Some interesting historical background to the document from a NZ historical journal article :
Following Germany's invasion of Poland, New Zealand declared a state of emergency on 1 September 1939 and the next day adopted the 'Precautionary Stage' for war against Germany and Italy. This involved putting into action a wide range of carefully planned measures that were set out in the New Zealand government War Book and elsewhere. Shortly before midnight on 3 September, the New Zealand government was informed by the United Kingdom that it had declared war on Germany, which had not acceded to a British ultimatum that it cease its aggression against Poland. New Zealand responded promptly, declaring war on Germany with effect from the time when the British ultimatum expired, which was 9:30 pm, 3 September, local time. Once this decision was made telegrams were dispatched by the Prime Minister's Office to senior political, military and government figures announcing the outbreak of war. (1)
One of these telegrams was sent to Joseph Heenan, the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, whose department was responsible for foreign diplomatic representatives. It reached him in the early hours of 4 September, and he almost immediately telephoned the German consul-general in Wellington, Ernst Ramm. Heenan read a letter from William Parry, the Minister of Internal Affairs, to Ramm, which began 'I have the honour to inform you that a state of war exists between His Majesty's Government in New Zealand and the German Government' and went on to tell him that the New Zealand government would facilitate his evacuation along with that of his staff and their dependants from the Dominion. (2) Party's letter had been drafted in accordance with an Organisation for National Security document that set out how enemy diplomats were to be dealt with in the event of war, which had been approved by the Council of Defence late in August 1939. (3)
Before the outbreak of war the Third Reich had significantly upgraded its representation in Wellington. In 1936 it replaced its honorary consul with a full-time consul de carriere, Dr Walter Hellenthal, who had previously been based at the consulate-general in Sydney. (4) Hellenthal played a significant part in the negotiation in 1937 of an agreement to facilitate trade between Germany and New Zealand. (5)
In 1938 New Zealand agreed to Germany upgrading its consulate in Wellington to the status of a consulate-general. (6) Ramm, whose previous postings including the German embassies in Tokyo, Moscow and Madrid, arrived in New Zealand to take up the position of consul-general in August 1938. (7) The consulate-general was housed in a building in Brandon Street in central Wellington. Its offices were notable only for the fact that they contained a very large safe. The staff of the consulate-general consisted of Ramm, his deputy Erwin Bunze and two female German secretaries. Both Ramm and Bunze brought their families with them to New Zealand. (8)
Anti-German feeling
Ramm's arrival coincided with the onset of the Munich crisis and he had to contend with a significant degree of anti-German feeling. On the night of 28/29 September the brass plaque identifying the consulate was stolen from the main entrance of the building housing its offices. Ramm immediately complained about the theft to the Prime Minister and an intensive police investigation was initiated. (9) Two university students were charged with the theft. They were eventually discharged without conviction and their names suppressed by a magistrate. Ramm was dissatisfied with the treatment the two men had received and raised the matter with the Prime Minister. (10) Savage assured him 'that the lads received severe reprimands from the Principal of the Training College, ... and the Principal of Victoria University College. This is the usual form of disciplinary measure in the case of first offenders, and has always proved very effective and an adequate warning against any repetition of the offences'. (11)
Ramm had a pleasant public persona and during his service in New Zealand appears to have been a conscientious and effective representative of his country. A frequent visitor to Parliament, he was described in one newspaper as being 'tall, handsome, suave, speaking faultless English, well groomed, and always the perfect gentleman in his dealings with Government officials', an 'ideal type of Nazi diplomat' who 'was well liked by most New Zealanders who knew him'. In his dealings with Germans resident in New Zealand, however, it appears he could be abrupt and arrogant. (12) In the aftermath of the Munich agreement Ramm publicly stressed Germany's desire for peaceful and friendly relations with New Zealand and Great Britain. He was also fulsome in his praise of the 'noble courage with which the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr Chamberlain, fought for the cause of peace'. (13)
Mad dogs
Late in 1938, Ramm and his Italian colleague Benedetto d'Acunzo complained to Savage after Bob Semple, the outspoken Minister of Public Works, gave a speech in which he defended the need for defence expenditure while 'mad dogs like Hitler and Mussolini were running loose'. Savage responded by conveying a personal apology from Semple to the consuls and by expressing the government's 'extreme regret' at the remarks. (14)
