“The Crimea has to be evacuated by all foreigners and to be settled by Germans alone.” (L-221)
Hitler further stated that Germany’s objectives in the East were three-fold, first, to dominate it; second, to administer it; third, to exploit it. (L-221)
Thus, the character of the administration contemplated for the Occupied East was well established before Rosenberg took office as Minister of the Occupied East. He knew of these plans and was in accord with them. Persecution of the Jews, forced labor of prisoners of war, Germanization and exploitation were basic points of policy at the time he assumed office.
(2) Activities as Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories. On 17 July 1941 Hitler appointed Rosenberg as Reichsminister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, territories which included nearly all the area seized by Germany from the U. S. S. R. (1997-PS)
(a) Rosenberg’s complete control over, knowledge of, and responsibility for all non-military German activities and policies in the occupied Eastern Territories. The organizational structure and chain of responsibility within the Ministry for the Occupied East emphasizes Rosenberg’s responsibility.
A treatise entitled “The Organization of the Administration of the Occupied Eastern Territories” (1056-PS) is undated and unsigned, but further information regarding it may be obtained by reference to document EC-347, Goering’s “Green Folder.” Part II, subsection of EC-347 is entitled,
“Excerpts from the Directives of the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories for the Civilian Administration. (Brown Folder, Pt. I, pp. 25-30).” (EC-347)
The two paragraphs which follow are identical to two paragraphs found in document 1056-PS. Thus, 1056-PS is identified as being a reproduction of Part I of the Brown Folder which was mentioned in the “Green Folder,” and was issued by the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories.
The directives issued by the Rosenberg Ministry itself (1056-PS) prove the extent of Rosenberg’s authority: he was the Supreme civilian authority in the Eastern Territories. There was a continuous chain of command from Rosenberg down to regional administrative officials, extending even to the local prison warden (1056-PS). The relationship which existed between the Rosenberg Ministry and other German agencies varied from full control by Rosenberg, to close cooperation with them made mandatory by his directives and by Hitler’s orders. Finally, the various subdivisions of the Ministry, were required to submit period-reports of the situation within their jurisdiction—so that the numerous reports of brutality which Rosenberg received were submitted to him pursuant to his orders. (1056-PS)
The treatise on the organization of Rosenberg’s ministry states as follows: