a disciplinary case. Afterward a memo went to the army’s commander-
in-chief, Brauchitsch: “Although SS Gruppenführer Heydrich expressed
the subsequent view that the Reichsführer [Himmler] has the right to or-
der the immediate shooting of Germans in such cases, Field Marshal
Göring has laid down that death sentences are never to be executed with-
out proper adjudication” (BA-MA, file RH./vorl.). See too Heydrich’s
departmental briefings of Sept. and (NA film T//f, ff,
ff), and Thomas’s minutes on the Reich Defense Council sessions,
Sept.-Nov. (on NA film T//ff).
Hertslet, Dr. Joachim G.A.: Had been sent to Mexico on behalf of the Reich
Economics Ministry in July , according to his interrogs. by the
Americans, SAIC/PIR/ of July , and SAIC/FIR/, Sept. , .
William Rhodes Davis met with FDR on Sept. (according to FDR’s ap-
pointment book and Adolf A. Berle’s diary of that date, FDR Library). He
told the president he had “developed close personal relations with Mar-
shal Göring and Herr Hertslet,” and added that “immediately prewar
Hertslet had cabled Davis through [the] German embassy in Mexico that
Göring was now in effect the Reich government, that Hertslet should be-
come ambassador in Washington.” Two or three days before, Davis con-
tinued, he had received a telegram from HG “again stating that G. was i n
effect Reich government, desired peace, asked if FDR would act as arbitra-
tor.” “FDR,” noted Berle, “... replied that he thought it unlikely the Brit-
ish and French would agree; FDR empowered him [Davis] only to feel out
the situation.” For further FDR files on this odd episode, see OF. and
PPF. and .
Two British aviators: Documents in BA-MA, RL./, and PRO file
FO./.
Christie, Malcolm: Former British air attaché in Berlin; for his long conver-
sation with HG on Feb. , , see Christie Papers, Churchill College Ar-
chives, Cambridge.
Dahlerus talk with Hitler, Sept. : Minutes on DJ film ; his subsequent visit
to Lord Halifax in London: PRO files FO./, FO./, /,
/, /.
William Rhodes Davis: Wohlthat, minutes on talks with Mr. W. R. Davis on
Oct. , (NA film ML.; Cabinet Office file AL.). This document
was submitted to HG “with the request that he take note, Oct. .” See the
mentions of this episode in the diaries of Groscurth, Oct. and , a n d
Rosenberg, Oct. , and Davis’s own letters to FDR dated Oct. and in
FDR Library, which were shown to Adolph Berle, who now rebuked Davis
for having spoken to FDR about the imminent “probability of General
Göring’s taking over the government.” Davis conceded “that in Berlin,
while Göring’s word is law, he [Davis] had not found any immediate in-
dication that this was going to occur.” Roosevelt now withdrew, appre-
hensive about falling for a Göring or Himmler trap. See Berle’s diary, Oct.
and ; on the seventh he noted, “So FDR has evidently ordered the whole
[Davis] mission squelched.”
Dahlerus visiting Hitler on Oct. : For a minute on this, “written by an officer”
on Oct. , and supplements of Oct. and , see NA film ML..
“Declaration of war”: Milch wrote in his diary, Oct. : “Evening to see