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Extract from a report to Hitler, on anti-Nazi officials in Austria, recommending continued "psychological manipulations" and "slowly intensifyed pressure" to change the regime

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Authors

Franz Papen, von (Vice-Chancellor; ambassador)

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Franz von Papen

German general staff officer, politician, diplomat, nobleman and Chancellor of Germany (1879–1969)

Franz von Papen 1933. aastal
  • 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)

Date: 01 September 1936

Literal Title: Excerpt of letter of Von Papen to Hitler . . . Subject: Report on Danube situation.

Defendant: Franz Papen, 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: PS-2246

Citations: IMT (page 527), IMT (page 540)

HLSL Item No.: 450702

Notes:For the full text, see the version of PS 2246 in UK document book 11A (von Papen).

Trial Issues

Conspiracy (and Common plan, in IMT) (IMT, NMT 1, 3, 4) IMT count 1: common plan or conspiracy (IMT) IMT count 2: crimes against peace (wars of aggression) (IMT) Wars of aggression

Document Summary

Staff Evidence Analyses

PS-2246: Papen letter to Hitler regarding Austria

Red Series Doc Descriptions

PS-2246: Papen’s report to Hitler, 1 September 1936, on the situation in the Danubian area; also on the growing Anti-semitism and other political portents in Austria with recommendations for the attitude to be adopted by national socialists

The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the German Reich on Special Mission
Vienna, 1 September 1936
To: The Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor, Berlin (by courier)
Subject: Report on Danube situation. '
* * * * * * *
The progress of normalizing relations with Germany at the present time is obstructed by the continued persistence of the Ministry of Security, occupied by the old anti-National Socialist officials. Changes in personnel are therefore of utmost importance. But they are definitely not to be expected prior to the conference on the abolishing of the Control of Finances [Finanzkontrolle] at Geneva. The Chancellor of the League has informed Minister de Glaise-Horstenau, of his intention, to offer him the portfolio of the Ministry of the Interior.
As a guiding principle [Marschroute], I recommend on the tactical side, continued, patient psychological treatment, with slowly intensified pressure directed at changing the regime. The proposed conference on economic relations, taking place at the end of October, will be a very useful tool for the realization of some of our projects. In discussion with government officials as well as with leaders of the illegal party (Leopold and Schattenfroh) who conform completely with the agreement of July 11, I am trying to direct the next developments in such a manner to aim at corporative representation of the movement in the fatherland front [Vaterlaendischen Front] but nevertheless refraining from putting National-socialists in important positions for the time being. However such positions are to be occupied only by personalities, having the support and the confidence of the movement. I have a willing collaborator in this respect in Minister Glaise-Horstenau.
(Signature) Papen

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