Nazi occupation policies for the USSR

[David Thompson]

Letter from Koerner to 44 individuals, including Lammers, Kehrl, Darre, Schwerin von Krosigk and Pleiger, 20 November 1941, forwarding a memorandum 'On the Essential Results of the Discussion of Economic Policy and Economic Organization in the Recently Occupied Eastern Territories', in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 857-859.

Partial Copy of Document NI-440 [This document, as offered in evidence, was a certified translation of a lost German document. Of the many thousands of captured German documents processed in Nuernberg, this is one of the few which was lost or stolen in the course of "processing." Document processing involved initial analysis, registration, translation, photostating, and often the introduction of a true copy of the document in one or more trials. The original of this document was lost before a translation of its contents had been made. At the time, a certified translation of the original document was offered in evidence in this case as Prosecution Exhibit 1062, the prosecution explained that the original had been lost after translation; that the lost document was referred to and quoted from in Document EC-3, Prosecution Exhibit 1061 (reproduced immediately above); and that the prosecution would present testimony to establish the correctness of the contents of the certified translation. The Tribunal thereupon admitted the document in evidence, stating "The Court is not inclined to take matters of this nature lightly, but we are inclined to receive this document for what it is worth, and we so rule" (Tr. p. 1806). Thereupon the prosecution offered in evidence an affidavit of Dr. Gustav Schlotterer, a Ministerial Dirigent in the Reich Ministry of Economics, as Document NI-11379, Prosecution Exhibit 1063 (not reproduced herein). In this affidavit Schlotterer stated that he was conversant with the English language and that "After reading the Document Nl-440, I have no doubt that this is the translation of the original minutes of the meeting" in question. Immediately after the receipt of this affidavit in evidence, Schlotterer was called as a prosecution witness and examined and cross-examined about his affidavit and the meeting under Goering' chairmanship on 8 November 1941. Schlotterer's complete testimony is recorded in the mimeographed transcript, 12 February 1948, pages 1786-1798; 1809-1821.], Prosecution Exhibit 1061.

Berlin
20 November 1941.
The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Economic Executive Staff East. Four Year Plan
19 203/ 6 g.

* * *

1. The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Keitel.

1a. The High Command of the Armed Forces Economic Armament Office, Lieutenant General Thomas.

1b.The Chief of the Armed Forces Transportation, General Gercke.

2. The Commander in Chief of the Army.

2a.The Quartermaster General of the Army, Major General Wagner.

3. The Commander in Chief of the Navy.

3a. The Chief of the Quartermaster Office of the Naval Operations Staff, Rear Admiral Krancke.

4. The Commander in Chief of the Air Force.

4a. The Quartermaster General of the Air Force, Lieutenant General of the Air Force von Seidel, Hans Georg.

5. The Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery.

6. The Chief of the Party Chancellery.

7. The Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories.

7a. Reich Commissioner Gauleiter Lohse.

7b. Reich Commissioner Gauleiter Koch.

7c. Minister Kasche.

7d. Minister Neubacher.

7e. Staff Leader Schickedanz.

8. The Reich Minister of Economics.

8a. Under State Secretary Lieutenant General von Hanneken Reich Ministry of Economics.

8b. President Kehrl, Reich Ministry of Economics.

8c. Dr. Fischer, Reich Ministry of Economics.

9. The Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture, Darre.

9a. Business Group Food, for State Secretary Backe.

10. The Reich Chief Forester.

11. The Reich Minister for Armament and Munitions.

12. The Reich Minister of the Interior.

13. The Reich Minister of Finance.

14. The Reich Minister of Communications [sic].

15. The Reich Minister of Labor.

16. Reich Minister for the Government General, Dr. Frank.

17. The Reich Commissioner for Price Administration.

18. The Plenipotentiary General for Motor Transport, Major General v. Schnell.

19. The Plenipotentiary General for the Regulation of the Building Industry.

Fulltext: 20. The Chief of the Economic Staff East, Major General
Schubert.

20a. Chief of War Administration [Kriegsverwaltungschef], Riecke.

20b. Chief of the War Administration, Dr. Schlotterer.

20c. Deputy Chief of War Administration, Dr. Rechner.

20d. Deputy Chief of the War Administration, Marrenbach.

20e. Major General Nagel.

21. Inspector General for the Collection and Utilization of Raw Materials in the Occupied Eastern Territories, Lieutenant General Witting.

22. The Plenipotentiary for the collection of scrap and old metal in all occupied territories, Captain (Cavalry) Schu.

23. The Plenipotentiary for Machine Production, Director Lange, Economic Group Machine Production.

24. Director General Pleiger.

25. The Director of the Main Trustee Office East, Mayor Dr. Winkler.

For your information and guidance, I am sending you herewith three copies of a memorandum on the essential results of the discusion of economic policy and economic organization in the recently occupied Eastern Territories, which was held on 8 November 1941, under the chairmanship of the Reich Marshal.

In Lieu: Signed: Koerner
Signed: Schwinge
Ministerial Registrar
Certified (Seal).

[David Thompson]

Letter from Koerner to 44 individuals, including Lammers, Kehrl, Darre, Schwerin von Krosigk and Pleiger, 20 November 1941, forwarding a memorandum 'On the Essential Results of the Discussion of Economic Policy and Economic Organization in the Recently Occupied Eastern Territories', in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952.

Partial Copy of Document NI-440, Prosecution Exhibit 1062.

Enclosure to Four Year Plan
No. 19203/6.g
Berlin, W 8
Leipziger Str. 3.
18 November 1941
Secret!

The discussion of the economic policy and economic organization in the recently occupied Eastern Territories, held on 8 November 1941 under the chairmanship of the Reich Marshal, has led to the following statements and results:

A. General Principles for the Economic Policy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories.

* * *

[The part of this memorandum here omitted is set forth immediately above in Document EC-3, Prosecution Exhibit 1061.]

B. Directives for the Military Economic Exploitation of the Recently Occupied Eastern Territories.

I. Food and Agriculture:

The center of gravity lies in the food sector. Everything must be done to produce as many agricultural products as possible and to make them available for the requirements of the troops and the Reich. This involves the following requirements:

a. Collection and requisition of crops: The transportation to railroad of the grain threshed out on the kolkhozes causes special difficulties. The measures thus far taken to remove this defect will be expanded. A prerequisite for the collection of crops is the availability of sufficient security forces. The task is:

1. To prevent the town population from consuming the grain stored in the country.

2. In emergencies to make even a forcible collection possible.

3. To insure transportation itself.

b. Planting:

1. The losses in the fall sowing of 1941 due to military actions will be compensated by intensified spring sowing in 1942. Insofar as machinery and labor do not suffice for a timely, normal spring sowing, it must be examined to what extent more corn (maize) can be grown later.

2. From 1943 on, the Occupied Eastern Territories must, under all circumstances, provide the largest possible surpluses. Consequently, the greatest emphasis will, in all territories, be laid upon the 1942 fall sowing.

3. An immediate task is the provision of the seed necessary for sowing. The intensified employment of military and police security forces is indispensable in order to guard the seed from consumption by the masses of people streaming into the agricultural surplus areas.

4. The country population will receive a sufficient share of the harvest. On the other hand, the kolkhoz peasant must have no doubt that the requisite field work will be exacted from him by all means.

c. Livestock raising:

1. In order to remove serious dangers to the meat supply for the front and for home, meat--particularly in the form of frozen and canned meat--must be obtained from the Eastern Territories and stored up in considerably larger quantities than heretofore.

2. The livestock necessary for meat canning must, however, be withdrawn from the Occupied Eastern Territories only insofar as it is assured:

(a) That the inroads into the stocks of animals will not make it impossible for a long time to build up livestock raising again.

(b) That the carrying away of the masses of cattle rounded up can be technically accomplished without unduly substantial losses.

(c) That the necessary processing capacity for the canning of the meat delivered is available.

3. In certain territories (especially the central territory) there are large stocks of animals which must be ruthlessly and rapidly seized in order to ease the meat situation in the Reich, and so that the animals may not lose too much weight. A prerequisite--military and police protection in the territories from which large quantities of livestock can be taken--for the collection and removal of these stocks is, for the moment, still lacking. Here the Army must assist under all circumstances.

4 It should be examined whether, in the territories in which the collection and removal of the harvest cause special difficulties, a certain compensation can be systematically accomplished by intensifying the raising of hogs and sheep.

5. A plan will be drawn up regarding the manner in which the rich territories of all Russia are to be exploited for the development of livestock raising and for the supplying of meat to the Reich. The point of departure in this will be that the living standard of the native population must be kept very low, but that, on the other hand, the peasant is to keep more from the yield of his work in the long run than he formerly received. The Reich Marshal expects submission of such a plan in a quarter of a year at the latest.

d. Provisions for troops: It is an especially urgent task to insure provisions for the troops from the country without resorting to the supply depots. The issuing of food brought up from the central provision depots will be confined to urgent emergencies.

e. Provisions for the population:

1. Supplying the peasant population will cause no special difficulties.

2. The urban population can receive only very slight quantities of foodstuffs. For the big cities (Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev) nothing at all can be done for the time being. The consequences resulting therefrom are hard, but unavoidable.

3. Persons working directly in the German interest will be fed at the plants by direct issues of foodstuffs in such a manner that their working strength will be maintained to some extent.

4. In the Ostland, also, the food rations for the indigenous population will be reduced to a level lying considerably below the German level, so that from there, also, the largest possible surpluses may be squeezed out for the Reich.

II. Industrial Economy.

a. Priority classifications: Petroleum holds first place. The mining of manganese ore is most urgent. Then, in the case of coal and iron, it must be seen to that the damage done to the plants by the Soviets is repaired as soon as possible, so that production may be most quickly resumed. Finally, the Russian timber resources will be made utilizable for the Reich to the greatest possible extent within the limits of the available transport facilities, so that the German forest stands may, in the future, enjoy the urgently needed conservations.

b. Requisition of raw materials.

1. In the requisition of raw materials, especial value will be attached to orienting the central agencies in Berlin on any quantity of requisitioned raw material--however small it may be so that they may control all use of raw materials in accordance with the requirements of military economy.

2. In the case of goods found in free ports [sic], special attention must be paid to whether they are goods that belong to the Reich Germans (either state agencies or private firms). Such goods will be turned over to them.

c. Requisition and use of machinery:

1. From the experience had thus far, it is to be assumed that a not inconsiderable part of the machinery hauled away by the Russians has become stalled on the railroad tracks or in their vicinity in the territories lying farther to the East. Especial care must therefore be taken that this machinery does not go to ruin but is duly collected and utilized for the German military economy.

2. Whereas hitherto the most diverse agencies have acted with out mutual understanding and agreement on a general plan in the removal of machinery from the Occupied Eastern Territories, a uniform procedure is indispensable for the future. The Plenipotentiary for Machine Production, Director Lange, as the central agency for the collection and use of machine tools, will henceforth make sure that all the requirements of the German military economy are taken into account in the disposal of machinery in the recently occupied Eastern Territories.

3. The basic principle for the removal of machine tools is that only those shall be hauled away which can be utilized at once--such as valuable automatic machines--and are urgently needed for the fulfillment of the armament program ordered by the Fuehrer.

4. To be left in the Occupied Eastern Territories are those machines which are needed there for the fulfillment of the military economic tasks assigned to the Occupied Eastern Territories within the framework of the military economy.

5. The Plenipotentiary for Machine Production will regulate the removal of machinery from the recently Occupied Territories and the use of machinery in these territories in continuous cooperation with the local agencies of the Reich Commissioners. When no agreement can be reached, the decision the Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan will be obtained.

6. The development [sic] of machines intended for use in the Reich must be left to experts. Transports of valuable machinery must be guarded and accompanied by reliable persons.

d. Engagement [Verpflichtung] of industries: A IV above is also applicable here. The main thing is that the requirements of the troops shall be satisfied and the repair needs of the cultural and industrial installations working for the German economy shall be filled.

C. Basic Principles for the Management of Installations.

I. State Property--Private Property.

a. All agricultural and industrial installations are the property of the Soviet State. This property has now been transferred to the Reich.

b. In all the recently occupied Eastern Territories, final adjustments of ownership are fundamentally excluded until the territories have been absorbed into the union of the Greater German Reich. Hence, in principle, only trustee administration is admissible. Trustee administration gives the trustee no right to later acquisition of a property.

c. Petroleum is an exception. The Russian mineral oil industry must be permanently managed solely in accordance with the interests of the Reich. The exclusive right to operate the mineral oil industry in the recently occupied Eastern Territories has, therefore, been permanently bestowed upon the Kontinentale-Oel A.G., founded for the purpose of combining all German oil interests with relation to all foreign countries.

d. In the formerly Baltic parts of the Ostland, one may, in exceptional cases, already think of restoring small installations to their original owners to a very limited extent. However, only very cautious use must be made of this possible exception. The same is true of the adjustments of ownership contemplated by the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism. The Reich Marshal reserves the right to decide about the time commencement of privatization.

II. Taking over of plants and installations:

a. In the opinion of the Fuehrer and the Reich Marshal, there is no question of organs of the State, Party, or Armed Forces taking over industries which they are entirely incapable of managing. Installations that it is desired to build up again will, in principle, rather be handed over to firms or persons possessing the requisite expert knowledge and owning or operating similar installations. They must therefore be given the opportunity to derive adequate benefit from their activity.

b. The founding of institutions and similar establishments which may serve the purpose of making installations in the Occupied Eastern Territories available for special interests is likewise inadmissible.

c. Insofar as monopoly companies have been founded to take over installations in specific economic fields especially important for the war, the former regulations will remain in force for the time being.

III. Management of installations.

a. The Reich lays down the main directives for the management of installations in the Occupied Eastern Territories. It is the duty of the Reich Commissioners and their agencies to attend to the execution of these directives in the installations under their jurisdiction.

b. Insofar as monopoly companies have been established, the following is applicable:

1. The monopoly companies will receive the directives and instructions for the management of installations from the proper central agencies of the Reich. These will decide particularly to what extent installations should, from viewpoints of war economy, be reconstructed, consolidated, dismantled, or shut down.

2. The monopoly companies, in carrying out the tasks assigned to them by the Reich, must work closely together with the local agencies of the Reich Commissioners. The Reich Commissioners must know what is going on in the economic field under their jurisdiction. They must also be afforded the opportunity to exert an influence upon the management of the installations of the monopoly companies in accordance with the directives given them by the Reich. Local political considerations cannot, however, be recognized in such cases. Rather, the local agencies must promote the work of the monopoly companies by furnishing labor, food, transportation, etc., in the interest of German war economy.

