Extract from an interrogation of Goering, on diplomatic activities between Germany and Britain in 1939, and their effect on Germany's planning for Poland

Extract from Testimony of HERMANN GOERING taken at Nürnberg, Germany, on 29 August 1945, by Colonel John H. Amen, IGD, OUSCC. Also present: Pfc. Richard W. Sonnenfeldt, Official Interpreter; Court Reporter, S/Sgt. William A. Weigel. 1430 to 1640; pages 7-9.
Q. When the negotiations of the Polish foreign minister in London brought about the Anglo-Polish treaty at the end of March or beginning of April 1939, was it not fairly obvious that a peaceful solution was impossible?
A. Yes, it seemed impossible after my convictions, but not according to the convictions of the Fuehrer. When it was mentioned to the Fuehrer that England had given her guarantee to Poland, he said that England was also guaranteeing Roumania, but then when the Russians took Bessarabia nothing happened, and this made a big impression on him. I made a mistake here. At this time Poland only had the promise of a guarantee. The guarantee itself was only given shortly before the beginning of the war. On the day when England gave her official guarantee to Poland the Fuehrer called me on the telephone and told me that he had stopped the planned invasion of Poland. I asked him then whether this was just temporary or for good. He said, "No,
I will have to see whether we can eliminate British intervention." So then I asked him, "Do you think that it will be any different within four or five days?"
At this same time—I don't know whether you knew about that, Colonel—I was in connection with Lord Halifax by a special courier outside the regular diplomatic channels to do everything to stop war with England. After the guarantee I held an English declaration of war inevitable. I already told him in the Spring of 1939 after occupying Czechoslovakia, I told him that from now on if he tried to solve the Polish question he would have to count on the enmity of England. 1939, that is after the Protectorate.
Q. Is it not a fact that preparations for the campaign against Poland were originally supposed to have been completed by the end of August 1939?
A. Yes.
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Q. And that the final issuance of the order for the campaign against Poland came some time between the 15th and 20th of August 1939 after the signing of the treaty with Soviet Russia?
A. Yes, that is true.
Q. Is it not also a fact that the start of the campaign was ordered for 25 August, but on 24 August in the afternoon it was postponed until 1 September in order to await the results of new diplomatic maneuvers with the English Ambassador?
A. Yes.
Q. There was no order for a concentration at OKW?
A. How am I to understand this question?
Q. Well, were there any orders covering the start of the campaign at OKW?
A. The OKW issued the orders for the beginning of the campaign for the Fuehrer and the time had to be chosen in such a manner that the OKW could always cancel the campaign twenty-four hours before the proposed date.