Ramm had less success in mid-1939 when he tried to get the government to ban the screening of the film 'Confessions of a Nazi Spy', a fictionalised portrayal of a major espionage case in the United States. In a measured and thoughtful reply Prime Minister Savage explained to Ramm's that there was no grounds under New Zealand's law to prevent the release of the film. (15) Ramm responded with a rather curt letter that concluded by staring that 'I shall not fail to bring the contents of your letter to the knowledge of my Government'. (16) Ramm's mood was probably not improved by the knowledge that members of the Cabinet had attended a special preview of the film. (17) Ramm remained an active figure on the Wellington scene right up to the outbreak of war. Late in August 1939, for instance, he appears to have tried to get the government to moderate criticism of Adolf Hitler in local newspapers. (18)
Immediately after the outbreak of war, Heenan consulted Ramm about arrangements for the evacuation of the consulate-general staff and their dependents. Ramm made it clear that he did not wish to return to Germany via the United States as he was concerned that United States might enter the war on the side of the Allies. Various options were discussed, and it was eventually agreed that the German party would return home by way of Australia and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). (19)
Diplomatic evacuation
During August 1939 the British government informed New Zealand that it had information that in the event of war Germany might detain at least some British consular officers in Germany. The British authorities had decided that should this occur German consular officers in British territories would not be permitted to depart for home until proper arrangements had been made for the evacuation of all British personnel. (20) After the outbreak of war difficulties did arise about the evacuation of British consular officers in Germany, and the British authorities asked that New Zealand not permit any of the German consulate-general staff to leave the Dominion until this issue had been resolved. Although Ramm was informed that he and his staff would not be permitted to leave immediately, but he was not told of the reason for this decision. (21)
Within a few days reciprocal arrangements were made through the Swiss and United States governments for the evacuation of British consular staff in Germany and their German equivalents in the United Kingdom. New Zealand was informed that the German consular officers could now be permitted to leave for home. (22) Ramm then made arrangements for the departure of his party, which consisted of the consular staff and six dependents and a nanny, on a Dutch ship, the Tasman, that was sailing from Wellington for the Dutch East Indies, via Sydney, on 20 September. (23) He had earlier arranged for the Swiss Consul in Wellington to take charge of German interests during the war and the property of the consulate-general. (24) Between the outbreak of war and his departure a police guard was placed outside Ramm's residence in Tinakori Road. It appears that the principal object of the guard was 'to protect him from the possibility of annoyance'. (25)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
On the 20 September 1939, a government car took Ramm and his family to the Wellington wharfs. There he was farewelled by Heenan, other government officials and several foreign consuls. Ramm took the opportunity to ask that Heenan convey to the government his appreciation of the 'courtesy and consideration' they had shown towards the German diplomats and their families. (26) The Italian consul was amongst those farewelling the German party, and he was highly indignant when a police officer insisted that he could only speak to Ramm if he did so in English and within earshot of the officer. D'Acunzo made an official complaint about the actions of the officer, who it appears was acting at the direction of the New Zealand military authorities. Carl Berendsen apologised on behalf of the government for the incident and, at the acting Prime Minister's direction, the Commissioner of Police issue an order stressing the need to respect the rights of foreign diplomats. (27)
Strong guard
When the Tasman reached Sydney, a strong the military guard controlled access to the ship, and it appears that Ramm may have felt that the Australian authorities did not treat him with due respect. Certainly, when he was approached by local reporters seeking an interview he replied in German in 'the bombastic manner of the Nazi diplomat'. Dr W.D. Hoops, who had been the German vice-consul in Sydney, joined the ship during the stopover. Hoops left a much more favourable impression when he explained how much he had enjoyed his time in Australia and how much he regretted the circumstances of his departure. (28) The evacuation of Ramm's party and of the Italian consul and his staff and dependents in June 1940 presented few logistical problems. (29) When, however, at the end of 1941, it was the turn of the staff at the Japanese consulate to depart it proved very difficult, because of the truly global nature of the conflict, to find a route by which they might safely return to Japan. (30)
That New Zealand decided to make its own formal declaration of war against Germany in September 1939 has often been cited as a significant milestone on the road to the Dominion acting as a fully independent actor on the world stage. (31) The evacuation of Ernst Ramm and the rest of the German consulate-general's staff was one of the many smaller, but still significant, steps taken between 1939 and 1945 along this path.
