Chapter 5

(Reg. No. 7328/42 secret Group VIII)Selected letters from the occupied Eastern regions regarding the period from Sept. 11 to Nov. 10, 1942.

(Reg. No. 7328/42 secret Group VIII)

Selected letters from the occupied Eastern regions regarding the period from Sept. 11 to Nov. 10, 1942.

In the letters from the Ukraine a further sharp decline in the morale is pictured, and under the impact of an increased requisition of labor forces for the Reich, the Ukrainian population has been seized by a terrible fear.

Horrifying picturizations ofcompulsory measuresby the administrative authorities for the seizure of Eastern laborers, form a major part of the news from home to their relatives working in Germany. The disinclination to answer the call to work in the Reich has evidently grown steadily, not only due to the reports of Eastern workers, which fled home and their workshops or have been dismissed. In order to secure the required number for the labor transport, men and women including youngsters from 15 years on up, are allegedly taken from the street, from the market places and village festivals, and carried off. The inhabitants therefore hide themselves in fear and avoid any appearance in public. After public beatings during the month of October, so available letters state, came the burning down of homesteads, and of whole villages as retribution for failure to comply with the demand for the appropriation of labor forces directed to the communities. The execution of the latter measures is being reported from various villages.

Parts from Two Letters

"At our place, new things have happened. People are being taken to Germany. On Dec. 5, some people from the Kowkuski district were scheduled to go, but they didn't want to and the village was set afire. They threatened to do the same thing in Borowytschi, as not all who were scheduled to depart wanted to go. Thereupon 3 truck-loads of Germans arrived and set fire to their houses. In Wrasnytschi 12 houses and in Borowytschi 3 houses were burned.

"On Oct. 1 a new conscription of labor forces took place. From what has happened, I will describe the most important to you. You can not imagine the bestiality. You probably remember what we were told about the Soviets during the rule of the Poles. At that time we did not believe it and now it seems just as incredible. The order came to supply 25 workers, but no one reported. All had fled. Then the German militia came and began to ignite the houses of those who had fled. The fire became very violent, since it had not rained for 2 months. In addition the grain stacks were in the farm yards. You can imagine what took place. The people who had hurried to the scene were forbidden to extinguish the flames, beaten and arrested, so that 7 homesteads burned down. The policemen meanwhile ignited other houses. The people fall on their knees and kiss their hands, but the policemen beat them with rubber trunchions and threaten to burn down the whole village. I don't know how this would have ended if I Sapurkany had not intervened. He promised that there would be laborers by morning. During the fire the militia went through the adjoining villages, seized the laborers, and placed them under arrest. Wherever they did not find any laborers, they detained the parents, until the children appeared. That is how they raged throughout the night in Bielosirka. The workers which had not yet appeared till then, were to be shot. All schools were closed and the married teachers were sent to work here, while the unmarried ones go to work in Germany. They are now catching humans like the dog-catchers used to catch dogs. They are already hunting for one week and have not yet enough. The imprisoned workers are locked in at the schoolhouse. They cannot even go out to perform their natural functions, but have to do it like pigs in the same room. People from many villages went on a certain day to a pilgrimage to the monastery Potschaew. They were all arrested, locked in, and will be sent to work. Among them there are lame, blind and aged people."

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 019-PS

The Commissioner for the Four Year PlanThe Deputy General for Labor SupplyNo. IVa 5780.28/1138Berlin, SW 11, 17 March 1943Saarlandstr. 96 (Reich's Ministry for Labor)Tel. of the RAM: 11 00 28

Postal Checking Account of the RAM, Branch: Berlin 100.19

Copies:

1. Gauleiter2. III W 53. Special Deputy for the Eastern Labor Supply

Receipt stamp 03487 dated 18 March 1943

Personal!

To: The Reichsminister for the Occupied Eastern Territories.Att. Mr. Reichsminister ROSENBERG, BerlinSubject: Draft of workers from the EastDear Party Member Rosenberg:

After a protracted illness my Deputy for Labor Supply in the occupied Eastern Territories, State Councillor Peukert, is going there to regulate the labor supply both for Germany and the territories themselves.

