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Beginning Python®: Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii

Part I: Dipping Your Toe into Python

Chapter 1: Programming Basics and Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2: Numbers and Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Chapter 3: Variables — Names for Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Part II: Python Language and the Standard Library

Chapter 4: Making Decisions ....................................................................... 51
Chapter 5: Functions ................................................................................... 71
Chapter 6: Classes and Objects ................................................................... 93
Chapter 7: Organizing Programs ................................................................. 111
Chapter 8: Files and Directories ................................................................. 127
Chapter 9: Other Features of the Language ................................................ 143
Chapter 10: Building a Module ................................................................... 157
Chapter 11: Text Processing ...................................................................... 189

Part III: Putting Python to Work

Chapter 12: Testing ................................................................................... 207
Chapter 13: Writing a GUI with Python ....................................................... 227
Chapter 14: Accessing Databases.............................................................. 239
Chapter 15: Using Python for XML ............................................................. 265
Chapter 16: Network Programming ............................................................ 287

Continues
Chapter 17: Extension Programming with C................................................ 337
Chapter 18: Numerical Programming .......................................................... 367
Chapter 19: An Introduction to Django ....................................................... 387
Chapter 20: Web Applications and Web Services ........................................ 407
Chapter 21: Integrating Java with Python ................................................... 481

Part IV: Appendices

Appendix A: Answers to the Exercises........................................................ 515
Appendix B: Online Resources.................................................................... 549
Appendix C: What’s New in Python 3.1 ....................................................... 553
Appendix D: Glossary................................................................................. 559

Index ........................................................................................................ 569

Beginning
Python®
 Beginning
Python®
Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1

James Payne

Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Beginning Python®: Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
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Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
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 To my patient and loving wife, Whitney, who believed in me before I did. And to my parents,
Ronnie and Sharon Payne, who raised me to believe I could do anything I put my mind to, even
when I told them I wanted to be Santa Claus. For my brother, Ron, who read my work even when
it was bad, Dorjan, Eric, Clem, and Nick because they know things about me and
will tell them if I don’t include them.
About the Author
James Payne (Margate, FL) is Editor-in-Chief of Developer Shed, Inc. and has been writing and
programming since the age of seven years old. Proficient in many languages, he has written over
400 articles covering practically every major programming language. As a contractor, he develops
proprietary software for the financial industry using Python and likes to dabble in Django in his
spare time.
 Credits
Executive Editor Production Manager
Carol Long Tim Tate

Project Editor Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Ed Connor Richard Swadley

Technical Editor Vice President and Executive Publisher

Chris McAvoy Barry Pruett

Production Editors Associate Publisher

Amy Weintraub and Tim Tate Jim Minatel

Copy Editor Project Coordinator, Cover

Kim Cofer Lynsey Stanford

Editorial Director Proofreaders

Robyn B. Siesky Scott Klemp and Kristy Eldredge, Word One

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Marketing Manager Cover Image

David Mayhew © istockphoto.com/Frank_U
 Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the gang at Developer Shed: Jack and Jay Kim, whose constant hatred is an
inspiration, Charles Fagundes, who made me an editor and not just a writer, Keith Lee, who provided
coding support, and a special thanks to Jenny Ruggieri, who got me the job that got me this book. Lastly,
I’d like to thank all of the people that worked on the previous editions of this book for laying the
groundwork, and the Editors Carol Long, Jenny Watson, Ed Connor, and Chris McAvoy who helped me
meet deadlines no matter how much I didn’t want to.

