“The cards used for investigations for the Reich criminal statistics need not be filled in. Likewise, notification of the penal records office will be discontinued until further notice. However, sentences will have to be registered in lists or on a card index in order to make possible an entry into the penal records in due course.
“In case of death, especially in cases of execution of NN prisoners, as well as in cases of female NN prisoners giving birth to a child, the registrar must be notified as prescribed by law. However, the following remark has to be added:
“‘By order of the Reich Minister of the Interior, the entry into the death (birth) registry must bear an endorsement, saying that examination of the papers, furnishing of information and of certified copies of death (birth) certificates is only admissible with the consent of the Reich Minister of Justice.’”
Department VI headed by defendant Altstoetter handled matters relating to registration of deaths and births. The order further provides:
“Farewell letters by NN prisoners as well as other letters must not be mailed. They have to be forwarded to the prosecution who will keep them until further notice.
“If an NN prisoner who has been sentenced to death and informed of the forthcoming execution of the death sentence desires spiritual assistance by the prison padre, this will be granted. If necessary, the padre must be sworn to secrecy.
“The relatives will not be informed of the death and especially of the execution of an NN prisoner. The press will not be informed of the execution of a death sentence, nor must the execution of a death sentence be publicly announced by posters.
“The bodies of executed NN prisoners or prisoners who died from other causes have to be turned over to the State Police for burial. Reference must be made to the existing regulations on secrecy. It must be pointed out especially that the graves of NN prisoners must not be marked with the names of the deceased.
“The bodies must not be used for teaching or research purposes.
“Legacies of NN prisoners who have been executed or died from other causes must be kept at the prison where the sentence was served.”