I ask you sincerely, dear party member Rosenberg, to assist him to your utmost on account of the pressing urgency of Peukert's mission. Already now I may thank you for the hitherto good reception accorded to Peukert. He himself has been charged by me with the absolute and completely unreserved cooperation with all bureaus of the Eastern Territories.

Especially the labor supply for the German agriculture, and likewise for the most urgent armament production programs ordered by the Fuehrer make the fastest importation of approximately 1 million women and men from the Eastern Territories within the next 4 months a must. Starting 15 March the daily shipment must have reached 5000 female and male workers respectively, while beginning of April this number has to be stepped up to 10,000. This is a requisite of the most urgent programs, and the spring tillage, and other agricultural tasks are not to suffer to the detriment of the nutrition and of the armed forces.

I have foreseen the allotment of the draft quotas for the individual territories in agreement with your experts for the labor supply as follows:

Daily quota starting 15 March 1943:

Starting 1 April 1943 the daily quota is to be doubled corresponding to the doubling of the entire quota.

I hope to visit personally the Eastern Territories towards the end of the month, and ask you once more for your kind support.

HEIL HITLER!Signed: SAUCKEL

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 025-PS

Copy

I H (ZO) 1/752/42for the files on hand I 3 [handwritten]

SECRET!

Berlin NW 7, 4 Sept. 42

Subject: The importation of domestic workers from the East into the Reich.Here: Conference with the General Deputy for Labor mobilization on 3 Sept. 1942.

Subject: The importation of domestic workers from the East into the Reich.

Here: Conference with the General Deputy for Labor mobilization on 3 Sept. 1942.

1.Notice

On 3 September 1942 a conference, under the presidency of the General Deputy for Labor Mobilization, of the representatives of the highest Reich authorities, the Party Chancellory, as well as of the German Labor front (DAF) was held at the Thuringenhaus, Berlin W. S, for the discussion of the pending importation of domestic workers from the East from the Ukraine into the Reich. To this Gauleiter Sauckel declared the following:

It is the definite wish of the Fuehrer that the law over the duty year [Pflichtjahr] for women be not over extended, that all German girls must work one additional year in housekeeping. This position of the Fuehrer is motivated by the positive experiences which have been made so far with the women's Reich's labor service; this service has proved itself to be an instrument of political breeding through which the German girls are made politically more reliable than through one additional year of private housekeeping. Therefore, and this is also the opinion of the Reichsmarshall and of Reichsleiter Bormann, the housekeeping problem must be solved through a different way than the above-mentioned one.

Therefore, the Fuehrer has ordered the immediate importation of 400,000 to 500,000 female domestic Eastern workers from the Ukraine between the ages of 15 and 35, and has charged the General Deputy for labor mobilization with the execution of this action which is to end in about 3 months. In connection with this—this is also approved by Reichsleiter Bormann, the illegal bringing of female housekeepers into the Reich by members of the Armed Forces, or various other agencies, is to be allowed subsequently, and furthermore, irrespective of the official recruiting, is not to be prevented. The determining factor for the recruiting of Ukrainian female domestic workers is this: according to the specific wish of the Fuehrer only such girls are to be recruited against whose permanent stay in Germany, to be determined by their conduct and their physical appearance, there will be no scruples; it is in accordance with a specific desire of the Fuehrer that the greatest number of these girls be germanized through the recruitment. To this, the Fuehrer declared that we have to review our school knowledge about people migrations, to the extent that the Lebensraum of the Germanic peoples is not only to be considered from a point of view of the newly gained territories at that time, but also from the point of view of the region of origin of those peoples. The Germans have spread "like beer". Only the young people have left whereas the old ones remained at home. This is the reason why there are, especially in the Ukraine and in the northerly part of the Black Sea, such a great number of blond haired and blue eyed people who have neither Tartar nor Caucasian appearances. This can only be the case of peasants, descendants of settled Germanic tribes; to re-germanize them can only be a question of time. It is the Fuehrer's desire that in 100 years from now 250 million German speaking people will live in Europe.

