7190 - Erich Raeder Document Signed at Nuremberg, Calling a Witness to Refute Charges of a “Plan and Conspiracy to Wage Wars of Attack”

Erich Raeder Document Signed at Nuremberg, Calling a Witness to Refute Charges of a “Plan and Conspiracy to Wage Wars of Attack” Partly-printed DS, in German, one page, 8 x 12.25, January 19, 1946. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Raeder and his defense lawyer request testimony from his longtime colleague, "Generadmiral Conrad Albrecht," stating that his testimony will "refute the indictment, according to which I took part in a plan and conspiracy to wage wars of attack and in other war crimes." Signed at the conclusion in fountain pen by Raeder, and countersigned by his defense counsel. Backed by lightweight cardstock and in fine condition. Conrad Albrecht was a senior Kriegsmarine admiral and longtime colleague of Raeder, making him a potentially valuable witness against the prosecution's charges of conspiracy and aggressive war. Raeder sought his testimony as part of a broader defense strategy—also reflected in his requests for Schulte-Mönting and Severing—to argue that German naval policy and operations were not undertaken as part of a premeditated criminal plan. The strategy was unsuccessful: Raeder was convicted on all three counts against him and sentenced to life imprisonment.