dtufail/nuremberg-trials-corpus huggingface dataset:
newly acquired land and to live from the wealth of those who had been eliminated. (a) Elimination and deportation of conquered people. The extermination actions contributed in part to clearing the conquered territories of persons deemed dangerous to the Nazi plan. But not every undesirable could be liquidated. Moreover, manpower was needed for the Nazi war effort. Mass deportation thus accomplished the twin purpose of providing labor and of freeing the land for German colonists. The participation of SS agencies in deporting persons from the conquered territories to meet the increased demands of the Nazi war machine for manpower has already been shown. The evacuation and resettlement program, however, required the use of additional SS agencies to deport persons occupying the desired living space. For this purpose immigration centers were set up under the direction of RSHA, as is stated in the National socialist Yearbook for 1941: "For some time now the Reichsfuehrer-SS has had at his disposal an office under the management of SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Lorenz, the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle. This office has the task of dealing with National German questions and the raising of required support. "In addition to the VM the Immigration Center Offices with the Chief of the Security Police and the Security Service of the SS (under the management of SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer dr. Sandberger) and the Settlement staff of the Reich-Commissioner were created, which, in cooperation with the NSV [National Socialist Welfare Organization] and the Reich Railroad Agency, took charge of the Migration of National Germans." (2163-PS) Further evidence is contained in the affidavit of Otto Hoffman, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of the Waffen SS and Police, who was chief in the Main Office for Race and Settlement in the SS Supreme Command until 1943. This affidavit, taken at Freising, Germany, on 4 August 1945 reads as follows: "* * * 2. The executive power, in other words the carrying out of all so-called resettlement actions, that is to say, sending away of Polish and Jewish settlers and those of non German blood from a territory in Poland destined for Germanization, was in the hands of the Chief of the RSHA (Heydrich and later
The executive power, in other words the carrying out of all so-called resettlement actions, that is to say, sending away of Polish and Jewish settlers and those of non German blood from a territory in Poland destined for Germanization, was in the hands of the Chief of the RSHA (Heydrich and later Kaltenbrunner, since the end of 1942). The Chief of the RSHA also supervised and issued orders to the socalled immigration center (EWZ) which classified the Germans, living abroad who returned to Germany and directed them to the individual farms, already freed. The latter was done in agreement with the chief office of the Reichsfuehrer SS." (L-49) Other SS agencies also were included. The report, dated 22 May 1940, relating to confiscation of Polish agricultural enterprises and deportation of the Polish owners to Germany, shows that the following SS agencies were involved in this action: "Means of transportation to the railroad can be provided (1)-by the enterprise of the East German Corporation of Agricultural Development, (2)-by the SS NCO School in Lublinitz and the concentration camp of Auschwitz. "These two latter places will also detail the necessary SS men for the day of the confiscation, etc." (1352-PS) The extent to which departments of the Supreme Command of the SS were concerned with the evacuation program is shown by the minutes of a meeting on 4 August 1942 dealing with the treatment of deported Alsatians (R-114). The minutes list those present at the meeting as follows: "Present: "SS. -'Hauptsturmfuehrer' Dr. Stier SS. -'Hauptsturmfuehrer' Petri 'RR' Hoffman Staff Headquarters DR. Scherler SS. -'Untersturmfuehrer' Foerster SS. -'Obersturmfuehrer' Dr. Hinrichs, Chief of Estate Office and Settlement Staff, Strasbourg [Leiter des bodenamtes and Ansiedlungsstabes Strasburg] SS. -'Sturmbannfuehrer' Bruckner, Intermediate Office for Racial Germans (Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle) SS. -'Hauptsturmfuehrer' Hummisch, Main Office Reich Security [Reichssicherheitshauptamt] SS. -'Untersturmfuehrer' Dr. Sieder, Main office for race and settling [Rus-Hauptamt] Dr. Labes, D. U. T." (R-114) The minutes read in part as follows: "1. State of deportation in Alsace. "The starting point of the conference was a report on the deportation effected so far and
