“The political leaders who have been transferred from the NSBO to the German Labor Front guarantee the ideological education of the DAF in the spirit of the National Socialistic idea.” (2271-PS)
The foregoing evidence fixes upon the Leadership Corps of the Nazi Party responsibility for participation in the measures leading to the destruction of the independent trade unions and to Nazi Party control over the productive capacity of the German Labor Movement. Not only were these actions directed by Ley in his capacity as Reichsleiter, but they were supervised on a regional basis by the Gauleiter as district representatives of the Leadership Corps. Moreover, the German Labor Front (DAF) which replaced the dissolved trade unions was an affiliated organization of the NSDAP and, as such, remained under the control of the Leadership Corps and was employed by it to nazify the labor population of Germany.
(f) Plunder of Art Treasures. The Leadership Corps of the NSDAP is also responsible for the plundering of art treasures by Reichsleiter Rosenberg’s Einsatzstab Rosenberg, the activities of which are discussed in full in Chapter XIV.
LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE NAZI PARTY LEADERSHIP CORPS
| Document | Description | Vol. | Page |
| Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Article 9. | I | 6 | |
| International Military Tribunal, Indictment Number 1, Section IV (H); Appendix B. | I | 29, 69 | |
| ———— | |||
| Note: A single asterisk (*) before a document indicates that the document was received in evidence at the Nurnberg trial. A double asterisk (**) before a document number indicates that the document was referred to during the trial but was not formally received in evidence, for the reason given in parentheses following the description of the document. The USA series number, given in parentheses following the description of the document, is the official exhibit number assigned by the court. | |||
| ———— | |||
| *004-PS | Report submitted by Rosenberg to Deputy of the Fuehrer, 15 June 1940, on the Political Preparation of the Norway Action. (GB 140) | III | 19 |
| *057-PS | Circular letter from Bormann to Political Leaders, 30 May 1944, concerning justice exercised by people against Anglo-American murderers. (USA 329) | III | 102 |
| *064-PS | Bormann’s letter to Rosenberg, 27 September 1940, enclosing letter from Gauleiter Florian criticizing churches and publications for soldiers. (USA 359) | III | 109 |
| 070-PS | Letter of Deputy Fuehrer to Rosenberg, 25 April 1941, on substitution of National Socialist mottos for morning prayers in schools.(USA 349) | III | 118 |
| *071-PS | Rosenberg letter to Bormann, 23 April 1941, replying to Bormann’s letter of 19 April 1941 (Document 072-PS). (USA 371) | III | 119 |
| *072-PS | Bormann letter to Rosenberg, 19 April 1941, concerning confiscation of property, especially of art treasures in the East. (USA 357) | III | 122 |
| *089-PS | Letter from Bormann to Rosenberg, 8 March 1940, instructing Amann not to issue further newsprint to confessional newspapers. (USA 360) | III | 147 |
| *090-PS | Letter from Rosenberg to Schwarz, 28 January 1941, concerning registration and collection of art treasures. (USA 372) | III | 148 |
| *098-PS | Bormann’s letter to Rosenberg, 22 February 1940, urging creation of National Socialist Catechism, etc. to provide moral foundation for NS religion. (USA 350) | III | 152 |
| *100-PS | Bormann’s letter to Rosenberg, 18 January 1940, urging preparation of National Socialist reading material to replace Christian literature for soldiers. (USA 691) | III | 160 |
| *101-PS | Letter from Hess’ office signed Bormann to Rosenberg, 17 January 1940, concerning undesirability of religious literature for members of the Wehrmacht. (USA 361) | III | 160 |
| 107-PS | Circular letter signed Bormann, 17 June 1938, enclosing directions prohibiting participation of Reichsarbeitsdienst in religious celebrations. (USA 351) | III | 162 |
| *116-PS | Bormann’s letter to Rosenberg, enclosing copy of letter, 24 January 1939, to Minister of Education requesting restriction or elimination of theological faculties. (USA 685) | III | 165 |
| *122-PS | Bormann’s letter to Rosenberg, 17 April 1939, enclosing copy of Minister of Education letter, 6 April 1939, on elimination of theological faculties in various universities. (USA 362) | III | 173 |
| *136-PS | Certified copy of Hitler Order, 29 January 1940, concerning establishment of “Hohe Schule”. (USA 367) | III | 184 |
