Chapter 76 Volume 3, Chapter 3 Blitz and Anti-Blitz Hess

The blitzkrieg continued The Luftwaffe's strength had to be estimated Disagreements of opinion among the ministries Judge Mr Singleton's investigation December 1940 His report January 21, 1941 Germany Preparing to attack Russia and preparing to bomb and trap us The three phases of the Blitzkrieg Our smoke screens and decoy campfires The Luftwaffe turned to port during March and April 1941 I visited Bristol on April 12th We Continuing to interfere with enemy beams Enemy Air Force bombs London with incendiary bombs on May 10 Uncontrollable fire in the House of Commons destroyed Luftwaffe formation relocated east We investigate German radar defenses Beam warfare postponed I spend the weekend in Ditchley out of sight Unexpected anecdote Rudolf Hess landed in Scotland Speculation about his motives German explanation I gave instructions on how to treat him I told the President Lord Simon Hess was interviewed on June 10 Seeing through Hitler's psychology Stalin in 1944 years of curiosity.

As 1940 draws to a close and we continue to suffer from the Blitz, it seems very necessary to look into the future and try to gauge how much more we have to suffer.How long will the enemy's nightly air raids on our factories and people continue? How much will it increase?We must first make the most reliable estimates of the actual and relative strength of the Luftwaffe, and of their plans for 1941. Prime Minister to Air Secretary and Chief of Air Staff December 2, 1940 This winter, the Germans will no doubt greatly expand their air force, and it is expected that they will carry out more severe air attacks against us next spring.It is therefore highly desirable to make the most accurate judgments as to the likely size of the Luftwaffe (1) to March 31 and (2) to June 30.It is not necessary to use the above-mentioned dates if other dates are more convenient to calculate and can also explain the problem.It is important not to exaggerate the capabilities of Germany, so those limiting factors such as engines, special materials, driver training, and our bombing effects have special significance.On the other hand, due attention should be paid to the use of factories in occupied countries by Germany.

I would like your Ministry of Intelligence to submit to me a report (no more than two or three pages) on this important issue.It will be convenient for them to keep in touch with Professor Lindemann when they are drafting this report, and it will also prevent us from having disputes over the use of different calculation bases.While I wanted this report to be brief, I also wanted to understand the data and methods of argument from which it was written.I don't know to what extent the aircraft production department knew about these situations.It will be very gratifying if all departments agree on it.How will you proceed, let me know.Time is limited to one week.

With the assistance of Professor Lindemann and his statistical office, I set out to explore this uncharted territory.We checked Air Department records.We compared these records with the very different figures and widely divergent judgments of the Economic Operations Department and the Air Department's Intelligence Service, and with the views of the Aircraft Production Department.I let the ministries healthy lay out their different arguments.This is a great way to find out the truth.There is great amicable coordination among the lower officials in the three departments.I had the pleasure of summoning them to Checkers one afternoon.Facts and figures were presented on all sides, and each side agonized over doubts.The evidence is so contradictory, and all the witnesses are so eager to ascertain the truth, that it seems to me that a man with a fair heart, a keen mind, a clear mind, and no preconceived notions should be called upon to judge and judge.So I persuaded all concerned to present their most convincing materials and submit them to a distinguished referee to ascertain the truth.

Prime Minister to Air Secretary and Chief of Air Staff December 9, 1940 I spent four hours on Saturday working with officials from Air Force Intelligence and Economic Operations.I have not been able to draw any conclusions about who is right and who is wrong.Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between.This question is extremely important for us to outline the entire future war situation.This also affects the question of how we use power throughout the war.The officers of the two above-mentioned departments, who are on the most friendly terms with each other, I should very much like to call them together for an investigation in order to examine the evidence and establish the facts.There should be an impartial chairman who is skilled in judging evidence and cross-checking.I wonder if Judge Singleton, a former artillery officer, with combat experience, who has recently conducted for me an inquiry into aircraft bomb sights, is in a position to direct these discussions, and to clarify the various aspects of this great question. Unsolved mysteries to find valuable clues.Of course, all available materials should be provided to him.I would like to know your opinion before making any decision.At the same time, I have written a report on the various situations I learned during the discussion on Saturday for the reflection and study of the relevant ministries.Every fact in it can be doubted, revised or overturned.I have sent copies to the respective intelligence services, and this report will form the outline of the investigation I am preparing to conduct.