SS. -'Untersturmfuehrer' Dr. Sieder, Main office for race and settling [Rus-Hauptamt] Dr. Labes, D. U. T." (R-114) The minutes read in part as follows: "1. State of deportation in Alsace. "The starting point of the conference was a report on the deportation effected so far and further plans for resettlement in Alsace." "B. "The representatives of the SS Main Offices present were united in this opinion: "II. 1. The Gauleiter's plans for evacuation can be approved in principle, since they confine themselves in fact to a class of persons, whose presence in the Reich would be insupportable for racial and political reasons." (R-114) (b) Resettlement of conquered territories by Germans. The SS not only destroyed or deported conquered peoples and confiscated their property, but it also repopulated the conquered regions with so-called racial Germans. Thousands upon thousands of these Germans were transported from all parts of Europe to join the greater Reich. Not all Germans were deemed reliable colonists, however. Those who were not, were returned to Germany proper for "re-Germanization" and "reeducation" along Nazi lines. A typical instance of the fate of such Germans is found in the decree of the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Folkdom of 16 February 1942, dealing with the treatment to be accorded so-called "Polonized" Germans (R-112). By the terms of that decree two other SS functionaries were charged with the responsibility for the re-Germanization program, the Higher SS and police Leaders and the Gestapo. Paragraph III of the decree provides: "III. The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer will further the re-Germanization actions with every means at their disposal and continuously take stock of their success. In case they find that obstacles are put in the way of a re-Germanization action, they will report on their findings to the competent State Police (Superior) Office for appropriate measures. Where it proves to be impossible to attain re-Germanization even by forcible measures taken by the State Police, they will apply for a revocation of the naturalization through the Reich Fuehrer SS, Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationhood and give notice to the competent State Police (Superior) Office." (R-112)
be impossible to attain re-Germanization even by forcible measures taken by the State Police, they will apply for a revocation of the naturalization through the Reich Fuehrer SS, Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationhood and give notice to the competent State Police (Superior) Office." (R-112) Paragraph IV of the decree provides: "IV. In the course of fulfilling their duties imposed on them by this Decree the competent State Police (Superior) Offices will take in particular the following measures:" "4. They will assist the Higher SS and Police Fuehrer in their task of re-Germanization, particularly in removing obstacles by forcible measures whenever there is opposition to re-Germanization. Before ordering forcible measures by the State Police they will give the Counsellor of the person in question an opportunity to state his opinion. "5. They will take into protective custody all persons, with regard to whom the Higher SS and Police Fuehrer has applied for revocation of their naturalization and will order their imprisonment in a Concentration Camp." (R-112) In the final stage of the process, the resettlement of the conquered lands by racially and politically desirable Germans, still other SS agencies participated. The National socialist Yearbook for 1941 states that: "Numerous SS-leaders and SS-men helped with untiring effort in bringing about this systematic migration of peoples, which has no parallel in history. "There were many authoritative and administrative difficulties which, however, were immediately overcome due to the unbureaucratic working procedure. This was especially guaranteed above all by the employment of SS leaders. "The procedure called 'Durchschleusung' (literally, 'passing through the lock') takes 3 to 4 hours as a rule. The resettler is passed through 8 to 9 offices, following each other in organic order: registration office, card-index office, certificate and photo-office, property office, and biological hereditary and sanitary test office. The latter was entrusted to doctors and medical personnel of the SS and of the Armed Forces. The SS-Corps Areas [Oberabschnitte] Alpenland, North-West, Baltic Sea, Fulda-werra, South and South East, the SS-Main Office [SS-Hauptamt], the NPEA (National Political Education Institution) Vienna,
