IMT: Documents on Suppression of the Christian Churches

[David Thompson]

Document R-145: State Police Order, 28 May 1934, at Duesseldorf, signed Schmid, concerning sanction of denominational youth and professional associations and distribution of publications in churches, in Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, Volume VIII, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC: 1946, pp. 248-249.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT R-145

Copy
The President of the Government,
State Police Office for the District of Duesseldorf,
Branch 11/67

State Police Order concerning the sanction of denominational youth and professional associations and the distribution of publications in churches and through church publishing houses.

On the basis of paragraph 1 of the law of the Reich President for the Protection of. People and State of 28 February 1933 [Reichsgesetzblatt I, p. 83] as well as on the basis of the law for Police Administration of 1 June 1931 [G.S. p. 77] the following state police regulation will take effect within the Duesseldorf district
I

1. Denominational youth and professional organizations as well

248

as those created for special occasions only are prohibited from every public activity outside the church and religious sphere.

Especially forbidden is: Any public appearance in groups, all sorts of political activity. Any public short function including public hikes and establishment of holiday or outdoor camps. The public display or showing of flags, banners, pennants, or the open wearing of uniforms or insignia. Still permissible is the holding of closed denominational youth and professional associations in church buildings without uniform or insignia ; particularly at traditional processions, pilgrimages and church burials. On these occasions the public display of banners and flags blessed by the church is permitted.

2. The distribution and sale of published items of any sort in connection with worship or religious instructions in public streets or squares near churches is forbidden. In the same sense the distribution and sale of published items on the occasion of processions, pilgrimages, and similar church institutions in the streets or squares they pass through or in their vicinity is prohibited.

II

For every incident of non-compliance with this law there will be a fine imposed up to 150 Reichsmarks, in the event that this imposition cannot be met imprisonment up to 3 months will be threatened. This does not exclude punishment according to other penal provisions on such subjects.

III

This ordinance comes into effect on the day of publication. On the same day my police regulations of 1 and 20 February 1934—Governmental Journal, Executive Part 67, p. 169, no. 332, as well as for 27 April 1934—Part 11/67 Governmental Journal, p. 169, no. 333—are rescinded.

—Duesseldorf, 28 May 1934
The President of the Government State Police Office for the Duesseldorf district,
Signed: Schmid.

249

This concludes the documents given in the exhibit list, though there are many more unlisted documents on the subject of the Nazi state and the churches scattered throughout the 8-volume NC&A set.