| *137-PS | Copy of Order from Keitel to Commanding General of Netherlands, 5 July 1940, to cooperate with the Einsatzstab Rosenberg. (USA 379) | III | 185 |
| *141-PS | Goering Order, 5 November 1940, concerning seizure of Jewish art treasures. (USA 368) | III | 188 |
| *145-PS | Order signed by Rosenberg, 20 August 1941, concerning safeguarding the cultural goods in the Occupied Eastern Territories. (USA 373) | III | 189 |
| *149-PS | Hitler Order, 1 March 1942, establishing authority of Einsatzstab Rosenberg. (USA 369) | III | 190 |
| *154-PS | Letter from Lammers to high State and Party authorities, 5 July 1942, confirming Rosenberg’s powers. (USA 370) | III | 193 |
| 315-PS | Note of a meeting held in the Reich Ministry for Enlightenment and Propaganda, 10 March 1943, concerning treatment of foreign workers employed in the Reich. | III | 251 |
| *327-PS | Letter of Rosenberg to Bormann, 17 October 1944, concerning liquidation of property in Eastern Occupied Territories. (USA 338) | III | 257 |
| *347-PS | Letter from Lohse to Reich Youth Leader Axmann, 18 April 1944. (USA 340) | III | 267 |
| *374-PS | TWX Series of Orders signed by Heydrich and Mueller, issued by Gestapo Headquarters Berlin, 9-11 November 1938, concerning treatment of Jews. (USA 729) | III | 277 |
| *392-PS | Official NSDAP circular entitled “The Social Life of New Germany with Special Consideration of the German Labor Front”, by Prof. Willy Mueller (Berlin, 1938). (USA 326) | III | 380 |
| 405-PS | Law Concerning Trustees of Labor, 19 May 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 285. | III | 387 |
| *407-V and VI-PS | Letter from Sauckel to Hitler, 15 April 1943, concerning labor questions. (USA 209; USA 228) | III | 391 |
| *630-PS | Memorandum of Hitler, 1 September 1939, concerning authorization of mercy killings. (USA 342) | III | 451 |
| *654-PS | Thierack’s notes, 18 September 1942, on discussion with Himmler concerning delivery of Jews to Himmler for extermination through work. (USA 218) | III | 467 |
| 656-PS | Letter, undated, from Bormann to Political leaders, enclosing Order of Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht, 29 January 1943, relating to self-defense against prisoners of war. (USA 339) | III | 470 |
| *840-PS | Party Directive, 14 July 1939, making clergy and theology students ineligible for Party membership. (USA 355) | III | 606 |
| *848-PS | Gestapo telegram from Berlin to Nurnberg, 24 July 1938, dealing with demonstrations against Bishop Sproll in Rottenburg. (USA 353) | III | 613 |
| *849-PS | Letter from Kerrl to Minister of State, 23 July 1938, with enclosures dealing with persecution of Bishop Sproll. (USA 354) | III | 614 |
| *1058-PS | Excerpt from a speech, 20 June 1941, by Rosenberg before people most intimately concerned with Eastern Problem, found in his “Russia File”. (USA 147) | III | 716 |
| *1117-PS | Goering Order, 1 May 1941, concerning establishment of Einsatzstab Rosenberg in all Occupied Territories. (USA 384) | III | 793 |
| 1118-PS | Letter from Rosenberg to Goering, 18 June 1942, and related correspondence. | III | 793 |
| *1130-PS | Note, 11 April 1943, and report of speech by Koch in Kiev on 5 March 1943, concerning treatment of civilian population in Ukraine. (USA 169) | III | 797 |
| *1164-PS | Secret letter, 21 April 1942, from SS to all concentration camp commanders concerning treatment of priests. (USA 736) | III | 820 |
| 1386-PS | Law concerning the granting of amnesty, 23 April 1936. 1936 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 378. | III | 960 |
| 1388-PS | Law concerning confiscation of Property subversive to People and State, 14 July 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 479. | III | 962 |
| 1389-PS | Law creating Reich Labor Service, 26 June 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 769. | III | 963 |
| 1391-PS | Statute of the Academy for German Law, 2 July 1934. 1934 Reichsgesetzblatt, pp. 605-607. | III | 970 |
| 1392-PS | Law on the Hitler Youth, 1 December 1936. 1936 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 993. | III | 972 |
| 1393-PS | Law on treacherous attacks against State and Party, and for the Protection of Party Uniforms, 20 December 1934. 1934 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1269. | III | 973 |
| 1394-PS | Law to guarantee Public Peace, 13 October 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 723, Art. 1-3. | III | 976 |
| 1395-PS | Law to insure the unity of Party and State, 1 December 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1016. (GB 252) | III | 978 |