I would also like to acknowledge Guido Von Rossum, without whom there would be no language to
write about.
Other documents randomly have
different content
 VON STEENGRACHT: I said yesterday already that Herr Von
Ribbentrop, when he was with Hitler...
COL. PHILLIMORE: Never mind what you said yesterday. I am
putting it to you now, today. You have now seen that document. Do
you still say that Ribbentrop was against the policy of persecution
and extermination of the Jews?
VON STEENGRACHT: Here, too, I should like to make a
distinction between the real instincts of Von Ribbentrop and what he
said when he was under Hitler’s influence. I said already yesterday
that he was completely hypnotized by Hitler and then became his
tool.
COL. PHILLIMORE: Yes, became his tool. And from then on, he
was prepared to do anything that Hitler wanted and was as violent a
Nazi as anyone; isn’t that right?
VON STEENGRACHT: He followed blindly the orders given by
Hitler.
COL. PHILLIMORE: Yes. And to the extent of conniving at any
and every atrocity, isn’t that right?
VON STEENGRACHT: Since he had no executive powers he
personally did not commit these cruelties.
THE PRESIDENT: Do any of the other chief prosecutors want to
cross-examine?
COL. AMEN: You testified yesterday that you did not consider
Ribbentrop to be a typical Nazi; is that correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: Do you consider Göring to be a typical Nazi?
VON STEENGRACHT: Göring made speeches at every type of
meeting and fought for the seizure of power, and accordingly he had
a completely different position in the party than Ribbentrop.
COL. AMEN: I think you can answer my question “yes” or “no.”
We are trying to save time as much as possible.
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, certainly.
 COL. AMEN: Do you consider Göring to be a typical Nazi
according to the same standards that you were using with
Ribbentrop, yes or no?
VON STEENGRACHT: This question one cannot answer in that
way with “yes” or “no.” I am trying every...
COL. AMEN: You answered it that way with respect to
Ribbentrop, didn’t you?
VON STEENGRACHT: Göring was a peculiar type of person. I
cannot class him with the ordinary Nazis, as one usually expresses it.
COL. AMEN: In other words, you don’t know whether you think
he is a typical Nazi or not, is that what you want the Tribunal to
understand?
VON STEENGRACHT: By a typical Nazi one understands the
“average” Nazi. Göring is a unique person and one cannot compare
his manner of living with the other National Socialists.
COL. AMEN: Well, are you acquainted with all of the gentlemen
in the box there in front of you?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: Now, will you tell me which of those individuals you
consider to be a typical Nazi, according to the standards which you
applied yesterday to Ribbentrop?
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Amen, I do not want to interrupt your
cross-examination, but want to say that there is too much laughter
and noise in Court, and I cannot have it. Go on, Colonel, with your
cross-examination.
COL. AMEN: Do you understand my last question? Please name
those of the defendants in the box whom you consider to be typical
Nazis, on the same standard which you yesterday applied to
Ribbentrop.
DR. HORN: Mr. President, I am convinced that here the witness
is making a decision which in my opinion should be made by the
Court at the end of the proceedings. That is an evaluation which the
witness cannot make.
 COL. AMEN: This is the subject that was brought up by this very
Counsel yesterday with respect to Ribbentrop.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal thinks it a perfectly proper
question. They understand that the phrase “a typical Nazi” was used
by the witness himself.
COL. AMEN: And please just give us the names and not a long
explanation, if you can.
VON STEENGRACHT: I said yesterday that by “typical Nazi” I
meant people who are familiar with the dogma and doctrine. I want
to add today that by “typical Nazis” I mean further those people who
during the time of struggle represented National Socialist ideology
and were propagandists of National Socialism. Rosenberg’s book is
known, Herr Frank, as President of the Academy for German Law is
known, these are really—Hess, of course, too—and these are people
whom I want to put into the foreground very particularly because by
their writings and so forth and by their speeches they became
known. No one ever heard Ribbentrop make an election speech.
COL. AMEN: But you are not answering my question. Am I to
assume from that that in your opinion Rosenberg, Frank and Hess
are the only persons whom you could characterize as being typical
Nazis, according to your standards?
VON STEENGRACHT: Well, shall I go through the ranks of the
defendants to give an opinion on each one?
COL. AMEN: Precisely. Just give me the names. No, I do not
want your opinion. I want to know under your standards which of
them you consider to be typical Nazis.
VON STEENGRACHT: I have already stated the standard before.
It can be proved by whether the people unreservedly represented
the National Socialist ideology in words or at meetings and in this
respect I named the prominent ones.
COL. AMEN: And you consider all of the others not to be typical
Nazis? Correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: I did not say that. Then I would have to
go through them individually.
 COL. AMEN: I have asked you to do that three times. Will you
please name them individually?