I worked intently for hours and wrote this report myself. Prime Minister to Air Secretary December 13, 1940 The monthly production of aircraft in Germany is estimated at 1,800 aircraft.Air Ministry Intelligence believes that only 400 of them were used as trainers.The number of German trainer aircraft appeared to be very small, as seen by the Air Ministry's opinion that Germany maintained at the front two and a half times as much strength as ours.If we had done it differently, if the Ministry of the Air Force had a legitimate need for trainer planes, if we had not abused trainer planes without scruple, and (if not) parked trainer planes in large numbers on airfields, then Germany could not With such a small number of trainers to maintain his front-line strength.

Mr Justice Singleton will be lunching with me on Sunday, and I would like to invite him to proceed with the investigation we have agreed upon. Mr. Justice Singleton has done an excellent job with Airmen and other experts.On January 21st he presented me with his final report.It is extremely difficult to compare the strength of the British and German air forces with actual figures.Each side divides its air force into authorized aircraft, total aircraft, combat-fit aircraft, and front-line aircraft.These items are different from each other, are arbitrarily stipulated by both parties and change from time to time.Moreover, the Royal Air Force is divided into the local air force and the overseas air force, while at this time the German air force is all stationed in the country.So I don't want to embarrass the reader with some debatable statistics.The judges concluded that the Luftwaffe outnumbered the British Air Force by approximately four to three.Although the Air Ministry (Intelligence Service) still believed that Germany had more aircraft and the Ministry of Economic Operations believed that there were fewer, the opinions were quite close, and Singleton's estimate became the basis for our work .I took encouragement from his report that our air power was steadily catching up with Germany.When the French campaign first began, they had at least twice as many aircraft as we did.Now it is reported that they are only four to three compared with us.We learned after the war that it was actually closer to three to two.This is a big improvement.The development of our air force has not yet reached its peak speed, and we have not received a large number of American aid aircraft in transit.

By the end of 1940, Hitler had realized that direct air strikes alone could not destroy Britain.The Battle of Britain had been his first setback, and the brutal bombing of cities had not intimidated the country or its government.Preparations for the invasion of Russia in the early summer of 1941 attracted most of the German air force.The heavy bombing we were subjected to several times before the end of May showed that the enemy is no longer devoting all his forces to air strikes against our country.For us, these bombings were extremely brutal, but they were no longer the main intention of the German High Command or the Fuehrer.In Hitler's view, continued air raids on Great Britain were a necessary and convenient cover for massing forces against Russia.His optimistic schedule envisaged that the Soviet Union would be destroyed, like France, in a six-week campaign, and that all German troops would then be free for a final conquest of Britain in the fall of 1941.In the meantime, this indomitable nation would be dragged down, first by a blockade with long-range aircraft supporting submarines, and second by air raids on its cities, especially its ports.The German Army's Operation Sea Lion (attack on Britain) has now been replaced by Operation Barbarossa (attack on Russia).The German Navy was ordered to concentrate on harassing our traffic in the Atlantic, and the Luftwaffe to attack our ports and seaports.It is a more diabolical plan than the indiscriminate bombing of London and citizens in general.Fortunately for us, they didn't press on with all their existing strength.

In retrospect, the blitzkrieg of 1941 was divided into three phases. In the first phase, between January and February, the enemy failed due to bad weather.With the exception of Cardiff, Portsmouth and Swansea, our Civil Defense has been given a helpful respite.The Imperial Defense Council established the system of the Port Emergency Measures Committee long before the war, which represented all important interests related to the port authority.Hardened by the hard experience of the winter of 1940, and supported by the willingness of the Department of Military Transport to adopt a decentralization approach, these Port Emergency Measures Committees were now more effectively self-reliant and overcame difficulties, and they were also able to Obtain outside assistance with confidence.We also do not neglect active defense methods.Smoke screens were prepared in many places, a method which was not popular because it polluted the houses of the local population; but it later proved its worth in protecting the industrial centers of the Midlands of England.Bonfires were also prepared to confuse enemy bombers, and the various parts of the entire defense plan were woven into a well-coordinated system.

