RISE OF NAZI PARTY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24909, 24 June 1946, Page 5

RISE OF NAZI PARTY

VERSAILLES TREATY BLAMED VON NEURATH’S CLAIM (Rec. 8.15 p.m.) NUREMBERG, June 22. In bitter, scornful tones, von Neurath, the last of the accused Nazi leaders, who was Minister without portfolio in Hitler’s Cabinet, to-day told the War Crimes Tribunal that the framers of the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations were responsible for the Nazi Party and the second world war. Von Neurath opened his defence with the assertion that numerous impossible provisions of the Versailles Treaty contained the roots of National Socialism and brought world economic unrest. Von Neurath was accused of participating in conspiracy and aggression as Foreign Minister while Germany was rebuilding her war machinery and also as Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. He allegedly signed ,an order for the execution of more than 300 students at Prague University following anti-Nazi demonstrations. Claiming that he served under Liberal, Conservative, and Democratic Governments with the sole aim of securing peaceful redress for injuries suffered by the Fatherland, von Neurath compared himself with Lord Vansittart, who served both Conservative and Labour Governments.

Albert Speer, Hitler’s Minister of Munitions, continuing his evidence, said German scientists during the war discovered two new gases which had a most unusual effect and would have produced' the most frightful results. No respirator would have withstood them. Goebbels and Ley had urged their use and three factories were fully engaged in producing them. . Claiming that, contrary to Hitler’s wishes, he had stopped the production of the gases by throttling supplies to the factories, Speer said military circles opposed the use of gas because Allied air superiority enabled much heavier retaliation. Speer said it was Himmler’s idea to continue the V weapon attacks against England after it was obvious Germany had lost the war. The production of rockets had been very expensive and far out of proportion to their effect.