VON STEENGRACHT: I also see Herr Sauckel. Herr Sauckel was
Gauleiter and was active as a leader in the National Socialist
movement. Then I see the Reich Youth Leader, who educated the
Hitler Youth.
COL. AMEN: Who else? Just give me the names. Do not give
these explanations, please.
VON STEENGRACHT: Well, I think that with that I have pointed
out the typical representatives of the Party.
COL. AMEN: Well, how about Streicher?
VON STEENGRACHT: I do not see him here, or I would have
answered in the affirmative.
COL. AMEN: In other words, you consider him to be a typical
Nazi under your standards?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, but please do not attribute his abuses
to all National Socialists.
COL. AMEN: Now, while you were working with Ribbentrop, do I
understand that you knew nothing about the murders, tortures,
starvations and killings which were taking place in the concentration
camps?
VON STEENGRACHT: By the fact that foreign diplomats applied
to me, and by the fact that I was informed by opposition elements in
Germany, and from enemy propaganda, I knew of the existence and
some of the methods. But, I emphasize, only a part of the methods.
I learned about the total extent and degree only in internment here.
COL. AMEN: Did you know that priests were being tortured and
starved and killed in concentration camps while you were working
with Ribbentrop?
VON STEENGRACHT: No, I heard nothing specific regarding
individual things that occurred there, and if that had happened or
has happened to priests, then I would consider the only authentic
information to be that which the Nuncio or the Vatican had given
me; but that did not occur. But in spite of the fact that, as I said
yesterday, the Vatican had no jurisdiction, I took care of all cases
based on humanity, that is, all humanitarian cases. I took care of
them, and always strove to handle them successfully. I handled 87
cases in which my activity threatened to bring about my death. I
intervened in hundreds of cases, and thus saved, or at least
improved, the lives of thousands and thousands of people.
COL. AMEN: If you don’t confine your answers directly to my
questions, it is very difficult to get through and to save time. Now,
will you please try to answer my questions “yes” or “no,” if possible,
and make your explanations short. Do you understand?
VON STEENGRACHT: I understand perfectly. As far as I can, I
shall of course do so.
COL. AMEN: Did you know that nuns were being tortured and
starved and killed in concentrations camps, while you were working
with Ribbentrop?
VON STEENGRACHT: No.
COL. AMEN: You did not know either about what was happening
to priests or the nuns or to other inmates of concentrations camps?
Correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: I have just said that I have intervened in
hundreds of cases, in which I was approached by the Nuncio even
when it concerned Jews, for whom the Nuncio was not authorized to
act, and in cases in which the Nuncio was acting on behalf of Polish
clergymen, also a sphere for which he was not authorized. In spite
of the fact that I had strictest orders not to receive such cases, I did
receive the cases; and, in spite of the “Nacht und Nebel” decree, I
always gave information when I could get any information. Details
other than those which I received officially I did not have.
COL. AMEN: And who gave you the instructions not to do
anything about these complaints?
VON STEENGRACHT: These orders came directly from Hitler and
came to me through Ribbentrop.
COL. AMEN: How do you know?
 VON STEENGRACHT: I have already said yesterday that the two
notes which before my time were passed by State Secretary Von
Weizsäcker to Hitler through Ribbentrop were rejected with the
remarks that they were blunt lies and, apart from that, this was not
within the jurisdiction of the Nuncio; these notes were to be
returned and in the future such documents were not to be accepted.
Furthermore, there were to be no discussions and that applied, not
only to the Nuncio, it applied to all unauthorized actions particularly
when foreign diplomats intervened in matters in which they had no
jurisdiction.
COL. AMEN: But do you want the Tribunal to understand that
you went ahead and tried to do something about these complaints,
whereas Ribbentrop did nothing; is that correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: I tried to settle within my own sphere of
jurisdiction all cases which, according to instructions, I was not
permitted to accept at all. But if a case here and there was of
primary importance, or where the lives of several people could have
been saved, I always applied to Ribbentrop. In most of these cases
Ribbentrop took the matter before Hitler, after we had invented a
new competence, so that he could not raise the objection that the
Nuncio had no jurisdiction. Upon this, Hitler either absolutely
rejected them or at least said that the police would have to
investigate the case first. This presented the grotesque picture that
in a humanitarian matter or an affair which under all circumstances
had to be handled as foreign politics, the Foreign Minister no longer
made the decision, but the Criminal Inspector Meier or Schulze who
only needed to state “Undesirable in the interests of state security.”
COL. AMEN: Did Ribbentrop obey the instructions which you say
were received from the Führer not to do anything about these
complaints or did he not? “Yes” or “no”?
VON STEENGRACHT: I cannot answer that question since I do
not know how many orders he received from Hitler and whether he
