7208 - Hjalmar Schacht Document Signed at Nuremberg, Concerning Attempts to Recruit General Hoepner to Overthrow Hitler

Hjalmar Schacht Document Signed at Nuremberg, Concerning Attempts to Recruit General Hoepner to Overthrow Hitler Partly-printed DS, in German, one page, 8 x 12, December 5, 1945. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Schacht and his defense lawyer request testimony from "Carl Christian Schmidt," explaining: "He is the only witness who can testify that in addition to my attempts to win the military over to an attack on Hitler, in particular General Hoeppner." Schacht asserts that this testimony is "very important as evidence of my activity against Hitler after I had recognized his bad intentions." Signed at the conclusion in pencil by Hjalmar Schacht, and countersigned by his defense counsel. Backed by archival paper and in fine condition, with professional cleaning to the paper. Schacht's defense at Nuremberg rested heavily on his claim that, despite his early support for Hitler and his prominent role in financing German rearmament, he had subsequently turned against the Nazi regime and actively sought its overthrow. The General Hoeppner named in this application was Colonel General Erich Hoepner, a senior Wehrmacht commander who became involved in the German military resistance and was executed following the failed assassination attempt against Hitler on July 20, 1944. Schacht later testified at Nuremberg that he had held a series of conversations with Hoepner in 1941, attempting to persuade him to take action against Hitler. By seeking testimony from Carl Christian Schmidt, Schacht hoped to corroborate these clandestine efforts and establish that his opposition extended beyond private criticism to active attempts to recruit military leaders for a coup. Arrested in July 1944 on suspicion of connections to the anti-Hitler conspiracy, Schacht ultimately secured an acquittal on all charges before the International Military Tribunal on October 1, 1946.