| 1397-PS | Law for the reestablishment of the Professional Civil Service, 7 April 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 175. | III | 981 |
| 1398-PS | Law to supplement the Law for the restoration of the Professional Civil Service, 20 July 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 518. | III | 986 |
| 1402-PS | The Homestead Law of 29 September 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 685. | III | 990 |
| 1412-PS | Decree relating to payment of fine by Jews of German nationality, 12 November 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1579. | IV | 6 |
| 1415-PS | Police regulation concerning appearance of Jews in public, 28 November 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1676. | IV | 6 |
| 1416-PS | Reich Citizen Law of 15 September 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1146. | IV | 7 |
| *1417-PS | First regulation to the Reichs Citizenship Law, 14 November 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1333. (GB 258) | IV | 8 |
| 1419-PS | Law concerning Jewish tenants, 30 April 1939. 1939 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 864. | IV | 10 |
| 1422-PS | Thirteenth regulation under Reich Citizenship Law, 1 July 1943. 1943 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 372. | IV | 14 |
| 1438-PS | Fuehrer concerning administration of Sudeten-German territory, 22 October 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1453. | IV | 17 |
| *1481-PS | Gestapo order, 20 January 1938, dissolving and confiscating property of Catholic Youth Women’s Organization in Bavaria. (USA 737) | IV | 50 |
| *1517-PS | Memorandum from Rosenberg concerning discussion with the Fuehrer, 14 December 1941. (USA 824) | IV | 55 |
| **1654-PS | Law of 16 March 1935 reintroducing universal military conscription. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 369. (Referred to but not offered in evidence.) | IV | 163 |
| 1662-PS | Order eliminating Jews from German economic life, 12 November 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1580. | IV | 172 |
| 1665-PS | Order concerning treatment of property of Nationals of the former Polish State, 17 September 1940. 1940 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1270. | IV | 173 |
| 1674-PS | Second decree for the execution of the law regarding the change of surnames and forenames, 17 August 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1044. | IV | 185 |
| *1676-PS | Speech concerning the enemy air terror by Reichsminister Dr. Goebbels, 28-29 March 1944. Voelkischer Beobachter. (USA 334) | IV | 186 |
| *1678-PS | Speech of Dr. Robert Ley. Documents of German Politics, Vol. V, pp. 373, 376. (USA 365) | IV | 190 |
| *1708-PS | The Program of the NSDAP. National Socialistic Yearbook, 1941, p. 153. (USA 255; USA 324) | IV | 208 |
| *1774-PS | Extracts from Organizational Law of the Greater German Reich by Ernst Rudolf Huber. (GB 246) | IV | 349 |
| *1814-PS | The Organization of the NSDAP and its affiliated associations, from Organization book of the NSDAP, editions of 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1943, pp. 86-88. (USA 328) | IV | 411 |
| *1815-PS | Documents on RSHA meeting concerning the study and treatment of church politics. (USA 510) | IV | 415 |
| 1817-PS | Bureau for factory troops, from Organization Book of the NSDAP, 1936 edition, p. 211. | IV | 457 |
| 1855-PS | Extract from Organization Book of the NSDAP, 1937, p. 418. | IV | 495 |
| 1861-PS | Law on the regulation of National labor, 20 January 1934. 1934 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 45. | IV | 497 |
| *1893-PS | Extracts from Organization Book of the NSDAP, 1943 edition. (USA 323) | IV | 529 |
| *1913-PS | Agreement between Plenipotentiary General for Arbeitseinsatz and German Labor Front concerning care of non-German workers. 1943 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 588. (USA 227) | IV | 547 |
| *1914-PS | Extracts from Decrees, Regulations, Announcements, 1943 Edition, Part I, pp. 318-319. (USA 336) | IV | 550 |
| 1915-PS | Decree concerning leadership of Armed Forces, 4 February 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 111. | IV | 552 |
| 1939-PS | Speech by Ley published in Forge of the Sword, with an introduction by Marshal Goering, pp. 14-17. | IV | 581 |
| 1940-PS | Fuehrer edict appointing Ley leader of German Labor Front. Voelkischer Beobachter, Munich (Southern German) edition, p. 1. | IV | 584 |