obeyed in each individual case.
COL. AMEN: Well, you have been testifying that you received
instructions not to do anything about these complaints from the
Vatican; is that not correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, and I did not obey them.
COL. AMEN: Well, I am now asking you whether Ribbentrop
obeyed those instructions or whether he did not.
VON STEENGRACHT: But he was in a higher position. What
orders Hitler gave to Ribbentrop privately I cannot say since I do not
know.
COL. AMEN: Where did you receive your instructions from?
VON STEENGRACHT: From Ribbentrop.
COL. AMEN: Ribbentrop has testified under interrogation that he
knew nothing of what went on in any of these concentration camps
until the Führer ordered Luther to be placed in a concentration
camp. Do you know who Luther was?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: Who was he, please?
VON STEENGRACHT: Luther was an Under Secretary of State of
the Foreign Office who was the head of the “Deutschland”
department.
COL. AMEN: And when was he placed in a concentration camp?
VON STEENGRACHT: That must have been about February
1943.
COL. AMEN: Now, as a matter of fact, is it not true that
Ribbentrop had a whole deskful of complaints from the Vatican
about killings, atrocities, the starving of priests and nuns, to which
he never made any reply at all, even an acknowledgment?
VON STEENGRACHT: Mr. Prosecutor, what happened before May
1943, I do not know. As long as I was State Secretary, I never failed
to accept a note or failed to answer it. On the contrary, I accepted
all notes and attempted, as I said before, to assist these people.
Regarding conditions before my term of service, I cannot give you
any information because I do not know them.
COL. AMEN: Well, I am not talking about that time; I am talking
about the period immediately before and following your appearance
there in ’43. Now I want to read you from...
VON STEENGRACHT: I am sorry. I would gladly answer your
question if I knew anything about the matter. During my time—I
cannot say anything about it because I do not know.
COL. AMEN: Well, I will read to you from the interrogation of
Ribbentrop and ask you whether what he says conforms with your
recollection of the facts.
VON STEENGRACHT: I should only like to say that until May
1943 I was not active politically, so that from my own knowledge I
cannot make a statement about it.
COL. AMEN: Well, as I read the testimony to you, you will find
that the interrogation refers to communications which remained in
his desk unanswered for an indefinite period of time. Did you have
access to Ribbentrop’s desk? Did you know what was in it?
VON STEENGRACHT: No.
COL. AMEN: “Question: ‘Did you receive from the Vatican a
communication dated 2 March 1943 calling your attention
to a long list of persecutions of bishops and priests, such as
imprisonment, shooting, and other interferences with the
exercise of religious freedom?’
“Answer: ‘I do not recollect at the moment, but I know that
we had protests from the Vatican, that is, we had a whole
deskful of protests from the Vatican.’ ”
Does that conform with your recollection?
VON STEENGRACHT: That was, I must unfortunately say again,
before my time. I cannot know whether he had a whole drawer full
of things.
COL. AMEN: If they had remained in his desk from March until
May, then you would know about them; isn’t that correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: I? No. I was not Herr Ribbentrop’s servant,
who went over his chairs or drawers.
COL. AMEN: So that your testimony is that you knew nothing
about any protests from the Vatican other than those which you
have already referred to?
VON STEENGRACHT: Apart from those I have mentioned, I
know nothing about protests. I emphasize again that during my time
in office I accepted them all and answered them all.
COL. AMEN: I will read you further from the interrogation:
“Question: ‘Did you reply to these Papal protests?’
“Answer: ‘I think there were very many we did not reply to
—quite a number.’ ”
Does that conform with your recollection?
VON STEENGRACHT: Certainly, that is correct. That was in
accordance with the instructions which were originally given.
COL. AMEN: By whom?
VON STEENGRACHT: Hitler’s instructions.
COL. AMEN: To whom?
VON STEENGRACHT: Certainly to Ribbentrop.
COL. AMEN: Those are the instructions which you say that you
were violating on the side, is that correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: Which I did not obey, for otherwise I
would not have been allowed to accept the notes from the Vatican in
all those cases where the jurisdiction was questioned; nor would I
have been allowed to accept, for example, protests from the
Swedish Ambassador regarding mistreatment in Norway, which,
however, I also accepted.
COL. AMEN: I will continue to read from the interrogation:
“Question: ‘Now, do you mean to say that you did not even
read a protest from the Vatican that came to your desk?’
“Answer: ‘It is really true. It is so that the Führer took such
a stand in these Vatican matters that from then on they did
not come to me any more.’ ”
Does that conform with your recollection?
 VON STEENGRACHT: That Ribbentrop did not receive the
protests any more? Yes, that is correct, that tallies with what I said,
that in all these cases, where we could not accept them, I tried to
settle them on my own responsibility, since it was against orders.
COL. AMEN: And in the course of reading these complaints from
the Vatican which went unanswered, both you and Ribbentrop
