Includes the complete text of Domarus’ original German 4-volume set, and the 4-volume English translation on CD The Complete HITLER A Digital Desktop Reference to His Speeches and Proclamations 1932–1945 Max Domarus Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. Wauconda, Illinois USA The Complete Hitler A Digital Desktop Reference to His Speeches and Proclamations 1932-1945 Max Domarus © 2007 Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. 1000 Brown Street Wauconda, IL 60084 USA www.bolchazy.com Produced in the United States of America 2007 by Media Services ISBN 978-0-86516-658-5 HITLER Speeches and Proclamations VOLUME II HITLER Speeches and Proclamations 1932–1945 Volume I 1932–1934 Volume II 1935–1938 Volume III 1939–1940 Volume IV 1941–1945 MAX DOMARUS HITLER Speeches and Proclamations 1932–1945 THE CHRONICLE OF A DICTATORSHIP VOLUME TWO The Years 1935 to 1938 BOLCHAZY-CARDUCCI PUBLISHERS TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY CHRIS WILCOX AND MARY FRAN GILBERT Published by Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers 1000 Brown Street, Unit 101 Wauconda, IL, 60084 United States of America Copyright © 1992 by Wolfgang Domarus Originally published in German: Hitler. Reden und Proklamationen 1932–1945. Copyright © 1962, 1963, 1973 by Max Domarus, 1987 by Wolfgang Domarus American translation copyright © 1992 by Wolfgang Domarus The copyright includes the entirety of Adolf Hitler’s words as translated for this work. Licensing by Domarus Verlag Postfach, D8700 Würzburg 21, West Germany All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Domarus, Max: Hitler. Speeches and Proclamations 1932–1945. Volume II: The Years 1935 to 1938. 1. Germany. Politics and government. 1932–1945. Sources. I. Domarus, Max. II. Title. ISBN 0–86516227–1 (Volume 1: 1932–1934) ISBN 0–86516229–8 (Volume 11: 1935–1938) ISBN 0–86516230–1 (Volume III: 1939–1940) ISBN 0–86516231–X (Volume IV: 1941–1945) ISBN 0–86516228–X (FourVolume Set) Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 89–43172 Printed and bound in Germany by Universitätsdruckerei H. Stürtz AG, Würzburg VOLUME TWO Contents List of Photographs 619 Abbreviations 620 THE YEAR 1935—LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS Major Events in Summary Report and Commentary 621 1 The Saar Plebiscite 623 2 From the Reintroduction of General Conscription to the Military Service Act 649 3 Anglo-German Naval Agreement— The Party Congress of Freedom and the Nuremberg Laws 681 4 The Swastika Flying over Germany 713 THE YEAR 1936—MANEUVERS Major Events in Summary 735 Report and Commentary 1 A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing 736 2 The Occupation of the Rhineland 761 3 Election Campaigns 787 4 “Peace Speech”—German-Austrian Agreement— Involvement in Spain—Olympic Games 805 5 Lloyd George’s Visit—Party Congress of Honor— Pacts with Italy and Japan 826 617 Contents THE YEAR 1937—LULL BEFORE THE STORM Major Events in Summary 855 Report and Commentary 1 Accounting 857 2 Visions of the Future 880 3 Party Congress of Labor 919 4 Il Duce Visits Germany 944 5 Top Secret Steps on the Road to War— The Hossbach Minutes 958 THE YEAR 1938—GROSSDEUTSCHLAND Major Events in Summary 989 Report and Commentary 1 The WehrmachtCrisis— Hitler Takes on Supreme Command 996 2 Theatrics at the Berghof— Marathon Speech before the Reichstag 1013 3 The Anschluss 1037 4 The “Case Green” Study—The Führer Visits Italy 1091 5 Targeting Czechoslovakia 1110 6 Party Congress of Greater Germany 1140 7 On the Eve of War 1162 8 The MunichAgreement 1202 9 Annexation Plans for the Remainder of Czechoslovakia—Crystal Night 1217 Résumé 1266 APPENDIX Hitler’s Rise to Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht1 1269 Notes 1289 618 List of Photographs XVI Hitler listening to the results of the Saar plebiscite at Haus Wachenfeld on the Obersalzberg (Berchtesgaden) XVII After the reintroduction of general conscription. Hitler and the generals on March 17, 1935 XVIII The members of the Reichstag are singing the “Horst Wessel Lied,” subsequent to Hitler’s “Peace Speech” of May 21, 1935 XIX Reich Party Congress of September 1935. Hitler has the leaders of the general staff parade by in front of him XX March 6, 1936. Hitler speaking to the Reich Ministers on the topic of the military occupation of the Rhineland XXI Wreath-laying in Munich. Hitler and Mussolini at the pantheons on September 25, 1937 XXII Flowers for the liberator. Hitler in his home town of Braunau on March 12, 1938 XXIII In the evening, Hitler delivers a speech in Linz XXIV Vienna, March 15, 1938. The triumphant dictator on the balcony of the Hofburg XXV Loyal Servants. Ribbentrop and von Papen at the military review on the Viennese Ring XXVI Red carpet treatment in Rome. Hitler, Mussolini, and King Victor Emanuel III on May 3, 1938 XXVII Hitler after his ‘war speech’ at the Berlin Sportpalast on