dated....................1941
The Ministerial Council for the Defense of the Reich issues the following decree with force of law:
Article 1
(1) The public prosecutor is authorized to participate in civil law proceedings in order to plead the circumstances which have to be considered from the point of view of the national community and for the final judgment. For this purpose, the public prosecutor may be present at all proceedings and may give his opinion regarding the judgment which is to be passed. He may submit facts and evidence insofar as this does not affect the rights of either party with regard to the disagreement.
(2) Regulations which already provide for participation by the public prosecutor in matters of civil law, are not affected.
Article 2
In matters of civil law where a valid final judgment has been passed, the Chief Reich Prosecutor at the Reich Supreme Court may, within a year after the decision has become valid, file an application for reopening the proceedings if there are serious legal and factual objections against the justness of the decision, and if he considers new proceedings and a new judgment to be necessary because of the special importance of the judgment to the national community.
Article 3
(1) The high senate for civil matters at the Reich Supreme Court makes a decision by writ, on application.
(2) The participants in the previous proceeding may be heard.