learned full details of exactly what was going on in the concentration
camps, did you not?
VON STEENGRACHT: There was never anything about that in
these notes—the ones I saw—there was never anything about the
treatment in them. Instead they were concerned only with
complaints asking why the death sentence was ever imposed, or
why the clergyman was ever arrested, or similar cases, or the
closing of churches or the like.
COL. AMEN: I do not want to take the time of the Tribunal to
read to you the documents which are already in evidence. I am
referring to Document Numbers 3261-PS, 3262-PS, 3264-PS, 3267-
PS, 3268-PS and 3269-PS, but in those documents—I am sorry, sir,
3269 is not in evidence. But in those documents, Witness, are set
forth the details of numerous individual and collective cases of just
what went on in concentration camps. You say you were not familiar
with any of those matters?
VON STEENGRACHT: Mr. Prosecutor, I do not think that I
expressed myself in that way. I gave you to understand that
everything communicated to me by foreign diplomats I do, of
course, know. In other words, if detailed reports were received
during my term of office, then of course I know it. I never denied it.
THE PRESIDENT: What you said, Witness, was—at least what I
took down and understood you to say was—that nothing was ever
mentioned in the notes about the treatment in concentration camps.
VON STEENGRACHT: But I remarked with reference to the
previous question, when the question was put generally as to
whether I knew about conditions in concentration camps and the ill-
treatment, I said that I knew everything that had been reported to
me by foreign diplomats, by people of the opposition, and what I
could learn from the foreign press. In other words, if these
documents contained details during my time in office, then I know
that too. But may I ask the date of the documents?
COL. AMEN: There are many documents with many dates,
which can be obtained, but we don’t want to take too much of the
Tribunal’s time. What I want to find out is whether or not you and
Ribbentrop did not know all about the murders, tortures, starvations,
and killings that were taking place in the concentration camps, and
which were the subject of constant and continuous protests from the
Vatican, which Ribbentrop has testified were not even read or
acknowledged? Do you understand that, Witness?
VON STEENGRACHT: I understand that. I knew nothing at all of
the ill-treatment in concentration camps to the degree and in the
bestial way that I have heard about here. I must strongly protest
against the suggestion that I had heard things like that through the
Vatican at that time. Also, I am convinced that Herr Von Ribbentrop
had no idea of the details as we have heard them here and as they
have been shown in the films.
COL. AMEN: Isn’t it a fact, Witness, that if you had followed up
any of these complaints from the Vatican which Ribbentrop has
testified were ignored, you would have found out everything which
was going on in the concentration camps to the last detail? “Yes” or
“no.”
VON STEENGRACHT: No, that is not correct. I said yesterday
already that perhaps the key to it can be found in the speech made
by Himmler on 3 October 1943, in which he said that the action
against Jews and the matter of concentration camps were to be kept
just as secret as the matter of 30 June 1934. And the great majority
of the German people will confirm the fact that until a short time ago
they could not discover anything at all about these events. If I went
to Gruppenführer Müller or other officials I was always told that
everything in those concentration camps was functioning beautifully
and that there could be no question of ill-treatment. Then I insisted
that the foreigners, particularly the Red Cross, inspect a
concentration camp, and the Danish Red Cross was taken to the
Concentration Camp Theresienstadt. After that inspection took place
—this was a camp for Jews—the Danish Minister came to me and
told me that contrary to expectation everything had been favorable
there. I expressed my astonishment and he told me, “Yes, our
people were there, there was a theater there, and their own police
force, their own hospital, their own money; the thing is well-run.” I
had no reason, therefore, to doubt that it was true. But I myself
could get no idea of the true conditions from any German
department, since they would certainly have been afraid to tell a
member of the Foreign Office anything about it. But I want to
emphasize again that we really had no idea of the atrocities and
such things.
COL. AMEN: Why in the world should they be afraid to advise
the Foreign Office of these atrocities? Had the Foreign Office ever
done anything to discourage them?
VON STEENGRACHT: In all matters which were violations of
international law we attempted to bring the case to the attention of
the Red Cross in one way or another. We did this particularly in all
matters relating to prisoners of war and if anything appeared to be
wrong we drew the attention of the Swiss Delegate to it, on our own
initiative: “Go to this place and see what is going on.” And in this
case too, if I had gone to the Swiss and told them in confidence that
this and that has occurred in the concentration camps, Switzerland
and the Red Cross would probably have interfered, which could
ultimately have led to unpleasant measures.
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Amen, I think we ought to have an
adjournment for 10 minutes.
COL. AMEN: I have only a few more questions.
[A recess was taken.]