September 26, 1938 XXVIII September 29, 1938. Hitler and Chamberlain at the Munich Conference XXIX A sullen face in the Sudetenland. Hitler speaking in Rumburg XXX October 4, 1938. Hitler on his way to Karlsbad 619 Abbreviations BA = Bundesarchiv, Koblenz BDM = Bund Deutscher Mädel DAF = Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labor Front) DBrFP = Documents on British Foreign Policy, 191131939 DGFP = Documents on German Foreign Policy, 19181945 DLV = Deutscher Luftsportverband (German Air Sports Association) DNB = Deutsches Nachrichtenbüro (German News Bureau) G.Kdos. = Geheime Kommandosache (Top Secret, Military) Gestapo = Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police) HJ = Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) HVBL = Heeresverordnungsblatt (Army Decree Gazette) IMT = International Military Tribunal, 19451949 KdF = Kraft durch Freude ("Strength through joy") NS = Nationalsozialistisch (National Socialist) NSBO = Nationalsozialistische Betriebszellenorganisation (National Socialist Factory Cell Organisation) NSDAP = Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers' Party) NSDFB = Nationalsozialistischer Deutscher Frontkämpferbund, Stahlhelm (National Socialist German FrontLine Soldiers' Association) NSFK = Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps (National Socialist Air Corps) NSK = Nationalsozialistische Parteikorrespondenz (National Socialist Party News Agency) NSKK = Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps (National Socialist Motorized Corps) NSV = Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt (National Socialist People's Welfare Organization) OKII = Oberkommando des Heeres (High Command of the Army) OKW = Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (High Command of the Armed Forces) OSAF = Oberster SA Führer (Supreme Commander of the SA) Pg = Parteigenosse (Party comrade) III, = Politischer Leiter (Political Leader) PO = Politische Organisation (Political Organization) RGBI = Reichsgesetzblatt (Reich Law Gazette) RM = Reichsmark SA = Sturmabteilung (Nazi storm troops; brown shirts) SD = Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service, the SS intelligence agency) SS = Schutzstaffel (Nazi elite guard; black shirts) TU = Telegraphenunion (Telegraph Union) VB = Völkischer Beobachter (Nationalist Observer) WHW = Winterhilfswerk (Winter Relief Organisation) WT13 = Wolffs Telegraphisches Büro (Wolffs Telegraph Bureau) 620 THE YEAR 1935 Major Events in Summary The last crisis of the preceding year—in particular the tensions between the Reichswehr and the SS—continued to cast its shadow over the early months of 1935. Hitler was able, however, to play down this friction in a speech to “German leadership.” The overwhelming outcome of the Saar plebiscite on January 13 then catapulted the entire population into such a mood of nationalistic euphoria that domestic problems seemed, at least temporarily, a thing of the past. On the heels of the triumphant return of the Saar to the German Reich came measures instituted by Hitler which shattered the illusions many Germans had had. As early as March 9, the existence of a new German Luftwaffe was openly proclaimed, and on March 16, the day before “Heroes’ Memorial Day,” general conscription was reintroduced by means of a “Declaration to the German Volk.” The Germans had barely begun to nourish hopes that, with the return of the Saar, things would settle down and a peaceful future was dawning. Hitler’s actions brought them up short. One must bear in mind that the dominant tendency in Europe at the time was to do away with regular armies and introduce defense-oriented militia systems in their stead. Standing armies based upon conscription service of several years were frowned upon. Rumor had it at the time that general conscription—which existed in Great Britain, for instance, only during wartime—was also to be abolished in other countries. The German population at large regarded itself as particularly fortunate in this sense, for not only did the Treaty of Versailles not provide conscription duty; but it, moreover, stipulated only a professional army of 100,000 men, which meant that there were no obstacles to the introduction of a militia system based upon voluntary service. On the basis of what Hitler had been stating in his speeches, the introduction of compulsory labor service was anticipated but by no means general conscription, for the latter was viewed as a clear indication of a country’s intention to conduct aggressive warfare. 621 The Year 1935 Hitler was perfectly aware of the blow this measure had dealt to the German people and thus did not dare to schedule any elections or plebiscites during 1935—notwithstanding his repeated claim that a statesman’s appointment should be confirmed anew each year by the people in elections.1 As late as August of 1934, he had stated to Ward Price, “Every year I