3. To facilitate cooperation between the economic agencies of the Reich Commissioners and the monopoly companies, the monopoly companies may, in suitable cases, establish subsidiary companies for the different Reich Commissariats.

4. Insofar as differences of opinion arise between the Reich Commissioners or their economic agencies and the monopoly companies or their subsidiary companies over the planning of economic measures or their execution which cannot be settled on the spot, the decision of the competent central agencies of the Reich will be obtained. The final decision here, too, rests with the Reich Marshal.

5. In the case of oil, the conditions are different in that here it does not have to be decided whether an installation shall be shut down or reconstructed, it being evident in advance that production and further proceeding must be set afoot immediately by every possible means and without hindrance through any conflicts over competence and the like. Hence, there is no need for any real exertion of influence by the Reich Commissioners upon the measures of the Kontinentale Oel-A.G., established by the Reich for the exploitation of the Russian petroleum industry. Of course, it, or its competent subsidiary company, must also keep in closest contact with the economic agencies of the Reich Commissioners.

D. Basic Principles for the Preparation of the Budget in the Reich Commissariats.

I. The bases for the regulation of the financial relations between the Reich and the recently occupied Eastern Territories.

1. The Reich has paid for the financial and material burdens of this war. Only the Reich will continue to be in a position to make the material means available without which neither industry nor administration can operate in the recently occupied Eastern Territories.

2. The Reich must, therefore, see to it that the expenditures made for the financing of the war are defrayed without unbearably overburdening the living standard of the German people.

3. It is the clearly pronounced will of the Fuehrer that the Reich's burden of debt arising from the war must, for the most part, be covered by receipts that must be extracted from the recently occupied Eastern Territories.

4. The Reich, not the Reich Commissioners, is the legal successor for former Soviet State property in the recently occupied Eastern Territories.

5. The Reich must exercise control to the end that the receipts and expenditures are kept in harmony with the interests of the Reich in the recently occupied Eastern Territories.

6. Naturally, however, the Reich Commissioners, in view of the extremely difficult conditions in the recently occupied Eastern Territories, must have a certain financial freedom of movement.

II. Implications for the shaping of the budget in the Reich Commissariats.

1. Budgets for the income and expenditures of the Reich Commissariats will be drawn up by the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories and approved by the Reich Finance Minister.

2. The Reich Finance Minister will determine what receipts in the Occupied Eastern Territories shall flow directly into the Reich Treasury and what receipts shall be left at the disposal of the Reich Commissioners within the framework of their budget.

3. The financial freedom of movement of the Reich Commissioners must not result in the use of receipts from the recently occupied eastern territories to defray expenditures serving for the execution of any plans in other territories.

4. The "sluice gate profits" [Schleusengewinne] [This term was coined to describe profits derived from selling goods obtained in occupied territory at fixed prices in Germany.] originating from the importation of agricultural products, raw materials, and finished goods from the recently occupied Eastern Territories belong fundamentally to the Reich. The Reich Finance Minister, in accord with the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories and the competent Reich authorities, will determine in what manner the Schleusengewinne are to be handled and disposed of.

5. Budget negotiations will be carried on by the competent Reich agencies directly with the Reich Commissioners. Insofar as no agreement can be reached in these negotiations, the Reich Marshal, in accord with the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, will decide.

Signed: Dr. Bergmann [Joachim Bergmann]

[David Thompson]

Letter from Schwerin von Krosigk to eleven Government or Party Leaders, including Lammers and Darre, 4 September 1942, concerning German administration in the Occupied Eastern Territories, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 885-889.

Partial Translation of Document NG-4900, Prosecution Exhibit 3924.

[Document NG-4900 contained several items concerning the administration of the Occupied Eastern Territories which were found in the files of the Personal Staff of Reich Leader SS Himmler. Only the two items here mentioned are reproduced herein.]

[Stamp on each page of the original] Personal Staff Reich Leader SS, Archives
File No. [Handwritten] G 140.

Copy/Be, Berlin, W 8
4 September 1942
Wilhelmplatz 1/2
[Stamp] Secret.

The Reich Minister of Finance
Y 5205 324 V secret.

Secret.

Administration Economy, and Finances of the Occupied Territories in the East:

The Reich expects considerable economic and financial relief to come from the Occupied Eastern Territories. These territories are to secure the food for the German people. Oil, coal, ores, and other raw materials are to be taken out of the East for the purposes of the German, nay, the European economy. A considerable part of the war expenditures--especially the interest and amortization expenditures--of the Reich are to be covered by the financial surplus of the Occupied Eastern Territories and by the integration of the difference in prices between the Reich and by the East. Even now the occupied territories in the East have gained an extraordinary importance within the framework of the German war economy. For food supplies, they are the largest supplier of the armies in the field. The mining of shale [Oelschiefer] in Estonia, and of manganese ore in the Ukraine, are valuable credit items. In spite of Soviet destruction, a multitude of industrial plants go on working. The labor potential of the East is serving our production. Even greater use will have to be made of the Eastern Territories in the present situation. I this connection I may refer to the statements of the Reich Marshal at the meeting of 6 August 1942. [Extracts from the transcript of this meeting are reproduced above in section D 1 as a part of Document NI-10105, Prosecution Exhibit 3429.]

Considering the enormous importance of the East, I am filled with a growing anxiety by the developments which now are taking place in the Occupied Eastern Territories. From the point of view of a careful and responsible financial policy of the Reich, which always tries to put stress on harmony with the total interests of the German Reich and people, I feel obliged, warningly, to point out certain symptoms which show rather doubtful deviations from the necessary straight and clean line; deviations which, in the end, will become a burden to the Reich.

It would have been within the meaning of the original plan to have entrusted a unified, strong leadership with the building up of administration and economy. Industry [Wirtschaft] committed in the East should not be the governing factor [den staat fuehren], but rather the wealth [Vermoegen] of the Reich, which was acquired by force by German soldiers in self-sacrificing combat and, still being so acquired, should be administered and kept in trust, in the true sense of the word, in the interests of the Reich and used exclusively to further its interests. The power and the skill of the German entrepreneurs should have been utilized through several big East companies, whereas the political direction should have been safeguarded by the Reich
Commissioners concerned. These measures of organization were supposed to form the basis of a clear and simple price policy which would have helped, on its part, to relieve the immense financial stress on the Reich.

In fact, the originally intended unity of administration and economy was not maintained. I can well understand that conditions in some extremely important spheres have asked for an even stricter direction and centralization. But the fact that now organizations, companies, and structures of all kinds just grow like mushrooms must give rise to serious anxiety.

In some cases these structures might have been fathered by the wish to tackle a certain problem in the German way, by giving special consideration to the specific features of a trade or of an individual undertaking, applying all the means of German super-thoroughness, and, in this process, the questions of the most expedient ways of employing people and the proper use of available means are often disregarded. A typical example of this group of cases seems to me the activities of a central bookkeeping office at the headquarters of a Commissioner General, of which I am told that they--the number of their intended personnel being 60!--are sending bookkeeping forms and so on to the indigenous peasants which, I imagine, meet with very little appreciation on the part of the people concerned. The picture is rounded up by special commissioners, special plenipotentiaries, central trustees, economic organizations after the German pattern. If one imagines for once the multitude of authorities working on one heap in the East nowadays, then one can understand that even German authorities hardly know any more who is concerned with what, and that the population is asked to put up with a superstructure of administration which they cannot at all understand. In any case, the necessary unity of executive power has been lot to a large extent in the local offices. Here we have the old mistake of over-organization wasting men and means, which, especially under the conditions prevailing in the East, should have been avoided. People who are qualified to judge tell me: "We ourselves don't know any more which is an authority and which is not, what belongs to an authority or to a semi-official company, or to the large group of selfish hyenas of the battlefield."

This leads me to another group of cases which today has, unfortunately, grown quite large. It is undesirable in the highest degree to continue on the road of splitting and partitioning of responsibilities, but it is of even greater import that the founding organizations companies, and so on is often visibly influenced the wish to become independent of factual and financial control, to withdraw the moneys from circulation in public money institutions [aus dem Verkehr der oeffentlichen Kassen herauszunehmen], to appear in the budgets of the Reich Commissioners with net figures [Nettospitzen] only, and to avoid the directive powers of the office in which the total responsibility for any local action should be firmly rooted. This observation causes me all the more serious anxiety since selfish motives are connected with the tendencies described, and I do not need to stress how much they are at variance with the sacrificial spirit of our soldiers. Representatives of the Party and the State have informed me of numerous cases. For instance: for a task which could well have been left to a referent of the Reich Commissioner, a company was formed under civil law, the director of which receives a salary which is very high by German standards, and fantastic by Eastern standards, although he has, considering the situation of the locality, the benefit of higher comfort than he would have in the homeland where life is now keyed to the war and its necessities. Companies are being formed where the much quoted initiative spirit of the entrepreneur is shown mainly in the way he managed to get the figure of his salary fixed. Highly paid trustees are employed in undertakings where badly paid indigenous personnel do the real work, because they have a more intimate connection with it and a better knowledge of the circumstances. A stream of employees flows into the East in the service of private firms or of public companies, and their salaries astound and annoy the combat soldier who asks, quite rightly, why they could not be paid on the basis of the general service law [Dienstverpflichtung], or whether their payments could not have been restricted to certain special service dues.

For instance--an employee who was up to now keeping lists in a finance office and who, according to his superiors "could easily be spared, considering his efficiency," has been sent to the East by an Eastern company [Ostgesellschaft] with a gross salary of 1800 RM per month. Even the directors of semi-official offices are offered salaries which give one the impression that the feeling that one is putting one's working capacity and one's qualifications at the disposal of the fatherland is not the one and only incentive for dutiful action; but only for the financial advantages Thus, not only are profits made out of the war in the East, but also, dangers are invoked to the detriment of the Reich, the seriousness of which in respect of economy and finances of the East cannot be sufficiently stressed.

These symptoms are all the more dangerous [The word "pleasing" is crossed out by hand and "dangerous" written over it], since in some important spheres, great things have been achieved for the supply of the troops, and especially in such spheres where the administration was unified and closely-knit from the top down to the last employee. Even these great things are being endangered by the centrifugal tendency of the parts; by the splitting up into innumerable forms of organization; by the attempts to avoid financial and administrative control; and by the outbreak of an unbridled, economic egoism in the place of the true initiative of the entrepreneur which, in itself highly appreciable, should be politically and financially tied--in short, by the falling apart of the political and the economic factors.

Even in spheres of vital importance, these things have led to the original, clear directives given by the Fuehrer and the Reich Marshal being blurred. That is especially so in the spheres of prices and of finance.

Important key prices have been forced up and sometimes the figure has been multiplied without necessity, although it should have been clear that in the East, more than anywhere else, other media but money serve as an incentive for increasing production--that is, especially barter goods such as tobacco and liquor. Within a short time, it has happened that prices have been exceeded which, for example, formerly resulted in considerable export gains on the part of the Baltic countries as against the Reich. One could let these price increases go at that if they would be utilized for the budget of the territory. But although this seems a basic requirement of the harmony between money and commodity exchange, certainly necessary in the long run, the thought seems foreign to many authorities.

I must point out with great emphasis we will never have a sufficiently orderly state of affairs in the East nor, in the long run, the expected, large increase of power in the interest of the German
economy; on the contrary, the battle in the East--in the financial and economic spheres--will end with only modest success, unless the political and economic factors are joined closely and uniformly, and the preponderance of the State is put on a firm basis [die staatliche Praponderanz untermauert wird]. The East demands subsidies after subsidies [Zuschuesse] from the Reich instead of delivering profits [Ueberschuesse] or, at least, the sluice gate profits [Schleusengewinne] arising from the price difference between the Eastern Territories and the Reich which, according to the words of the Fuehrer, should help to pay the interest of and amortize the German war debt. The high salaries, be expenditure of the companies which are administering the Property of the Reich and, also, the reconstruction in the different spheres of the economy, have to be borne to a considerable extent by the German taxpayer. There is no doubt that in the time of the Soviets, even financially, much more has been gained from the territories we hold occupied. Considering the mounting debts the Reich, which today exceed the sum of 160 billions, and considering the enormous financial needs of the Reich as they are today and as they will be in future, the Occupied Eastern Territories will have to be utilized financially to a much higher degree than is the case at present. The alternative, whether the burden should be raised in the Reich or in the East, can, in my opinion, definitely only be answered by saying that it should be raised in the East. If a corresponding contribution to the expenses of the Armed Forces in the East could be demanded from the economy of the Occupied Territories in the East, as the Western territories are paying as occupation costs, then one would arrive at a sum of more than 20 billion of reichsmarks. The financial economy in the Reich Commissariats and, also, in the rear areas of the armies must be organized in a simple and sweeping way [grosszuegiger Weise]. Conditions in the East which have grown there during centuries will have to be Counted in--it is impossible to work there with an income tax after the German pattern. By reasons of private management [schon aus Gruenden privatwirtschaftlicher Handhabung], and considering that all possibilities to invest money must be exhausted, and also in view of the size of the expenditure [Aufwand] of their organs as it can even now, during the war, be observed, the profits of the companies described above will not yield considerable amounts for the financing of the total reconstruction. Neither skimming of profits [Gewinnabschoepfung] nor income tax after the German pattern are indicated in the East. Indirect taxes, if not possible otherwise, also
at the expense of the prices, [are] not to be introduced or developed. The special productivity of certain consumer goods, especially of tobacco, brandy and sugar must be exploited, which should be done in the simplest way in which such taxes can be introduced. I wish to point out that during the Czarist period, more than half of all revenues came out of the brandy monopoly.

In connection with this, the expenditures [Ausgabenwirtschaft] must be concentrated in a few hands, if possible in one place. The expenses of the German administration must be accounted for in gross figures in the territorial budgets. But especially, political and financial state control must be made possible, in order to encounter the excesses I pointed out above. This control seems to me to be an important condition for the return of the desired cleanliness and for the proper supervision of that circle of loot-hungry, interested parties. We cannot afford unleash the egoistic instincts. We have to see to it that interests of the whole are put first. It is in these interests that all political organizational production, price, wage, and finance measures must be brought into line with the aim, indicated by the Fuehrer and the Reich Marshal, of belligerent exploitation [kriegsmaessige Ausnuetzung] of all territories in our hands; the extirpation of all superfluous organizations and structures; and, not least, the elimination of private greed, the excesses of which are not only influencing the political attitude of the indigenous population to our own detriment, but which are also unworthy of the attitude of the front and the homeland.