COL. AMEN: So far as you know, after Ribbentrop had received

this deskful of complaints from the Vatican, which he neither read
nor acknowledged, did Ribbentrop take any steps or do anything to
find out whether those complaints were justified and true, or did he
not?
 VON STEENGRACHT: Regarding the complaints made before my
time, I have no idea.
COL. AMEN: I am asking you about any complaints that were
received from the Vatican that ever came to your attention, with
particular reference, of course, to the deskful to which Ribbentrop
himself has testified. Do you know of any steps that were ever taken
by Ribbentrop in connection with complaints received from the
Vatican about the atrocities taking place in concentration camps?
Please try to answer “yes” or “no.”
VON STEENGRACHT: So far as I recall he submitted complaints
of this sort to Hitler, when he had the opportunity, and then waited
for Hitler’s order.
COL. AMEN: All right. And when Hitler told him to pay no
attention whatsoever to these complaints, he, as usual, did exactly
what the Führer told him to do, namely, nothing. Is that correct, so
far as you know?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, he obeyed Hitler’s orders.
COL. AMEN: And did nothing?
VON STEENGRACHT: If that is how the order read, he did
nothing, yes.
COL. AMEN: Well, didn’t you tell the Tribunal that is what the
directive from the Führer was, to pay no attention to these
complaints? “Yes” or “no,” please.
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: And so, I say, Ribbentrop, as usual, did nothing
about any of these complaints after the Führer instructed him to
disregard them. Is that right?
VON STEENGRACHT: I could not quite understand that question.
COL. AMEN: I say after Ribbentrop received instructions from
the Führer to disregard these complaints from the Vatican,
Ribbentrop, as usual, did what he was directed, namely, nothing.
VON STEENGRACHT: I assume so, except for those cases where
he nevertheless tried again and then received the same answer. I
also know that he once appealed to Himmler and requested on
principle that the actions against the Jews should not be carried out;
and he proposed that Jewish children and women should, I believe,
be turned over to England and America.
COL. AMEN: And you also know what reply he received to that
suggestion, don’t you?
VON STEENGRACHT: I do not know the answer.
COL. AMEN: Well, you are certainly familiar with the fact that no
such thing was ever done, are you not?
VON STEENGRACHT: That it was never carried out? I did not
understand the question.
COL. AMEN: The suggestion which you claim that Ribbentrop
made to Himmler. That suggestion was never carried out, was it?
VON STEENGRACHT: I do not understand; in what way not
carried out? So far as I know—Ribbentrop appealed directly to the
foreign countries at that time. I also do not know what answer he
received at that time, at least not in detail.
COL. AMEN: Well, so far as you know, nothing ever came of that
suggestion, correct?
VON STEENGRACHT: No, nothing came of it.
COL. AMEN: And, as a matter of fact, you know that Ribbentrop
and Himmler were not on good terms anyway, do you not?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: That was a matter of common knowledge to
everybody, wasn’t it?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, the enmity became greater in the
course of time.
COL. AMEN: So far as you know, did Ribbentrop take bromides
every day?
VON STEENGRACHT: That I do not know. He...
COL. AMEN: You never saw him taking any?
VON STEENGRACHT: It could be; I do not know.
COL. AMEN: Well, did you ever see him taking any, or did he
ever tell that he was taking them?
 VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, I remember now that he took some
sort of red substance but I did not pay particular attention to it.
THE PRESIDENT: Do we have anything to do with whether he
took bromides?
COL. AMEN: Yes, your Lordship, we will, because in his
interrogations he claims that his memory as to many of these events
has been obscured or removed by the over-use of such medicine.
THE PRESIDENT: All right.
COL. AMEN: Now, Witness, were you incarcerated at one time
at a place known as “Ash Can”?
VON STEENGRACHT: In a refuse can?
COL. AMEN: Outside of Luxembourg.
VON STEENGRACHT: In a refuse can? I cannot remember it.
COL. AMEN: Near Luxembourg.
VON STEENGRACHT: Locked in a refuse can? No, I do not
remember.
COL. AMEN: After you were taken prisoner, where were you
incarcerated?
VON STEENGRACHT: Mondorf.
COL. AMEN: For how long a period of time?
VON STEENGRACHT: In Mondorf altogether 11 weeks.
COL. AMEN: And at that time were numerous of the defendants
in this case also incarcerated there?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: And while you were there you were free to have
conversations with some of the inmates?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
COL. AMEN: And you did, from time to time, have such
conversations? Right?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes. I was not together with them all the
time, because I was transferred to another camp.
 COL. AMEN: Now, in the course of your conversations with one
or another of the inmates there, did you make the statement which I
am about to read to you, either in exact words or in substance? Do
you understand the question? “Ribbentrop is lacking in any notion of