| 1961-PS | Decision of the Greater German Reichstag, 26 April 1942. 1942 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 247. | IV | 600 |
| 1964-PS | Decree of the Fuehrer regarding special jurisdiction of Reich Minister of Justice, 20 August 1942. 1942 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 535. | IV | 601 |
| 2000-PS | Law for protection of German blood and German honor, 15 September 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, No. 100, p. 1146. | IV | 636 |
| 2001-PS | Law to Remove the Distress of People and State, 24 March 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 141. | IV | 638 |
| 2003-PS | Law concerning the Sovereign Head of the German Reich, 1 August 1934. 1934 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 747. | IV | 639 |
| 2016-PS | Order concerning the jurisdiction of SS courts and Police courts in the Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia, 15 July 1942. 1942 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 475. | IV | 649 |
| 2029-PS | Decree establishing the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, 13 March 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 104. | IV | 652 |
| 2057-PS | Law relating to National Emergency Defense Measures of 3 July 1934. 1934 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 529. | IV | 699 |
| 2079-PS | Reich Flag Law of 15 September 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1145. | IV | 707 |
| 2100-PS | Decree on position of leader of Party Chancellery, 24 January 1942. 1942 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 35. | IV | 726 |
| 2118-PS | Police decree on identification of Jews, 1 September 1941. 1941 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 547. | IV | 750 |
| 2120-PS | Law on passports of Jews, 5 October 1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p. 1342. | IV | 754 |
| 2224-PS | The End of the Marxist Class Struggle, published in National Socialist Party Press Agency, 2 May 1933, pp. 1-2. (USA 364) | IV | 864 |
| 2225-PS | The Front of German Workers has been Erected, published in National Socialist Party Press Agency, 3 May 1933, p. 1. | IV | 868 |
| 2230-PS | Agreement between Ley and Lutze, chief of staff of SA, published in Organization Book of NSDAP, 1938, pp. 484-485b, 486c. | IV | 871 |
| 2270-PS | Coordination of Cooperatives, published in National Socialist Party Press Agency release of 16 May 1933. | IV | 938 |
| 2271-PS | The National Socialist Factory Cells Organization, published in Organization Book of NSDAP, pp. 185-187. | IV | 940 |
| *2283-PS | The Fifth Day of the Party Congress, from Voelkischer Beobachter, Munich (Southern German) Edition, Issue 258, 14 September 1936. (USA 337) | IV | 971 |
| 2325-PS | Decree in execution of Article 118 of German Municipal Order, 26 March 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt Part I, p. 470. | IV | 1034 |
| 2336-PS | Special Circular on Securing of association of German Labor Front against hidden Marxist sabotage, 27 June 1933. | IV | 1052 |
| *2349-PS | Extracts from “The Myth of 20th Century” by Alfred Rosenberg, 1941. (USA 352) | IV | 1069 |
| *2473-PS | Extracts from National Socialist Yearbook, 1943, showing party positions of other Cabinet members in 1943. (USA 324) | V | 226 |
| 2474-PS | Directive of 25 October 1934, Decrees of the Deputy of the Fuehrer, signed by Hess. (USA 327) | V | 227 |
| *2660-PS | Distribution Plan for Gaue, Kreise, and Ortsgruppen, from The Bearers of Sovereignty, 2nd Issue, 3rd Year, February 1939. (USA 325) | V | 365 |
| *2715-PS | Speech by Hitler to the Reichstag on 20 February 1938, published in The Archive, February 1938, Vol. 47, pp. 1441-1442. (USA 331). | V | 376 |
| *2775-PS | Hitler’s speech, published in Nurnberg Party Congress, 1934. (USA 330) | V | 418 |
| *2958-PS | Extract from The Statistics of the NSDAP, Issue 8, 1939, p. 10. (USA 325) | V | 663 |
| *3051-PS | Three teletype orders from Heydrich to all stations of State Police, 10 November 1938, on measures against Jews, and one order from Heydrich on termination of protest actions. (USA 240) | V | 797 |
| *3063-PS | Letters of transmission enclosing report about events and judicial proceedings in connection with anti-semitic demonstrations of 9 November 1938. (USA 332) | V | 868 |
| *3230-PS | Fight and Order—Not Peace and Order! from the Bearer of Sovereignty, February 1939, p. 15. (USA 325) | V | 937 |
| *3268-PS | Allocution of His Holiness Pope Pius XII, to the Sacred College, 2 June 1945. (USA 356) | V | 1038 |