I believe that all measures must be taken with all possible pressure and speed which seem apt to put a stop to the tendencies I have described.

[Signed] Count Schwerin von Krosigk.

To:

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich,
The Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery,
The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces,
The Commander in Chief of the Army,
The Chief of the Party Chancellery,
The Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories,
The Reich Minister for Armament and Munitions,
The Reich Minister of Economics,
The Reich Minister of the Interior,
The Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture,
The Reich Commissioner for Price Administration.

[David Thompson]

Extracts from a selection of material approved by Major General Schubert, Chief of the Economic Staff East, for a History of the Economic Staff East, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). District of Columbia: GPO, 1952. pp. 896-900.

Translation of Document EC-38, Prosecution Exhibit 1059.

Copy.
Staff I/z.b.V. Berlin
21 February 1944.

Selection approved by the Chief Economic Staff East on 23 February 1944 for the Collection of Material for the History of the Economic Staff East [Lieutenant General Georg Thomas, Chief of the Military Economics and Armament Office of the High Command of the Armed Forces, collected many materials for a history of the war which were roughly compiled in a document entitled "Basic Facts for a History of the German War and Armaments Economy." See Document 2353-PS, Prosecution Exhibits 360 and 941. Apparently this compilation was intended for later use in Thomas' collections of materials.].

The Economic Staff East:

A. Introduction: The Preparations for the Leadership of Economy in a War against the USSR:

1. Memorandum by General Thomas
2. Green Folder
3. Red Folder
4. Yellow Folder
5. Brown Folder.

B. Main Part: The History of the Economic Staff East:

Part I--The Organization of the Economic Staff East and Its Tasks:

1. The Basic Organization: Operational Map [Streifenkarte].

2. The Development of the Economic Organization and Its Adjustments to Changing Tasks: Thomas Order of 11 August 1941; Armed Forces Units; The Economic Staffs of Individual Armies [Der IV Wi und A Wi Fue]; The Army Economic Staff [Der He Wi Fue]; Economic Commands and the Economic Reserve Commands [Wi Kdo und WEK]; Monopoly Companies.

3. The Tasks of the Economic Staff East and its Development in the Different Phases of the War (Formation and Shifting of Main Efforts): Immediate Needs of the Troops; Program of the Chief of Supply and Administration General War Economy.

4. The Relations of the Economic Organization: a. To the Military Headquarters in the Zone of Operation; b. To the Civil Administration in the Reich Commissariats; c. To the Former Local Organization of the Soviets

Part II.

Part II: Concerns B-I-1 ["The Basic Organization. Operational Map"].

The entire economic management in the Occupied Eastern Territories rests with the Reich Marshal as Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan. As his instrument, the Reich Marshal uses the Economic Executive Staff East [Wirtschaftsfuehrungsstab Ost] which comprises the representatives of the main administrative departments. The execution of decrees takes place through the Economic Staff East, with Major General Schubert at its head assisted by Ministerial Dirigent Dr. Schlotterer for the industrial sector, and Ministerial Director Riecke for agriculture.

The aim of the economic leadership [Wirtschaftsfuehrung] in the Occupied Eastern Territories must be the maximum production of goods which are important to the war; namely, ores, crude oil, and foodstuffs. All other considerations must give way to this.

More detailed statements on the questions of food and raw materials and the position of the war production plan for the beginning of the Eastern Campaign were made in the session of the General Council of the Four Year Plan on 24 June 1941 [Extracts from the minutes of this meeting are reproduced in volume XII, section VI H, as a part of document NI-7474, Prosecution 582.] under the Chairmanship of State Secretary Koerner. (See Transcript of meeting, in the file "Meetings").

Concerns B-I-1 ["The Basic Organization. Operational Map"].

According to a file note of 3 May 1941 for the chief of office, the Economic Organization East will consist of:

1 Economic staff: about 428 men;
5 Economic Inspectorates [The operational map which is part of this exhibit (not reproduced herein) shows only 4 Economic Inspectorates: Inspectorate 'Holstein" (North), "Saxony" (Center), "Baden" (South), and "Westphalia" (Caucasus).] (about 350 men): About 1750 men;
23 Economic commands (about 110 men): about 2530 men;
12 Economic subsidiary offices (about 20 men): about 240 men;
50 Economic Section/Area Headquarters [IV Wi/Fk] (about 18 men): about 900 men; 7 Economic Section Army Headquarters [IV Wi/AOK] (about 30 men): about 210 men;
10 Salvage platoons for machines(about 26 men): about 260 men;
35 Reconnaissance platoons for raw materials (about 15 men): about 525 men;
Total about 6845 men.

Extracts from the War Diary of the Economic Staff East Volume 1.

To I-2 (Monopoly Companies):

8 August 1941: In the fundamental decree of 27 July 1941 [This decree was reproduced in the "Green Folder" and it is reproduced in part earlier in this section as a part of document NI-3777, Prosecution Exhibit 1976.] (Green Folder, par. II, p. 16), the Reich Marshal expresses agreement with the formation of the following monopoly companies according to the company contracts submitted and their introduction in the field of activity through the holder of the executive power.

a. The Mining and Steel Company East [Ostland Berg- und Huettenwerksgesellschaft m.b.H. (BHO)] [the familiar designation "BHO" was taken from the term "Berghuette Ost," another abbreviation for the full title of this company.] with the task of operating the Russian coal and iron industry as well as the iron ore mines in the interest of the German war economy.

b. The Textile Fibre Company East [Ostland Spinnstoff- und Fasergesellschaft m.b.H.] with the task of operating the Russian textile economy in the interest of the German war economy. The monopoly companies have to report monthly on their activities to the Economic Executive Staff East.

Concerns B-I-2 [The Development of the Economic Organization and Its Adjustments to Changing Tasks].

From a conference of the Chief of Office with State Secretary Koerner on 31 July 1941, in which also the Economic Inspectors East [Wi Inspekteure Ost] participated, the following points are noteworthy:

1. The operation of the Economic Organization East [Wi Org. Ost] would have functioned better if one had started earlier with the preparations. The order of Field Marshal Keitel, pledging strict secrecy, made it impossible to start with the economic preparations equally soon as did the military agencies.

2. In order as to make the Economic Organization East independent of the support through organizational control agencies [Aufstellungs-inspektionen] replacement divisions belonging to the economic organization are to be set up, which form a human and material reservoir.

3. The forces of the two inspectorates Westphalia and Hesse, which have not yet been mobilized, may no longer remain inactive Especially the agricultural forces must immediately be brought to the foremost economic inspectorates.

4. It is useless to start factories in the East, only to employ the people and process existing raw materials. Centers of gravity are raw material producing industry and factories important for the conduct of the war. For the same reason efforts of the Reich Commissioners which aim at a "pep-up of the economy" are to be rejected.

5. Ruthless exploitation of the raw materials of the occupied territories. Hereby purely economic, no political considerations.

6. The private industry is to be restored immediately in the territories newly acquired by Russia since 1939. Nothing to be changed, for the time being, in the old Russian territories.

7. To put Jews into barracks and assign them in the form of closed columns of workers.

Concerns B-I-2 ["The Development of the Economic Organization and its Adjustments to Changing Tasks"].

On 18 December 1941 the Economic Executive Staff East held a meeting in Berlin with State Secretary Koerner presiding. In addition to Major General Schubert of the Economic Staff East, also the Chiefs of the three Main Groups [Chefgruppen] and of the special group for labor participated in the meeting. The results of the meeting are to be noted.

1. Transfer of the executive group [Fuehrungsgruppe] of the EConomic Staff East to Berlin. (Compare note mentioned before.)

2. The Main Group M of the Economic Executive Staff East, and of the Economic Inspectorates as well as the groups M of the Economic Commands [Wi Kdos] will be decreased in number as it has been ascertained that in the old Russian territories almost the entire armament industry has been destroyed and there can be no question of a reconstruction in the near future.

Concerns B-I-3 (Iwan-Program) 1943.--["The Tasks of the Economic Staff East and Its Development in the Different Phases of the War (Formation and Shifting of Main Efforts)."]

Enclosures. Staff I:

8 September 1943: State Councillor Pleiger has decided that also in Krivoi-Rog the production for the Iwan Program is to be set going.

Armaments.--10 September 1943: It is reported that from the Economic Inspectorate South that, upon the order of Reich Minister Speer, State Councillor Pleiger has discontinued completely the Iwan Program.

17 September 1943: State Councillor Pleiger orders, upon the instruction of Reich Minister Speer, that the Iwan Production in Saporoshje is going to come to an end.

Extracts from the War Diary of the Economic Staff East, Volume VIII (III/1943):

Concerns I ["The Tasks of the Economic Staff East and Its Development in the Different Phases of the War (Formation and Shifting of Main Efforts) "].

8 September -- By his command dated 7 September 1943 the Reich Marshal orders, for the territory east of the line established by the Supreme Military Command through the whole zone of operations, the evacuation of all agricultural products and equipment, machines from agricultural and food production plants, the destruction of plants engaged in the processing and manufacture of food products, as well as the evacuation of the population working on the land and in these food plants. The Chief of the Economic Staff East charged with the control of these orders.

12 September -- In addition to the decree of the Reich Marshal of 7 September 1943, the Chief of the Economic Staff East issues provisions to execute the break-up [Auflockerung] together with measures for evacuation and destruction (appendix II).

31 August -- Armament Office communicates that in accordance with an instruction from the Fuehrer all work shops that can be dispensed with east of the Dnepr are to be dismantled and transferred to the Reich.

[David Thompson]

Extracts from the Handbook (Green Folder) of the Economic Executive Staff East, September 1942, containing 'Directives for the Leadership of Economy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories', in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 867-885.

Partial Translation of Document EC-347 [Document EC-347 was a handbook containing directives on the utilization of the economy in German-occupied eastern Europe. It contained 215 pages which included a detailed table of contents and edited titles in addition to the text of the directives themselves. A photostat of the entire German original was offered in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 1058. However, the translation presented by the prosecution at the time of the offer of the exhibit in evidence contained only a few of the directives or extracts thereof. During the defense case, counsel for defendant Koerner desired that the Tribunal have access to a translation of other directives contained in this handbook. Accordingly extracts from Document EC-347 were compiled in Koerner Document 450 and offered as Koerner Defense Exhibit 176 and a translation of these extracts was furnished to the Tribunal. This was customary practice in Nuernberg where either the prosecution or the defense took objection to the presentation of partial translations. For purposes of simplifying the presentation of the parts of this handbook reproduced herein, extracts have been compiled in the order in which they appeared in the handbook, regardless of whether the translation of a particular extract was presented by the prosecution or by the defense. Brackets have been inserted in the text to show where a particular directive was contained in the translation offered by the defense. Document EC-347 was introduced in the IMT trial as Exhibit USA-320 and parts of the German text may be found in Trial of the Major War Criminals, volume XXVI, pages 331-355.], Prosecution Exhibit 1058. (Also Koerner Document 450, Koerner Defense Exhibit 176.)

Economic Executive Staff East
500 Copies
OKW/ Wi AMT/ Z 1/ II
No. 6250/42 secret).
Secret.

Directives for the Leadership of Economy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories (Green Folder).

Part II (Third edition)--Supplementary Material to Part I, Berlin, September 1942.

[The following is printed within a square at the beginning of the handbook:]

"This is a secret matter in the meaning of section 88 of the Reich Penal Code (as amended on 24 April 1934). Misuse shall be punished according to the provisions of this law, unless other penal provisions apply."

Economic Executive Staff East.
Berlin
1 September 1942.

OKW/Economics Office Z l/II,
No. 6250/42 secret.

With the issuance of this folder:

Secret!
Directives for the Leadership of Economy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories (Green Folder), Part II (3d edition) Supplementary Material to Part I--Berlin, September 1942, the following folder:

Secret!
Directives for the Leadership of Economy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories (Green Folder), part II (2d edition), Supplementary Material to Part I--Berlin, November 1941 (OKW/Economic Armament Staff I/O No. 5561/41 secret) becomes invalid and has to be destroyed.

By Order: Thomas.

********************************************

Table of Contents:

First Chapter: Basic Decrees concerning the Administration in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories and the Introduction of Civil Administration.

Second Chapter: Directives for Procedure as well as Basic Regulations and Decrees of the Reich Minister of the Occupied Eastern Territories for those Parts of these Territories under Civil Administration.

Third Chapter: Structure of the Economic Organization East [Wirtschaftsorganisation Ost] and of those Agencies Important for the Work of the Economic Organization East.

Fourth Chapter: Travel Regulations to and from the Occupied Eastern Territories.

Fifth Chapter: Booty, Measures to Prevent Waste [Verschleuderung] of good [Landesbestaenden] Cash Payment and Payment in Kind.

Sixth Chapter: Currency and Credit System.

Seventh Chapter: Taxes and Special Taxes.

Eighth Chapter: Prices and Wages.

Ninth Chapter: Administration of Enemy Property.

Tenth Chapter: Transportation and Traffic.

Eleventh Chapter: Labor Allocation.

Twelfth Chapter Improvement of Production [Betriebsfoerderung] and Vocational Training.

Thirteenth Chapter: Industrial Economy.

Fourteenth Chapter: Agriculture.

Fifteenth Chapter: Forestry and Lumber Industry.

[End of Table of Contents].

First Chapter: Basic Decrees concerning the Administration in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories and the Introduction of Civil Administration.

A. Fuehrer Decree concerning the Economy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories of 29 June 1941. [This decree is reproduced earlier in this section as a part of Document EC-207, Prosecution Exhibit 1057.]

****************************************************

D. Decree by the Fuehrer Concerning Technical Assignments [Einsatz der Technik] in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories 9 June 1942.

[Translation presented by the defense]

In order to ensure the uniform utilization of all available resources in the field of technical industry for the requirements of war and reconstruction in the newly Occupied Eastern Territories, I issue the following order, to be in force for the duration of the war, in supplementation of my decree concerning the administration of the newly occupied Eastern Territories dated 17 July 1941:

I: In his capacity as Reich Minister for Armaments and Munitions, as Inspector General of German Highways, and as Inspector General for Water and Power in the newly occupied Eastern Territories, Reich Minister Speer is placed in charge of the following:

The armament industry, surface construction, power industry, highway construction, waterways, and ports and waterworks.

