"Only in firm co-operation with a Great Russia will Germany have the chance of regaining her position as a world power...Britain and France fear the combination of the two land powers and try to prevent it with all their means—hence we have to seek it with all our strength...Whether we like or dislike the new Russia and her internal structure is quite immaterial. Our policy would have had to be the same towards a Tsarist Russia or towards a state under Kolchak or Denikin. Now we have to come to terms with Soviet Russia—we have no alternative...In Poland France seeks to gain the eastern field of attack against Germany and, together with Britain, has driven the stake which we cannot endure into our flesh, quite close to the heart of our existent a a state. Now France trembles for her Poland which a strengthened Russia threatens with destruction, and now Germany is to save her mortal enemy! Her mortal enemy, for we have none worse at this moment. Never can Prussia-Germany concede that Bromberg, Graudenz, Thorn, (Marienburg), Posen should remain in Polish hands, and now there appears on the horizon, like a divine miracle, help for us in our deep distress. At this moment nobody should ask Germany to lift as much as a finger when disaster engulf Poland."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Memorandum (4 February 1920), quoted in F. L. Carsten, The Reichswehr and Politics 1918 to 1933 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1966), p. 68.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hans_von_Seeckt
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Hans von Seeckt
1866 – 1936
deutscher Generaloberst
13 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Hans von Seeckt →
Related Quotes
"War is the highest summit of human achievement; it is the natural, the final stage in the historical development of h…"
"We were one in our aim; only our paths were different."
"The Weimar Constitution is for me not a noli me tangere; I did not participate in its creation, and it is in its basi…"
"The situation has deteriorated considerably since last year. In foreign affairs I consider the Locarno-Geneva policy …"
"You know that my wishes go in the direction of a conciliation with Russia which opens up further possibilities and pr…"
"The Prussian diet has not an ideal composition...but has done useful work; in spite of this it will be necessary to p…"
"You recently mentioned a speech of [Chancellor] Hertling to the students. Quite nice, but the one in the Herrenhaus […"
"Everything depends on our succeeding in making the government firm and keeping it firm; whether it pleases us or not,…"
"As I consider a future political and economic agreement with Great Russia to be the immutable aim of our foreign poli…"
"Es ist zuzugeben, daß der Geist, der über der Versailler Friedensdelegation schwebte, noch nicht verschwunden ist und…"