If, therefore, the recruitment of Ukrainian domestic workers is not only under a labor mobilization consideration but also a racial one, it ensues forcibly that a special treatment of this labor mobilization measure is necessary, which does not exclude the fact that the domestic Ukrainian workers are to be considered in the first place as workers from the East and are to be provided with the sign "OST". They are to be employed in city households as well as in country households, preferably in families with many children and essential constructive families (Aufbau Familien) so that 200,000 of them will be furnished to city households and 200,000 to country households. In order to prevent a better position of the Eastern domestic workers employed in country households as compared to the ones employed in cities, the domestic workers from the Ukraine are to receive basically the same food as the German civilian population. Because these regulations necessitate a revision of the feeding precepts of Prisoners of War and soviet civilian laborers as stated in a communication of the Reich's nutrition ministry of April 4, 1942, the Reich's minister for nutrition and agriculture has asked the General Deputy for labor mobilization to refrain from the execution of the measures at least until the food situation of the German people permits the importation of more foreign labor forces and a better food situation for the workers from the East can be assured. Gauleiter Sauckel spoke in harshest terms against the stand of the Reich's minister for nutrition stating that he refuses to discuss an order of the Fuehrer. He added furthermore that irrespective of the importation of domestic workers, the mobilization of one more million workers from the East is being planned, this being the only way to realize in the years to come the Fuehrer's Armament and Steel production program for the execution of the great plans in the West and for the annihilation of the greatest war economy of the world, the North American one. For the feeding of this million men labor force which number furthermore is equilibrated by the fact that approximately 7 million German soldiers are in greater part supplied with food from the foreign countries, party member Backe has only to solve the organizational problem in order to take advantage of the first rate harvest throughout Europe. Never before did a minister for nutrition start his function under such favorable conditions as State Secretary Backe. The reference to the difficult transportation conditions to bring the foreign harvests into the Reich does not impress Gauleiter Sauckel in the least; he would find ways and means to utilize the harvest and the cattle from the Ukraine even if he has to draft the whole Jewry of Europe to use them as a human road for the handling of boxes to the Ukraine. "If the food rations both for the Germans and the foreign workers are not increased shortly, then a scandal of the greatest proportion will take place". The decreased resistance of the bodies—especially with the shortage of doctors—will give rise to great epidemics (see Diphtheria Epidemy). It is to be requested from Party member Backe that the proposed increase of bread and meat ration be not done with the start of the winter time only but at the end of the present allotment period, so that the weakened bodies can build up a reserve of strength which will get them well through the winter. The Fuehrer cannot understand the fact that it has to be in the country which carries the greatest weight in the fight for the future of Europe that most people go hungry while this is not the case with France, Holland, Hungary, and the Ukraine and everywhere else; he desires that this be the contrary in the future. As far as the foreign workers in Germany are concerned (with the exception of the workers from the East) a slow reduction of food according to renderment has to be applied to them; it cannot be tolerated that lazy Dutchmen or Italians receive better food than a diligent worker from the East. As far as the nutrition is concerned, here too the principle of renderment has to be applied. Since the new nutrition regulation is seen as being feasible by Gauleiter Sauckel in the above mentioned way of thinking, therefore, the special action of the General Deputy for labor mobilization (GBA) for the importation of domestic workers from the East must be coupled with the current recruiting commission in the Ukraine. The delegation from October to April of 200,000 to 300,000 male and female workers from the East already employed in the German agriculture to industry factories is not affected by this; these forces (incl. the female ones) will be returned in the spring to their original peasant organizations, and there just as before, they will not be employed at home but for agricultural work. A lawful ground for special domestic action, a decree is being prepared, the text of which was read at the conference by Councellor in the Ministry Dr. Letsch. The recruiting which in the case of the female domestic workers will be based especially on voluntariness will be executed in connection with the office of the Reichsfuehrer SS and the Chief of the German police who intend to step in for the pre-examination with regard to a possible worthiness of becoming a German. Those female workers from the East found to be apt for housekeeping will be marked in a special way by the labor and social officers so that they can be recognized as such on the transport lists of the collective shipments. Independent of these, special shipments of domestic female workers are to be considered since Gauleiter Sauckel plans on having brought into the Reich 6,000 persons a day. With reference to the treatment of the female domestic workers from the East in the Reich, this question has been talked over with the Reichsfuehrer SS and the Chief of the German Police, the Reichswomen office, the Party Chancellory, the General Deputy for labor mobilization, the result being a plan for a notice for the German housewomen. The wages of the female domestic workers are to be paid according to a remuneration table for workers from the East; however, this has to be deviated through the fixation of special tariffs by the labor trustees. In reference to the Eastern worker's tax for management directors, it was decided to ask the Reich's finance minister to higher the Eastern worker's tax by half for the families of up to three children and to cut it out completely for families of 4 children and more.