His tasks include the execution of all necessary measures, including planning, also with respect to the post-war period.

These tasks will be carried out exclusively by Reich Minister Speer's offices.

II: Reich Minister Speer has already established offices in the Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories and its subordinate agencies, by means of detailing personnel from his own office to that Ministry. He will again take charge of the work. The deferments which were granted remain in effect.

III: The offices of the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories and those of the Reich Minister Speer are to keep each other informed of all important incidents and assignments.

IV: The Reich Finance Minister must provide Reich Minister Speer with the budget funds necessary for the execution of the tasks assigned to him.

V: Reich Minister Speer issues the instructions necessary for the implementation of this decree. The subordinated offices of the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories must assist the offices of Reich Minister Speer in the execution of the tasks assigned to him.

Fuehrer HQ,
9 June 1942.
The Fuehrer
Signed: Adolf Hitler
Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery
Signed: Dr. Lammers.

*******************************************************

J. Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, 27 July 1941 [This decree is reproduced earlier in this section as Document NI-3777, Prosecution Exhibit 1976.]

K. Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, 30 July 1941.

[Translation presented by the defense]

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Berlin
30 July 1941,
V.P. 12 769.

Through the Fuehrer's decree of 29 June 1941, [Document EC-207, Prosecution Exhibit 1057, reproduced earlier in this section.] of which you were informed through the letter dated 30 June 1941 [Document 012-PS, Prosecution Exhibit 2249, reproduced earlier in this section.] of the Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery, I have been commissioned to issue orders for all measures in the sphere of economic policy concerning the newly occupied Eastern Territories. According to that decree in conjunction with section 3, paragraph 2 and section 7 of the Fuehrer's decree concerning the administration of the newly occupied Eastern Territories [The reference is to the Hitler decree of 17 July 1941, reproduced in section VI H, volume XII, this series, as part of Document NG-1280, Prosecution Exhibit 529.], which was also communicated to you, I am furthermore authorized to issue orders directly to the Reich Commissioners which are to be appointed for the Occupied Eastern Territories.

In this connection I state the following:

1. The assignment given to me precludes the individual government branches from direct interference with the economic authorities operating in Russia. I have therefore under my direction established the Economic Executive Staff East, where all government branches concerned are combined and have the opportunity of asserting their points of view and to influence the instructions which are to be issued to the economic authorities in the Occupied Territories. State Secretary Koerner will direct the Economic Executive Staff East as my deputy.

2. During operations in the territories not yet under civilian administration, the Economic Staff East, headed by Major General (Air Force) Schubert, will be the executive [ausfuehrendes] organ of the Economic Executive Staff East.

3. Until further notice I reserve my personal decision:

a. In questions of fundamental importance for the German war economy.

b. In all questions touching on the fundamental shaping of the economic structure in the newly occupied Eastern Territories.

c. In all important economic questions concerning the occupied territories as a whole.

d. In important individual questions when specially ordered.

4. I request that suggestions and requests in connection with the cases quoted under figure [paragraph] 3 are submitted to me through the Economic Executive Office East.

5. The operation of the economy in the Occupied Eastern Territories will be governed by the directives contained in the ' Green folder".

********************************************

L. Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, of 31 July 1941.

Teletype: WOKR No: 5230
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich Four Year Plan
FSA No. 236 19.55.
12 262
Berlin
31 July 1941.

To OKW/Economic Armament Office.

By decree of 22 July 1941, the Fuehrer has ordered that from 1 August 1941, the administration of the following territories is to pass from the military offices to the offices of the civilian administration:

a. The territory around Wilno, bordered by the former Lithuanian border in the East and Southeast, to the Reich Commissioner Ostland.

b. The district Bialystok, bordered by the Neman [River, from the southeast tip of East Prussia to Mosty (excluding Grodno), including Wolkowsk, including Pruczany, to the Oberpraesident East Prussia.

c. The territory of Lvov, bordered in the Northeast by the old state border of Galicia; in the East by Zbrucz to its junction with the Dnestr; in the Southeast by the former border to Rumania; to the Governor General.

With reference to this I ordered, by virtue of the Fuehrer decree of 29 June 1941 concerning economic administration in the Occupied Eastern Territories and in pursuance of my decree of 18 July 1941--Four Year Plan 11 604:

I: In accordance with figure III of my decree of 18 July 1941 hose districts mentioned under A to C will be separated as from 1 August 1941 from the sphere of activities of the Economic Staff East.

II: For the district around Wilno the regulations apply which are mentioned under Figure II of my decree of 18 July 1941.

III: Until further notice, in the district of Bialystok, the Economic Command Minsk is at the disposal of the Oberpraesident of East Prussia for the handling of economic matters.

IV: Until further notice in the district of Lvov, the Economic Command Lvov is at the disposal of the Governor General for the handling of economic questions. The experts in mineral oil of the Reconnaissance Unit of the Economic Command Lvov have to carry out until further notice according to the directives of the Economic Staff East.

V: The "directives for the operation of economy" (Green folder), and the regulations of my decree of 27 July 1941 V. P. 12025, will be valid until further orders in the areas which now come under the civil administration.

VI: The directives required in the interests of German war economy and concerning the economic exploitation of areas put under civil administration will be issued by me through the Economic Executive Staff East. It will especially fix the quantities of food and industrial raw materials to be sent to the Reich. In cases of doubt which are of an essentially economic character and especially in cases in which the chiefs of civil administration may want to deviate from the orders of special importance of the Economic Executive Staff East, my decision must be obtained by way of the Economic Executive Staff East.

VII: The Reich Commissioner Ostland, the Oberpraesident of East Prussia and the Governor General are requested to report to me by way of the Economic Executive Staff East, Berlin W 8, Leipzigerstrasse 3, on the economic development in the areas taken over by them.

As Deputy: Koerner.

*********************************************

O. Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, of 17 October 1941, and Implementing Regulations of the High Command of the Wehrmacht of 17 October 1941.

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Economic Executive Staff East
V.P. 17064/1
Berlin, Leipzigerstrasse 3.
17 October 1941

By the decree of 11 October 1941--OKW/WFSt/Department L (IV) No. 684/41--the Fuehrer has ordered that as from 20 October 1941 the following district should be separated from the sphere of military operations, namely from the Army Group Rear Areas South and Center, and transferred to the civil administration of the Reich Commissioner Ukraine.

By virtue of the Fuehrer's decree concerning economic administration in the occupied territories of 29 June 1941 and in connection with my decree of 27 August 1941--V.P. 13704/ 1 g--I order the following:

I: The above-mentioned areas will be separated from the sphere of activity of the Economic Staff East according to my decree of 18 July 1941--V. P. 11 604--effective 20 October 1941.

* * *

III: I once more remind the Reich Commissioner Ukraine that he has to make a report every 2 weeks to me through the Economic Executive Staff East, Berlin W 8, Leipzigerstr. 3.

IV: Sections IV and V of my decree of 27 August 1941--V.P. 13 704--are valid for the areas recently taken over by the civil administration.

As Deputy: Koerner.

*****************************************************

P. Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, 8 November 1941, and Implementing Regulations of the High Command of the Armed Forces, 12 November 1941.

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
V.P. 18675/1/6
Berlin W 8, Leipzigerst. 3.
8 November 1941

a. By the decree of 4 November 1941--OKW/WFSt/L.IV No. 764/41--the Fuehrer has ordered that as from 15 November 1941 the following area will be separated from the Army Group Rear Area South of the Army operations area.

The area will be transferred to the civil administration of the Reich Commissioner for the Ukraine.

b. With the same decree the Fuehrer has furthermore ordered that the following area will be separated very soon from the Army's operations area on a date which will be announced by the High Command of the Army.

The area will be transferred to the civil administration of the Reich Commissioner for the Ostland.

* * *

According to the directives mentioned in sections a and b, I order by virtue of the Fuehrer decree dated 29 June 1941 concerning the economy in the Occupied Eastern Territories, and in pursuance of my decree of 17 October 1941--V.P. 17064/1:

1. The areas mentioned will be separated from the sphere of activity of the Economic Staff East according to my decree of 18 July 1941--V.P. 604/1--to 15 November 1941--re B. on a date to be announced later by the High Command of the Army.

* * *

3. For the rest, the regulations of my decree of 17 October 1941--V. P. 17064/1--and the previous decrees connected therewith, are valid also for the new areas to come under civil administration.

As Deputy: Koerner.

*********************************************

Q. Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, of 12 December 1941, order of OKH of 1 December 1941 and implementing regulations of the OKW of 18 December 1941.

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Economic Executive Staff East
V.P. 20823/1/6
Berlin W 8
12 December 1941.

The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces has ordered by the decree of 29 November 1941--OKW/WFSt/ Department L (IV/Admin.) No. 841/41--that the former Estonia will be separated from the administration of the Army Group Rear Area North as of 5 December 1941 and will become a part of the Reich Commissariat Ostland...

By virtue of the Fuehrer's decree of 29 June 1941 concerning the economy of the Occupied Eastern Territories, and in pursuance of my decree of 18 July 1941--V.P. 11 604--as well as in pursuance of the subsequent decrees which are connected herewith concerning the organization of the economic administration in the Occupied Eastern Territories, I order:

1. The former Estonian territory will be separated from the sphere of activity of the Economic Staff East as from 1 January 1942. Effective the same date the Economic Inspectorate North will leave the area of the former Estonia, and its sphere of activity will be limited to the area of operations of the Army Group North.

* * *

3. The "Directives for the Direction of the Economy in the Newly occupied Eastern Territories (Green folder) " and my decree of 27 July 1941--V.P. 12025--will be also valid until further notice in the new territories which will come under civil administration.

4. Figure III of my decree of 18 July 1941--V.P. 11 604--and the Figures VI and VII of my decree of 31 July 1941--V.P. 122 62--are valid also in the territories coming under civil administration.

5. The Reich Commissioner for the Ostland will report to me and to the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, the taking over of the economic administration in the territory of the former Estonia.

As Deputy: Koerner.

***********************************************

Tenth Chapter: Transportation and Traffic.

B. Planning the Carrying Out of Economic Transports [Wirtschaftstransporten] from and to the Occupied Eastern Territories According to Priority Lists for Economic Transports.

(Decree of the Reich Marshal for the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, of 14 November 1941 and 19 May 1942).

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Economic Executive Staff East
V.P. 8492/2 g.

Subject: Planning and carrying out of the economic transports to, from, and in the Occupied Eastern Territories.

For clarification of the proceedings and jurisdiction in the planning and execution of the economic transports on the road to, from, and in the Occupied Eastern Territories (East economic transports) the following has been decided in agreement with the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, the High Command of the Armed Forces/Economic Armament Office and the Chief of Transportation of the Armed Forces:

a. The Four Year Plan (Economic Leadership Staff East) is the highest decisive authority for all questions concerning the planning and carrying out of East economic transports, as far as they are not of a technical transport nature.

The inadequate conditions of the railroads in the East make it necessary to incorporate in the general transportation program the economic transports with the Armed Forces transports. For this the following is necessary: (1) a plan for all economic transports, and (2) its notification to the transport offices of the Transportation Chief of the Armed Forces, and the time of its execution.

To (1)--Planning: The planning of the economic transports will be carried out in such a way that the Four Year Plan (Economic Executive Staff East) will hand to the Chief of Transportation [of the Armed Forces] monthly programs for the economic transports to be carried out to, from, and in the Occupied Eastern Territories. These programs will be drawn up through the Economic Staff East, Dept. Transport and Traffic, by order of the Four Year Plan (Economic Executive Staff East) on the basis of the supplies [Beitrage] to be delivered by the special departments of the Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories and the main groups of the Economic Staff East. For the listing of these supplies the Reich Commissioners and the Economic Inspectorates will report their transportation requirements to the corresponding special departments of the Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, or the main groups of the Economic Staff East. In the requests of the Reich Commissioners are also to be considered the requirements of the armament inspectorates and their branches, including the indirect troop requirements. A special ruling applies to the workers' transports.

As the transport space available for economic transports does not suffice for all requirements, all requests must be confined to the most important consignments and the absolutely necessary transport space. Excessive demands damage the interests of others, they are therefore to be avoided.

The Chief of Transportation of the Armed Forces will establish on the basis of the notification what transport space (timetables) can be held available for economic transports according to the technical transport possibilities. He will announce the resulting economic transport plans as early as possible to the transportation offices, the Four Year Plan, OKW/Economic Armament Office and Economic Staff East.

If the transport plans which are made available fall below the reported requirements, the Four Year Plan (Economic Leadership Staff East), in agreement with the participants, will decide the kind and extent of the necessary program cuts. Examination and decision also extend to the workers' transports.

To (2)--Notification: All transports will be given transport numbers. After the approval of the transport plan these are to be applied for as follows through the Chief of Transportation, in order to superintend the adherence to the transport plans and prevent their violation:

1. Transports from the Reich to the Occupied Eastern Territories through the Economic Staff East from F Dept./Gr.Wi.

2. Transports within the Eastern Territories in West--East direction: through the armament and economic offices, from the competent economic transport managements.

3. Transports in East--West direction: (a) within the Eastern Territories, and (b) from the Eastern Territories to the Reich through the armament and economic offices, from the competent transport field headquarters and transport group of the field railroad detachment, with simultaneous notification to the competent economic transport management.

The transport offices are instructed to refer or pass on to the armament and economic offices named under 1 to 3, all notifications of economic transports coming to them from other offices. Excepted from this are the workers' transports which the labor allocation offices will announce to the transport offices according to the special regulations issued concerning this.

As Deputy: Koerner.

***********************************************

Eleventh Chapter--Labor Allocation:

* * *

B. Labor Exchange in the Occupied Eastern Territories.

C. Labor Recruitment for the Reich.

3. Decree of the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation concerning the Labor Allocation of Russians, 31 March 1942.

[Translation presented by defense].
The Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation
Berlin S. W. 11
Va 5780.28/742.
31 March 1942

To the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories.
For the attention of Herr Reich Minister Rosenberg or deputy, Berlin W 35.

To the Economic Staff East, Labor Group.
For the attention of Chief of the War Administration, Dr. Rachner
In this building, (Reich Labor Ministry).

Subject: Allocation of Russians.

