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MORGENTHAU PLAN

COMPLETE TEXT OF OFFICIAL STATEMENT

SEPTEMBER 15, 1944

J. FINAL DOCUMENTS OF THE QUEBEC CONFERENCE

Memorandum Initialed by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill

(1) TREATMENT OF GERMANY

At a conference between the President and the Prime Minister upon the best measures to prevent renewed rearmament by Germany, it was felt that an essential feature was the future disposition of the Ruhr and the Saar.

The ease with which the metallurgical, chemical and electric industries in Germany can be converted from peace to war has already been impressed upon us by bitter experience.  It must also be remembered that the Germans have devastated a large portion of the industries of Russia and of other neighbouring Allies, and it is only in accordance with justice that these injured countries should be entitled to remove the machinery they require in order to repair the losses they have suffered.  The industries referred to in the Ruhr and in the Saar would therefore be necessarily put out of action and closed down.  It was felt that the two districts should be put under some body under the world organization which would supervise the dismantling of these industries and make sure that they were not started up again by some subterfuge. 

This program for eliminating the war-making industries in the Ruhr and tin the Saar is looking forward to converting Germany into a country primarily agricultural and pastoral in its character. 

The Prime Minister and the President were in agreement upon this programme.

OK        F[RANKLIN] D R[OOSEVELT]
              W[INSTON] S C [HURCHILL]
                                 

 [QUEBEC,] September 15, 1944.

THE MORGENTHAU PLAN:  A DELIBERATE MASS MURDER OF CIVILIANS?

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

The evidence clearly shows that Morgenthau was very aware that his plan could murder millions of civilians. 

It shows he was quite willing to do this to achieve his goal of permanently destroying Germany as a major power.

Some direct quotes from a respected book on the subject that is actually favorable to Morgenthau.

White warned that shutting down the Ruhr would exile millions of German and harm the rest of Europe.

"May I just stop a minute?" said an irritated Morgenthau.  "I have brought back a message to you as to where the President stands and where I stand.  Why don't you go to work on it, see?"

Morgenthau went on, "I am for destroying it first and we will worry about the population second....I am not going to budge an inch....The President is adamant on this thing.  Sure, it is a terrific problem.  Let the Germans solve it!  Why the hell should I worry about what happens to their people?"

Michael Beschloss, The Conquerors:  Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1941-1945 (New York:  First Simon & Schuster trade paperback edition 2003), p. 104.

Roosevelt sent Morgenthau a report from the OSS chief William Donovan saying that a majority of prewar Europe's farm machinery had been produced by Germany.  The tacit message:  Shutting down German industry might force all Europeans to starve.

Morgenthau scrawled back, "I would like to say in the words of your son Johnny, 'So what?'"

Michael Beschloss, The Conquerors:  Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1941-1945 (New York:  First Simon & Schuster trade paperback edition 2003), pp. 158-159.