| 3738-PS | Geneva Convention of 1929 relative to treatment of Prisoners of War. | VI | 599 |
| *D-75 | SD Inspector Bierkamp’s letter, 12 December 1941, to RSHA enclosing copy of secret decree signed by Bormann, entitled Relationship of National Socialism and Christianity. (USA 348) | VI | 1035 |
| *D-728 | Circular, 15 March 1945, from NSDAP Gauleitung Hessen-Nassau to the “Kreis”-Leaders of the Gau, concerning Action by the Party to keep Germans in check until end of the War. (GB 282) | VII | 174 |
| *L-154 | Letter from Hoffman, 25 February 1945, concerning action to be taken against pilots who are shot down. (USA 335) | VII | 904 |
| *L-172 | “The Strategic Position at the Beginning of the 5th Year of War”, a lecture delivered by Jodl on 7 November 1943 at Munich to Reich and Gauleiters. (USA 34) | VII | 920 |
| *L-221 | Bormann report on conference of 16 July 1941, concerning treatment of Eastern populations and territories. (USA 317) | VII | 1086 |
| *L-316 | RSHA Order of 5 November 1942, signed by Streckenbach, concerning jurisdiction over Poles and Eastern Nationals. (USA 346) | VII | 1104 |
| *R-101-A | Letter from Chief of the Security Police and Security Service to the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Folkdom, 5 April 1940, with enclosures concerning confiscation of church property. (USA 358) | VIII | 87 |
| R-101-C | Letter to Reich Leader SS, 30 July 1941, concerning treatment of church property in incorporated Eastern areas. (USA 358) | VIII | 91 |
| *R-101-D | Letter from Chief of Staff of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA) to Reich Leader SS, 30 March 1942, concerning confiscation of church property. (USA 358) | VIII | 92 |
| *R-110 | Himmler order of 10 August 1943 to all Senior Executive SS and Police officers. (USA 333) | VIII | 107 |
| *R-112 | Orders issued by Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German nationhood, 16 February 1942, 1 July 1942, 28 July 1942. (USA 309) | VIII | 108 |
| *R-114 | Memoranda of conferences, 4 and 18 August 1942, concerning directions for treatment of deported Alsatians. (USA 314) | VIII | 122 |
| *Chart No. 1 | National Socialist German Workers’ Party. (2903-PS; USA 2) | VIII | 770 |
3. THE REICH CABINET
The Reich Cabinet, or Reichsregierung, unlike most of the other Nazi organizations, was not especially created by the Nazi Party to carry out or implement its purposes. The Reichsregierung had, before the Nazis came to power, a place in the constitutional and political history of the country. As with other cabinets of duly constituted governments, the executive power of the realm was concentrated in that body. The Nazi conspirators well realized this fact. Their aim for totalitarian control over the State could not be secured, they realized, except by acquiring, holding, and utilizing the machinery of the State. And this they did. Under the Nazi regime the Reichsregierung gradually became a primary agent of the Nazi Party, with functions and policies formulated in accordance with the objectives and methods of the Party itself. The Reichsregierung became—at first gradually and then with more rapidity—polluted by the infusion of the Nazi conspirators sixteen of whom are accused in the Indictment. Its purpose came to be to clothe every scheme and purpose of the Party, however vile, with the semblance of legality.
A. Composition and Nature of the Reichsregierung.
The term Reichsregierung literally translated means “Reich Government”. Actually, it was commonly taken to refer to the ordinary Reich Cabinet. In the Indictment the term Reichsregierung is defined to include not only those persons who were members of the ordinary Reich Cabinet, but also persons who were members of the Council of Ministers for the Defense of the Reich (Ministerrat fuer die Reichsverteidigung) and the Secret Cabinet Council (Geheimer Kabinettsrat). The most important body, however, was the ordinary cabinet. Between it and the other two groups there was in reality only an artificial distinction. There existed, in fact, a unity of personnel, action, function, and purpose that obliterated any academic separation. As used in the Indictment, the term “ordinary cabinet” means Reich Ministers, i.e., heads of departments of the central government; Reich Ministers without portfolio; State Ministers acting as Reich Ministers; and other officials entitled to take part in Cabinet meetings. Altogether, 48 persons held positions in the ordinary cabinet. 17 of them have been indicted as defendants. Of the remaining 31, eight are believed to be dead.