In my capacity as Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation, I have taken over the powers with which the Reich Marshal endowed the "Working Group--Labor Mobilization" to enable them to supply the requisitioned Russians. It is of decisive importance in order to relieve the labor situation in the Reich, that the requisition for Russians be fulfilled. I therefore request that all possibilities be exhausted, in order to bring the largest number of civilian laborers from the newly occupied Eastern Territories to the Reich as quickly as possible.

**************************************************************

Thirteenth Chapter--Industrial Economy.

* * *

B. Manufacture of Arms and Munitions and Expansions of the Power Industry.

(Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich and Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, 22 May 1942).

[Translation presented by the defense]

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Berlin
22 May 1942
V.P. 9433/6/2/4/1.

Ordinance concerning the production of arms and ammunition and the development of the power industry in the Occupied Eastern Territories.

The production facilities for arms and ammunition in the Occupied Eastern Territories are to be harnessed to the war effort. In accordance with the powers vested in me through the Fuehrer's decree concerning the economy in the newly occupied Eastern Territories, dated 29 June 1941, I therefore order following:

1. The Plenipotentiary General for Armaments (GB Ruest) decides which plants in the Occupied Eastern Territories are to be utilized for the production of war equipment.

2. For that purpose, the Plenipotentiary General Ruest is given authority to dispose directly over the plants designated by him. In addition he can commandeer all installations suitable for the
production of war equipment.

3 In order to restore, install, and operate the plants, efficient firms from the Reich are to be appointed as sponsor firms. It is desirable for a larger number of firms to be included. At the same time, the power industry must be developed.

4. The Plenipotentiary General Ruest is authorized to issue he orders necessary for the execution of these tasks in my name.

5. All military and civilian agencies in the Occupied Eastern Territories are requested to assist the Plenipotentiary General Ruest in the execution of his task to the fullest extent.

*****************************************************

G. Raw Materials.

1. Seizure and Utilization of Industrial Raw Materials and Other War-Essential Materials in the newly Occupied Eastern Territories.

2. Appointment of a Plenipotentiary for Scrap and Old Metal Seizures in the Occupied Territories.

(Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, of 9 July 1941)

The Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich
Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Berlin W 8
9 July 1941
V.P. 10382/4.

The continuing occupation of Soviet Russian territory necessitates, just as in the occupied Western Territories and in Serbia, the seizure and direction of the scrap metal found there. This task must be carried through by a central agency in view of its importance for the conduct of the war. The tasks of the Commissioner for Scrap Metal, Captain (Cavalry) Schu, hitherto confined to the Occupied Western Territories and to Serbia, will therefore be extended to the whole occupied territories. Consequently Captain Schu will be appointed "Commissioner for Scrap Metal Seizure in the Occupied Territories."

The High Command of the Armed Forces will give the necessary directives in agreement with the Plenipotentiary General for the Iron and Steel Allocation.

As Deputy: Koerner.

*********************************************

H. Assignment of Deputies of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production in the Economic Staff East (Decree of the Economic Staff East, 14 August 1941).

[Translation presented by the defense]

Economic Executive Staff East,
File Number 66 b 9917
Russia Ro Ia
No. 7314/41 secret.
Berlin
14 August 1941.

Assignment of Deputies of the "Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production" to the Economic Staff East.

I: The task of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production (G.B.Chem) is -- in the special fields of mineral oils, chemistry (Buna, nitrogen, etc.) light metals, powder explosives, as well as of synthetical industrial oils and fats, including all preliminary and intermediate products -- to guarantee, within the shortest possible time and in the most economical manner, a maximum of production in the entire European economic area as required by the Reich Defense. [Evidence concerning plans for exploiting chemical and related industries in occupied Russia is reproduced in the materials concerning the I.G. Farben case (vols. VII and VIII, this series.)

II: It is the task of the deputies detailed [abkommandierten Beauftragten] by the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production to the Economic Staff East, within the framework of duties as listed under I, to study all possibilities for a most practical utilization of the possibilities of the above mentioned areas of production in the Occupied Eastern Territories; for organizing them systematically; for exploiting them in the most economical manner from the technical viewpoint and for possibly developing them; and to make suggestions to the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production.

III: Together with the Economic Armament Office of the OKW and the Reich Ministry of Economics, the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production will make decisions on the basis of these suggestions and will work out the plans for the exploitation of those possibilities.

IV: The deputies will be appointed upon suggestion of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production by the Economic Staff East.

V: For the duration of their assignment, the deputies of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production will be assigned to the Economic Staff East by the Chief Group W of the Economic Staff East via the Chief of Supply and Administration [Gen. Qu.], and will have the civil service rank suggested by Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production. For the duration of their assignment, they are personally subordinate to the Chief Group W of the Economic Staff East and will be attached [from] the Economic Staff East to the Economic Inspectorates in keeping with the requirements of local conditions.

VI: Plenipotentiary General for Special Question of Chemical Production to give immediate specified directives to his deputies attached to Economic Staff East, after first having informed the Economic Armament Office of the OKW and the Reich Ministry of Economics. The deputies are exclusively responsible to the Plenipotentiary General for Special Question of Chemical Production for carrying out these specified directives.

Economic Staff East and its subordinate agencies will provide all necessary support in order to achieve a speedy execution of each order.

VlI: The deputies of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production attached to the Economic Staff East will forward all requests and suggestions with regard to the exploitation of enterprises to the Economic Staff East, which will give the necessary orders. These orders will be carried out by the competent Referenten of the department for industrial economy. The deputies of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production have, therefore, no right to give any directives to enterprises. The Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production will be informed by the Economic Staff East about the orders issued for the execution of its requests and suggestions.

VIII: For the carrying out of measures planned by the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production directives from the Economic Armament Office of the OKW with the approval of the Reich Ministry of Economics will be issued at the same time.

IX: Transportation, especially motor vehicles (with driver) will be provided by the Main Department Raw Materials [of the Economic Armament Office of the OKW] or the Economic Staff East. Necessary clerical personnel will be provided from those offices of the Economic Staff East to which the deputy of the Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production is assigned.

By Order: Thomas.

*******************************************************

Fifteenth Chapter--Forestry and Lumber Industry.

* * *

B. Assistance in the Removal of Timber by the Agricultural Industry in the Occupied Territories.

(Decree of the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich, Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan, of 20 June1942)

Reich Marshal of the Greater German
Reich Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan
Economic Executive Staff East,
V.P. 11 0 27/6
Berlin W 8
20 June 1942.

Subject: Assistance for the removal of timber by the agricultural industry in the Occupied Eastern Territories.

At the meeting of the Economic Executive Staff East on 6 May 1942, reference was made to the difficulties which exist in making available in time timber for purposes important to the conduct of the war, especially because the timber cannot be transported to the required extent from the felling places to the river and railroad disposal centers. To lessen these difficulties it is necessary that forestry and the lumber industries are assisted by agriculture by providing farm carts and agricultural labor to the greatest possible extent, especially for the time between planting and grain harvesting. Effective help, however, will not be possible everywhere, since especially the shipment of not-yet harvested grain of the grain crop of 1941 must yet be assured. I also ask you to commit in general those agencies subordinated to you to support forestry and lumbering in those cases where it can be justified to assist forestry and the lumber industry, considering the war-economic importance of agriculture as well as punctual delivery of sufficient quantities of lumber for military supply. For the territories which are under civil administration I request you to apply the same.

As Deputy: Koerner.

[David Thompson]

Letter to Berger's Political Leadership Staff, 12 October 1943, transmitting reports from two German Army Officers on methods of recruiting Ukrainians for labor in Germany, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1039-1044.

Translation of Document No-2007, Prosecution Exhibit 3344.

Headquarters,
12 October 1943
Rauchstrasse 17/18
Telephone: 219515 and 395046
Cable address: Reichsministerost,
[Handwritten] 18 October 1943,
[Handwritten] 24/439.

The Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories Representative with the High Command of the Army Group South, NR. 20V43 secret. It is asked to give above references and subject in further correspondence.

[Stamp] Secret!
To the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories
Political Leadership Staff
Berlin W 8
[Stamp], Main Department I
Diary Nr. I 1836/43g.
Received: 13 October 1943 [Illegible
initials], 2 enclosures 28/X.

Subject: Irregularities in labor allocation.

As enclosure I submit:

1. Copy of a report submitted to me by Chief of Supply/section (Military administration) relative to the conduct of members of the Labor Office Novaya Praga and Dolinskaya in connection with the transport of the 1926 class for labor allocation in the Reich. [This enclosure, Document No-2008, Prosecution Exhibit 3345, is reproduced immediately below.]

2. Copy of a report submitted by Ic/AO [counterintelligence officer] of the local command Aleksandriya dated 9 May 1943 relative to the unworthy treatment of the civilian population by the civil administration and the indigenous security units [Schuma] in the recruiting of Eastern workers. [This enclosure, Document No-2009, Prosecution Exhibit 3346, is reproduced below in this section.]

[Signed] O. W. Mueller.

2 enclosures: Information to the Representative of the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation State Counselor Peukert.

[Handwritten] Don't we have already the same report? Yes. Then to the files.

[Illegible signature].

***************************************************

Translation of Document No-2008, Prosecution Exhibit 3345.

Enclosure to No. 202/43 secret of 8 October 1943--of the Representative of the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories with the Headquarters of the Army Group South.

Copy of a Copy!
[Stamp] Secret
Local headquarters
27 August 1943.

Lieutenant Adolf Aumann, Duty Station No. 12525.

To the Staff/Dept. for Railroad Construction Battalion 513 with request to forward to the competent area Command.

Subject: Conduct of members of the Novaya Praga and Dolinskaya labor office towards the Ukrainian civilian population on the occasion of the transport of Ukrainians of the 1926 Class for labor allocation in the Reich.

On 21 August 1943, on the occasion of an official visit to the station master of Sharovka railroad station, with a sergeant of my unit, I was witness of conduct on the part of German employees of the civil administration which I still consider today as almost incredible.

Towards 1530 hours of the same day, I arrived at Sharovka railroad station accompanied by a sergeant and my driver to clarify an official matter with the station master there. Since the gentleman in question was absent that day and I was waiting for his return, I noticed in front of the station area a large gathering of Ukrainians. When I inquired of station officials who were passing what was happening, they told me that on that afternoon the 1926 class was being sent away into the Reich for labor allocation. While the surging crowd was already standing shouting in the way and I was meanwhile carrying on with my official business, I observed that a contingent of young Ukrainians was marching in from the direction of Novaya Praga to the station area. This contingent was escorted on all sides by German soldiers and Ukrainian militia with weapons ready to fire. It looked to me as though this was a transport of prisoners.

I now involuntarily became a witness of the train-loading and was obliged to see how some gentlemen of the civil administration behaved on this occasion. The contingent which had arrived was divided up and crowded in groups into the coaches which were standing in readiness, and in some cases even the whip was used. Meanwhile the relatives of the Ukrainians who were due to be sent away had arrived in the station, in order to hand over to their children the baggage which had been brought there on hand-carts. It was, however, not possible for them to get to the ones already on the train, because the Ukrainian militia was holding everything back with weapons ready to fire. Nevertheless, a few were successful in getting near their children; but this was immediately the cause for a certain Herr Bale of the Dolinskaya Labor Office to draw his drum-revolver and fire wildly around. He seized a somewhat slower Ukrainian from behind, belabored him with kicks and shouted: "Get back, you swine!"

I reprimanded him for the way he acted and told him that he should be ashamed of his behavior. At the same time I told him that there were other ways of creating and maintaining order. He declared to me in quite an insolent tone that that was no one else's business and that it was up to him how he created order.

At that moment, my sergeant drew my attention to another ugly incident which was taking place elsewhere. In this case a certain Herr Helterhoff of the Aleksandriya Labor Allocation Staff distinguished himself ingloriously by hitting a Ukrainian so hard on the head with a club 1.5 inches thick that the club broke in two in the end. The Ukrainian made no move to defend himself and quietly put up with this ill treatment. These single outbursts were accompanied by a background of wild shrieks and din, in which were mingled the howls of about 800-1000 persons.

Furthermore, I established that the persons in the train were refused straw in their compartments, although about 30 handcarts filled with straw were standing ready on the station. Thus, the persons being sent away had to start out on their 6-8 days journey into the Reich without straw.

I also discovered that the entraining was completed by 1645 hours but that the train did not leave until 2300 hours, which meant that no one could leave the compartments again to relieve himself. The Ukrainians were thus forced to relieve themselves in the compartments, and possibly to sleep on the floor at night.

I think I may presume that the bitter feeling against all Germans has reached boiling point and that one should not be surprised if the partisans gain the upper hand. Also, it may be imagined that the civilians are painting the blackest pictures about the treatment of their members in the Reich, if they are obliged to witness how their children are treated as slaves, as well as they themselves, at the very moment they are sent away.

The Sharovka stationmaster and his officials, as well as my sergeant and my driver are of the opinion that it is not good propaganda for us Germans in the Ukraine and that repercussions may be expected as a result. I, myself, was unfortunately obliged to be of this same opinion, went away from these ugly scenes with disgust and considered it my duty, as a German officer, to complain in the form of an official report about such brutal excesses towards the Ukrainian population, which mean gross damage to German prestige in the Ukraine.

[Signed] Aumann, Lieutenant.

*************************************************************

Translation of Document No-2009, Prosecution Exhibit 3346.

Enclosure to Nr. 202/43 secret of 8 October 1943.
The Representative of the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories with the Headquarters of Army Group South.

Copy of Copy.
Military Police Group
O.K. I/766
Aleksandriya
5 September 1943.

Subject: Unworthy treatment of the civilian population by the civil administration and indigenous security detachments [Schuma] during the drafting of Eastern workers.

To the Local Headquarters I/766:

On Sunday, 9/5/1943, I made the following observations at Aleksandriya:

At 10 o'clock shots were fired on the main street in the direction of the market place. I immediately ordered two of my men to clear up the matter. Since an excited crowd marched through the streets, I went personally a few minutes later to the market place. Arriving there I saw the following:

The Schuma had closed off the Sunday main-market which was strongly attended by the population of the surrounding villages and forced all men, women, children, and old people present, indiscriminately together, into a huddle. They made ample use of rifle-butt pushing, blows, and foot-kicking. Two people were injured by shots. A gentleman from the Labor Office and members of the rural police kicked elderly women in the behind, in order to make them walk faster. To my question, addressed to the Chief of the Labor Office, he replied: "I am driving the people together. Tomorrow I shall assort them. Those who have important occupations I let go."