At the end of the conference, the Councellor to the Ministry Letsch—as he had done previously with new notices—tried to get the proposed notice for the German housewomen ratified by those who took part; however, the undersigned protested against that by demanding a copy to determine his position. The representatives of the party chancellery, the nutrition ministry and other offices joined in this demand so that Gauleiter Sauckel promised to make available the draft of the text for September 4, 1942 with the request that final positions be taken by 1400 o'clock.

Generally one gathered from this conference that the questions concerning the recruitment and mobilization as well as the treatment of the female domestic workers from the East are being handled by the General Deputy for labor mobilization, the Reichsfuehrer SS and the Chief of the German police and the party chancellory and that the Reich's ministry for the occupied territories of the East is not considered as competent or only as half competent. In reference to this the undersigned established specifically that the Reich's ministry for the occupied territories for the East has not until now participated in the drafting of the notice. He declared furthermore that the Reich's ministry for the occupied territories of the East is greatly interested in the Propaganda for the mobilization of domestic workers, and that it be carried out in a favored way considering the necessity to have only volunteer forces at the disposition for housekeeping.

Gauleiter Sauckel took knowledge of this with satisfaction.

(signed) Gutkelch

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 031-PS

Chief of the Political Directing Staff, personal refereeBerlin, 12 June 1944TOP SECRETCopy No. 1 of 2 copies

Re: Evacuation of youths from the territory of Army Group "Center" (Heu-Aktion).

1. Memorandum:

The Army Group "Center" has the intention to apprehend 40-50,000 youths at the ages of 10 to 14 who are in the Army Territories, and to transport them to the Reich. This measure was originally proposed by the 9th Army. These youths cause considerable inconvenience in the Theatre of Operations. To the greater part these youths are without supervision of their parents since men and women in the theatres of operations have been and will be conscripted into labor battalions to be used in the construction of fortifications. Therefore Children's Villages are to be established behind the front, for the younger age groups, and under native supervision. To collect adequate experiences the 9th Army has already established such a Children's Village and has achieved good results also from the political viewpoint. Army Group further emphasizes that these youths must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Bolsheviks in case of a withdrawal since that would amount to reinforcing the enemy's potential war strength. This measure is to be strongly fortified by propaganda under the slogan: Care of the Reich for White-Ruthenian Children, Protection against Brigandry. The action has already started in the 5 kilometer zone. The Youth Bureau has already had preliminary talks with the Organization Todt and with the Junkers works. It is intended to allot these juveniles primarily to the German trades as apprentices to be used as skilled workers after 2 years' training. This is to be arranged through the Organization Todt which is especially equipped for such a task through its technical and other set-ups. This action is being greatly welcomed by the German trade since it represents a decisive measure for the alleviation of the shortage of apprentices.

The Chief of the Political Directing Staff, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Berger, submitted the action to the Minister on the 10th of the month. The Minister feared that the action would have most unfavorable political consequences, that it would be regarded as abduction of children, and that the juveniles did not represent a real asset to the enemy's military strength anyhow. The Minister would like to see the action confined to the 15-17 year olds.

Following are the arguments against this decision of the Minister:

1. This action is not only aimed at preventing a direct reinforcement of the enemy's military strength but also at a reduction of his biological potentialities as viewed from the perspective of the future. These ideas have been voiced not only by the Reichsfuehrer of the SS but also by the Fuehrer. Corresponding orders were given during last year's withdrawals in the southern sector.

2. A similar action is being conducted at the present time in the territory of the Army Group Ukraine-North (General Field Marshal Model). Even in this politically especially preferred Galizian territory recruiting measures were being taken with the aim to collect 135,000 laborers to be organized in battalions for the construction of fortifications. The youths over 17 were to be detailed to the SS Division and those under 17 to the SS Auxiliary. This action which has been going on for several weeks has not led to any political disturbances. While it is true that the population has to be recruited by force, they do show a certain understanding, later on, for this measure of purely military necessity. Provided, of course, that they receive correct treatment, good food and lodgings, etc.

