The Reich Minister of Justice is authorized to issue supplementary regulations and regulations for the implementation of this decree.
Article 8
In the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, this decree is only valid for proceedings before German courts.
The Acting Reich Minister of Justice
Berlin, 24 March 1942
My Fuehrer:
When I took office, I asked you to inform me whether, if a sentence did not meet with your approval, you would allow me to correct it. I ask permission to consider the telephone call made on Sunday, 22 March, concerning the case of Schlitt at Wilhelmshaven as granting my request, and I express my sincerest thanks for this.
I entirely agree with your demand, my Fuehrer, for very severe punishment for criminals [Verbrechertum], and I assure you that the judges have honest will to comply with your demand. Constant instructions in order to strengthen them in this intention and the increase of threats of legal punishment have resulted in a considerable decrease of the number of sentences to which objections have been made from this point of view, out of a total annual number of more than 300,000.
I shall continue to try to reduce this number still more, and if necessary, I shall not shrink from personal measures as before.
In the criminal case against the building technician Ewald Schlitt from Wilhelmshaven, I have applied through the Chief Reich Prosecutor for an extraordinary objection against the sentence at the special senate of the Reich Supreme Court. I will inform you of the verdict of the special senate immediately it has been given.