The better weather came, and the enemy began a fierce blitzkrieg again. The second phase, sometimes called the Luftwaffe roaming the port phase, began in early March.There were air raids once or twice a day, and the bombing, though heavy, did not completely destroy our port.On 8 March, and for three consecutive nights thereafter, Portsmouth came under heavy air raids and the docks were destroyed.Manchester and Salford were attacked on the eleventh.During the next few nights it was the turn of the Mersey River.On the 13th and 14th, the German Air Force attacked the Clyde River violently for the first time. More than 2,000 residents were killed and injured. The shipyards were suspended, some until June, and some until November.John Brown Shipyard was shut down by the fire and normal production did not resume until April.This company has had a general strike since March 6th and has been greatly affected.Most of the striking workers were made homeless by the bombing, but the losses and dangers of the bombing brought them back to the factories and went to work fervently.The Mersey area, the Midlands, Essex and London were all bombed in late March.

The heaviest air raids began after April.On April 8, the enemy concentrated on bombing Coventry.Another place in the country that was heavily bombed was Portsmouth. London was severely bombed on the 16th and 17th, killing 2,300 people and seriously injuring more than 3,000.In the third and final phase, the enemy attempted to destroy most of our major ports by means of sustained bombing, some for as long as a week.Plymouth was bombed from 1st to 29th April, and although some docks were saved by bonfires, the city suffered heavy losses.The climax of enemy air raids was May 1, when Liverpool and the River Mersey were attacked for seven consecutive nights.There were 76,000 homeless people and 3,000 people were killed or injured.Sixty-nine of the one hundred and forty-four anchorages were bombed out of use, so that the tonnage at landing was reduced for a time to a quarter.Had the enemy held out, the Battle of the Atlantic would have been even more evenly contested.But, as usual, the enemy went elsewhere.The enemy bombarded Hal indiscriminately for two nights, destroyed 40,000 houses, blew up food warehouses, and paralyzed the Naval Machinery Plant for nearly two months.Belfast has been bombed twice in the past, and was hit by an airstrike again in April. On April 21st, in my capacity as Chancellor of the University of Bristol, I conferred Honorary Doctorates of Laws on Mr. Winant, Ambassador of the United States, Dr. Conant, President of Harvard University, and Mr. Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia.My wife is with me.Our limousine was parked overnight on a siding in the field, however, we could see and hear heavy air raids on Bristol City.The special car came into the station early in the morning, and we drove directly to the hotel.I met many senior officials in the hotel and almost immediately set off to inspect the worst bombed parts of the city.Members of the Air Raid Service Corps are working enthusiastically, and people are still being dug out of the rubble.The suffering is great, but the will of the citizens is invincible.At one of the rest stops, there were many elderly women whose homes had been destroyed, and they sat there, still seemingly in shock, and it was a sad sight.When I walked in, they wiped away their tears and cheered for the king and country. The degree conferring ceremony proceeded as planned.I drove for an hour touring the worst bombed areas and then to the University of Bristol.Everything was carried out according to strict ceremonies, but a huge building next to the university was still burning, and the brand-new university gowns worn by several main characters could not cover the wet and polluted eyes from a night of hard work. uniform.This scene is really moving.I said: Among those present today, many stayed at their posts overnight.All of us are constantly under the threat of heavy and prolonged enemy bombing.Your meeting under such circumstances is a sign of stoicism and coolness, of valor and detachment, as much as everything we know and believe