Report on a conversation between the Japanese representative in Berlin and Ribbentrop, on Germany's declaration of war against the United States and Hitler's order to the navy to attack US ships

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Authors

Joachim Ribbentrop, von (Minister for Foreign Affairs (1938-45))

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Joachim von Ribbentrop

German Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany (1893–1946)

Image of Joachim Ribbentrop, von
  • Born: 1893-04-30 (Wesel)
  • Died: 1946-10-16 (Nuremberg)
  • Country of citizenship: Germany
  • Occupation: diplomat; politician
  • Member of political party: Nazi Party
  • Member of: Schutzstaffel; Travellers Club
  • Participant in: International Military Tribunal (role: defendant)
  • Military rank: Oberleutnant

Japan (treaties, agreements, diplomatic statements)

Date: 08 December 1941

Literal Title: Intercepted Diplomatic Messages sent by the Japanese Government between July 1 and December 8, 1941

Defendant: Joachim Ribbentrop, von

Total Pages: 1

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: D-657

Citation: IMT (page 2368)

HLSL Item No.: 451962

Notes:The Japanese representative (ambassador?) is not not named. For an earlier report, 29 November 1941, see document D 657.

Trial Issue

Wars of aggression

INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE ' JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY 1 AND DECEMBER 8. 1941 Secret
From : Berlin.
To: Tokyo. December 8, 1941.
(Priority)
#1437 Limited distribution Re my #143(97?)#
At 1:00 p. m. to-day (8th) I called on Foreign Minister Ribbentrop and told him our wish was to have Germany and Italy issue formal declarations of war on America at once. Ribbentrop replied that Hitler was then in the midst of a conference at general headquarters discussing how the formalities of declaring war could be carried out so as to make a good impression on the German people, and that he would transmit your wish to him at once and do whatever he was able to have it carried out promptly. At that time Ribbentrop told me that on the morning of the 8th Hitler issued orders to the entire German navy to attack American ships whenever and wherever they may meet them.
It goes without saying that this is only for your secret information.
Army 25978 n Not available.
Trans. 12/9/41.
168