and sanitary test office. The latter was entrusted to doctors and medical personnel of the SS and of the Armed Forces. The SS-Corps Areas [Oberabschnitte] Alpenland, North-West, Baltic Sea, Fulda-werra, South and South East, the SS-Main Office [SS-Hauptamt], the NPEA (National Political Education Institution) Vienna, and the SS-Cavalry-School in Hamburg provided most of the SS-Officer and SS-Non-Coms who worked at this job of resettlement." "The settlement, establishment and care of the newly won peasantry in the liberated Eastern territory will be one of the most cherished tasks of the SS in the whole future." (2163-PS) E. Defendant's Membership in the SS. In the course of its development from a group of strong armed bodyguards, some 200 in number, to a complex organization participating in every field of Nazi endeavor, the SS found room for its members in high places. Persons in high places moreover, found for themselves a position in the SS. Of the defendants charged in the indictment at least 7 were high ranking officers in the SS. They are the defendants Ribbentrop, Hess, Kaltenbrunner, Bormann, Sauckel, Neurath, and Seyss-Inquart. The vital part that Kaltenbrunner played in the Ss, the SD, and the entire Security Police system is discussed in Section 6 on the Gestapo. With respect to the other six defendants, the facts as to their membership in the SS are to be found in two official publications. The first is the membership list of the SS as of 1 December 1936. On line 2, page 8, of that publication, there appears the name "Hass, Rudolf," followed by the notation, "By authority of the Fuehrer the Right to wear the uniform of an SS Obergruppenfuehrer." In the 1937 edition of the same membership list, line 50, page 10, there appears the name "Von Neurath, Konstantin" and on the opposite page, under the column headed "Gruppen-fuehrer," the date "18. 9. 37." The second publication is "Der grossdeutsche Reichstag" for the Fourth Voting Period, edited by E. Kienast, Ministerial Director of the German Reichstag, an official handbook containing biographical data as to members of the Reichstag. On page 349 the following appears: "Von Ribbentrop, Joachim, Reichsminister des
second publication is "Der grossdeutsche Reichstag" for the Fourth Voting Period, edited by E. Kienast, Ministerial Director of the German Reichstag, an official handbook containing biographical data as to members of the Reichstag. On page 349 the following appears: "Von Ribbentrop, Joachim, Reichsminister des Auswaertigen, SS Obergruppenfuehrer"; and on page 360 the following: "Saucke, Fritz, Gauleiter and Reichsstalthalter in Thuringen, SS Obergruppenfuehrer"; and on page 289 the following: "Seyss-Inquart, Arthur, Dr. Jur., Reichsminister, SS Obergruppenfuehrer." F. Conclusion. It is the prosecution's contention that the SS, as defined in Appendix B of the Indictment, was unlawful. Its participation in every phase of the conspiracy alleged in Count One is clear. As an organization founded on the principle that persons of "German blood" were a "master race," it exemplified a basic Nazi doctrine. It served as one of the means through which the conspirators acquired control of the German government. The operations of the SD, and of the SS Totenkopf Verbaende in concentration camps, were means used by the conspirators to secure their regime and terrorize their opponents as alleged in Count One. All components of the SS were involved from the very beginning in the Nazi program of Jewish extermination. Through the Allgemeine SS as a para-military organization, the SS Verfuegungstruppe and SS Totenkopf Verbaende as professional combat forces, and the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle as a fifth column agency, it participated in preparations for aggressive war, and, through its militarized units, in the seizure of Austria, the invasion of Czechoslovakia, the attack of Poland, and the waging of aggressive war in the West and in the East, as set forth in Counts One and Two of the Indictment. In the course of such war, all components of the SS had a part in the war crimes and crimes against humanity, set forth in Counts Three and Four,-the murder and ill treatment of civilian populations in occupied territory, the murder and ill treatment of prisoners of war, and the Germanization of occupied territories. The evidence has shown that the SS was a single enterprise- a unified
crimes against humanity, set forth in Counts Three and Four,-the murder and ill treatment of civilian populations in occupied territory, the murder and ill treatment of prisoners of war, and the Germanization of occupied territories. The evidence has shown that the SS was a single enterprise- a unified organization. Some of its functions were, of course, performed by one branch or department or office, some by another. No single branch or department participated in every phase of its activity. but every branch and department and office was necessary to the functioning of the whole. The situation is much the same as in the case of the individual defendants at the bar Not all participated in every act of the conspiracy; but all performed a contributing part in the whole criminal scheme. The evidence has shown, not only that the SS was an organization of volunteers but that applicants had to meet the strictest standards of selection. it was not easy to become an SS member. That was true of all branches of the SS. During the course of the war, as the demands for manpower increased and the losses of the Waffen SS grew heavier and heavier, there were occasions when men drafted for compulsory military service were assigned to units of the Waffen SS rather than to the Wehrmacht. Those instances were relatively few. Evidence of recruiting standards of the Waffen SS in 1943 has shown that membership in that branch was as essentially voluntary and highly selective as in other branches. The fact that some individuals may have been arbitrarily assigned to some Waffen SS unit has no bearing on the issue before the tribunal, which is this, whether the SS was or was not an unlawful organization. Doubtless some of the members of the SS, or of other of the organizations alleged to be unlawful, might desire to show that their participation in the organization was small or innocuous, that compelling reasons drove them to apply for membership, that they were not fully conscious of its aims, or that they were mentally irresponsible when they became members. Such facts might or might not be relevant if they were on trial. but in any event this is not the forum to try out such matters. The question before this Tribunal is simply this, whether the
they were not fully conscious of its aims, or that they were mentally irresponsible when they became members. Such facts might or might not be relevant if they were on trial. but in any event this is not the forum to try out such matters. The question before this Tribunal is simply this, whether the SS was or was not an unlawful organization. The evidence has fully shown what the aims and activities of the SS were. Some of these aims were stated in publications. The activities were so widespread and so notorious, covering so many fields of unlawful endeavor, that the illegality of the organization could not have been concealed. It was a notorious fact, and Himmler himself admitted that in 1936, when he said: "I know that there are people in Germany now who become sick when they see these black coats. We know the reason and we don't expect to be loved by too many." It was at all times the exclusive function and purpose of the SS to carry out the common objectives of the conspirators. Its activities in carrying out those functions involved the commission of the crimes defined in Article 6 of the Charter. by reason of its aims and the means used for the accomplishment thereof, the SS should be declared a criminal organization in accordance with Article 9 of the Charter. LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SCHUTZSTAFFELN (SS) Document Description Vol. Page Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Article 9. . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 International Military Tribunal, Indictment Number 1, Section IV (h); Appendix B. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 29,70 Note: A single asterisk (*) before a document indicates that the document was received in evidence at the Nurnberg trial. A double asterisk (**) before a document number indicates that the document was referred to during the trial but was not formally received in evidence, for the reason given in parentheses following the description of the document. The USA series number, given in parentheses following the description of the document, is the official exhibit number assigned by the court. *002-PS Letters of Reichs Research Department regarding the budget of the SS. (USA 469). . . . . . . . . .
following the description of the document. The USA series number, given in parentheses following the description of the document, is the official exhibit number assigned by the court. *002-PS Letters of Reichs Research Department regarding the budget of the SS. (USA 469). . . . . . . . . . . III 5 *058-PS Hitler Order of 30 September 1944 concerning reorganization of the concerns of prisoners of war. (USA 456). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 103 *343-PS Letter from Milch, Chief of the Personal Staff, to Himmler, 31 August 1942, and letter from Milch to Wolff, 20 May 1942. (USA 463). . . . . . III 266 *388-PS File of papers on Case Green (the plan for the attack on Czechoslovakia), April-October 1938. (USA 26) . . . . . . . . . . . . III 305 *447-PS Top Secret Operational Order to Order No. 21, signed by Keitel, 13 March 1941, concerning Directives for special areas. (USA 135). . . . . . . . III 409 *501-PS Collection of four documents on execution by gas, June 1942, one signed by Dr. Becker, SS Untersturmfuehrer at Kiev, 16 May 1942. (USA 288 . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 418 *641-PS Report of Public Prosecutor General in Munich, 1 June 1933, concerning murder of Dr. Strauss in Dachau by an SS guard. (USA 450. . . . . . . . . . III 453 *642-PS Report to Public Prosecutor General in Munich, 1 June 1933, concerning murder of Hausmann in Dachau by an SS guard. (USA 451 . . . . . . . . . . . . III 454 *644-PS Report to Public Prosecutor General in Munich, 1 June 1933, concerning murder of Schloss in Dachau by an SS guard. (USA 452. . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 455 *645-PS Report to Public Prosecutor General in Munich, 1 June 1933, concerning murder of Nefzger in Dachau by an SS guard. (USA 453. . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 457 *647-PS Secret Hitler Order, 17 August 1938, concerning organization and mobilization of SS. (USA 443) . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 459 *654-PS Thierack's notes, 18 September 1942, on discussion with Himmler concerning delivery of Jews to Himmler for
