:54:01
I wish to testify
about the Feldenstein case...
:54:06
because it was the most significant trial
of the period.
:54:11
It is important not only for the tribunal
to understand it...
:54:16
but for the whole German people.
:54:19
But in order to understand it...
:54:22
one must understand the period
in which it happened.
:54:28
There was a fever over the land.
:54:30
A fever of disgrace, of indignity, of hunger.
:54:36
We had a democracy, yes.
:54:39
But it was torn by elements within.
:54:42
Above all, there was fear:
:54:46
Fear of today, fear of tomorrow...
:54:49
fear of our neighbors...
:54:51
and fear of ourselves.
:54:55
Only when you understand that...
:54:58
can you understand what Hitler meant to us.
:55:01
Because he said to us:
:55:05
"Lift your heads.
:55:06
"Be proud to be German.
:55:09
"There are devils among us:
:55:10
"Communists, liberals, Jews, Gypsies.
:55:14
"Once these devils will be destroyed,
your misery will be destroyed. "
:55:20
It was the old story of the sacrificial lamb.
:55:29
What about those of us who knew better?
:55:31
We who knew the words were lies,
and worse than lies?
:55:35
Why did we sit silent?
Why did we take part?
:55:41
Because we loved our country.
:55:44
What difference does it make...
:55:46
if a few political extremists
lose their rights?
:55:49
What difference does it make
if a few racial minorities lose their rights?
:55:54
It is only a passing phase.
:55:56
It is only a stage we are going through.
:55:58
It will be discarded sooner or later.