dtufail/nuremberg-trials-corpus huggingface dataset:
illegal production which is taking place continuously (this subject will have to be investigated later on more in detail) 3. in France-at any rate up to date-through continuous supply from the unoccupied territory; on the other hand, at the always increasing scarcity of goods every item finds a buyer, either from the civilian population or industry, or through purchase on the part of the Italians, Swiss, Spaniards; yes, numerous purchases could even be ascertained-in particular in unoccupied France-by the English or-evidently through British instigation-from neutral sources, as for instance the Portuguese which do not serve any other purpose than that of depriving Germany of the merchandise. The consequence of such sudden cessation of purchases through the organization of the plenipotentiary for special missions would therefore only be that a so far not inconsiderable source of raw materials and war important finished products dries up without achieving on this account the end of the black market. Besides, it has to be doubted with good reason that it would be possible to keep up the prohibition of purchases which was issued to the German departments in the occupied territories, if the delivery by the organization of the plenipotentiary for special missions would suddenly cease. This applies particularly for the cases of the so-called immediate-need [Sofort-Bedarf]. The conception that the black-market will come to an end if no more is bought on the part of the Germans, is incorrect. [Marginal notation in handwriting is inserted here: "Yes, our work has to begin here; with it we hit then the French black-market primarily".] The central purchasing organization of the plenipotentiary for special missions for instance does not buy agricultural products (only some particularly reasonable items in price have been bought, which however are not at all worth mentioning within the framework of the total supply) and nevertheless the blackmarket is the most significant just on this sector. It has been explained that further activity on the black-market at the scale up to date will in the long run not be bearable any more for the budget of the Reich. However, in this respect it has to
the total supply) and nevertheless the blackmarket is the most significant just on this sector. It has been explained that further activity on the black-market at the scale up to date will in the long run not be bearable any more for the budget of the Reich. However, in this respect it has to be pointed out that the greatest part of the purchases-that is the ones made in France-have been financed from the French costs of occupation. Of RM 1,107,792,819 - the total amount of purchases, RM 929,100,000 have been financed from French occupational funds. Therefore a debit to the budget of the Reich did not arise to this extent. The claim that the black market or the activity of German departments on the black market would bring about an increasing decline of the currency in the occupied territories, cannot be recognized as the truth. The decline of the currency which has in part actually occurred already, is not a consequence of the black market, but on the contrary, the inflationary tendencies accompanying the increasing scarcity of goods have evoked the rise of the black market. At this place it will not be necessary to elaborate on the advantages of a centralized obtaining of the purchases on the black market; only two points of view shall be emphasized: 1. While in the time before the commissioning of the plenipotentiary for special missions, the prices on the black markets rose always further,-for the most part a consequence of the mutual competition of the individual German buyers-it has since been possible, to stabilize the prices of most goods, and this in spite of the fact that the general level of prices in the occupied territories has risen further. 2. While until the commissioning of the plenipotentiary for special missions, the individual German departments received and used the goods purchased by themselves uncontrolled, without regard to the degree of necessity, the distribution now takes place within the scope of total planning by the Reich according to the degree of urgency. In summarizing, it has to be said that in the face of the supply situation of the Reich, it cannot be refrained from skimming the black market now as before as long as there are still concealed stocks of war important goods. With regard to this higher
the Reich according to the degree of urgency. In summarizing, it has to be said that in the face of the supply situation of the Reich, it cannot be refrained from skimming the black market now as before as long as there are still concealed stocks of war important goods. With regard to this higher interest all other points of view have to remain in the background. 