Following Germany's invasion of Poland, New Zealand declared a state of emergency on 1 September 1939 and the next day adopted the 'Precautionary Stage' for war against Germany and Italy. This involved putting into action a wide range of carefully planned measures that were set out in the New Zealand government War Book and elsewhere. Shortly before midnight on 3 September, the New Zealand government was informed by the United Kingdom that it had declared war on Germany, which had not acceded to a British ultimatum that it cease its aggression against Poland. New Zealand responded promptly, declaring war on Germany with effect from the time when the British ultimatum expired, which was 9:30 pm, 3 September, local time. Once this decision was made telegrams were dispatched by the Prime Minister's Office to senior political, military and government figures announcing the outbreak of war. (1)
One of these telegrams was sent to Joseph Heenan, the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, whose department was responsible for foreign diplomatic representatives. It reached him in the early hours of 4 September, and he almost immediately telephoned the German consul-general in Wellington, Ernst Ramm. Heenan read a letter from William Parry, the Minister of Internal Affairs, to Ramm, which began 'I have the honour to inform you that a state of war exists between His Majesty's Government in New Zealand and the German Government' and went on to tell him that the New Zealand government would facilitate his evacuation along with that of his staff and their dependants from the Dominion. (2) Party's letter had been drafted in accordance with an Organisation for National Security document that set out how enemy diplomats were to be dealt with in the event of war, which had been approved by the Council of Defence late in August 1939. (3)
Before the outbreak of war the Third Reich had significantly upgraded its representation in Wellington. In 1936 it replaced its honorary consul with a full-time consul de carriere, Dr Walter Hellenthal, who had previously been based at the consulate-general in Sydney. (4) Hellenthal played a significant part in the negotiation in 1937 of an agreement to facilitate trade between Germany and New Zealand. (5)
In 1938 New Zealand agreed to Germany upgrading its consulate in Wellington to the status of a consulate-general. (6) Ramm, whose previous postings including the German embassies in Tokyo, Moscow and Madrid, arrived in New Zealand to take up the position of consul-general in August 1938. (7) The consulate-general was housed in a building in Brandon Street in central Wellington. Its offices were notable only for the fact that they contained a very large safe. The staff of the consulate-general consisted of Ramm, his deputy Erwin Bunze and two female German secretaries. Both Ramm and Bunze brought their families with them to New Zealand. (8)
Anti-German feeling
Ramm's arrival coincided with the onset of the Munich crisis and he had to contend with a significant degree of anti-German feeling. On the night of 28/29 September the brass plaque identifying the consulate was stolen from the main entrance of the building housing its offices. Ramm immediately complained about the theft to the Prime Minister and an intensive police investigation was initiated. (9) Two university students were charged with the theft. They were eventually discharged without conviction and their names suppressed by a magistrate. Ramm was dissatisfied with the treatment the two men had received and raised the matter with the Prime Minister. (10) Savage assured him 'that the lads received severe reprimands from the Principal of the Training College, ... and the Principal of Victoria University College. This is the usual form of disciplinary measure in the case of first offenders, and has always proved very effective and an adequate warning against any repetition of the offences'. (11)
Ramm had a pleasant public persona and during his service in New Zealand appears to have been a conscientious and effective representative of his country. A frequent visitor to Parliament, he was described in one newspaper as being 'tall, handsome, suave, speaking faultless English, well groomed, and always the perfect gentleman in his dealings with Government officials', an 'ideal type of Nazi diplomat' who 'was well liked by most New Zealanders who knew him'. In his dealings with Germans resident in New Zealand, however, it appears he could be abrupt and arrogant. (12) In the aftermath of the Munich agreement Ramm publicly stressed Germany's desire for peaceful and friendly relations with New Zealand and Great Britain. He was also fulsome in his praise of the 'noble courage with which the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr Chamberlain, fought for the cause of peace'. (13)
Mad dogs
Late in 1938, Ramm and his Italian colleague Benedetto d'Acunzo complained to Savage after Bob Semple, the outspoken Minister of Public Works, gave a speech in which he defended the need for defence expenditure while 'mad dogs like Hitler and Mussolini were running loose'. Savage responded by conveying a personal apology from Semple to the consuls and by expressing the government's 'extreme regret' at the remarks. (14)
