“Lynch justice should be considered as being the rule.” Further, a draft of a letter, dated Salzburg, 20 June 1944, to the Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces, apparently drawn by the Foreign Office, contains this paragraph:
“The above considerations warrant the general conclusion that the cases of lynching ought to be stressed in the course of this action. If the action is carried out to such an extent * * * the deterring of enemy airmen is actually achieved.”
In furtherance of this plan, Goebbel’s speech of 27 May 1944 is cited and the letter from the Chief of the Party Chancellery, Fuehrer Headquarters, 30 May 1944, marked “Secret—not for publication,” and bearing the initials of Thierack, concerning “the people’s judgment of Anglo-American murders,” signed by Bormann, is significant, particularly the following paragraph:
“No police or criminal proceedings have been taken against the citizens who have taken part herein.”
The distribution of this circular was as follows: “Reichsleiter, Gauleiter, Verbaendefuehrer, Kreisleiter,”[669] and contains the following note to all Gauleiter and Kreisleiter, initialed by Thierack and signed by Friedrichs:
“The Chief of the Party Chancellery requests that the Kreisleiter inform the Ortsgruppenleiter only verbally of the contents of this circular.”
Exhibit 109 [635-PS, Pros. Ex. 109] is of even greater significance. This is a letter from the Reich Minister and chief of the Reich Chancellery, dated 4 June 1944, to the Reich Minister of Justice, Dr. Thierack, headed, “Regards people’s justice against Anglo-American murders”. This letter is quoted in its entirety:
“The Chief of the Party Chancellery informed me about the enclosed transcript of a secret circular letter and requested me likewise to inform you.
“I herewith comply with this and beg you to consider how far you want to instruct the courts and district attorneys with it.
“The Reich Leader and Chief of the German Police has, as I was further told by executive leader Bormann, so instructed his police leaders.”