dtufail/nuremberg-trials-corpus huggingface dataset:
M. FAURE: I shall simply read one sentence on the same page: "The result of the conference was the decision to meet every week at the Office for Jewish Affairs. In the course of these meetings they would discuss in common all their aims, experiences, and objections." I think it is interesting to note these regular conferences held every week and in which representatives of the military services, the embassy, and the police took part. The following pages of the report can be passed over. They contain remarks about Vallat, notes relating to the establishment offices concerning the Jews, and an analysis of the German ordinances. This is important as showing that these ordinances have their place in the general plan. Dannecker likewise speaks of the Anti-Jewish Institute, and observes that this institute was financed by the German Embassy. The report goes on to give statistical notes and concludes with a statement of which I shall read only one paragraph: "I hope I have succeeded in giving an idea of the present situation, and a summary of the manifold difficulties which had to be surmounted. I cannot help but acknowledge in this connection the really friendly and thorough support which has been given to our work by Ambassador Abetz and his representative, Minister Schleier, as well as by SS Sturmbannfuehrer and Counsellor to the Embassy Dr. Zeitschel." To meet the desire of the Tribunal, I shall not submit all the documents included in my document file. I shall therefore pass now to Document Number RF-1210. I have not submitted Documents RF-1208 and 1209. This Document Number RF-1210 is a new report of Dannecker's. It is dated 22 February 1942. I submit it to show the regular and progressive character of the activities of the German offices. This is a letter of the 22d of February 1942. I shall read simply the headings, and I shall quote two passages.
M. FAURE: The first heading is "Task of the Sipo and of the SD in France"; the second is "Card Index of Jews"; the third, "French Commission for Jewish Questions"; the fourth, "The French Anti-Jewish Police." The fifth is entitled "Activity." I shall quote this paragraph: "Up to now three operations have been carried out against the Jews of Paris on a large scale. On each occasion the local office has been responsible for selecting the Jews who were to be arrested, as well as for the preparation and technical organization of the operations. The Jewish card index described above has considerably facilitated the organization of all these operations." The next heading is "Anti-Jewish Institute"; next is "Compulsory Jewish Amalgamation"; and finally "Tuesday Conferences." I shall read Paragraph 2: "A conference has been held every Tuesday since the middle of 1941"-Page 5 of the document-"attended by representatives of the following offices: 1) Military Command, Administrative Staff, Administrative Section; 2) Administrative Staff, Police Group; 3) Administrative Staff, Economic Section; 4) German Embassy in Paris; 5) Operations Staff West of Reichsleiter Rosenberg. "The result of these conferences was that (of course, for very rare exceptions caused by outsiders) the policy regarding Jews in the occupied territories can be followed on absolutely uniform lines."
THE PRESIDENT: We will break off now. [A recess was taken.]
M. FAURE: Gentlemen, in order not to prolong the discussion too much, I should like, if it please the Tribunal, to submit as documents all the documents in my book, but to read and analyze only some of the most important. I shall then pass over Documents RF-1211, 1212, 1213, and 1214. I should like, however, to draw the attention of the Tribunal to the end of the mimeographed French text. As the letter "K" appeared on the document, the word "Keitel" was written in, quite wrongly. I should like to say that this does not occur in the document. I should like to read this Document Number RF-1215, which is very short: "Secret-13 May 1942. To the Chief of Area A. "In accordance with instructions from OKH, Quartermaster General, the words 'dispatch to the East' must not be used in announcements referring to the forced evacuation of the population, in order to avoid a defamation of the occupied regions in the East. The same applies to the expression 'deportation,' this word being too strongly reminiscent of the banishment to Siberia at the time of the Czars. In all publications and correspondence we must use the phrase 'dispatch for forced labor.'" Document Number RF-1216, which I offer in evidence now, is another memorandum from Dannecker, dated 10 March 1942. The purpose of this memorandum is defined as "Deportation from France of 5,000 Jews." The quotation of the title suffices to indicate the subject of the document. Dannecker alludes to a meeting of the Office for Jewish Affairs, a meeting which took place at the RSHA in Berlin on 4 March 1942 at which it was decided that negotiations would be undertaken for the deportation of 5,000 Jews from France.