2. The organization created by the plenipotentiary for special missions. In his report at the end of August 1942, the plenipotentiary for special missions has presented in detail the organization created by him for the getting hold of and centralized control of the black market. Therefore here a short review only shall be given. The general control and supervision of the purchasing activity is the task of the supervising offices newly created for this purpose. They are: a. the supervising office France with its seat in Paris b. the supervising office Belgium and Northern France with its seat in Brussels c. the supervising office Belgium and Northern France, Lille branch, with its seat in Lille. d. the supervising office Netherlands with its seat in the Hague e. the supervising department Serbia with its seat in Belgrade. Principle and directives for the execution are on the one hand "the instructions for the winding up of stocks of merchandise of uncertain origin" issued by the plenipotentiary for special missions in agreement with the military commanders of the Reich commissar for the occupied Dutch territories and on the other hand the contracts concluded by the Roges raw material trading company Ltd. with the purchasing organizations. The purchases themselves are made by a restricted number of authorized purchasing organizations, of which there are in France 11, in Belgium 6, in the Netherlands 6 and in Serbia 3. Thereby the total purchasing activity is subordinated to the central supervision of the plenipotentiary for special missions. Each purchasing organization is only authorized for a quite difinite kind of goods. The engagement of a number of purchasing organizations which will on first sight appear comparatively high was necessary, because the black marketeers by experience want to sell for the most part only to certain
special missions. Each purchasing organization is only authorized for a quite difinite kind of goods. The engagement of a number of purchasing organizations which will on first sight appear comparatively high was necessary, because the black marketeers by experience want to sell for the most part only to certain departments, with which they have cooperated before and because they refuse to cooperate with other buyers whom they did not know previously; it had to be taken care, however, that none of the existing sources dried up. Participation has been prohibited to all other departments by corresponding orders of the central authorities in the Reich and the military commanders of the Reich commissioner. The financing of purchases and the transportation of the goods will be taken care of by the Reich-owned Roges Ltd.; the goods are then distributed according to the urgency of the individual consumers in agreement with the instructions of the centralized planning or the departments charged by the centralized planning. It is the additional task of the Roges Ltd., to level the purchasing prices down to the German internal price; lower prices, however, will not be granted for deliveries to the armed forces, authorized and-in case of investment goods-to big plants. The adherence to the directives is guaranteed by the fact that the purchasing organizations at each offer may only then perform the transaction, if the supervising department has given its permission through an expert. The experts for their part will make their decision on the basis of the price and quality limits given by the plenipotentiary for special missions or the Reich departments. 3. Scope of the previously made purchases (up to 30/11/1942). a. Since the beginning of the action (that is since purchases have been directed centralized by the military commander or the Reich commissar with centralized distribution of goods in the Reich). Up till now since the beginning of the action purchases have been made in the total amount of RM 1,107,792,818.64, of which in France RM 929,100,000.00 in Belgium RM 103,881,929.00 in Holland RM 73,685,162.64 in Serbia RM 1,125,727.00 Payment takes place in France from the funds for occupation, in the other countries through
the beginning of the action purchases have been made in the total amount of RM 1,107,792,818.64, of which in France RM 929,100,000.00 in Belgium RM 103,881,929.00 in Holland RM 73,685,162.64 in Serbia RM 1,125,727.00 Payment takes place in France from the funds for occupation, in the other countries through clearing. In the following is a statement of the quantities involved: 1. Metals: 66,202 tons to the value of RM 273,078,287.00 of which there are a. non-ferrous metals 58,742 tons, in particular copper and copper containing material (34,000 tons), lead and lead alloys (14,500 tons), furthermore (in the succession of their quantity) zinc, aluminum, tin, nickel, magnesium, antimony maganese ore; b. material containing iron (tools, junk, etc.) 7,460 tons. 2. Textiles: To the total value of RM 439,040,000.00, of which there are 22,672,000 pieces of linen, suits (particularly workers' clothing), overcoats, etc., 5,488,000 kg yarn and miscellaneous, 40,642,000 m cloth and ribbons, 10,072,000 pairs of gloves, suspenders, etc. 3. Leather, skins, and hides: To the total value of RM 120,754,000.00, of which there are 5,053,000 kg raw hides, 3,390,000 square feet of finished leather, 1,783,000 pieces of hides, chamois, etc., 801,000 pairs of shoes, and 694,000 kg leather for soles and other shoe soling articles. Furthermore was bought: industrial oils and fats (1,330 tons) food oils and fats (346 tons) wool household articles PS goods including paper articles wines and alcoholic drinks equipment for engineers sanitary necessities sacks The factors leading to excessive raising of prices of essential goods are at the present time the following: France Belgium The Netherlands Metals 9 9 5-61/2 Textiles 4 61/2 5 Hides 61/2 6 4 Leather 61/2 6 6 Since beginning of the action the following items were bought in France-against payment from occupation funds: Metals RM 248,000,000.00 Textiles RM 340,000,000.00 Hides, skins, leather RM 112,000,000.00 Wool RM 3,000,000.00 Oils & fats (for industrial and food purposes) RM 12,000,000.00 Household goods RM 46,600,000.00 PK goods RM 33,000,000.00 Wines and alcoholic drinks RM 50,000,000.00 Sacks RM 10,500,000.00 Paper and packing material RM 5,000,000.00 Food and pleasure items RM 33,000,000.00 Chemical products RM 8,000,000.00 Sanitary necessities RM 12,000,000.00