about ancient Rome and modern Greece. I travel all over the country, and whenever I can get away from headquarters for a few hours or a day, I do my rounds.I have seen the scars of enemy air strikes, but I have also seen in the devastation the calm, confident, bright, smiling eyes of those who realize that they are connected with a person or person far more than any human being. The problem is much higher and wider than the enterprise linked together.I have seen the spirit of an unconquerable people.I saw a spirit conceived in freedom and cultivated in the traditions that have bequeathed us through the centuries.This spirit must hold us accountable at this moment, at this turning point in world history, so that our posterity will have no reason to blame their ancestors. During this period, the witchcraft war was gradually unfolding in its peculiar way.The manufacture of some of its first new weapons has been dealt with in a previous volume.Back in the autumn of 1937 we reworked Great Britain's air defense plans around the assumption that the promises made by our scientists to the then unproven radar would surely be fulfilled.In September 1939, when Mr. Chamberlain's plane carried the peace mission abroad, the first five radar stations in the coast radar network, the five radar stations defending the Thames estuary, were used to look out His plane takes off and returns.Beginning in the spring of 1939, twenty-four-hour daily lookouts began at eighteen radar stations from Dunn to Portsmouth, and continued uninterrupted for the next six years.These radar stations are like the watchdogs of the air-raid warning agency; they save our wartime production from serious losses and our civil defense workers from an unbearable burden.They relieved the anti-aircraft gunner from having to spend much and tedious time at the operator's station.They save us from expending manpower and aircraft, which would be exhausted if our incomparably good but meager fleet of fighter jets had to be constantly patrolled.They were not accurate enough for night intercepts, but they enabled day fighters to wait for enemy aircraft at the most favorable altitude and azimuth.In their decisive contribution to the victory of day combat, they have been supported and assisted by observation posts equipped with other new technical designs[1].These observation stations sounded the alarm when the low-flying enemy aircraft approached. Although the time between the warning and the enemy aircraft's arrival was very short, it was very valuable. 【1】In our argot called C‧H‧L‧ and C‧H‧E‧L‧ In 1941, despite all the German improvements in the beam, we could still jam.An example can be given here.The Germans planned to strike two places on the night of May 8, the first being the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby; the second being Nottingham.Since we were interfering with their beams at Derby, they attacked Nottingham anyway, where there was a small fire still burning from last night.Their original error led them to direct their second bombing at the Belvoir Vale, from which Nottingham was about the same distance as from Nottingham to Derby.The German Gazette declared that the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby had been bombed. In fact, they did not fly near Derby, but dropped 230 high-explosive bombs and a large number of incendiary The total number of casualties was two chicks. The most violent air strike was the last.On May 10, enemy planes returned to London with incendiary bombs.The enemy had kindled more than two thousand fires, and had blown up some one hundred and fifty water mains, which we were unable to extinguish as the Thames was at low tide.At 6 o'clock the next morning it was reported that hundreds of fires were out of control, and that four burned until the night of the thirteenth.This was the most destructive night air raid of the entire Blitz.Five piers and seventy-one vital areas, half of which were factories, were hit.All but one of the major railway stations were closed for several weeks, with direct lines not fully operational until early June.More than 3,000 people were killed or injured.The strike was also historic in other