M. FAURE: The memorandum specifies Paragraph 4, second sentence: "Jews of French nationality must be deprived of their nationality before being deported, or at the latest on the day of the deportation itself." In a subsequent passage of the document Dannecker explains that the expenses of this deportation would have to be paid by the French Jews, since in the case of impending mass deportations of Jews from Czechoslovakia provisions had been made for the Slovakian Government to pay a sum of 500 marks for each Jew deported and, in addition, to bear the cost of deportation. I now offer in evidence Document Number RF-1217, which is a memorandum of 15 June 1942 headed "Other Transports of Jews Coming from France." It is still dealing with the same operation, but I believe it is interesting to submit these documents without reading them, since they show the extremely complex and regular working of this administration whose purpose was to arrest and deport innocent people. The beginning of the memorandum alludes to a new conference held in Berlin on 11 June 1942 and attended by those responsible for the Jewish departments in Brussels and The Hague, as well as by Dannecker himself. In the fourth paragraph on Page 1 of this document I read the last sentence of the paragraph, "Ten percent of Jews unfit for labor may be included in these convoys." This sentence shows that the purpose of this deportation was not merely to procure labor, even if it involved labor to be exterminated by work. I should like also to read the fifth paragraph, which contains only one sentence: "It was agreed that 15,000 Jews should be expelled from Holland, 10,000 from Belgium, and up to 100,000 from France, including the unoccupied zone." The last part of the memorandum relates to the technical execution. It alludes first to negotiations with the transport service to obtain the necessary trains. It then alludes to the necessity of inducing the de facto French Government to take steps to deprive of their nationality all Jews resident outside of French territory.
M. FAURE: This would mean that deported Jews would no longer be considered as French citizens. Lastly the French State was to pay the cost of transport and various expenses connected with the deportation. I now present Document Number RF-1218, which is a memorandum dated 16 June 1942, entitled "The Transportation of Jews from France: Subject, Order from the SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann to SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dannecker, 11 June 1942." The first three paragraphs of this memorandum show that there was difficulty in transporting deportees, because of the large quantity of railway stock necessary for the preparation of the eastern campaign. I should like to read the last two paragraphs of this letter: "We are now carrying out a large-scale reorganization of the German transport agencies in France. The main feature of this is that the numerous organizations existing hitherto will be taken over by the Reich Ministry of Transportation, which will be responsible for them. This reorganization, which was ordered without notice, takes a few days to complete. Before that date it is impossible to give approximate information as to whether the transportation of Jews can be carried out in the near future or at a later date, on the scale anticipated, or even partially." These remarks seemed to me interesting as defining the responsibility of the Reich Cabinet. Such a large undertaking as the deportation of so many Jews required the intervention of many different administrative services, and we see here that the success of this enterprise depended on the reorganization of transport on the responsibility of the Reich Ministry of Transportation. It is certain that a ministerial department of this kind, which is above all a technical department, intervened to help carry out that general enterprise of deportation. I now submit Document Number RF-1219 which is a memoranda dum by Dr. Knochen dated 15 June 1942.
M. FAURE: This memorandum is entitled, "Technical Execution of New Convoys of Jews from France." Not to take too much time I shall read only the first paragraph of this memorandum: "To avoid any conflict with the operation in progress with regard to 'French workmen for Germany,' mention will be made only of Jewish resettlement. This version is confirmed by the fact that the convoys may include entire families and therefore the possibility is left open of sending at a later date for the children under 16, who were left behind." The remainder of the memorandum, like all these texts, which are so extremely painful from a moral point of view, continues to discuss the question of the deportation of the Jews in round figures as if all these human beings were mere goods and chattels. I now submit Document Number RF-1220, which is a letter from the German Embassy in Paris, from Dr. Zeitschel, dated 27 June 1942. I should like to read this letter, which is thus expressed: "Following my conversation with Hauptsturmfuehrer Dannecker on 27 June, during which he stated that he needed, as soon as possible, 50,000 Jews from the free zone for deportation to the East and that something had to be done to support the operations of Darquier de Pellepoix, the Commissioner General on Jewish questions, I immediately informed Ambassador Abetz and Counsellor Rahn of this matter. Counsellor Rahn is to meet President Laval this afternoon and he promised to discuss with him at once the handing over of these 50,000 Jews, demanding at the same time plenary powers for Darquier de Pellepoix, in conformity with the laws already promulgated, and the immediate granting of the credits promised him.
M. FAURE: "As unfortunately I shall be away from Paris for a week, I request, in view of the urgency of the question, that Hauptsturmfuehrer Dannecker contact Counsellor Rahn directly, on Monday, 29 June, or Tuesday, 30 June, at the latest, to learn Laval's reply." I thought it useful to read this letter, for it shows the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defendant Ribbentrop in this abominable matter of handing over 50,000 Jews as required. It is quite evident that such a step cannot be taken by a counsellor at an embassy unknown to his minister and without the latter's full knowledge and consent. I submit now Document Number RF-1221. It is a memorandum dated 26 June 1942 of which I shall give only the title, "Directives for the Deportation of Jews." Now I come to Document Number RF-1222, of which I shall also read only the title, "Conference with the Specialists for Jewish Questions of the Security Police, Command of the Section IV-J on 30 June 1942. Deportation to Auschwitz of Jews from the Occupied Territories." In this memorandum Dannecker again alludes to the conference which took place at the RSHA, according to which 50,000 Jews were to be transferred. There follows a list of trains, the stations in which they were to be assembled, and a request for reports. I now submit Document Number RF-1223. It is a memorandum, dated 1 July 1942, summing up a conference between Dannecker and Eichmann, who, as we already know, was in Berlin but had to come to Paris on that occasion. "Subject: Departmental Conference with SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dannecker, Paris, Concerning the Impending Evacuation from France." It still deals with the preparation of the great operation envisaged. I now submit Document Number RF-1224, of which I read only the title and the date, "4 duly 1942: Directives for a Major Round-tip of Jews in Paris." I now offer in evidence Document Number RF-1225, which is a Dannecker memorandum dated 6 July 1942.
