Evening star., 1946-10-01
Won Papen Faces Trial
Before German Board,
Bavaria Chief Says
By The Assoe;u,sd Press

NUREMBERG, Germany, Oct.
1.-Dr. Wilhelm Hoegner, Minis
ter President Of Bavaria, told
the German people tonight that
Franz Won Papen faces trial by
Ia denazificatio1 board II he re-
mains in the American zone.
Hoegner, broadcasting soon after
Won Papen was acquitted by the IN
ternationl Military Tribunal, said
the former diplomat would be
brought before German authorities
and that means he will be con-
|demned for several years at hard
labor"
Hoegner later told reporters that
he gave order to German authori-
ties that similar denazification ac-
ton would be taken against Hjafmar
Schacht, former president Of the
|Reichsbank, and Hans Fritsche, ex-
Nazi propaganda, II they remained
within his Jurisdiction. They also
were acquitted by the military
tribunal.
Acquittal Held Astonishing"
DR.. Hoegner continued:
Il consider the acquittal Of Won
Papen most astonishing thing. I
consider him the real instigator of
the Third Reich
Won Papen was German chancellor
before Adolf Hitler and urged old
President Paul Won Hindenourg to
appoint Hitler his successor.
DR.. Hoegner said he supposed"
the British, Russian and French
zones also would institute denazifi-
cation action against the three ac-
quilted defendants, depending on
where they decide to establish
residence.
Fritsche was a prisoner Of war in
the Russian zone before being taken
to Nuremberg. Austriapt authorities
have asked custody of Won Papen,
who was German Ambassador to
that country at the time Hitler abb
sorbed it in anschluss.
Reich Lawiess, Schacht Says.
Schacht told reporters tonight that
there appeared to be neither laws
nor free opinion" In occupied Ger
many today.
He appeared with the other two
acquitted German leaders at tur-
bulent news conference, and was
asked whether he now expected to
be tried by a German court.
The belligerent Nazi finance wizard
replied that in the days before Hit
Ter there were laws and free opin-
ion," but that there appeared to be
neither laws nor free opinion now"
Conference Breaks Up.
At this point the conference broke
into an uproar. French and Belgian
correspondents shouted and yelled
and climed about in the pressroom.
The conference broke up a few
minutes later, with Schacht offering
to sell his autograph, which some
French correspondents were asking,
in return for chocolate "for my chill
dren."
At one point Schacht was asked
whether he feared being attacked by
Germans on his release. He shouted
his reply:
Il hope some one will attack mel"
Before the conference became
pandemonium, Schacht said he
hoped to go to his family and dis
appear. where the press would
never find me again."
Once the smoothest talker of Nazi
diplomacy, Won Papen was outshone
in the conference by Fritsche.
Both Won Papen and Fritsche said
they had been confident Of acquit-
tai, but Fritsche admitted he was
surprised.
Wants Another Trial.
Fritsche touched of another up
roar when he announced he hoped
to go before q German court now
and vincidate himself in the eyes
Of the German people.
Won Papen said he did not see
why he should be tried again under
occupation denazification laws, be-
cause he had been acquitted by ''the
highest international court"
Col. B. c. Andrus, Nuremberg pris-
on commandant, said the three ac-
quilted men were completely free"
and were given letters explaining
that they had been acquitted by the
tribunal. The letters asked military
authorities to help them get iden-
tity cards and other necessary
papers.
None of the three knew what he
would do tonight. Andrus said no
transportation yet had been ar.
ranged to take them to their homes.
None of the three yet knew that
Minister President Wilhelm Hoeg-
ner of Bavaria had announced they
would be arrested and tried in de-