A. Yes, I could not name any other.
Q. Now, by what laws, orders, or decrees were these people left to the sole jurisdiction of the SS and the police?
A. Well, the Poles and Jews, NN prisoners were only handed over to the police after my time in office. As long as I was in office this did not happen.
Q. I mean, by what order or decree—you speak of a time when the SS had their own courts—by what order or decree—
A. The SS got a special jurisdiction through a law of 1939. The handing over of Poles and Jews, of the NN prisoners, and other people took place through measures of the year 1942, I believe. However, I do not want to make this statement with certainty, because it was after I had resigned.
Q. After this order setting up special jurisdiction for the SS the Ministry of Justice could not prosecute them, isn’t that correct—or try them?
A. No, it couldn’t.
Q. Now, I have here this decree which is found in volume 2, on page 55, decree of 17 October 1939, relative to the Special Courts for the SS.[467] Are you familiar with that?
A. Yes.
Q. After that the Ministry of Justice could not try these people for abuse or murder of persons in their hands, is that correct?