From the moment Hitler seized power, an evil triumvirate of
Nazis, militarists and Big Business was pushing its country
deliberately and inexorably towards war. But what war? Against
England? France? Russia? Poland?

For the first six years, Hitler himself was not certain against
whom this war would begin. The year of decision was 1939.

The documentary evidence of the preceding two years, presented
by the prosecution, showed how and why this decision was reached.

In his November, 1937, speech, Hitler expounded to his gen-
erals his plan to acquire in Europe -- preferably from territories
adjoining the Reich--the necessary "living space" for the German
people. And he made perfectly dear that this territory could only
be acquired by war.

"We live in a period of economic empires," Hitler said then.
"In Japan and Italy economic motives are the basis of their will to
expand, and economic needs will also drive Germany to it."

Against the fulfillment of this program, Hitler said, stood "two
hateful enemies, England and France, to whom a strong German
colossus in the center of Europe would be intolerable." He knew
then that the showdown one day would have to come from the

-91-