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One document, 60 seconds: the Hossbach memorandum

One document, 60 seconds: the Hossbach memorandum. A meeting at the Reich Chancellery on 5 November 1937, written up by Hitler's adjutant Hossbach. Who was there, what it says, what the defense objected, what the court found.

11 documented0 open17 Sources

StatementsSources

Short format F3

Statements

Every on-screen statement of the episode, in order. Red only when the source carries it word for word; open when a check is missing.

  1. 01
    question

    One document. The clock is running.

  2. 02
    documented

    Memorandum by Hossbach, Hitler's personal adjutant.

    IMT Vol. 25, p. 402IMT Vol. 22, p. 430

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  3. 03
    documented

    Meeting at the Reich Chancellery on 5 Nov 1937, from 16.15 to 20.30 hours.

    IMT Vol. 25, p. 403IMT Vol. 25, p. 402

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  4. 04
    documented

    Present: Hitler, Blomberg, Fritsch, Raeder, Göring, Neurath.

    IMT Vol. 25, p. 402

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  5. 05
    documented

    The German question can be solved only by way of force, and this is never without risk.

    IMT Vol. 25, p. 408IMT Vol. 2, p. 268

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  6. 06
    documented

    Should the Führer still be alive, his decision: to solve the German space problem by 1943-45 at the latest.

    IMT Vol. 25, p. 409

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  7. 07
    documented

    Hossbach dated the memorandum 10 November 1937 and signed it.

    IMT Vol. 22, p. 430

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  8. 08
    documented

    Document 386-PS, Exhibit USA-25.

    IMT Vol. 25, p. 402

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  9. 09
    documented

    On 26 Nov 1945 US prosecutor Alderman read the document in court, including: the German question can be solved only by way of force, and this is never without risk.

    IMT Vol. 2, p. 256IMT Vol. 2, p. 262IMT Vol. 2, p. 254IMT Vol. 2, p. 268

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  10. 10
    documented

    Defense counsel Laternser: Hossbach did not take it down, he wrote it from memory a few days later.

    IMT Vol. 22, p. 65IMT Vol. 22, p. 52IMT Vol. 22

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  11. 11
    documented

    Judgment: documents of the highest value, authenticity and substantial truth established.

    IMT Vol. 22, p. 429

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  12. 12
    documented

    Judgment: Hitler's declared intention regarding Austria was carried out a little over four months after the meeting.

    IMT Vol. 22, p. 432

    Quote checked verbatim, two AI reviewers: holds
  13. 13
    question

    Which document next?

Short format F3

Sources

Trial of the Major War Criminals before the International Military Tribunal (IMT, “Blue Series”), English edition. Page = printed page.

  1. IMT Vol. 25, p. 402

    Document
    IMT Vol. 25, Dokument 386-PS
    Volume
    25
    Page
    402 (PDF page 416)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    DOCUMENT 386-PS MEMORANDUM BY COLONEL HOSSBACH, 10 NOVEMBER 1937, ON THE CONFERENCE HELD 5 NOVEMBER 1937 AT THE REICH CHANCELLERY ATTENDED BY HITLER, VON BLOMBERG, VON FRITSCH, RAEDER, GÖRING AND VON NEURATH

  2. IMT Vol. 22, p. 430

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (Urteil, 30.9.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Page
    430 (PDF page 440)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    was attended by Lt. Col. Hossbach, Hitler's personal adjutant, who compiled a long note of the proceedings, which he dated 10 November 1937 and signed.

  3. IMT Vol. 25, p. 403

    Document
    IMT Vol. 25, Dokument 386-PS
    Volume
    25
    Page
    403 (PDF page 417)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    Berlin, den 10. November 1937 Niederschrift über die Besprechung in der Reichskanzlei am 5. 11. 37 von 16,15 — 20,30 Uhr.

  4. IMT Vol. 25, p. 408

    Document
    IMT Vol. 25, Dokument 386-PS
    Volume
    25
    Page
    408 (PDF page 422)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    Zur Lösung der deutschen Frage könne es nur den Weg der Gewalt geben, dieser niemals risikolos sein.

  5. IMT Vol. 2, p. 268

    Document
    IMT Vol. 2 (transcript 26.11.1945, Alderman liest 386-PS vor)
    Volume
    2
    Page
    268 (PDF page 280)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    "The German question can be solved only by way of force, and this is never without risk.

  6. IMT Vol. 25, p. 409

    Document
    IMT Vol. 25, Dokument 386-PS
    Volume
    25
    Page
    409 (PDF page 423)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    Sollte der Führer noch am Leben sein, so sei es sein unabänderlicher Entschluß, spätestens 1943/45 die deutsche Raumfrage zu lösen.