ways.The House of Commons was bombed.A bomb has caused damage that will not be repaired for many years.We are fortunate, however, to be at a time when the House of Commons was deserted.On the other hand, our artillery and night fighters killed sixteen of the enemy aircraft, the greatest victory we have ever achieved in night combat, and basically the result of our hard winter's work in witchcraft warfare. It was the enemy's farewell blow, but we didn't know it at the time.On May 22, Kesselring moved his Air Force headquarters to Posen[1], and at the beginning of June transferred the entire Air Force to the East.It was not until nearly three years later that London's Civil Defense had to deal with the minor blitzkrieg of February 1944 and the rocket and missile attacks that followed.During the twelve months from June 1940 to June 1941, the number of casualties among our residents was as follows: 43,381 dead and 50,850 seriously injured Six people, a total of 94,237 people. [1] In Poland, namely Poznan.translator In addition to using radar to assist the anti-aircraft artillery team, the enemy has always focused on new offensive inventions, such as beams.Many months had passed in 1941 when they felt the need to defend themselves.In Britain, of course, we used to entrust bombing targets to our large and expensive aviation schools, and radar was conceived primarily for self-defense.After we mastered the beam technology and the situation improved in an all-round way, we started to study the German radar facilities so that we could remove obstacles when we counterattacked.In February 1941, we first spotted and photographed a German radar station for reconnaissance aircraft, and almost immediately received its transmissions.After the discovery of this specimen near Cherbourg, we searched for similar radar stations along the west coast of the enemy-occupied part of Europe, with the aid of aerial photography and espionage.By mid-1941, the RAF was attempting a massive night raid on Germany.To do this, we must gain insight into their entire defenses.As in our case, most of these facilities rely on radar.After a study of German radar installations on the coast, we gradually return to the problem of the German night fighter defense line.These defensive lines formed a wide belt from Schleswig-Holstein, through northwestern Germany and the Netherlands to the French-Belgian border.But in the last months of 1941, neither our nor the enemy's new installations played a major role.The German bomber fleet was full of hope and returned to Western Europe six weeks after the attack on Russia according to the scheduled schedule.If it does return, it will be supported by a number of new beam stations along the English Channel with more powerful wave transmitters to assist the bombers in breaking through British jamming And fly to the destination.These bombers would encounter many of our new wave transmitters to jam and avoid new enemy beams, as well as the greatly improved radars on our night fighters.The growing possibility of Russia's involvement in the war prevented a new contest of beams, and for the moment neither side's enormous efforts in radio were used in the war effort. Sunday, May 11th, I'm at Ditchley for the weekend.News continued to come in throughout the evening that London had been severely bombed the previous night.There was nothing I could do about it, so I went to watch a comedy film starring the Marx Brothers, which my host had arranged for me.I went out twice and asked about the air strikes, which were said to be serious.Interesting films continued to be shown, and I was happy to take a break.A short time later a secretary told me that someone had called and said he was representing the Duke of Hamilton and wanted to speak to me. The Duke is a personal friend of mine, and he's commanding a fighter theater in the east of Scotland, but I can't think of anything he and I can't wait to talk about until tomorrow morning.However, the person who called made sure to speak to me, saying that the matter was of urgent importance to the Cabinet.I asked Mr. Bracken to hear what he had to say.In a few minutes Mr. Bracken informed me that the Duke said he