Defendant JOACHIM von RIBBENTROP

Ribbentrop entered the ective service of the Nazi Party in 1930, becoming' e member by 1932. During the critical period from September 1932 to 30 January 1933 he was a major participant in the cringing of the Nazi conspirators into power, using his efforts and influence to that end. After their accession to power Ribbentrop performed numerous missions for and held 8 series of important positions in the Nazi con­ trolled Government and the Party until he finally came to dominate, under the Fuehrer, the foreign policy of the State and the Party. Such missions and positions included: adviser to the Fuehrer on matters of Foreign Policy (Aussenpolitischer Mitarbeiter des Fuehrer); Representative of the NSDAP for matters of .Foreign Policy (Beauftrager der NSDAP fur Aussen- politische Fragen); Delegate of the Reich Government in natters of Disarmement (1934); German minister Plenipotentiary at large (1935); German ambassador in London (1936);"organizer end director of Planstelle Ribbentrop; Foreign Minister (1938-1945); member of Secret Cabinet (Gehimer Kabinettsret) (1933-1945); member of Hitler's political staff at General Headquarters. Ribbentrop also became a member of the Nazi Reichstag in November of 1933. He was successively an Oberfuehrer,

Gr up p e n f u o hre r, a n d ü b e r g r upp•• s n f u e hi: Ü r i n t h e S S. R i b b e nt r o p usbd bis personal Influence and the above-mentioned missions and positions as well as his intimate connection with Kitler, as the latter's chief adviser on foreign affairs, in such a manner

(a) Ee materially aided and assisted in the accession to power in 1933 of Hitler ana the Nazi Party. (b) He materially aided and assisted in the internal preparations for war of the Nazi conspirators, (c) He participated in the plena and preparations of the Nazi conspirators for wars of aggression and wars in violation of international treaties and among other ways materially assisted in the execution of such plans by diplomatic manucvers designed to \ lull the world end intended victims into a sense of false security. (d) He participated in the launching and waging of wars of aggression and wars in violation of international treaties and, among other ways, materially aided in such moves by personally authorizing ?nä directing and in many cases personally executing the diplomatic manuevers designed to generate the false "justifications1' and -'.'excuses1' for the launching of such wars, (e) He personally appointed and in uoriy cases personally authorized and directed the activities of Nazi Governors of occupied territories thereby assuming specific personal responsibility for the war crimes /Note: perhaps specifvy7 and crimes egainst humanity /sane comment/ committed in such territories, (f) In accordance with the Fuehrer Principle he executed and assumed responsibility for the execution of ail the foreign policy plans of the Nazi conspirators, participating in the planning as well as the execution thereof,