To the Deputy Regional Commissioner, Mr. Kallner, who had been riding with an escort across the market place, I expressed my disapproval of the method employed. To this he only answered: "We need labor for Germany."

On my drives throughout the villages I again and again noticed that the people live in great anxiety and that they are therefore not cooperating with us 100%.

In Kossovka, Onufriyevka, Krasno-Kamenka, the same incidents were observed on Sunday and reported to me. In Kossovka a girl and a woman were shot at that occasion.

The regional leader of agriculture, Count Dohna, told me that he had the greatest difficulties with his workers because people for whom he cannot find substitutes are constantly being arrested.

The physician of the local headquarters called me today to tell me that he treated a woman who had been beaten black and blue, in such a way as he had never experienced it before.

Through such medieval coercive measures, the bitterness among the civilian population increases steadily and the security of the region is being jeopardized.

In the outer districts, which border on regions infiltrated by partisans, we cannot count on very much assistance from the civilian population in our fight against the partisans.

I request the local headquarters to effect that other methods be applied for the allocation of labor.

Furthermore attention should be called to the fact that we demand full cooperation from our Hiwis.

The joy to cooperate is being taken away from many, if their wives, sisters, and mothers are treated in such a way.

A severe, just treatment of the Ukrainians is appropriate and will also be the quickest method to keep peace in the country.

[Signed] Erbsloeh,
Lieutenant of Military Police, First Lieutenant.

Certified true copy.

[David Thompson]

Extracts from the minutes of a meeting in the Reich Ministry of Labor, 24 September 1941, concerning the allocation of labor to Germany from German-Occupied Eastern Europe, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 964-967.

Partial Translation of Document NI-460, Prosecution Exhibit 1945.

Minutes of the Meeting on 24 September 1941.

Subject: Labor allocation of workers from the occupied Russian territories to Germany.

The Reich Labor Minister with a letter of 11 September 1941 requested the Reich Marshal and Plenipotentiary of the Four Year Plan to approve generally of the fact that miners for the German coal and ore mining industry would be hired at the ore mining fields of Krivoi-Rog. Director General Pleiger of the Reich Association Coal had at the same time submitted a similar request to the Reich Marshal following a journey through this territory. It appeared appropriate to invite immediately all Reich offices and Party offices concerned to the Reich Labor Ministry in order to discuss the entire problem. This discussion took place on 24 September 1941, at 1530 hours under the chairmanship of Department Chief Ministerial Counselor Dr. Timm.

The discussion proceeded as follows:

Department Chief Dr. Timm pointed out in short, as an introduction, the most difficult situation of the labor allocation problem and the extensive requirements of workers for war work, which made it necessary to assign any available reserves of laborers. It would, therefore, be necessary to investigate to what extent laborers from the occupied Russian territories could be used. The Reich Labor Ministry had, therefore, already approached the Reich Marshal with a letter dated 11 September 1941, especially in connection with the release of laborers from Krivoi-Rog for the mining industry. But also the possibility of hiring workers from the Baltic countries and other new Russian territories should be investigated. The Reich Marshal has already approved to a certain extent of the hiring of metal workers from the Baltic countries for the armament of the Air Force. The Reich Minister for Transportation has pointed out the possibility of withdrawing trained transportation personnel from the vicinity of Wilno, where allegedly about 5000 such workers would be available. Purpose of today's conference is therefore the discussion between the departments concerned and Party offices about the entire problem and to request all offices concerned to support this action to the utmost and to render decisions as soon as possible.

Senior Government Counselor Dr. Schmidt of the Office of the Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan made it known that the question has been submitted to the Reich Marshal who had decided that first of all agencies concerned should state their opinion before he renders his final decision as to whether laborers from the above named territories could be released for the mining industry, the armament industry, and the transportation sector.

The undersigned subsequently discussed the details under consideration.

1. Referring to the extent of the recruitment, the Reich Ministry for Labor suggests that at first the recruitment be limited basically to the new Russian territories (Baltic countries and the Russian part of the former Polish State). The recruitment within the territory around Lvov (Ukrainian Galicia), newly incorporated into the Government General, has already been approved by the Reich Leader SS and Chief of the German Police and is presently going on. The recruitment in the old Russian territories should be going on. The recruitment in the old Russian territories should be carried out only insofar as the recruitment possibilities in the new Russian territory have been exhausted or where specialized labor -- for example, miners -- is concerned which is not available in the new Russian territory. Furthermore the recruitment in the old Russian territory should at first be limited principally to the Ukraine. Personnel should only be recruited to cover the requirements absolutely necessary to the war effort; that is for mining, armament industries and the transportation sector. The Reich Ministry of Labor does not intend to permit the recruitment to start to any great extent, but wants to collect experiences first. A too intensive recruitment would be out of the question in any case because of the numerous technical difficulties.

2. As far as technical procedure of the recruitment is concerned the following is to be said:

a. Allocation only in closed groups and by voluntary enlistment. [Der Einsatz erfolgt grundsaetzlich nur geschlossen und in Form der freiwilligen Werbung]

b. Registration and recruitment through the labor allocation offices of the occupied territories reinforced by agents of the Reich Ministry of Labor.

c. Medical examination and decontamination--carried out twice in accordance with the regulations of the Reich Minister of the Interior--must be ensured. The Reich Ministry of Labor requests the support of the OKW if necessary in making troop physicians and decontamination equipment available.

d. The following ethnical groups are concerned: Lithuanians, Estonians, Latvians, Ukrainians, and Poles. The first four groups mentioned should be treated like all other foreign workers; for the Poles, the decrees concerning the Poles are to be applied. This question should be decided upon by the Reich Leader SS as soon as possible; at the same time he is requested to investigate how the determination of the ethnical groups to which the laborers belong should be carried out in the different recruiting areas. The designation of the ethnical groups could be marked on the transportation orders just as it was done during the Ukrainian-Galician recruiting drive.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Krull, of the High Command of the Armed Forces Military Economic and Armament Office, points out the fact that objections based on the activities of the partisans could not very well be decisive since those would also have to be considered in the new Russian territories. He declares that the High Command of the Armed Forces considers the allocation cf miners as most urgent and, therefore, recommends the recruiting drive in Krivoi-Rog.

Herr von Carlowitz of the Reich Association Coal also requests that the recruiting drive for miners be started as soon as at all possible. Based upon personal experiences while traveling within the territories of Krivoi-Rog, he believes that there are at least 10 to 12000 miners available. Just the quickest possible removal of the unemployed miners is in the interest of policy and police, since otherwise they would become victims of enemy propaganda.

Ministerial Counselor Dr. Timm summarizes, that certain counts of the discussion, particularly in the question of transportation, have led to a basic understanding. He requests that the remaining questions be speeded up, mainly the decision of the Reich Leader SS, upon which the carrying out of the action mainly depends. The individual questions which have already been touched will be discussed in special meetings with the authorities concerned.

Since the recruiting of miners in Krivoi-Rog is particularly urgent, this question should be further investigated by local conferences in Krivoi-Rog and Lvov.

The members of the Reich Association Coal requested that no meetingS be called in the Krivoi-Rog matter before the 29th of this month, because they will be away on duty until that date.

Signed: Dr. Letsch,
26 September 1941.

[David Thompson]

Decree signed by Koerner concerning the employment of Jews in Germany and the incorporated Eastern Territories, 3 October 1941", in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. p. 967.

Partial Translation of Document NID-13880, Prosecution Exhibit 2188.

1941 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, Page 675: Decree Concerning the Employment of Jews, 3 October 1941:

In pursuance of the Ordinance of 18 October 1936 (Reich Law Gazette I, p. 887), for implementation of the Four Year Plan it is ordered as follows:

Article 1: Jews who have been allocated to labor are subject to conditions of employment of a special nature.

Article 2: The Reich Minister of Labor is authorized to issue rules governing the conditions of employment pertaining to Jews in agreement with the Chief of the Party Chancellery and the Reich Minister of the Interior.

Article 3: This ordinance will also be in force in the Incorporated Eastern Territories.

It will be effective on the day of its promulgation. Berlin, 3 October 1941.

The Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan.
As Deputy: Koerner.

[David Thompson]

Letter from Koerner to the Reich Defense Council, for the attention of Lammers, 11 June 1942, transmitting and commenting upon draft regulations on the labor conditions for workers from the Eastern Occupied Territories, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 978-979.

Partial Translation of Document NG-1952, Prosecution Exhibit 2609.

RK 8411B 6/12/1942
[Handwritten] Kil-Bol-v. Stutt
[Handwritten] 100 1 enclosure 2x55
In the Chancellery, Berlin W8, Leipziger Strasse 3
11 June 1942.

The Reich Marshal of Greater Germany, Plenipotentiary for the Four Years Plan, V.P. 10245/2/3.

Express letter. [Illegible initials], [Illegible initials] 11 June 1942.

Subject: Labor conditions for workers from the Occupied Eastern Territories.

I am forwarding the attached regulations concerning the conditions for employment of the Eastern workers, which were sent to me by the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation, with the request for speedy action. The contents of the regulations are the result of a number of conferences which the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation held with the Ministers concerned. The Reich Ministers concerned approved the draft for this decree.

Conditions in the armament industry and in agriculture demand immediate action on this draft. The present regulations concerning conditions for the employment of Eastern workers have proved impractical. The speedy assignment of the Eastern workers, which has become imperative through conditions in the armament industry, would be endangered unless present conditions are replaced, without delay, with those provided in the decree.

These special reasons justify the war priority [Kriegsnotwendigkeit] of this decree.

I request to bring about the decision of the Council of Ministers for the Reich Defense. Since action will have to be taken as quickly as possible, I request to reduce the period of circulation to five days.

I enclose 55 copies of the law and of this letter.

As Deputy:
[Signed] Koerner,
Certified
[Signed] Schwinge, Ministerial Registrar.

*********************************************

To the Reich Defense Council.
Attention of the Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery,
[Form stamp, with handwritten entries].

1. For the agenda of the meeting of the Reich Defense Council--Matter to be decided 19 June 1942 (17 June 1942).

2. To be distributed.

3. II Ministerial Counselor Ostertag.

4. [Illegible] Ministerial Counselor Ostertag, 8 June 1942
[Handwritten note] Re 2, distributed, 12 June 1942. [Illegible initials].

[Extracts from the draft decree]. To: III b 11553/42 .Decree concerning Conditions for Employment of Eastern Workers of June 1942:

The Reich Defense Council decrees the following with the force of law:

Article I: Definition of the Eastern Worker.

Section I: Eastern workers are those workers of non-German nationality who were registered in the Reich Commissariat Ukraine, the General Commissariat White Ruthenia, or territories bordering in the East on those territories, and the former free states of Latvia and Estonia, and were brought into the German Reich including the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, after the Occupation through the German Armed Forces and are to be employed here.

Article II: Conditions of Employment:

Section 2: General Conditions: The Eastern workers employed in the Reich have special working conditions. The German regulations for labor and labor protection are to be applied to them only insofar as this [is] especially decreed.

[David Thompson]

Extract from the record of the conference of 13 July 1943 in the East Ministry attended by Koerner and Berger, concerning labor employment in the Reich under 'Special Consideration of the Conditions in the Occupied Eastern Territories', in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1016-1025.

Partial Translation of Document No-1831, Prosecution Exhibit 2385.

Main Division II, Berlin
20 August 1943
Diary No. H.A. II/V I secret/101/43,
Reporter: Senior Government Councillor Hermann.

Conference Memorandum. Subject: Problems concerning the employment of labor in the Reich under special consideration of the conditions in the Occupied Eastern Territories.
Time: Tuesday, 13 July 1943, 1700 hours.
Place: Berlin, Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, Unter den Linden 63.

Chairman: Reich Minister, Reichsleiter Rosenberg.

Participants: Gauleiter Dr. Meyer, Gauleiter Sauckel, Gauleiter Koch, State Secretary Backe, State Secretary Koerner, SS Lieutenant General Berger, Commissioner General Kube, KVV Chief Matthiesen.

The heads of the Main Divisions and Main Groups of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, as well as a few gentlemen from the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation and the Economic Staff East and from the Reich Ministry for Armament and Munitions.

Reich Minister Rosenberg declares the meeting open and gives expression to his opinion that certain problems concerning the East require general discussion. The tasks and problems on hand and their development should be regarded from the point of view of the Reich, and as a whole [Gesamtkomplex], and should be dealt with in future from this standpoint. Reich Minister Rosenberg deals in detail with the importance of the Eastern Territories, the demands put to the Eastern Territories by the Reich, as well as the problems concerning food, industry and man-power. The changes in the situation concerning bands are pointed out. Due to the duration of the war, and favored by the size and the geographical features of the territory, this situation has become a serious danger. The combating of bands, which has recently been consolidated under the command of the Reichsfuehrer SS and produced results by several large scale operations, is discussed. Reports from regional and district commissioners of partisan territories, showing clearly extent and effect of partisan activity, are read out in excerpt by the Minister. Then the demands of the Armed Forces, the OT, the national economy, and, in particular, the demands for manpower, are enumerated and the difficulties arising from the duplication and overlapping of work are clearly pointed out. Reich Minister Rosenberg points to the urgency and the usefulness of coordinating all demands and tasks connected with the East. Then the manpower problem, being of primary importance, is discussed, including all the difficulties connected with recruitment, transportation, and the drafting of more age groups to safeguard the supply of manpower. Reich Minister expresses his thanks to the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation, Gauleiter Sauckel, for the understanding he has shown and his cordial cooperation. The self-understood support of the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation in his tasks as laid down by the Fuehrer is discussed.

Gauleiter Sauckel gives an impressive picture of the labor allocation situation in the years 1942/43. Gauleiter Sauckel states: In the year 1942, conditioned by the winter campaign 1941/42 and its consequences, large forces of labor were brought to Germany to replace the newly drafted 1.5 million soldiers and for the enlargement of the Fuehrer program. Due to the large number of workers still existing in Europe in the year 1942, the number of 3 million was reached. Losses in troops and in territory, as well as the new Fuehrer program, entailed new great demands on the labor allocation. The demand was met with 1.1 million foreigners and 1.3 million German women and men from the action of 27 February 1943 and by hundreds of thousands through the action of stopping work in certain enterprises.