had some startling news to report, so I sent for him.On his arrival he told me that he had met alone with a German prisoner who identified himself as Rudolf Hess.Hess is in Scotland!I thought it was an anecdote, but what was reported was true. Flying the plane himself, wearing the uniform of a Luftwaffe lieutenant, he took off from Augsburg and landed by parachute.He initially said his name was Horn.He had been slightly injured on landing and taken to an Army hospital near Glasgow, until then it was not clear who he was.Soon, he was sent to the Tower of London after several formalities. Later, he was transferred to other places where prisoners were held in Britain, where he remained until October 6, 1945.In his cell at Nuremberg that day he was reunited with some of his old colleagues, survivors of the war who were about to be tried and executed by the victors. I never paid much attention to this escape incident.I know it has nothing to do with the way things are going.This event has caused a sensation in England, the United States, Russia, and especially in Germany, and a book has been written about it.Here, I only write what I think is true below. Rudolf Hess was handsome and young, and he was appreciated by Hitler and became a confidant in his staff.He admired Hitler and cared deeply about world issues at issue.He often ate alone or with two or three other people at the same table as Hitler.He knew and could understand Hitler's inner workings. He hated Soviet Russia, he longed to destroy Bolshevism, he admired Britain and longed to be friendly with the British Empire, and he despised most other countries.No one knew Hitler better, or saw him more often in his spare time, than Hess.With the outbreak of war, the situation changed, and the number of people who dined with Hitler must have increased. Generals of the armed forces, diplomats and senior officials were also able to step in from time to time in this selected small circle that held dictatorial power.The deputy head of state feels he has been eclipsed.What do party directives matter now?This is the time for action, not play. He found that, under the conditions of war, he could no longer be the confidant with his beloved Führer as he had been in the past; he developed a certain degree of jealousy, which affected his character, and we should therefore be concerned about his fugitive. Make an appropriate discount on the value of the action.He felt that all the generals and others who could get along with the Führer intimately and eat at the same table were all here.They are doing their part, but I, Rudolph, will outshine all of them by an act of incomparable devotion, and bring to my Führer a greater achievement, a greater consolation, that is to add their contributions together, It is also difficult to compare with me.I'm going to England to make peace.My life is nothing.How happy I am to lay down my life for such a hope!The mood, though naive, was neither malicious nor mean. Hess's thoughts on the situation in Europe were that Britain had been deprived of its real interests by the superficial politics represented by the warmongers Churchill, had turned its back on a policy of amity with Germany, and in particular had undermined its joint efforts with other countries against the Bolsheviks. alliance of ideologues.If only he, Rudolf, could penetrate deep into the heart of Great Britain, and convince the Emperor of how much Hitler cared for Great Britain, the evil power which now reigns in this unfortunate island and has brought so many needless misfortunes to it will be swept away. .How can Britain survive?France has been conquered.German submarines were about to disrupt all British sea traffic; German air raids were about to overwhelm British industry and destroy British cities. But who should he turn to?The Duke of Hamilton once met the son of his political adviser Haushofer [1].He also knew that the Duke of Hamilton was Chief of the Household Affairs.Such a character might dine with the Emperor every night and be able to speak to him intimately.This is a channel to directly approach the Emperor. [1] The Duke of Hamilton first met Albrecht Haushofer, son of Nazi geopolitical