12,000,000.00 Household goods RM 46,600,000.00 PK goods RM 33,000,000.00 Wines and alcoholic drinks RM 50,000,000.00 Sacks RM 10,500,000.00 Paper and packing material RM 5,000,000.00 Food and pleasure items RM 33,000,000.00 Chemical products RM 8,000,000.00 Sanitary necessities RM 12,000,000.00 Miscellaneous RM 16,000,000.00 TOTAL SUM RM 929,100,000.00 Since beginning of the action the following items were bought in Belgium-against payment by clearing: Metals RM 13,784,000.00 Textiles RM 43,755,000.00 Leather, skins & hides RM 4,030,880.00 Wool RM 2,179,720.00 Industrial oils & fats Chemical products Food-oils & fats RM 3,815,159.00 Household goods RM 2,512,912.00 Furniture RM 418,035.00 Paper & packing material RM 5,561,268.00 Food & pleasure items RM 3,393,955.00 Engineer equipment RM 7,500,000.00 Miscellaneous RM 16,931,000.00 TOTAL SUM RM 103,881,929.00 Since beginning of the action the following items were bought in the Netherlands-against payment through normal bank transactions: Non-ferrous metals RM 6,706,744.00 Textiles RM 55,285,568.00 Wool RM 753,878.00 Leather, hides & skins RM 4,723,130.00 Wooden barrels RM 254,982.00 Furniture RM 272,990.00 Food-and pleasure items RM 590,859.00 Chemical-and cosmetic articles RM 152,191.00 Various iron-and steel goods RM 3,792,166.00 Rags RM 543,416.00 Motor oil RM 52,284.00 Raw diamonds RM 25,064.00 Miscellaneous RM 531,890.00 TOTAL SUM RM 73,685,162.00 In Serbia was bought against payment through clearing: Non-Ferrous metals in the amount of RM 1,125,727.00 The action began here only in the month of November. Up to date the goods charged to the receivers amounted to a total of RM 86,084,910.06 The reasons why, at a total delivery of RM 1,107,792,819.00 no larger quantities could be completely wound up, are various (aggravation of the winding up through the procedure in fixing the prices, difficulties in transportation, lack of personnel). The Plenipotentiary for special missions has instigated measures, in order to accelerate the wind-up in the future. b. Since the beginning of the activity by the plenipotentiary for special missions, on the 1/7/1942, the following was bought (up to 30/11/1942): Altogether for RM 840,382,893.00 of which metals RM
for special missions has instigated measures, in order to accelerate the wind-up in the future. b. Since the beginning of the activity by the plenipotentiary for special missions, on the 1/7/1942, the following was bought (up to 30/11/1942): Altogether for RM 840,382,893.00 of which metals RM 174,982,697.00 textiles RM 318,013,354.00 leather, skins and hides RM 82,265,070.00 The figures mentioned above comprise roughly about the same period of time (1/7/ - 30/11, i.e., five months) as the purchasing action of the military commander or the Reichs Commissar before commissioning of the plenipotentiary for special missions (in France 6 months, in Belgium 2 months, in the Netherlands 7 months); the figures are however several times higher (RM 840,382,893.00-in contrast to RM 267,409,926.00). This proves more than anything else that and to what degree, the concentration of purchases on the black market through the organization of the plenipotentiary for special missions and the placing of the purchased goods at the disposal of the total planning of the Reich succeeded. III. The further development. There is not any doubt that the black market as such from the viewpoint of political economy is extremely undesirable and that therefore everything has to be attempted to bring it to an end. In this respect it is also necessary that the German purchasing activity be stopped as soon as possible. But on the other hand, as has already been explained above in detail, the delivery of war important raw materials and finished products cannot be refrained from. The plenipotentiary for special missions has therefore made his own suggestions to the departments involved to the effect the purchasing activity be abandoned by degrees if the black market is suppressed by corresponding measures; in this respect it must be certain however, that the quantities of goods which flowed up to date to the black market will now go into the "white" production and into normal trade. Naturally, however, repressive measures have to precede this; only then can the gradual abandoning of the purchasing activity take place in order to impair the total influx of goods as little as possible. In examining the measures to be taken for the fight against it,
into the "white" production and into normal trade. Naturally, however, repressive measures have to precede this; only then can the gradual abandoning of the purchasing activity take place in order to impair the total influx of goods as little as possible. In examining the measures to be taken for the fight against it, a distinction must be made between the sources, from which the black market is fed. First, there are the concealed stores established for most varied reasons whose sale will bring a one time flow of goods. Second, the black market is fed by continuous illegal production. It is certain that with continued duration of the war the second mentioned source will gain more and more in importance; therefore special attention has to be paid to it. The illegal production has its cause-aside from the general lure of higher prices-in the fact the price divergence between raw materials and finished products has partly become so great that it cannot be bridged any more within the framework of normal production without endangering the solvency of the enterprise. Often the capacity of the enterprise is exploited only incompletely so that the entrepreneur, even if it is only in order to avoid a shut-down, turns to procurement of raw materials illegally in order to produce beyond his quota, that is, illegally. Previously the purchases in unoccupied France which were sent on special routes into the occupied territory, formed a third and considerable source. It remains to be seen, whether it is now possible to supervise production in the up to now unoccupied part of France on a stricter basis so that, here also, the fight against the black market can be initiated. According to the conception prevailing here, the following measures for the removal of the black market would have to be effected: 1. Enlargement of the price supervision.