“When the Supreme Court acquitted three of the four defendants charged with complicity in the Reichstag fire, its jurisdiction in cases of treason was thereafter taken away and given to a newly established ‘People’s Court’ consisting of two judges and five officials of the Party.”[630]
The act of 24 April 1934 which established the highly flexible definitions of high treason also provided new judicial machinery for enforcement.
“Article III, section 1. (1) For the trial of cases of high treason the People’s Court is established.
“(2) Decisions of the People’s Court are made by five members during the trial, by three members outside the trial. This includes the president. The president and one further member must be qualified judges. Several senates may be established.”[631]
In section 3 (1) of article III it is provided that “the People’s Court is competent for the investigation and decision in the first and last instance in cases of high treason * * *”, and in other specified cases.
“Article III, section 3. (2) The People’s Court is also competent in such cases where crimes or offenses subject to its competence constitute at the same time another punishable act.
“(3) If another punishable act is in factual connection with a crime or offense subject to the jurisdiction of the People’s Court, the trial against the perpetrators and participants of the other punishable act may be brought before the People’s Court by way of combination of the respective cases.”
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“[Article III] section 5. (2) Against the decisions of the People’s Court no appeal is permitted.”
On 1 December 1936, the jurisdiction of the People’s Court was extended to include violation of the law against economic sabotage. (supra.)