in
question, addressed to the Czech people, was given out without
the knowledge of Herr Von Neurath, and through misuse of his
name. I remember distinctly that because of this he had heated
arguments with Frank. At that time he remained in office, for he
believed that by remaining he could prevent much more disaster.
He considered the closing of the universities an unwarranted
intervention in the life of the Czech people. He tried with all
the means at his disposal to have the Czech university teachers
and students, who had been taken to German concentration camps,
liberated subsequently, and until such liberation, to have them
accommodated in special sections.”
In this connection, I should also like to submit to the Tribunal an
affidavit which I just received a few days ago from the secretary of
Herr Von Neurath at that time, Fräulein Irene Friedrich. This is dated 6
June 1946, and from it we can see quite clearly that at the time this
announcement was issued and published, Herr Von Neurath had not yet
returned from Berlin, and therefore that it was quite impossible for
Herr Von Neurath to have had knowledge of this proclamation.
I should like to ask the Tribunal to take judicial notice of this
affidavit.
I should also like to refer...
THE PRESIDENT: What is the number of the affidavit?
DR. VON LÜDINGHAUSEN: Number 159, Mr. President. I should like to refer
further to a document of the Czech Prosecution: Appendix 5 of Supplement
Number 1, a memorandum of Herr Von Neurath dated 26 March 1940 which has
been submitted. This deals with the discussion with President Hacha
regarding the arrested students and also shows that Herr Von Neurath
tried, and kept on trying, to have these students released.
THE PRESIDENT: Did you give us the number for that? You said Document