. . . . . III 457 *647-PS Secret Hitler Order, 17 August 1938, concerning organization and mobilization of SS. (USA 443) . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 459 *654-PS Thierack's notes, 18 September 1942, on discussion with Himmler concerning delivery of Jews to Himmler for extermination through work (USA 218) . . . . . . . . III 467 *686-PS Decree of the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor to strengthen German Folkdom, 7 October 1939, signed by Hitler, Goering, Lammers and Keitel. (USA 305) . . . . . . III 496 *744-PS Secret letter of Keitel, 8 July 1943, concerning manpower for coalmining. (USA 455) . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 540 *778-PS Disciplinary and Penal Measures for Concentration Camp Dachau and Service Regulations for the Camp Personnel, signed Eicke, 1 October 1933. (USA 247). . . . III 550 781-PS Memorandum by Minister of Justice, Guertner, of conference with Himmler, 9 March 1936, concerning issuance of decree on use of arms by concentration camp officials . . . . . . . . . III 557 *812-PS letter from Rainer to Seyss-Inquart, 22 August 1939 and report from Gauleiter Rainer to Reichskommissar Gauleiter Buerckel, 6 July 1939 on events in the NSDAP of Austria from 1933 to 11 March 1938. (USA 61) . . . . . III 586 *1061-PS Official report of Stroop, SS and Police Leader of Warsaw, on destruction of Warsaw Ghetto, 1943. (USA 275) . . . . . . . . . . . . III 718 *1063-D-PS Mueller's order, 17 December 1942, concerning prisoners qualified for work to be sent to concentration camps. (USA 219). . . . . . . . . . . . III 778 1151-P-PS Letter from WVHA, 28 March 1942, concerning "Action 14 F 13" from files of Gross Rosen Concentration camp . . . . . . . . . . . III 808 *1166-PS Interoffice memorandum of WVHA, 15 August 1944, concerning number of prisoners and survey of prisoners clothing. (USA 458). . . . III 824 *1352-PS Reports concerning the confiscation of Polish agricultural properties, 16 and 29 May 1940, signed Kusche. (USA 176) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 916 1551-PS Decree assigning functions in Office of Chief of German Police, 26 June
(USA 458). . . . III 824 *1352-PS Reports concerning the confiscation of Polish agricultural properties, 16 and 29 May 1940, signed Kusche. (USA 176) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III 916 1551-PS Decree assigning functions in Office of Chief of German Police, 26 June 1936. 1936 Reichs Ministerialblatt, pp. 946-948. . . . . . . . . IV 106 *1582-PS Letter from SS Sturmbannfuehrer Brandt to Dr. Rascher, 22 may 1941, concerning use of prisoners for high-flight research. (USA 462). . . . . . . . . . IV 114 *1583-PS Letter from Himmler, 16 November 1942, concerning feminine prisoners in concentration camps. (USA 465). . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV 115 *1584-I-PS Teletype from Goering to Himmler, 14 February 1944, concerning formation of 7th Airforce Group squadron for special purposes. (USA 221). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV 117 *1584-III-PS Correspondence between Himmler and Goering, 9 March 1944, concerning use of concentration camp inmates in aircraft industry. USA 457). . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV 118 *1602-PS Letter from dr. Rascher to Himmler, 15 May 1941, asking for use of prisoners for experiments in high altitude flights. (USA 454) . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV 132 1616-PS Letter from Dr. Rascher to Himmler, 17 February 1943, concerning freezing experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iv 133 *1617-PS Letter from Himmler to General Field Marshal Milch, 13 November 1642, concerning transfer of Dr. Rascher to Waffen-SS. (USA 466) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV 133 *1618-PS Report of Freezing experiments in Dachau, 15 August 1942, signed by Dr. Rascher. (USA 464) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv 135 1637-PS Order of Himmler, 23 June 1938, concerning acceptance of members of Security Police into the SS. 1938 Reichs Ministerialblatt, pp. 1089-1091. . . . . . . . . . IV 138 *1680-PS "Ten Years Security Police and SD" published in The German Police, 1 February 1943. (USA 477). . . . . . . . .