decency and truth. The conception does not exist for him.” Please
answer “yes” or “no.” Did you say that, Witness, did you say that?
VON STEENGRACHT: I should be grateful if I could hear that
exactly again what I am supposed to have said.
COL. AMEN: Now remember, I am asking you whether you said
it either in the exact words or in substance. Do you understand that?
VON STEENGRACHT: I did not precisely understand the German
translation of your question.
COL. AMEN: Do you now understand it?
VON STEENGRACHT: I do not understand. I did not exactly
understand the German translation.
COL. AMEN: Yes, but do you understand my question, namely,
that you are to say, whether you used these exact words or some
other similar words? I will now read it to you again. Do you
understand?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, I would be grateful.
COL. AMEN: “Ribbentrop is lacking in any notion of decency and
truth. The conception does not exist for him.”
VON STEENGRACHT: I cannot recall that I ever made such a
statement. I would have to know to whom I am supposed to have
said it.
COL. AMEN: Do you deny having made that statement, or is it
simply that you can’t remember whether you did or not?
VON STEENGRACHT: I cannot remember having said that.
COL. AMEN: Is it possible that you did?
VON STEENGRACHT: It could be that I made such a statement,
in some connection.
COL. AMEN: Very good.
 THE PRESIDENT: Do the other prosecutors wish to ask any
questions?
MAJOR GENERAL N. D. ZORYA (Assistant Prosecutor for the
U.S.S.R.): To save time, I shall restrict myself to a few questions
only. Insofar as I can understand the translation of your testimony,
which you submitted yesterday, you testified to the fact that besides
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs many individuals and organizations
had influenced Germany’s foreign policy.
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
GEN. ZORYA: Tell me, which of the defendants in the present
Trial whom you see in the dock attempted to influence and did, to a
certain extent, influence Germany’s foreign policy.
VON STEENGRACHT: Foreign policy was, of course, after the
beginning of the war...
GEN. ZORYA: I must ask you here and now not to make any
declaration on Germany’s foreign policy, but to indicate precisely, in
the form of a reply to my question, which of the defendants in the
present Trial attempted to influence and did influence Germany’s
foreign policy?
VON STEENGRACHT: The basic lines of foreign policy were
determined solely by Hitler. The fact that we had occupied many
countries and in these various countries had occupied the most
varied positions...
GEN. ZORYA: We know all about that. I ask you to indicate by
name, which of the defendants in the present Trial attempted to
influence and did influence Germany’s foreign policy. Is my question
clear to you?
VON STEENGRACHT: Foreign policy, as I stated yesterday, was
in its broad outlines determined by Hitler alone; but those people
who were assigned to special fields naturally exercised some
influence in one respect or another. For example, some one who had
a special assignment concerning the police, carried out police
measures; some one who had to take care of labor problems
conducted labor affairs. The same is true of other sectors.
 GEN. ZORYA: You still do not answer my question. I ask you to
indicate, regardless of the form and extent of his influence, which of
the defendants in the current Trial attempted to influence, and did
influence, in one form or another, Germany’s foreign policy, and this
apart from representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
VON STEENGRACHT: I assume that you are asking this question
in relation to Russia; as the Foreign Office no longer had jurisdiction
after the entrance of German troops into Russia...
GEN. ZORYA: I request you to understand my question
thoroughly and to answer which of the defendants, and in what
form, regardless of concrete facts of foreign policy, attempted to
influence this foreign policy of Germany and did, in effect, so
influence it.
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes. As regards Russia, the Eastern
ministry was competent for these questions.
GEN. ZORYA: No, not as regards Russia.
VON STEENGRACHT: In Norway Terboven laid down the policy.
Quite naturally he influenced Hitler in his attitude toward Norway
and Norwegian problems. In the same way the individual chiefs of
the administrations in the individual countries exerted influence
depending on how close they could come to Hitler with their reports.
THE PRESIDENT: We don’t want you to make speeches; we
want you to answer the question. You weren’t asked who influenced
the foreign policy, but which of the defendants influenced foreign
policy. You may say none, or you may say some. It is a question that
you must be able to answer.
VON STEENGRACHT: I would assume that Rosenberg had
something to say regarding Russia, Frank had something to say
regarding Poland, Seyss-Inquart had something to say regarding
Holland. Other matters touched only special sectors. Naturally the SS
had something to say; the Wehrmacht had something to say, also
the various other offices and they naturally all exerted a certain
influence but only a certain influence. However, the basic policy was
conducted solely by Hitler.
 GEN. ZORYA: Do you not wish in this connection to name the
Defendant Göring?
VON STEENGRACHT: Göring carried on the Four Year Plan and
