Nuremberg Trials
Opening Address for the United States
Robert Jackson
This document was retrieved from the archives of Nizkor. Source: Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression, Volume I, Chapter VII, Office of the United States Chief Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1946.
CONSPIRACY WITH JAPAN
The Nazi plans of aggression called for use of Asiatic allies and they
found among the Japanese men of kindred mind and purpose. They were
brothers, under the skin.
Himmler records a conversation he had on January 31, 1939 with General
Oshima, Japanese Ambassador at Berlin. He wrote:
"Furthermore, he (Oshima) had succeeded up to now to send 10 Russians
with bombs across the Caucasian frontier. These Russians had the mission
to kill Stalin. A number of additional Russians, whom he had also sent
across, had been shot at the frontier." (2195-PS). 5
On September 27th, 1940, the Nazis concluded a German- Italian-Japanese
ten-year military and economic alliance by which
[Page 153]
those powers agreed "to stand by and cooperate with one another in
regard to their efforts in Greater East Asia and regions of Europe
respectively wherein it is their prime purpose to establish and maintain
a new order of things ****** ***."
On March 5th, 1941, a top secret directive was issued by defendant
Keitel. It stated that "The Fuehrer has ordered instigation of Japan's
active participation in the war" and directed that "Japan's military
power has to be strengthened by the disclosure of German war experiences
and support of a military, economic and technical nature has to be
given." The aim was stated to be to crush England quickly, "thereby
keeping the United States out of the war." (C-75) .
On March 29th, 1941, Ribbentrop told Matsuoka, the Japanese Foreign
Minister, that the German Army was ready to strike against Russia.
Matsuoka reassured Ribbentrop about the Far East. Japan, he reported,
was acting at the moment as though she had no interest whatever in
Singapore, but "intends to strike when the right moment comes."
(1877-PS). On April 5th, 1941, Ribbentrop urged Matsuoka that entry of
Japan into the war would "hasten the victory" and would be more in the
interest of Japan that of Germany since it would give Japan a unique
chance to fulfill her national aims and to play a leading part in
Eastern Asia (1882-PS).
The proofs in this case will also show that the leaders of Germany were
planning war against the United States from its Atlantic as well as
instigating it from its Pacific approaches. A captured memorandum from
the Fuehrer's headquarters, dated October 29th, 1940, asks certain
information as to air bases and supply and reports further that
"The Fuehrer is at present occupied with the question of the occupation
of the Atlantic islands with a view to the prosecution of war against
America at a later date. Deliberations on this subject are being
embarked upon here." (76-PS).
On December 7th, 1941, a day which the late President Roosevelt declared
"will live in infamy," victory for German aggression seemed certain. The
Wehrmacht was at the gates of Moscow. Taking advantage of the situation,
and while her plenipotentiaries were creating a diplomatic diversion in
Washington, Japan without declaration of war treacherously attacked the
United Sates at Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. Attacks followed on
the British Commonwealth and The Netherlands in
[Page 154]
the Southwest Pacific. These aggressions were met in the only way they
could be met, with instant declarations of war and with armed resistance
which mounted slowly through many long months of reverse until finally
the Axis was crushed to earth and deliverance for its victims was won.
A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust
Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology,
College of Education, University of South Florida © 2005.