In connection with the problem of the treatment of the workers, Gauleiter Sauckel referred to the directives governing the treatment of workers from the East, issued at the time when he took on the task. He was resolved to punish severely serious violations. The performance of the workers from the East, in Particular of the Ukrainian women, whose performance outstripped that of all foreign men, is praised. Thereupon, Gauleiter Sauckel emphatically objects to being blamed for the sharp increase of partisan activity and points out that in the regions which had furnished the largest numbers of workers, partisans can hardly be found. In conclusion Gauleiter Sauckel demands a unified fixing and coordination of demands for labor-power. His responsible delegate for the Occupied Eastern Territories was the leader of the Main Department Labor in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, State Counselor Peukert.

Commissioner General Kube also demands obligatory reporting by the Railroad Administration.

Gauleiter Sauckel agrees, asks the Reich Minister for his support and generally demands an economical utilization of the still existing European manpower.

Reich Minister Rosenberg points out special mistakes in the transport and in the assignment of Eastern laborers, and asks, that misdirecting and overlapping be eliminated in the future by coordinating the total demands.

Gauleiter Sauckel states that 700000 Eastern laborers are immediately needed for industry and 150000 for agriculture. Beyond this, the continuous fluctuation owing to quitting, illness, and death necessitates constant new raising of Eastern laborers. Besides, he had the intention of granting a well-deserved leave to efficient Eastern laborers.

State Secretary Backe in this connection deals with the problems of transport and food supply. According to his statements, the Eastern laborers are well-fed at present. Further import of foreign manpower would cause great difficulties in the food situation. France for instance, together with the assignment of manpower, had to furnish the corresponding contingent of food supplies; equally, the amount of supply to be furnished by the Occupied Eastern Territories will still have to be considerably increased. Attention was given to the statement that the amount of grain needed in the 5th year of the war was 5 times as high as in the first year of the war.

Gauleiter Sauckel is also of the opinion that a higher amount of food stuff as well as of manpower must be taken out of the Occupied Eastern Territories. Quoting examples, Gauleiter Sauckel gives a survey of the black market dealings which make it possible to lay hands on additional food and consumer's goods for the Reich. In addition, the existing difficulties concerning the food situation of the German workers above and over 45 years of age are emphasized.

Reich Minister Rosenberg also deals briefly with the food problem under discussion and, on the basis of reports of several Commissioners General, points out the difficulties and losses in the production and collection resulting from guerrilla activities.

Gauleiter Sauckel acknowledged the difficulties. Reich Minister Rosenberg cited as an example of the extent and the gravity of the partisan danger, the conditions in the District General Shitomir where, according to a report of the Commissioner General, 4500 people, Germans as well as indigenous persons, had been killed within one year.

SS Lieutenant General Berger draws an impressive picture of the situation with regard to the partisans and the fight against them, with all its difficulties, but, also, its successes. The excellent combat activity of a Sonderkommando, of the Death Head Division [Totenkopfdivision], and last, but not least, of the Police units, which are partly composed of older reservists, are mentioned. SS Lieutenant General Berger stresses the fact that the combat against partisans will now be continued under the uniform authority of the Reich Leader SS by means of large-scale operations. After a large-scale operation in the Government General, actions will now be undertaken in the Ukraine, in the District General White Ruthenia, and finally again in the Ukraine.

Gauleiter Sauckel referred subsequently to the necessary assignment of 300000 prisoners of war from the East for mining. Gauleiter Sauckel suggests to declare the partisan territories to be theaters of operations and to evacuate them, that is, to bring the men who are suitable for mining to the mines in the Reich, and part of the women, to work on the land. The rest of the women and children, on the other hand, to be assigned for agricultural work in the Occupied Eastern Territories.

Gauleiter Koch demands the demobilization of the so-called Liberation Army Vlassov and the labor commitment of the Hilfswilligen. [The term "Hilfswilligen" or "Hiwi," Literally "those willing to help," refers to members of indigenous auxiliary units of the German military forces in the East. The Hiwi were mainly engaged in noncombatant tasks such as labor and servicing details.] A corresponding order by the Fuehrer, which will leave no doubt concerning this matter, will have to be initiated. Gauleiter Koch discusses then the overstaffed military administration in the Army Rear Area, where about half a million men are not employed to full capacity. The demand for the closing down of the Army Rear Area has to be submitted at once. The civil administration would carry out the task of the military administration in the Army Group Rear Area [rueckwaertiges Heeresgebiet] with a small staff. The dissolution of the Army Group Rear Area would release Germans and indigenous personnel for other jobs. In addition the 1.5 million Hilfswilligen could be transferred by Gauleiter Sauckel for labor allocation in the Reich. All other measures would only be, and remain, half measures.

Reich Minister Rosenberg states the unanimous opinion of all participants with regard to the decisive questions of the Army Group Rear Areas and the request for screening the Hilfswilligen and emphasizes the fact that he had voiced the same opinion on the occasion of his visit to Field Marshal von Manstein. Reich Minister Rosenberg considers the Army Group Rear Areas institution [Einrichtung] in the present situation as not answering the purpose from the political and economic point of view.

State Secretary Koerner promises to support the motion of closing down the Army Group Rear Area before the Reich Marshal.

Reich Minister Rosenberg considers the transfer of the territories Crimea, Eastern White Ruthenia, and perhaps Stalino, to the civil administration as necessary.

Gauleiter Sauckel describes a discussion with Field Marshal von Manstein and discusses in detail a demand of the latter for the assignment of 500000 men for work on fortifications. Field Marshal von Manstein justified this demand with the bad working performance of the Eastern workers which amounted to not more than a third of that of the Germans. In addition, Field Marshal von Manstein demanded the assignment of members of the Labor Service as foremen for the carrying out of the fortification work.

Commissioner General Kube agreed with the statements of Gauleiter Koch and mentioned approvingly the anti-partisan operations of SS Lieutenant General von dem Bach and SS Brigadier General Gottberg. Commissioner General Kube emphasized that the larger part of White Ruthenia was under military administration. It would be absolutely necessary to transfer it to the civil administration. The well-founded indication that the combating of partisans by large-scale actions should run parallel to the work of the raiding detachments found due regard. Commissioner General Kube was of the opinion that White Ruthenia would be able to furnish the labor contingent as demanded by the Plenipotentiary for Labor Allocation, if entire areas were evacuated and the population transferred to the Reich, family by family. Any breaking-up of families would only cause considerable unrest in the land. Moreover, the evacuation must be carried out along peaceful lines under all circumstances, and the transportation and all other measures must be well planned and the treatment must be decent. Labor recruiting of the OT and labor allocation by the OT of Poles for the purposes of peat cutting and for the production of fuel is discussed in detail and described as undesirable. Any withdrawal of labor by the OT must be entered on the credit side of the District General by the Plenipotentiary for Labor Allocation.

Gauleiter Sauckel emphasizes the absolute duty of the OT to report to the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation.

Commissioner General Kube then deals in detail with the Jewish problem in White Ruthenia, where 16000 Jews are still at work for the Wehrmacht in the enterprises for the construction of farmers' carts, mainly at Minsk and Lida. The planned evacuation of the Jews is advocated by the Commissioner General, but their replacement by other labor is requested at the same time so that the production program will be maintained.

Gauleiter Dr. Meyer mentioned the resettlement of 22000 Jews and the concentration of 50000 Jews in concentration camps in the Eastern Territories and emphasizes that the same must be replaced by the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation.

The Chief of War Administration Kueper points to the work of 400000 Poles in White Ruthenia who, except for some men in leading position, could not be replaced. The southern fertile steppes of the Ukraine which, in addition, have good labor must be spared, it was said. The report that there were, for example, 800000 hectars of spring planting in the District General of Nikolaev, and that 200000 of them would have to be cut with machines and the rest by hand, was given due attention. The same conditions prevail in the District General of Dnepropetrovsk and in the Crimea, while conditions are more favorable in the northern districts.

In case of any intended evacuation, the Chief of War Administration Kueper requests that Zone 2 of the District General of Volhynia should be spared, because it is a fertile district (30000 tons of grain, 40000 tons of livestock, 8-10000 tons of fat).

SS Lieutenant General Berger mentions the labor allocation of Jews in concentration camps for the purposes of the clothing and armament industry, and for the production of shale oil.

Gauleiter Sauckel has no objection to such allocation but says that he will not be able to replace withdrawn labor at present.

Chief of War Administration [KVV Chef] Matthiesen refers to the order of the Reich Leader SS relating to the concentration of Jews in concentration camps which, however, must not result in losses of production. The labor situation in the Eastern Territories is then treated in detail. Chief of War Administration Matthiesen stresses the deportations by the Russians which amount to 10% in Estonia, and to 6% in Latvia. In addition, as a result of the establishment of Armed Forces units and indigenous police units of the SS, the existing labor situation is weak. A sizeable contingent of Hilfswilligen has also been established whose transfer to the Legion was welcomed.

SS lieutenant General Berger emphasizes that apart from the replacement units for the Latvian Division [Reference is apparently to the 15th SS Infantry Division.] of 5000 men and the Esthonian Division [Reference is apparently to the 20th SS Infantry Division.] of 12000 men, no further inductions, or rather transfers, are to be effected. KVV Chief Matthiesen suggests that the Hilfswilligen who have already been inducted be put at the disposal of the SS. A stronger recruiting campaign is considered impossible by KVV Chief Matthiesen in view of the existing partisan danger, and especially since Latvia and Esthonia have been exhausted of manpower. KVV Chief Matthiesen then mentioned the treatment of the Latvian and Esthonian women during their labor assignment in the Reich. The request is made that they receive special treatment.

Gauleiter Sauckel asks SS Lieutenant General Berger for support in the changing of the instructions pertaining to treatment, and addresses the questions to Reich Minister Rosenberg whether Lithuanian women also fall under this regulation.

Reich Minister Rosenberg closes the meeting with a vote of thanks to all present, expressing his satisfaction that all suggestions for assisting Gauleiter Sauckel had been carried unanimously and stated that he would report the result to the Fuehrer. Reich Minister Rosenberg hopes that in view of the planned relocation to the East of industrial production, another conference would be convened here.

[David Thompson]

Memorandum for the record of Berger on the Conference of 13 July 1943 in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, concerning labor recruitment in the East and other matters, and attended, among others, By Berger and Koerner", in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1023-1025.

Translation of Document No-3370, Prosecution Exhibit 2376.

[The official minutes of this conference are contained in Document No-1831, Prosecution Exhibit 2385, reproduced in part immediately above.]

[Stamp] Personal Staff of the Reich Leader SS
Document Control
Secret/113
Berlin
14 July 1943.

The Reich Leader SS
Chief of the SS Main Office
CDSSHA/Be/W/VS-Diary-No. /43 top secret
Adjutant's Office No. /43 top secret.

Memorandum for the Record.

On 13 July 1943, 1700 hours, a conference in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories took place. Among those present were Koch, [Erich Koch, Gauleiter of East Prussia, Reich Commissioner for the Ukraine.] Sauckel, Kube, [Wilhelm Kube, Reich Commissioner of White Ruthenia.] Meyer, [Alfred Meyer, Gauleiter of Westphalia North and permanent deputy of Rosenberg in the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories.] Koerner, Backe, and other gentlemen of the Ministry. I cannot help feeling that the conference was originally called in order to sing again the old tune: "Get rid of the partisans, or you'll get no grain." After an introduction by Reich Leader Rosenberg, which contained nothing new, Sauckel spoke about the total labor assignment. He pointed out on this occasion that we had put to work 3 million people from the East and the West in 1942; in addition there would be in 1943, 1.3 million women from Germany and 1.1 million foreigners. With the assignment of the German women, the German potential was completely exhausted. Furthermore, there was no large labor force obtainable from the West unless the states would be compelled to furnish the very same number of workers which they would assign if they were at war with Germany. For this reason, the assignment of people from the East was necessary to an especially high degree. Here he placed very special emphasis on the women from the East. After half a year of training there would be very many Ukrainian women who in the high-class industries, for example, at Zeiss in Jena, would already surpass the efficiency curve of German skilled workers. The Reich Commissioners stated that they, for their part, would be unable to supply large numbers of additional workers, and pointed out the immense number of Hilfswilligen who would number between 600000 and 1.2 million. According to Backe, there are 1.4 million who, to be sure, are being fed, but have not been usefully employed. It was further shown through a number of examples how the rear echelons had sucked themselves full like sponges, and there were countless agencies which had five or six times the personnel originally assigned to them even for the heaviest workload. State Secretary Backe mentioned the unfolding of all these questions relating to the food potential. Today Sauckel is to see the Fuehrer for the purpose of discussing these questions with him.

After the partisan activity had again been broached, I rejected all accusations most strongly and once and for all stated I would not tolerate any interference with the jurisdiction of the Reich Leader SS by people who don't understand a thing and who furthermore--and this, I said, was the saddest thing I had experienced -- are deceived by any atrocity tale [Tartarenmeldung] from any savage native [wilden Einheimischen] and would put it before the Reich East Ministry with suitable quotations and added frills. Koch supported me and pointed out that it was quite ridiculous to speak so much of partisans. For the rest, the situation was such that in the agricultural districts there were hardly any partisans left, as was well-known, but more in the wooded areas from which not many agricultural products, except timber, could be extracted.

Sauckel defended himself very strongly, too. In the East Ministry one had always spoken as though his actions had called the partisans to life. He had received clear orders from the Fuehrer, and without the support afforded him by Koch, many Tiger and Panther tanks would not be in operation today.

This, for the first time, was a conference at the East Ministry where not only I spoke clearly and distinctly, but others, too! And that was the only good feature of the matter.

In the following points I ask for a decision of the Reich Leader SS:

1. Estonian and Latvian women who enter the Reich are treated in exactly the same way as women from the East. They have to sign a declaration promising, among other things, that they will not have sexual intercourse with Germans. But frequently they are wives, sisters, or fiancees of SS members who suffered greatly under the Bolshevists and want to join voluntarily. I ask that the Estonian and Latvian women be excepted from the usual regulations concerning women from the East.

2. Lithuania has not been worked upon at all as far as labor is concerned. The police forces in that district are too weak, however, and say that, in case labor is conscripted by force there would be large partisan gangs. I would suggest that after the termination of the actions in Central Russia and North-Ukraine, a strong action for labor conscription in Lithuania is initiated.