Ramm had less success in mid-1939 when he tried to get the government to ban the screening of the film 'Confessions of a Nazi Spy', a fictionalised portrayal of a major espionage case in the United States. In a measured and thoughtful reply Prime Minister Savage explained to Ramm's that there was no grounds under New Zealand's law to prevent the release of the film. (15) Ramm responded with a rather curt letter that concluded by staring that 'I shall not fail to bring the contents of your letter to the knowledge of my Government'. (16) Ramm's mood was probably not improved by the knowledge that members of the Cabinet had attended a special preview of the film. (17) Ramm remained an active figure on the Wellington scene right up to the outbreak of war. Late in August 1939, for instance, he appears to have tried to get the government to moderate criticism of Adolf Hitler in local newspapers. (18)
Immediately after the outbreak of war, Heenan consulted Ramm about arrangements for the evacuation of the consulate-general staff and their dependents. Ramm made it clear that he did not wish to return to Germany via the United States as he was concerned that United States might enter the war on the side of the Allies. Various options were discussed, and it was eventually agreed that the German party would return home by way of Australia and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). (19)
Diplomatic evacuation
During August 1939 the British government informed New Zealand that it had information that in the event of war Germany might detain at least some British consular officers in Germany. The British authorities had decided that should this occur German consular officers in British territories would not be permitted to depart for home until proper arrangements had been made for the evacuation of all British personnel. (20) After the outbreak of war difficulties did arise about the evacuation of British consular officers in Germany, and the British authorities asked that New Zealand not permit any of the German consulate-general staff to leave the Dominion until this issue had been resolved. Although Ramm was informed that he and his staff would not be permitted to leave immediately, but he was not told of the reason for this decision. (21)
Within a few days reciprocal arrangements were made through the Swiss and United States governments for the evacuation of British consular staff in Germany and their German equivalents in the United Kingdom. New Zealand was informed that the German consular officers could now be permitted to leave for home. (22) Ramm then made arrangements for the departure of his party, which consisted of the consular staff and six dependents and a nanny, on a Dutch ship, the Tasman, that was sailing from Wellington for the Dutch East Indies, via Sydney, on 20 September. (23) He had earlier arranged for the Swiss Consul in Wellington to take charge of German interests during the war and the property of the consulate-general. (24) Between the outbreak of war and his departure a police guard was placed outside Ramm's residence in Tinakori Road. It appears that the principal object of the guard was 'to protect him from the possibility of annoyance'. (25)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
On the 20 September 1939, a government car took Ramm and his family to the Wellington wharfs. There he was farewelled by Heenan, other government officials and several foreign consuls. Ramm took the opportunity to ask that Heenan convey to the government his appreciation of the 'courtesy and consideration' they had shown towards the German diplomats and their families. (26) The Italian consul was amongst those farewelling the German party, and he was highly indignant when a police officer insisted that he could only speak to Ramm if he did so in English and within earshot of the officer. D'Acunzo made an official complaint about the actions of the officer, who it appears was acting at the direction of the New Zealand military authorities. Carl Berendsen apologised on behalf of the government for the incident and, at the acting Prime Minister's direction, the Commissioner of Police issue an order stressing the need to respect the rights of foreign diplomats. (27)
Strong guard
When the Tasman reached Sydney, a strong the military guard controlled access to the ship, and it appears that Ramm may have felt that the Australian authorities did not treat him with due respect. Certainly, when he was approached by local reporters seeking an interview he replied in German in 'the bombastic manner of the Nazi diplomat'. Dr W.D. Hoops, who had been the German vice-consul in Sydney, joined the ship during the stopover. Hoops left a much more favourable impression when he explained how much he had enjoyed his time in Australia and how much he regretted the circumstances of his departure. (28) The evacuation of Ramm's party and of the Italian consul and his staff and dependents in June 1940 presented few logistical problems. (29) When, however, at the end of 1941, it was the turn of the staff at the Japanese consulate to depart it proved very difficult, because of the truly global nature of the conflict, to find a route by which they might safely return to Japan. (30)
That New Zealand decided to make its own formal declaration of war against Germany in September 1939 has often been cited as a significant milestone on the road to the Dominion acting as a fully independent actor on the world stage. (31) The evacuation of Ernst Ramm and the rest of the German consulate-general's staff was one of the many smaller, but still significant, steps taken between 1939 and 1945 along this path.
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