in this capacity he naturally also exercised a certain influence on
Russia.
GEN. ZORYA: What did this influence consist of?
VON STEENGRACHT: There again I must say that I and the
Foreign Office had nothing to do with Russia, and that we were
strictly forbidden to intervene in Russian affairs. In the sphere of
propaganda and the press we were in no way permitted to become
active. For this reason I am especially badly informed on Russian
affairs.
GEN. ZORYA: Did the Defendant Göring have any influence in
other questions besides the Russian question?
VON STEENGRACHT: I did not understand the question in
German.
GEN. ZORYA: Besides the Russian question, did the Defendant
Göring exercise any influence on other questions in the sphere of
foreign policy?
VON STEENGRACHT: I would say that until the year 1938 he
certainly had influence over Hitler in matters of foreign policy.
GEN. ZORYA: You have stated in your testimony that in July ’44
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs participated in preparations for the
anti-Jewish Congress which, it was assumed, would be held in
Kraków. Will you please answer this question briefly, “yes” or “no.”
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes.
GEN. ZORYA: Do you know who were the candidates for
honorary membership in this congress?
VON STEENGRACHT: Probably there were many, Ribbentrop
among others, as far as I still remember today.
GEN. ZORYA: Who else from among the defendants?
VON STEENGRACHT: I really cannot say. As far as I remember,
Rosenberg and a large number of other leading personalities, but I
cannot recall their names any longer. Naturally there are documents
on the subject, so that it can be ascertained without trouble.
GEN. ZORYA: Did Ribbentrop attempt in any form whatsoever to
protest against the inclusion of his name in the roster of honorary
members of this congress?
VON STEENGRACHT: So far as I can recall he very unwillingly
took over this post, but I do not believe that he really intended to
take any active part in this matter.
GEN. ZORYA: If I have understood you correctly, you have
recently testified to the fact that relations between Ribbentrop and
Himmler were hostile.
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, bad relations.
GEN. ZORYA: But can you state whether any contact existed
between Ribbentrop and Himmler in their work, whether they
maintained this contact in any one particular sphere or branch of
their work?
VON STEENGRACHT: As a matter of fact, there was no working
contact such as would have been considered right in a well-
organized state. Of course, now and then there were matters
somewhere that concerned both of these men, and to that extent
they did have contact, yes.
GEN. ZORYA: What was the nature of this contact, and what,
exactly, did it represent?
VON STEENGRACHT: It really only amounted to this: that
Ribbentrop or Himmler saw each other every few months. Besides
that, we had a liaison man in the Foreign Office for the Reichsführer
SS Himmler.
GEN. ZORYA: Then how does all this fit in with the hostility
which, as you have just mentioned, existed between Himmler and
Ribbentrop?
VON STEENGRACHT: I presume you are referring to the second
question I answered. In every normal state it was the case that the
ministers saw each other at least once a year and exchanged
opinions. This, however, did not take place, since, as we have
already heard today at some length, the fields of jurisdiction
overlapped to a great extent and the activity of one man touched
very closely on the activity of the other. Therefore some connection
had to be established whether one wanted it or not.
GEN. ZORYA: Do I understand you to say that Himmler and
Ribbentrop never even met?
VON STEENGRACHT: They met perhaps once every 3 months. It
might have been every 4 months and they usually met only if, by
chance, both Ribbentrop and Himmler were visiting Hitler at the
same time.
GEN. ZORYA: And there were no special meetings, no business
contact between them at all?
VON STEENGRACHT: Actually not.
GEN. ZORYA: I should like you to familiarize yourself with
Document Number USSR-120, which has already been submitted as
evidence to the Tribunal. You will see that this is an agreement
between Himmler and Ribbentrop regarding the organization of
intelligence work. Are you familiar with this agreement?
VON STEENGRACHT: Yes, certainly.
GEN. ZORYA: The contact between Himmler and Ribbentrop
was evidently closer than you wished to describe.
VON STEENGRACHT: I do not believe, Mr. Prosecutor, that I
wanted to give you any impression other than the one that actually
existed. This refers to Hitler’s order of 12 February 1944. On the
basis of this order Himmler took charge of all activity abroad without
the participation of the Foreign Office, and after he had become the
successor to Canaris, through this order he secured a predominant
position abroad. And if the Foreign Office in one way or another had
not tried to contact this organization, then the Foreign Office would
have had no influence at all even in foreign countries. We had to
fight vigorously over this document, for on the basis of this
document Himmler was obliged for the first time to communicate to
us also the information that he brought to Germany. Otherwise he
brought these reports in without telling us about them. That was the
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