DOCUMENTS OF GERMAN POLITICS [Dokumente der Deutschen Politik]
Vol. I, page 158, Doc. No. 64.
"Exchange of letters between the Reich president, Adolf Hitler, and the Reichskommissar for Prussia, Franz von Papen, and Reichs Minister Goering, April 7 to 10, 1933, in connection with the recall of the Reichskommissar and the appointment of Goering to the post of Minister President of Prussia.
' Papen to Hitler:
Very Honored Herr Reichschancellor—
With the draft of the law for the coordination of the states with the Reich, passed today by the Reich Chancellor, legislative work has begun which will be of historical significance for the political development of the German state. The step taken by the Reich Government, which I headed at the time, is now crowned by this new inter-locking of the Reich. You, Herr Reich Chancellor, will now, as once Bismarck, be able to coordinate in all points the policy of the greatest of German states with that of the Reich. Now that the new law enables you to appoint a Prus-
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sian Prime Minister I ask you to inform the Reich President that I return to his hands my post of Reichs Kommissar for Prussia. With excellent respect,
Your sincerely devoted,
/s/ Von Papen
Hitler to Hindenburg:
Highly honored Reichs President—
Vice-Chancellor von Papen has sent a letter to me which I enclose for your information. Herr von Papen already informed me within the last few days that he agreed with Minister Goering to resign on his own volition, as soon as the unified conduct of the governmental affairs in the Reich and in Prussia would be assured by the new law on coordination of policy in the Reich and the states [Laender].
On the eve of the day when the new law on the institution of Reich governors [Reiehs-Statthalter] was adopted, Herr von Papen considered this aim as having been attained and he requested of me to undertake the appointment of the Prussian Prime Minister, when at the same time he would offer his full time services in the Reich Government.
Herr von Papen, in accepting the commission for the Government of Prussia in these difficult times since 30 January, has rendered a very meritorious service to the realization of the idea of coordinating the policy in the Reich and the States [Laender]. His collaboration in the Reich cabinet, for which he now offers all his strength, is infinitely valuable; my relationship to him is such a heartily friendly one, that I sincerely rejoice at the great help I shall thus receive.
With profound reverence,
/s/ Adolf Hitler
Hindenburg to Papen: Dear Herr von Papen—
Your request to be released from the office of Reich Commissar for the State of Prussia has just been granted by me. I feel compelled at this occasion to thank you sincerely, in behalf of the Reich as well as my own, for the great meritorious contribution you have rendered toward the elimination of dualism between the Reich and the states [Laender] and for the realization of the
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idea of a unified political leadership in the Reich and the states. That now your entire capability will be at the disposal of the Reich government I welcome with satisfaction.
With befit greetings in true comradeship—
Yours sincerely,
/s/ Von Hindenburg, Reich President
Letters on von Papen's resignation as commissioner for Prussia and the new unification of authority in the Reich government
Authors
Franz Papen, von (Vice-Chancellor; ambassador)
Franz von Papen
German general staff officer, politician, diplomat, nobleman and Chancellor of Germany (1879–1969)
- Born: 1879-10-29 (Werl)
- Died: 1969-05-02 (Sasbach)
- Country of citizenship: German Reich; Germany
- Occupation: diplomat; military personnel; politician
- Member of political party: Centre Party (until: 1932-01-01); Nazi Party
- Member of: Union-Klub
- Participant in: Hostages Trial (date: 1947-10-03; role: affiant)
- Significant person: Wilhelm List (role: acquaintance)
Adolf Hitler (Fuehrer, Reich Chancellor, Supeme Commander of Wehrmacht)
Adolf Hitler
Austrian nationalized German politician, leader of the National Socialist party and dictator of Germany (1889-1945)
- Born: 1889-01-01 1889-04-20 (Braunau am Inn) (country: Austria-Hungary; located in the administrative territorial entity: Archduchy of Austria above the Enns; statement is subject of: Adolf-Hitler-Geburtshaus)
- Died: 1945-04-30 (Berlin Führerbunker) (country: Nazi Germany; located in the administrative territorial entity: Berlin; statement is subject of: death of Adolf Hitler)
- Country of citizenship: Cisleithania (period: 1889-04-20 through 1918-11-11); First Republic of Austria (period: 1919-01-01 through 1925-04-30); Nazi Germany (end cause: death of Adolf Hitler; period: 1933-01-30 through 1945-04-30); Republic of German-Austria (period: 1918-01-01 through 1919-01-01)
- Occupation: painter (statement is subject of: paintings by Adolf Hitler); political writer; politician (reason for preferred rank: generally used form); soldier
- Member of political party: German Workers' Party (period: 1919-09-12 through 1921-07-11); Nazi Party (series ordinal: 556)
- Member of: Nazi Party
- Participant in: Aktion T4; Beer Hall Putsch; The Holocaust; ethnic cleansing
- Significant person: Albert Speer; Benito Mussolini; Eva Braun; Joseph Stalin
Paul L. H. Hindenburg, von (Field Marshal, President (1925-34))
Paul L. H. von Hindenburg
Prussian-German field marshal of the German Empire, statesman and president of Weimar Germany and Nazi Germany (1847–1934)
- Born: 1847-10-02 (Poznań) (country: Kingdom of Prussia; statement is subject of: 6 Podgórna Street in Poznań)
- Died: 1934-08-02 (Ogrodzieniec, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
- Country of citizenship: German Empire; German Reich
- Occupation: military personnel; politician; soldier
- Member of: Corps Saxo-Montania zu Freiberg und Dresden in Aachen
- Military rank: general field marshal
- Military branch: Prussian Army
- Position held: President of Germany (end cause: death in office; period: 1925-05-12 through 1934-08-02; replaced by: Adolf Hitler)
Documents of German Politics (Dokumente der Deutschen Politik, serial)
Date: 07 April 1933
Literal Title: Excerpts from Dokumente der Deutschen Politik, . . . "Exchange of letters between the Reich president, Adolf Hitler, and the Reichskommissar for Prussia, Franz von Papen, and Reichs Minister Goering, April 7 to 10, 1933 . . ."
Defendant: Franz Papen, von
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-3357
Citations: IMT (page 3248), IMT (page 3258)
HLSL Item No.: 453488
Notes:Items: von Papen to Hitler; Hitler to Hindenburg; Hindenburg to von Papen. The letters are not individually dated.
Trial Issues
Conspiracy (and Common plan, in IMT) (IMT, NMT 1, 3, 4) Nazi regime (rise, consolidation, economic control, and militarization) (I…
Document Summary
PS-3357: Correspondence between Papen, Hitler and Hindenburg, 7 to 10 April 1933: Papen resigns from his office as Reich Commissioner for Prussia; Goring is appointed Prussian premier