-As an increase in personnel of the German departments entrusted with the supervision does not or only at a restricted scale seem possible, the administrative authorities of the individual state have to be constrained to show more activity. 2. The enactment of severer penalties for violations against measures of economic management taken in accordance with the German example because only then can the lack of
only at a restricted scale seem possible, the administrative authorities of the individual state have to be constrained to show more activity. 2. The enactment of severer penalties for violations against measures of economic management taken in accordance with the German example because only then can the lack of discipline in the civilian population resulting from their individualistic and liberalistic attitude be removed. A supervision of the verdicts of the penal authorities of the individual states seems to be recommendable. 3. The announcement of awards for reporting violations against measures of economic management amounting to a not too small percentage of the value of the objects confiscated on the basis of the report. 4. Engagement of spies and agents provocateurs. Besides for the prevention of illegal production: 5. Shut down of all plants which are not manufacturing for war purposes. 6. Stricter shut-downs or merger of plants whose capacity is exploited immediately only. 7. Stronger supervision of the production in factories. 8. Stricter scrutiny in the allotment of raw materials for the distribution of orders. 9. A price policy which gives to the enterprises sufficient prices and guarantees them the existence. In order to create for the purchasing organizations of the plenipotentiary for special missions the basis for purchasing activity on the black-market in the face of the administrative authorities of the individual state in the occupied territories, the plenipotentiary for special missions has in Belgium and in the Netherlands effected a "decree on the clarification of unexplained goods" or a "general decree". Hereby the supervising departments and their purchasing organizations were given simultaneously the possibility of approaching through purchases of goods the source of error in management and control. In accordance with it a suggestion was made by the plenipotentiary for special missions also to Ambassador Hemmen for France, which will result in the issue of such a decree for France also in cooperation with the military commander. Most important and promising of success for the beginning appears the measure outlined in 2 whereby the initial effort should be
made by the plenipotentiary for special missions also to Ambassador Hemmen for France, which will result in the issue of such a decree for France also in cooperation with the military commander. Most important and promising of success for the beginning appears the measure outlined in 2 whereby the initial effort should be made toward commerce and there again first toward retail business. As soon as a number of draconic penalties has occurred, the retail dealers will in their own interest refrain from buying excessively priced merchandise from the wholesalers and manufacturers. The latter face then only the organization of the plenipotentiary for special missions; then it could be started by degrees to let the illegal producers crack up. The plenipotentiary for special missions has in this respect already performed certain preliminary work by directing part of the purchasing organizations to try to approach the manufacturers by eliminating of the black market traders. The repressive measures mentioned above-particularly under 1 and 2-have to be performed in close cooperation with the individual state authorities; it is recommendable that as soon as possible proper measures be taken on the part of the German occupation authorities. The measures have to be accompanied by purposeful propaganda of press and radio (branding the black market as a crime against one's own people); in order to build psychologically foundation for the strict measures with the population and to rouse it to cooperation. Further, French and Belgium government - and economic circles-among others also the French chief of government-have lately found it necessary to complain about the organized German purchasing activity. In the face of such representations-aside from various other arguments-it should be pointed out that also on the part of Germany the greatest interest exists in the disappearance of the black market, but its existence is, in the main, the fault of the government authorities themselves, through their incapability in the supervision of prices and their laxity in penal prosecution, whereby, lack of discipline is bred within their own population. B. Providing of fort installations and machines from shut-down plants. I. Harbor installations. A