M. FAURE: Subject: "Deportation of Jews from France." It concerns a conference held with representatives of French authorities. We see in the document the expression "Judenmaterial," which was translated in a roundabout way by the words "Jewish livestock." I now submit Document Number RF-1226. I should like to read, if the Tribunal please, the first paragraph of this document which is very revealing both in regard to the collaboration with the transport services and the horrifying mentality of the Nazi authorities. The memorandum is the sequel to a telephone conversation between the signatory Rothke and the SS Obersturmfuehrer Eichmann at Berlin: "The SS Obersturmfuehrer Eichmann in Berlin telephoned on 14 July 1942 about 1900 hours. He wished to know why the train provided for the transport of 15 July 1942 had been cancelled. I replied that originally the star bearers in the provinces were to be arrested too but that by virtue of a new agreement with the French Government only stateless Jews . were Jo be arrested to begin with. "The train due to leave on 15 July 1942 had to be cancelled because, according to information received by the SD Kommando at Bordeaux, there were only 150 stateless Jews in Bordeaux. There was no time to find enough other Jews to fill this train. SS Obersturmfuehrer Eichmann replied that it was a question of prestige. They had to conduct lengthy negotiations about these trains with the Reichsminister of Transportation, which turned out successfully; and now Paris cancels a train. Such a thing had never happened to him before. The matter was highly shameful. He did not wish to report it to SS Gruppenfuehrer Muller right now, for the blame would fall on his own shoulders. He was reflecting whether he would not do without France as an evacuation country altogether." I now submit Document Number RF-1227, which gives statistics indicating that up to the 2d of September 1942 27,069 Jews were evacuated and that by the end of October a total figure of 52,069 might be reached.
M. FAURE: They are anxious to accelerate the pace and to attack also the Jews in the unoccupied zone of France. I now submit Document Number RF-1228. It is also an account of a conference where there were invited representatives of the French authorities. I should like to read only the last paragraph of this document: "On the occasion of the meeting which took place on 28 August 1942 in Berlin, it was stated that most of the European countries are much nearer to a final solution of the Jewish problem than France. In fact, these countries began much earlier. We then must catch up with them in many matters between now and 31 October 1942." I now submit Document Number RF-1229 without reading it. It is a memorandum by Dr. Knochen on this same subject of deportation dated 31 December 1942. I now submit Document Number RF-1230, which is a memorandum dated 6 March 1943, headed, "Ref: Present Situation of the Jewish Question in France." In the first part of this document, the deportations are stated to have reached a total of 49,000 Jews as on 6 March 1943. This is followed by a statement of the nationalities, which are extremely varied, of a certain number of Jews who were deported in addition to the French Jews. Paragraph 3 of this memorandum is headed, "Attitude of the Italians with Regard to the Jewish Question." I shall read only the first and the last lines of this long paragraph: "The attitude adopted up to now in the French territory occupied by Italy must be changed by all means if the Jewish problem is to be solved. A few conspicuous cases...." I break off the quotation here. These conspicuous cases were cases in which the Italians opposed the arrest of Jews in the zone occupied by them. I now read the last paragraph: "A. A. has been informed by the RSHA (Eichmann) about proceedings of the Italians."-A.A. appears to be the initials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and this is confirmed by the following sentence.
M. FAURE: I continue the quotation-"The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ribbentrop, meant to discuss, in negotiations with the Duce, the attitude adopted by the Italians with regard to the Jewish question. We do not yet know the results of these discussions." I shall not submit Documents RF-1231 and RF-1232. I pass then to the last documents which I want to present to the Tribunal. These documents relate more specifically to the deportation of children. I submit Document Number RF-1233, which is a memorandum by Dannecker dated 21 July 1942. I shall read Paragraph 2: "The question of deporting children has been examined with SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann. He decided that as soon as deportations to the Government General could be resumed, convoys of children could be sent by rail. SS Obersturmfuehrer Nowak promised to arrange about six convoys to the Government General at the end of August or the beginning of September, which may comprise all sorts of Jews (also disabled and old Jews)." Now I offer in evidence Document Number RF-1234. It is a memorandum dated 13 August 1942. Before pointing out the interest of this document I remind the Tribunal that I have already submitted Document Number RF-1219 and in that document there was a formula which I recall, namely, "The possibility is left open of sending at a later date for children under 16 who were left behind." The Nazis wished to give the impression that they deported entire families at the same time or at least that they did not deport whole trainloads of children. To give this impression, they invented a device which is wholly incredible unless you actually see it in black and white: the mingling of children and adults in definite proportions. I read Paragraph 4 of this Document Number RF-1234: "The Jews arriving from the unoccupied zone will be mingled at Drancy with Jewish children now at Pithiviers and Beaunela-Rolande, so that out of a total of 700 at least 500 Jewish adults 300 to 500 Jewish children will be allotted.
