I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle.

A state of no less than 36,000,000 inhabitants... took up arms against us... Their confidence ... knew no bounds.

The battle beginning today will decide the fate of the German nation for the next thousand years.

The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so.

In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this.

We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.