3. By order of the Reich Leader SS, the Jews in Minsk must either be resettled or turned over to a concentration camp. Now Kube has in his district a large farm cart factory with 4000 Jews, and says that he would have to close down this factory immediately if the Jews were taken away. I suggested to him to contact the Reich Leader SS via the Higher SS and Police Leader [of Ostland] and perhaps to convert this factory into a concentration camp. This would mean, however, that he would lose them but since, as he says, only cart production is concerned, this would not mean a sacrifice for him.

End of conference 1945 hours.
Koch took French leave about 1800 hours.

[Handwritten]
[Signed] Berger
SS Lieutenant General.

Certified.
[Signed] Roesch
SS Second Lieutenant and Adjutant.

[David Thompson]

Letter from Rudolf Brandt to Berger, 20 August 1943, responding to Berger's note of 13 July 1943 and giving Himmler's decision on the three points raised by Berger's note, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1026-1027.

Translation of Document No-3304, Prosecution Exhibit 2377.

The Reich Leader SS
Personal Staff
Diary No. 1724/43
Secret.

Field Command Quarters
20 August 1943.

Bra/H.
[Stamp] Personal Staff Reich Leader SS
Document Control
Secret/113
[Stamp] Secret.

To SS Lieutenant General Berger, Chief of the SS Main Office, Berlin.

Dear Lieutenant General:

The Reich Leader SS has seen your note about the conference at the Reich East Ministry of 13 July 1943. [Document No-3370, Prosecution Exhibit 2376, reproduced immediately above.]

At the end of the note you asked for three decisions of the Reich Leader SS which unfortunately I have not yet communicated to you.

Re No. 1. The Reich Leader SS has decided that, of course, the Estonian and Latvian women who come to the Reich must not be treated like the other women from the East. I have today written to the Chief of Security Police and the SD but ask you to get in touch with the Reich Security Main Office from your end as well.

Re No. 2. The Reich Leader SS has noted that sufficient forces for the labor conscription in Lithuania will be allocated at the proper time when the fighting of partisans and other conditions permit this.

Re No. 3. The decision is that by order of the Reich Leader SS, the Jews are to be taken out of Minsk and to Lublin or to another place. The present production can be transferred to a concentration camp.

Heil Hitler!
Yours,
[Initials] R. B. [Rudolf Brandt],
SS Lieutenant Colonel.

(2) Counterintelligence Office Suchanek
(3) SS Captain Faelschlein
(4) To the file [illegible initials], 6.10.

[David Thompson]

Letter from Pleiger to Sauckel, 5 August 1943, recommending steps to be taken with respect to Eastern workers who leave jobs in the coal mines and noting that the same letter has been sent to Himmler and Kaltenbrunner, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1027-1029.

Translation of Document NG-5701, Prosecution Exhibit 3788.

5 August 1943
Gauleiter Sauckel
Plenipotentiary for Labor Allocation
Berlin SW 11, Saarlandstr. 96.

Dear Party Member Sauckel:

For a long time I am informing the labor employment authorities that the Eastern workers, Poles and also Ukrainians employed in coal mining, are leaving their jobs in great numbers. Reasons therefore are, dislike of work in the mines in general, particularly strong among workers from different plants and, in first line, among those transferred to the mines from agriculture. In Western German areas the effect of enemy bombing is added, which is getting these Eastern workers out on the road in dangerous numbers, and to looking for a more convenient and secure job. Already now it has gained such an extent that in my opinion, aside from the results on production, the security of the country, too, is seriously in danger. As countermeasures, absolutely necessary, the following steps should be taken:

1. To make it possible to get hold of fugitives, the name of the plant, its Reich plant number or the number of the Labor Office is to be stamped durably into the individual underwear and clothing of the Eastern worker, etc. In addition, each Eastern worker is to be given an identification tag and an identification card (work book) containing his picture. Both must indicate in figures which is the Labor Office dealing with his employment, and where he is employed. The plan already considered of organizing a Reich card index with finger printing appears to me to be very advisable.

2. The Eastern workers have to confirm with their signatures that they were told to report immediately to the plant the loss of the identification tag and of the identification card, and that the neglect to do that or the removal of the marks in the clothing is subject to
severe punishment (concentration camp for a longer period).

3. Eastern workers and Poles caught when trying to escape, and also Ukrainians escaped or not returned from their vacations, are to be taken back on principle to the plant which they had left without permission. An agreement of this sort is in existence between the Reich Leader SS and the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation. However, it was not applied in regard to Eastern workers, and to the others evidently only rarely applied. Even if the place where they are caught is very distant from the place where they had their old job, the workers have to be taken back, and that has to be done for reasons of education in respect to the other Eastern workers, and also in order not to reduce the distance in case of a second escape.

4. Should a treatment by the state police be considered to be necessary, then it is to be limited to an assignment to the labor education camp [Arbeitserziehungslager] for the duration of 6 weeks at the utmost. (A longer duration of the reeducation has shown itself to be of no good effect on the capacity of work of the escapees.) Only in particularly grave cases is the escapee to be put into a concentration camp.

5. The directives according to which the labor allocation authorities allocate workers of no distinct origin only after [obtaining] a definite and flawless clearance, and then only in agreement with this regulation, and according to which public and private establishments are not permitted to employ workers without their express allocation by the labor office which is competent to do that, should be remembered in view of the considerable shortage of labor and should be enforced.

6. In the execution, and in making known these regulations, I think the following points are particularly important: just like today any German may be requested at any time to establish his identity, just as it is a matter of course that all members of the Wehrmacht have an identification tag and a pass, the foreigners too must be given an identification tag of their plant and a pass. In my opinion one could do away with the mark "East," especially as it is looked upon as a sort of defamation. The Eastern workers and the other foreigners must be given to understand that these regulations are corresponding to what is required of the Germans too. In the interest not alone of the labor employment situation in coal mining, but also and primarily of the security in some mining areas, I should be grateful to you if you would consider the above suggestions as soon as possible, if necessary make amendments to them, but at any rate realize them very soon. I have sent identical letters to the Reich Leader SS Himmler and to the Chief of the Security Police, Dr. Kaltenbrunner.

Heil Hitler,
Yours,
[Initial] P [Pleiger].

[David Thompson]

Teletype from Gauleiter Meyer to Berger, 2 September 1943, concerning the assignment of stronger police forces to Lithuania in connection with labor recruitment drives, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1031-1032.

Translation of Document No-3099, Prosecution Exhibit 3356.

[Stamp] Personal Staff Reich Leader SS
Administration of documents
Secret!

* * *

SSD, RMOB No. 2013 2 September 1943 1620
SS Lieutenant General Berger, Field Command Post of the Reich Leader SS.
Subject: Allocation of police in Lithuania.

In yesterday's meeting Commissioner General Dr. von Rentelen and Regional Commissioners explained that requisitions for labor by the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation can only be fulfilled under present conditions if the securing of all members of age groups called upon is made possible through an allocation of stronger police forces. The Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation has made known that he urgently requires Lithuanian labor for the Reich armament industry. Before the Commissioner General called further age classes to fill the requirements of the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation, SS Lieutenant Generals Jeckeln and von dem Bach declared, as reported here yesterday, that they could guarantee, and, in case of need, enforce success of these measures by employing police forces. Relying upon this promise, the Reich Commissioner [Gauleiter Lohse], in spite of most serious doubts of a different origin, approved the calling up of those classes. As sufficient police forces were actually not available, Lithuanians concerned were able to flee into the woods. Thereby not only making impossible at present the meeting of requirements but moreover [causing] most serious harm to the Lithuanian economy which supplies Army Group North with a considerable portion of its requirements, for employees who, in the interest of production in Lithuania were to remain in their plants, also fled in masses from factories. Therefore some factories have already compulsory induction of all called up classes. That is why some factories had to close already. Continuance of others is endangered.

Compulsory induction of called up classes no doubt will have considerable political reactions. Yet it has to be considered that the insubordination has spread considerably and the renunciation of the plan to carry through the mustering once ordered would severely harm the reputation of the Reich. Regional Commissioners, who were here yesterday, regarded as sufficient an increase of the police force in each Kreis district to 90-100 well-trained policemen, fit for independent duty. In order to carry through full authority of German national administration permanently--apart from the fact that especially such policemen will not be available such measures would not have as quick a reaction as is required at present.

Reich Commissioner Lohse requested to protect all plants militarily important as well as agriculture against a decrease of manpower endangering success of work. However, I am of the opinion that at present the requirement of the considerably intensified German armament industry has preference. For reasons stated I ask to discuss with the Reich Leader SS the assignment of stronger police forces to Lithuania, the strength of which would have to be designated by [SS] Lieutenant General Jeckeln. It must be taken into consideration, however, that they cannot be withdrawn immediately after these labor allocation measures have been carried out, but that they will still have to remain there until conditions have generally been mitigated again, and that they will have to protect the continuation of production in Lithuanian factories. Please inform Reich Leader SS that in case strong police forces are not allocated, serious prestige losses and loss of considerable manpower for the German armament industry will result.

Ministry for the Eastern Territories,
BSTV. 181 A/43 secret.
Signed: Alfred Meyer,
2040 one (1) KA/SAHA.
Certified true copy,
[Illegible signature]
SS Second Lieutenant and adjutant.

[Illegible shorthand notes].

********************************************************

Teletype From Gauleiter Meyer to Defendant Berger, 2 September 1943, Concerning the Assignment of Stronger Police Forces to Lithuania in Connection With Labor Recruitment Drives, and Letter From Berger's Office Requesting That the Teletype Be Submitted to Himmler, 7 September 1943: Letter From Berger's Office to Himmler's Office, 7 September 1943, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. p. 1033.

Translation of Document No-3099, Prosecution Exhibit 3356.

[Stamp] Personal Staff Reich Leader SS
Administration of documents
File No. secret/264
Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Hohenzollerndamm 31, P.O.B. 58.
7 September 1943

The Reich Leader SS
Chief of the SS Main Office
Adj./Dr.Str./Dr./ Secret File No. 5582/43 secret
Adjtr. File No. 2794/43 secret.

Answering please state a/m file No. and date.

Subject: Allocation of police in Lithuania.

Reference: Teletype letter of Gauleiter Meyer of 2 September 1943.

Enclosure: 1 copy.

To the Reich Leader SS, Personal Staff, c/o SS Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Brandt
Berlin SW 11, Prinz Albrecht-Str. 8.

Dear Lieutenant Colonel!

By order of the [SS] Lieutenant General [defendant Berger] I transmit enclosed copy of a teletype letter of Gauleiter Meyer concerning allocation of police in Lithuania, requesting that it will be submitted to the Reich Leader SS.

Because of misdirection on the part of the East Ministry and long absence of the [SS] Lieutenant General, transmission of the teletype letter has been delayed.

Heil Hitler!
[Signed] Roesch
SS Second Lieutenant and Adjutant.

[Stamp] Personal Staff Reich Leader SS
Received: 9/7/1943, File No.
Initial.

[David Thompson]

Teletype from Lohse, Reich Commissioner for the Ostland, to Martin Bormann, 23 March 1944, concerning conflicting demands for conscription of thousands of Estonians and Lithuanians by various German agencies and requesting a Hitler Decision that all demands to Ostland go through channels, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 13: United States of America v. Ernst von Weizsaecker, et al. (Case 11: 'Ministries Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1952. pp. 1068-1069.

Partial Translation of Document NG-1330, Prosecution Exhibit 2624.

copy (Teletype).

Gauleitung Schleswig-Holstein [Reich Commissioner Lohse was also Gauleiter of Schleswig-Holstein]
25 March 1944, 1020 hours.

To Reich Leader, Party Member Bormann
Fuehrer's Headquarters.

Secret. Subject: Teletype message of 24 March 1944.

Dear Party Member Bormann:

The Fuehrer's mobilization order has become known to me only as regards Estonia by teletype of Field Marshal Keitel; according to this order, conscription [Aushebung] by the Waffen SS must be promoted with all means at our disposal regardless of economic considerations. About the intended conscription of a further 10000 men in Latvia, beyond the figure of 20000 fixed on 16 November 1943 at a conference with the Fuehrer I have only learned from SS Lieutenant General Jeckeln, who referred to a corresponding order of the Reich Leader [SS], of which I know nothing. This was confirmed to me only in reply to my teletype inquiry of 31 January 1944, which I sent to you. I had asked the Reich Leader [SS] by letter of 8 February 1944 to inform me in time of further drafts [weitere Einberufungen] Concerning Lithuania, however, I unfortunately again learned only from the Higher SS and Police Leader, who is subordinate to me, that the Reich Leader [SS] has given orders to him by telephone to conscript Arm helpers [Kampfhelfer] Air Force helpers etc. Up to now I have received, neither from the Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories nor from the Reich Leader [SS], any verbal or written instruction or notification.

The drafting of 50000 Army helpers for Army Group North I could subsequently discuss with Reich Minister Rosenberg and with the Reich Leader [SS] on 24 February 1944 in Munich. After this conference however, a further 30000 Lithuanians were in the same manner required for Air Force Service; 18500 men for at first one division, and finally, young people as antiaircraft helpers for the Reich. Just now the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation phones me that Field Marshal Keitel demands from the Plenipotentiary General for Labor Allocation, 40000 Lithuanian draftees for the Navy. Apart from this, the Plenipotentiary General has made his well known demand for 100000 Lithuanian workers for the Reich. In all this we have no instruction which of these demands to Lithuania has priority. While Sauckel with perfect justice insists on the 100000 men duly requested by him through the Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories being first allocated, the SS demands priority for its own requirements. Owing to the difficult political situation in Lithuania, it must be feared that these uncontrollable encroachments into the tasks of the administrative powers [Hoheitsverwaltung] will in the end lead to a failure, apart from the fact that no ordered administration can be maintained with such methods prevailing. Meanwhile General Model has informed me that, for the time being, he needs only 20000 Army helpers. Without letting me know, he recently conducted negotiations to this effect with the Lithuanian representative. Accordingly, I must state that I, in my capacity of responsible holder of sovereignty, have received neither verbal nor written instructions concerning this whole demand; and that not only are demands made by several agencies, but that also the civilian agencies, the SS and police agencies, and in the end also military agencies, negotiate with the indigenous representatives without letting me know.

I would therefore like to make the urgent request to you to in a decision of the Fuehrer, that all demands to Ostland made by any military and civilian agency must go through channels. All experiences have shown that the assertion is wrong that channels are too complicated.

Heil Hitler!
Yours
Signed: Lohse.