The unified organization of parents in labor battalions makes it possible to extract this group as a whole in the case of withdrawals which are quite conceivable in the case of Army Groups "Center" and South. The children already transported into the Reich would serve as a suitable incentive.

3. As to Army Group "Center" this measure is to be initiated in Army Territories, that is to say in those territories not under a civil administration. During a conference with the Chief of Staff of the 9th Army I gained the impression that the action will be executed, if necessary, even without the consent of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Territories of the East.

4. If the Ministry for the East should not support or execute this action, it is expected that the procurement will be undertaken by the GBA [Generalbevollmaschtiger fuer den Arbeitseinsatz—General Deputy for the Mobilization of Labor]. Army Group "Center" and especially 9th Army thought it of greatest importance not to let the children be put to work in the Reich through the General Deputy for the Mobilization of Labor. They preferred the offices of the Reichs-minister for the Occupied Territories of the East [RMfdbO]. Only through these offices did they believe to have a guarantee for correct and proper treatment. This desire of the Army Group is a particular expression of confidence towards the Ministry for the East. Army Group desires that the action be accomplished under the most loyal conditions, as had been done previously in the case of recruiting for the SS Auxiliary. They further desired special arrangements regarding care mail exchange with parents etc. As far as possible the children are to remain in groups according to their village communities, then be collected in small camps in the Reich where they would be at the disposal of trade establishments. These technical matters have already been discussed. They can be accomplished with the help of the offices of the Hitler Youth through the Youth Bureau of the Ministry. Thus the Ministry is also able to exercise political guidance over the juveniles and has them at its disposal at all times. If I should re-occupy the territory the Ministry of the East could return the juveniles in the proper manner. Together with their parents they would then most likely represent a positive political element during the reconstruction of the territory.

The Chief of the Political Directing Staw, personal referee, p 612 a/44g

Berlin, 14 June 1944

SECRET

Re: "Heu-Aktion"

1. Annotation

The Obergruppenfuehrer has given his consent to again submit the matter "Heu-Aktion" to the Minister, with the aim to bring about a reversal of his decision. This was done on this day. The Minister has approved the execution of the "Heu-Aktion" in the Army Territories, under the conditions and provisions arrived at in talks with Army Group Center [Heeresgruppe Mitte].

Urgent!

2. Write via radio to:

Army Group "Center"Att: Councillor in the Ministry Tesmer[Marginal note] Radio station 2 complied. 14 June 44 [signed]

Army Group "Center"

Att: Councillor in the Ministry Tesmer

[Marginal note] Radio station 2 complied. 14 June 44 [signed]

Re: "Heu-Aktion"

"Heu-Aktion" approved under conditions and provision arrived at in conference.

By order of

The Reichsminister for the Occupied Eastern TerritoriesSigned: BRANDENBERG

3. Copies to:

[Marginal note] complied 15 June 44 signed: Sg

a.SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Berger, Chief of the Political Directing Staff, respectfully submitted for information

b.Chief Labor Bureau, for information

4. Matter p5 for information.Please return.

5. File

[Marginal notes]

returned from P5 without acknowledgementAugust 25, 44signed: Bz 24 AugJune 14, 44[Initials]

POK by Dr. Streube (?)

To the Chief of the Political Directing Staff, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Berger, respectfully submitted with the request to resubmit the contents of this memorandum to the minister with view to reconsideration of the Minister's decision.

Signed: BRANDENBERG

[Note in ink] regarding the above-Obergruppenfuehrer Berger received the memorandum on June 14. Consequently the Reichsminister has approved the Action.

Signed: Str. June 16

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 035-PS

SECRET

Berlin, 26 October 1943

Short report regarding security measures by Main Division Ukraine [Hauptarbeitsgruppe Ukraine] during the withdrawal of the Armed Forces.

On 24 Sep 1943 a prohibited zone was created by a decree of the War Commander in the city of Kiev—, which runs some 3 km west of the Dnjepr. The whole civil population in this area, including non-military officials, had to abandon this zone as of 2100, 26 Sep 1943. The office of the Special Purposes Staff [Einsatzstabes] on Rowno Street #8 lies in the prohibited zone. The apartment house on Theaterstrasse #9 was evacuated and troops quartered within.