M. FAURE: According to instructions of the Reich Security Main Office, no trains containing Jewish children only are to leave." I read the next sentence too: "Leguay has been told that 13 trainloads of Jews would also leave Drancy in September and that Jewish children from the unoccupied zone could be handed over." I now submit the last document of the series dealing with the Jewish question, Document Number RF-1235. I am going to read it, as it is very short. "6 April 1944, Lyons, 2010 hours. Subject: Home for Jewish Children at Izieu, Ain. "The home for Jewish children, 'Child Colony,' at Izieu (sin) was raided this morning and a total of 41 children aged from 3 to 13 were apprehended. Moreover, the arrest of the entire. Jewish personnel, numbering 10 in all and including 5 women was successfully carried out. Money or other property could not be seized. The convoy for Drancy will leave on 7 April 1944." This document also bears a memorandum written by hand and couched in the following terms: "Matter discussed in the presence of Dr. V. B. and Hauptsturmfuehrer Brunner. Dr. V. B. stated that in cases of this kind, special measures were provided for the billeting of the children by the Obersturmfuehrer Rothke. The Hauptsturmfuehrer Brunner stated that he knew of no such instructions or plans and that on principle he did not approve of such special measures. In this case he would also follow the lines of the usual regulations for deportation. For the moment I made no decision affecting the principle in this respect." For me what is even more striking and more horrible than the concrete fact of removing these children is the administrative color given to the proceedings, the report made through official channels, the meeting at which different officials placidly discussed the matter as if it were part of the normal business of the department. All the administrative mechanism of the State-I am speaking of the Nazi State-was set in motion on such an occasion and for such a purpose.
M. FAURE: It is a perfect illustration of the word used by Dannecker in his report: "The cold manner." I now present the Tribunal with a continuation under the same head, including a certain number of documents which have been collected in order to show in accordance with our general line of presentation the perpetual interference of the German administrative services. As I am a little behind my timetable, I shall give the numbers of only those documents which I should like to offer in evidence and which I have no time to describe. These documents will be numbered Documents RF-1233 to 1249. I would like to read to the Tribunal only the document which bears the Number RF-1243, which is interesting as showing the organic character and the juridical claims of the German organizations: I shall quote a few sentences from this document: "In the report made by the Chief of the Administrative Staff on experience concerning the arrest from 7 to 14 December 1941 it was proposed to evade the execution of hostages in the future by having the death sentences passed through courtmartial proceedings." I shall skip the following two lines and continue: "The reprisal will be carried out by pronouncing and inflicting capital punishment on prisoners who would normally be sentenced only to imprisonment, or else be acquitted altogether. To influence the discretion of the judge concerning the meting out of punishment for committing murder or sabotage would answer the formalistic legal reasoning of the French." I should like now, in the last paragraph of my presentation, to submit documentary evidence in connection with criminal actions of which the Tribunal has not yet been informed and which involve the personal responsibility of certain of the defendants present here. I must remind you that the criminal actions of the Nazis took extremely varied forms which have already been put before the Tribunal at some length.
M. FAURE: A particularly new and unusual manifestation of this consisted in causing crimes to be committed by organized bands of murderers, who were ordinary criminals, under conditions which made it appear as if these crimes were committed by ordinary bandits or even by resistance organizations which they tried in this way to dishonor. Such crimes were committed in all the occupied countries; but the precautions taken, with good reason, to camouflage them sometimes make it difficult to trace back the responsibility for these crimes to the ringleaders, the leaders of the Nazi State. We were able to find this evidence in the records of proceedings instituted in Denmark. All the elements are contained in Danish reports of which we were able to get possession only a short time ago. I can indicate the position very briefly. It concerns a series of murders which were committed in Denmark and which were known as "compensatory" or "clearing" murders. This definition is explained . . . Counsel for the Defense tells me that there is an error in translation in the last document which I read-RF-1243. He says that "acquittal" is not the correct translation of "Begnadigung." As I do not know German, it is quite possible that this error exists and that the word means "pardon."
THE PRESIDENT: Which part of the document?