Documents of General Beck Nrs 40-57 (Irving File 21) – Negative Reel

The documents originate from the Bundesarchiv (Federal Archives of Germany).

he contents are mostly handwritten and typewritten German texts, including:

• Letters, memoranda, and analytical assessments.

• Military-political evaluations of the European situation from 1937–1939.

• Strategic concerns and critiques of Hitler’s aggressive expansionism.

• References to Czechoslovakia, England, France, and Russia, including military planning.

• Beck’s thoughts on potential coalition dynamics and war preparedness.
• Key Themes

• Opposition to Nazi policy: Beck was known for his resistance to Hitler’s aggressive war plans, particularly against Czechoslovakia.

• Military readiness analysis: Multiple sections analyze whether the Wehrmacht was prepared for sustained conflict, especially in the face of a British-French alliance.

• Alliances and enemy forecasting: Forecasting of enemy coalitions, including potential support for Germany or opposition from Italy, Poland, and Hungary.

• Internal Wehrmacht debates: Friction between Beck and others in the military high command about Germany’s strategic posture and war objectives.

• Early resistance efforts: Some material foreshadows Beck’s later role in the German military resistance that culminated in the 20 July Plot against Hitler.

📄 Visual and Archival Features

• The first pages include official archival references (e.g., Auftrag Nr., Datierung: 1938).

• Some annotated handwritten pages are hard to read but reflect personal notes and directives.

• The structure loosely follows document numbering (40–57), aligning with the archival indexing system, likely used by David Irving for research purposes.

Disclaimer

This archival description has been prepared for research and informational purposes only. The contents of the file titled “Documents of General Beck Nrs. 40–57 (Irving File DJ21)” consist of historical documents originally produced by or concerning General Oberst Ludwig Beck, a key figure in the German military establishment during the 1930s. These materials include politically and militarily sensitive content relating to Nazi Germany, World War II preparations, and internal resistance to Adolf Hitler.

The documents reproduced in this file are sourced from the German Federal Archives (Bundesarchiv) and are subject to the archive’s legal restrictions. All rights to reproduction, citation, or publication of these documents remain with the Bundesarchiv unless explicit written permission is granted.

Important Notes:

• The inclusion of politically sensitive or ideologically extreme content (e.g., Nazi rhetoric or strategic doctrines) reflects their historical context and is not an endorsement of any kind.
• Researchers are urged to critically assess the material in conjunction with verified academic sources and historiographical standards.

The contents are provided as-is and may contain translations, terminology, or views consistent with the era’s military and political culture that could be considered offensive or controversial by today’s standards.

Condition Note

The file appears as a digitized archival reproduction of mixed-format documents, combining:

• Typed pages (many clean but aged, with signs of yellowing or fading ink)

• Handwritten notes (often cursive and dense, some difficult to decipher)

• Official markings from the Bundesarchiv, including stamps, document numbers, and marginalia

• Variable image quality
• Non-uniform formatting, suggesting it was compiled from multiple original sources (e.g., memos, directives, reflections)

• Overall, the file retains a historically authentic, slightly weathered appearance, suitable for research or dramatic visual use, but may require enhancements for readability or publishing.