The removal of the materials on hand encountered extraordinary difficulties due to lack of loading space. However the transporting of the following was carried out:

24 Sep 43:Materials of the Museum of Art at Charkow.Taken over by party member Pfeiffer from General Commissioner, Shitomir for shipping by trucks to Reichs Commissioner Ukraine [RKU] in Rowno.96 Ukrainian paintings.185 Western European paintings.12 wood carvings and etchings.25 carpets and tapestries.The inventory and files of those objects are in the hand of the staff leaders. The Reich Commissioner kept a copy of the inventory.26 Sep 43:Materials of HAG[Hauptarbeitsgruppe—Main Division]The document-house library, utensils, office supplies and the administration were loaded in a freight car by 13 native workers for Truskawiec under the supervision of Special Purpose Staff Director FUCHS.27 Sep 43:Materials of the Department of Seizure[Abteilung Erfassung]

24 Sep 43:Materials of the Museum of Art at Charkow.

Taken over by party member Pfeiffer from General Commissioner, Shitomir for shipping by trucks to Reichs Commissioner Ukraine [RKU] in Rowno.

96 Ukrainian paintings.185 Western European paintings.12 wood carvings and etchings.25 carpets and tapestries.

The inventory and files of those objects are in the hand of the staff leaders. The Reich Commissioner kept a copy of the inventory.

26 Sep 43:Materials of HAG[Hauptarbeitsgruppe—Main Division]

The document-house library, utensils, office supplies and the administration were loaded in a freight car by 13 native workers for Truskawiec under the supervision of Special Purpose Staff Director FUCHS.

27 Sep 43:Materials of the Department of Seizure[Abteilung Erfassung]

This shipment went to Ratibor and contained

42 cases—10,186 books7 cases—total catalog of the East Library21 cases—selected publications12 cases—art folios11 packages of samples of magazines9 crates and}7 rolls } Bolshevist pictures22 crates Bolshevist filmsSeveral cases of negatives and positives from the photoarchive, dispositives and slides, materials of Special Purpose Commandant Dr. Huettig of the Special Purpose Staff "Science" 1 case of Bolshevist data in German and others.1 Oct. 43:Materials of the Ukrainian Museum in Kiev.On the basis of the General evacuation orders of the city commissioner the following were sorted out by us and loaded for shipment to Krakow.Textiles of all sortsCollections of valuable embroidery patternsCollections of brocadesNumerous items of wood, etc.

Several cases of negatives and positives from the photoarchive, dispositives and slides, materials of Special Purpose Commandant Dr. Huettig of the Special Purpose Staff "Science" 1 case of Bolshevist data in German and others.

1 Oct. 43:Materials of the Ukrainian Museum in Kiev.

On the basis of the General evacuation orders of the city commissioner the following were sorted out by us and loaded for shipment to Krakow.

Textiles of all sortsCollections of valuable embroidery patternsCollections of brocadesNumerous items of wood, etc.

Moreover an essential part of the prehistoric museum was transported away.

Since already on the 20 Sep the head of the provincial administration of libraries, museums and archives, Dr. Winters, had requested his assignment to the Special Purposes Staff. Because of the evacuation of the civil administration, he left the city on 25 Sep on the basis of the general evacuation order. Dr. Winter turned over to the leader of the main division (HAG) a list of the articles under his protection in case the Special Purpose Staff remained longer in Kiev and would also take charge of these materials. Dr. Winter could only send 2 freight cars of material into the interior. Shortly before his departure Dr. Winter had turned over by a transfer document to the city commissioner the administration of the materials entrusted to him. The latter had charged Prof. Dr. Mansfeld with as complete an evacuation of these articles as possible. Since Prof. Dr. Mansfeld knew little about the articles, he requested support from the Special Purpose Staff of Reichsleiter Rosenberg. On 1 Oct. it was possible to load 2 freight cars with museum goods, but under great difficulty. Since labor was unobtainable all the members still in Kiev on the Special Purpose Staff of Reichsleiter Rosenberg undertook the loading themselves.

The activity in Kiev became more difficult since the German artillery stands in the center of the city and from there fires its salvoes toward the East bank.

Through the military measures the salvage work was carried out, under ever-increasing difficulties. At the request of Prof. Dr. Mansfeld 2-3 collaborators were assigned to him for the evacuation of the articles and institutes which up to now had been under the civil administration.