  7. IMT Vol. 25, p. 402

    Document
    IMT Vol. 25, Dokument 386-PS
    Volume
    25
    Page
    402 (PDF page 416)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    DOCUMENT 386-PS MEMORANDUM BY COLONEL HOSSBACH, 10 NOVEMBER 1937, ON THE CONFERENCE HELD 5 NOVEMBER 1937 AT THE REICH CHANCELLERY ATTENDED BY HITLER, VON BLOMBERG, VON FRITSCH, RAEDER, GÖRING AND VON NEURATH, WITH REPORT ON HITLER'S SPEECH ON THE AIMS OF GERMAN POLICY WHICH HITLER DESCRIBES AS HIS "TESTAMENTARY LEGACY" AND IN WHICH HE DECLARES THAT "THE GERMAN QUESTION CAN ONLY BE SETTLED BY FORCE" (EXHIBIT USA-25)

  8. IMT Vol. 2, p. 256

    Document
    IMT Vol. 2 (transcript 26.11.1945)
    Volume
    2
    Page
    256 (PDF page 268)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    I call upon the prosecuting counsel for the United States. MR. ALDERMAN

  9. IMT Vol. 2, p. 262

    Document
    IMT Vol. 2 (transcript 26.11.1945)
    Volume
    2
    Page
    262 (PDF page 274)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source (shortened)

    a document which we have come to know as the Hossbach notes of a conference in the Reich Chancellery on 5 November 1937 from 1615 to 2030 hours, in the course of which Hitler outlined to those present the possibilities and necessities of expanding their foreign policy, and requested — I quote: "That his statements be looked upon in the case of his death as his last will and testament." And so with this document we shall present to the Tribunal and to the public the last will and testament of Adolf Hitler as he contemplated that last will and testament on 5 November 1937. The document comes to hand through the United States Department of State and it is authenticated by …

  10. IMT Vol. 2, p. 254

    Document
    IMT Vol. 2 (transcript)
    Volume
    2
    Page
    254 (PDF page 266)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    DAY Monday, 26 November 1945

  11. IMT Vol. 2, p. 262

    Document
    IMT Vol. 2 (transcript 26.11.1945, Alderman)
    Volume
    2
    Page
    262 (PDF page 274)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    This document is of such tremendous importance that I feel obliged to read it in full into the record

  12. IMT Vol. 22, p. 65

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (Plädoyer Laternser, 27.8.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Page
    65 (PDF page 75)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    As regards the reliability of these minutes, Affidavit Number 210, deposed by General Hossbach, which I have submitted to the Court, clearly shows that Hossbach did not take down the actual text of the speech while it was being made, but wrote an account of it from memory a few days later.

  13. IMT Vol. 22, p. 52

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (transcript 27.8.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Page
    52 (PDF page 62)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    DR. LATERNSER: The absurdity

  14. IMT Vol. 22

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (transcript 27.8.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    DR. HANS LATERNSER (Counsel for the General Staff and OKW)

  15. IMT Vol. 22, p. 429

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (Urteil, 30.9.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Page
    429 (PDF page 439)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    the Tribunal is of the opinion that the documents are documents of the highest value, and that their authenticity and substantial truth are established.

  16. IMT Vol. 22, p. 429

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (Urteil, 30.9.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Page
    429 (PDF page 439)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    Evidence from captured documents has revealed that Hitler held four secret meetings to which the Tribunal proposes to make special reference because of the light they shed upon the question of the common plan and aggressive war. These meetings took place on 5 November 1937, 23 May 1939, 22 August 1939, and 23 November 1939.

  17. IMT Vol. 22, p. 432

    Document
    IMT Vol. 22 (Urteil, 30.9.1946)
    Volume
    22
    Page
    432 (PDF page 442)
    Check
    quote found verbatim on the page

    Wording of the source

    It must be remembered too that Hitler's declared intention with regard to Austria was actually carried out within a little over four months from the date of the meeting

Further sources of the episode

IMT Vol. 25, pp. 402 to 413 (386-PS, USA-25) · Vol. 22, pp. 52, 65, 429 to 432 · Vol. 2, pp. 262 and 268 · audio NARA 238.87B · film NARA 111-ADC · stamp sound: Subhashish Panigrahi, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Portraits in the video (3): image credits
  • Konstantin von Neurath: Franz Langhammer · public domain · Wikimedia Commons (Bundesarchiv N 1310 Bild-133, Konstantin von Neurath.jpg)
  • Erich Raeder: author unknown · public domain · Wikimedia Commons (Erich Raeder.jpg)
  • Hermann Göring: United States Army Signal Corps photographer · public domain · Wikimedia Commons (Hermann Göring at Nuremberg Trials November 1945.jpeg)

How to cite this episode

FUNDSTELLE: „One document, 60 seconds: the Hossbach memorandum“, Nuremberg Files, Short format F3. https://fundstelle.online/en/short/f3/

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