VOLUME XIV

16 May 46
DR. SIEMERS: Now I turn to another topic and go back to the
year 1933.
Grossadmiral, when did you meet Hitler, and did you have any
connection with National Socialism before 1933?
RAEDER: I met Hitler on 2 February 1933 when I saw him and
talked to him for the first time. It was at an evening party arranged
by General Von Blomberg at the home of General Von Hammer-
stein, the Chief of the Army Command Staff, at which Reich
Defense Minister Von Blomberg intended to present to Hitler senior
generals and admirals. I shall describe the proceedings later.
Up to that time, I had had no connection whatsoever with
National Socialism. I knew Admiral Von Levetzow only from the
- first World War. He was on the staff of Admiral Scheer whom I
knew well and who had obviously met Hitler at a comparatively
early date. It was through him, however, that I heard that Hitler
took a very active interest in naval matters and was surprisingly
well informed about them. On the other hand, I believe that
Von Levetzow had also spoken to Hitler about the reputation of the
Navy and his own opinion of the Navy at that time. But I had
no connections beyond that.
DR. SIEMERS: What were your reasons for remaining in office in
1933, Grossadmiral, when you had no connection with National
Socialism?
RAEDER: The Reich President, Field Marshal Von Hindenburg,
at the same time Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht, had
appointed the leader of the largest party as Chancellor of the
Reich. I think that, if I had gone to him and told him I wanted to
resign-or intended to resign-because he had appointed a new
Chancellor, he would quite certainly have taken it as an insult
and would then really have dismissed me. I had not the slightest
reason to ask mv Supreme Commander to release me from my
military post because he, in his capacity of Reich President, had
appointed a new Reich Chancellor of whom I, perhaps, might not
approve.
DR. SIEMERS: When and where did you first hear Hitler state
his basic political principles?
RAEDER: I heard him for the first time on the afore-mentioned
2 February, after the dinner at General Von Hammerstein's home.
I was introduced to him before dinner, and after dipner he made
a speech. He was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Herr Von Neurath. There were no other members of the Party
present.
In his speech, he first of all spoke of his career and of his social
and national aims. He said that he wanted to regain equal rights