The commission by them of the heaviest Crimes against Peace, of the War Crimes, and of the Crimes against humanity is not denied but is particularly emphasised in the verdict of the Tribunal. And yet the commission of these crimes has not brought the logical conclusion. The truth is they actively participated in all these crimes, or sat silent and acquiescent, witnessing the commission of crimes on a scale larger and more shocking than the world ever had the misfortune to know. This must be said. All these assertions in the verdict are correct and are based on numerous and reliable depositions.
Numerous evidence disputes such conclusions.
The leading representatives of the General Staff and of the OKW, along with a small circle of the higher Hitlerite officials, were called upon by the conspirators to participate in the development and the realization of the plans of aggression, not as passive functionaries, but as active participants in the conspiracy against peace and humanity. Without their advice and active cooperation, Hitler could not have solved these problems. In the majority of cases their opinion was decisive. It is impossible to imagine how the aggressive plans of Hitler's Germany could have been realised had it not been for the full support given him by the leading staff members of the armed forces. Least of all did Hitler conceal his criminal plans and motivations from the leaders of the High Command.