theory creator Karl Haushofer, at the 1936 Olympic Games, when the Duke was The air forces of Germany and Russia have been studied successively.His son was executed by the Nazis in 1944 on suspicion of participating in a plot to murder Hitler. A few days later, a German newspaper announced that Hess, a party member, seemed to be living in a dream, and therefore he felt that he could bring about an understanding between Britain and Germany.The National Socialist regretted that the ideologue had finally fallen victim to his illusions.However, the war imposed on Germany will continue without any influence.The incident embarrassed Hitler.It was as if my trusted colleague, the slightly younger foreign minister than Hess, had stolen a Spitfire and parachute-landed it on Berchtesgadenplatz.The Nazis arrested several of Hess' aides, no doubt venting a little anger. Prime Minister to Foreign Secretary May 13, 1941 On the whole it would be more convenient not to place him (Mr. Hess) under the jurisdiction of the Home Office, but as a prisoner of the War Office, but he should also be treated as a a person who might be charged with serious political crimes.Like other Nazi leaders, this man was probably a war criminal, and at the end of the war he and his party were likely to be declared deprived of legal protection.In this case, his repentance will serve him well. 2. For the present time he should be strictly isolated in a suitable house not too far from London, and every effort should be made to study his state of mind, and to obtain from him any information of value. 3. His health and comfort shall be ensured, and he shall be provided with food, books, stationery and entertainment.Unless otherwise stipulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is not allowed to have any contact with the outside world or visitors.Special caretakers should be appointed.He was not allowed to read newspapers or listen to the radio. His personality should be respected, and he should be treated as an important general who has fallen into our hands. Prime Minister to Sir Alexander Cadogan May 16, 1941 Please write at once a fairly detailed summary of the three conversations at the audience with Hess, emphasizing in particular the points mentioned in the statement I have drawn up (for the House of Commons) but have not yet published, and I will then address it in this Attached to the abstract is an explanatory telegram, sent to President Roosevelt. 2. I have approved the War Office's proposal to send him to the Tower of London this evening, and to immediately prepare a place of detention for him in Aldershot. former navy personnel to president roosevelt May 17, 1941 Representatives of the Foreign Office have spoken to Hess three times. During the first conversation during the night of May 11th-12th, Hess talked at length with reference to his notes.The first part summarizes the relationship between Britain and Germany in the past thirty years, meaning to point out that Germany is always right and Britain is always wrong.The second part emphasizes that Germany will surely win because of the continuous development of the cooperation of submarines and air weapons, the firmness of German morale, and the solidarity of the German people in supporting Hitler, etc.Section III outlines the solution.Hess said that his Führer had never made any attempt to oppose the British Empire, which would remain the same except for the return of former German colonies in exchange for his free movement in Europe.However, there was a proviso that Hitler would not negotiate with the current British government.This is the old trick of tempting us to abandon all our friends in order to keep most of our overseas territories for the time being. The representative of the Foreign Office asked him whether, when he said that Hitler was free to move in Europe, did he mean that Russia was included in Europe or in Asia.In Asia, he replied.However, he added that Germany had certain demands on Russia that must be met, but denied rumors that an attack on Russia was being planned. Hess gave the impression that he believed that Germany would be victorious, but he saw that it would take a long time and inevitably entail much loss of life and material damage.He seemed to feel that if he could convince the people of this country that there was a basis for a solution, it would be possible to end the war and avoid unnecessary suffering. In a second conversation on May 14, Hess made two more points: (1) In any peaceful settlement, Germany must support Rashid Ali[1] and the British must be expelled from Iraq. [1] He was a representative figure of the pro-Germany in Iraq at that time, and had a close relationship with Germany.Later, he launched a coup with the support of Germany and became the Prime Minister of Iraq.translator (2) Submarine warfare with the cooperation of the Air Force will continue until all supplies to the British Isles are cut off.Even if the British Isles surrendered and the Empire continued to fight, the blockade of Britain would continue, and would not be lifted even if it meant starving the last of Britain's inhabitants. In the third conversation, on May 15th, nothing was revealed except some sudden and rather contemptuous remarks about your country and the extent of assistance you can give us.I especially felt that he thought he knew your aircraft type and production situation, but he was not deeply impressed by it. Hess appeared to be in good health, was not agitated, and showed no signs of general insanity.He claimed that the departure was of his own volition, without Hitler's prior knowledge.If what he said is to be believed, he wanted to get in touch with members of the British peace movement and help them overthrow the current British government.If he was telling the truth, if he was sane, then it was a comforting sign of the ignorance of German intelligence.He could not have been ill-treated, but the papers should not exaggerate him and his adventures.We must not forget that he was partly responsible for all the crimes committed by Hitler, and was probably a war criminal whose fate must ultimately be decided by the Allied governments. Mr. President, all of the above is for your own reference only.In our case we thought it best to keep the papers running for a while, in order to keep the Germans elusive.The captured German officers here were very disturbed when they heard the news.I think the German Armed Forces must have been very worried about what he might say, too. Hess' own explanation to the doctors was even less telling.五月二十二日，他的醫生報告說：他說他對一九四○年大舉空襲倫敦非常反感，他每想到殺害兒童和他們的母親，便感到十分難受。當他想到他自己的妻兒時，這種憎惡情緒便分外強烈，因此，他想到飛往英國，以便與他認為存在於英國的人數眾多的反戰派講和。他著重說明，這個打算絲毫不受私人利益的支配，這是出於一種日益增強的理想主義的衝動。 【１】 【１】里斯編：《魯道夫‧赫斯案件》，第二頁。 正是因為他心裡有了這樣的念頭，所以當他聽到卡爾‧豪斯霍費爾的表示了同樣感情的話時，便受了感動，同時豪斯霍費爾還提到漢密爾頓公爵是一個通情達理的人，一定會極端厭惡這種愚蠢已極的屠殺。豪斯霍費爾又說，他曾在夢中三次見到赫斯駕駛一架飛機，不知飛往什麼地方去。赫斯認為這些話出自這樣一個人的口中，必然是上天授意，讓他飛到這個國家來作為和平使者，會見漢密爾頓公爵，再由他引見英皇喬治。英國政府被推翻，由希望和平的政黨取而代之。他堅持說不同現在執政的集團打交道，因為這個集團將極力阻撓他。但是，他究竟要以哪些政治家為對手卻又非常模糊，他似乎也極不了解我們政界人物的姓名和地位。他敘述，他怎樣和維利‧梅塞施米特接洽，從而獲得在德國境內為出奔而作的遠程飛行訓練的便利，又怎樣在準備就緒後啟程飛來。他自稱沒有同黨。他在安排航程上表現了相當的技能，他親自規定了航線，飛行準確，因而能夠在離目的地敦加發爾僅僅十哩左右的地方降陸。 【１】 【１】里斯編：《魯道夫‧赫斯案件》，第十八十九頁。 內閣請西蒙勳爵接見他，於是他們在六月十日會晤了。 赫斯說：當元首得出英國不通情理的結論時，他就採取了海軍上將費希爾勳爵【１】的行動準則：打仗時溫文爾雅，是笨蛋。要打，就得狠打，能打哪裡，就打哪裡。但是，我可以證明，元首向來不肯輕易發佈這類（空軍和潛艇的）進攻命令。這使他極為痛心。英國人民成為這種作戰方法的犧牲者，他時常對他們寄予莫大的同情。他說過，即使戰勝的話，也不應該把任何苛刻條件強加在我們希望與之達成協議的國家。那麼，赫斯的主要想法是：我認為，英國一旦知道這個事實，它便可能準備達成協議。只要英國知道希特勒真的是多麼仁慈，它便當然會使他如願以償！ 【１】約翰‧阿巴思諾特‧費希爾（一八四一｜一九二○），英國海軍將領，曾在英國海軍部歷任要職，參加過英法聯軍侵略中國的戰爭。translator 對於赫斯的心理狀態曾經進行過多次醫學上的詳細研究。的確，他是一個神經病患者，一個精神分裂的人，他想在追求權力、地位和對領袖的崇拜中求得平靜，然而他不僅是一個醫學上的問題。他熱烈地相信，他已識破了希特勒的心理。只要英國也有這樣的想法，那將避免多少痛苦，而雙方意見取得一致又是多麼容易啊！德國在歐洲自由行動，英國在英帝國內自由行動！其他的次要條件是歸還德國殖民地，從伊拉克撤走和對意大利停戰媾和。事實上，英國已處於絕望的境地。如果它不同意這些條件，遲早總有一天它會被迫同意的。西蒙勳爵針對這一點回答道，我想，英國內閣並不怎麼歡迎那個特殊的論點，因為，你知道，這個國家有的是勇氣，並且，我們也不太喜歡受人威脅！ 德國即將進攻俄國，並且正為此進行大規模的準備，這種情況若說同希特勒十分親密的赫斯不知道，那真是咄咄怪事，不然就是他明明知道而不肯說。蘇聯政府對於赫斯的事件深感興趣，他們圍繞著這個事件作出了種種與事實不符的臆測。三年以後，我在第二次訪問莫斯科時，發現斯大林對這個話題很感興趣。他在餐桌上向我問起赫斯赴英的真相。我簡單地把我寫在本書中的情況告訴了他。我感覺到，他認為曾經有過某種深入的談判或策劃，由德國和英國聯合起來進攻俄國，但是流產了。想到他是一個何等聰明的人，我發現他在這一點上卻糊塗起來，感到非常奇怪。當譯員明白地說出他不相信我的話時，我通過我的譯員回答說：當我就我所知道的範圍說明事實真相時，我希望它能夠被接受。斯大林對於這個相當生硬的回答報以和藹的一笑。即使在俄國，我們的特工人員也不一定把所有發生的事都告訴我。我就此打住了話頭。 回憶這件事的全部經過，我高興的是，我對於赫斯已經受到的和正在受到的對待方法並不負有責任。無論一個接近希特勒的德國人可能犯了多大的道義上的罪惡，但是我認為，赫斯已經用他那出於愚蠢的仁愛之心的狂熱行為贖了罪。他到我們這裡來是出於他本人的自由意志，而且儘管不是奉命前來，卻具有某些特使的性質。這是一個醫學上的問題，不是犯罪的問題，我們應當這樣看待這個事件。