Since the remaining in Kiev of all members of the Chief Labor Group Ukraine was impossible the leader of the Chief Labor Group HAG had come to an agreement by the 2 Oct. with G-2 (Ic) on the following points concerning the division in that area.

1. The Special Purposes Staff of Reichsleiter Rosenberg's Chief Labor Group Ukraine will leave behind a detachment of 5 men for security and safety of the cultural articles in the off-limits zone of the city of Kiev.

2. The remaining detachment will at the request of the infantry division (ID) and at the command of the 7th Army Corps (7 AK) work in close cooperation with the G-2 (Ic) of the infantry division (ID).

3. The infantry division (ID) is prepared to take care of the detachment and provide each member with corresponding identification papers and thereby guarantee the utmost protection possible in the prohibited zone.

4. At the request of G-2 (Ic) of the Infantry Division (ID) the particular detachments were to take over tasks which lay in the competence of the Armed Forces.

5. The Infantry Division (ID) places great value on further evacuation of precious articles, since this battle zone can in no case be protected sufficiently by the army. One may even count on artillery shells falling at any time. Army installations, means of transportation, etc., should be provided by the Infantry Division, if possible.

Of course it was the duty of the Chief Labor Group Ukraine (HAG) to hold out in Kiev as long as possible, until it was rendered impossible by the military situation.

All members of the Chief Labor Group [HAG] have worked in harmony and with strong interest to insure the safety and evacuation of the most precious cultural goods. At the loading they lent a hand in order to complete the loading work in the few hours remaining.

The remaining of the Chief Labor Group [HAG] and its work has greatly impressed G-2 and the Division. The intention that the remaining detachment would leave Kiev at the last possible moment met with strong approval. This last movement was defined by the Army as the one on which the remaining detachment would be "bombed out of office."

On 5 Oct 1943 the leader of the Chief Labor Group departed from Kiev with his staff except those selected for the remaining detachment in order to continue leading the work of the Chief Labor Group of Ukraine [HAG] from Truskavice.

Signed: UTIKAL

The Staff Directorate[Stabsfuehrung]Referee EastBerlin 21 Oct. 1943II b/Dr. Z./Z/[handwritten notation]

Miss Girschberg for final copy to Reich Directorate, Staff Director, Subordinate Leaders, etc.

Memorandum for the Reichs Leader

Subject: Evacuation of the Office at Kiev.

As you all know the Chief Labor Office Group Ukraine (HAG) of the Special Purposes Staff had to, for the time being shift its offices [Dienstsitz] to Truskaviec near Drobobycz 90 km South of Lomberg. This shifting was accomplished without any friction. A remaining detachment was left behind in the prohibited zone in Kiev. This remaining detachment still protects the cultural goods which lie in the battle zone insofar as their salvage has not been carried out. Numerous cultural goods were saved in the last hour by the Special Purposes Staff before the destruction through enemy action, aided by the strenuous work of the staff members as a whole. The following items were shipped:

1.24 Sept. 43: Materials from the Charkow Art Museum.

Taken over by party member (Pg.) Pfeiffer from General Commissioner Shitomir to be transported by trucks (LKW) to Reich Commissioner Ukraine in Rowno.

96 Ukrainian paintings183 Western European paintings12 wood carvings and etchings25 carpets and tapestry

The files and inventory of these objects are in the hands of the staff leaders [Stabsfuehrung]. The Reich Commissioner kept a copy of the inventory.

2.26 Sept. 43: Materials of the Main Divisions[HAG]

The documents, house library, utensils, office supplies, private luggage, and the supplies of the administration were loaded in a freight car by 13 native workers for Truskaviec under the supervision of Special Purposes Staff Director FUCHS.

3.27 Sept. 43: Materials of the Department of Seizure[Abt. Erfassung.]

This shipment went to Ratibor and contained:

42 chests—10,186 books, East library (OBR)7 chests—Total catalog of the East library (OBR)1 chest—books for the higher school21 chests—selected publications12 [?] chests—art folios11 packages of model samples of magazines9 crates7 rolls (Bolshevist pictures)22 frames [Vorschlaege] Bolshevist films

Several chests of negatives and positives from the photo-archives, dispositives and slides, material of Special Purpose Commandant, Dr. Huettig of the Special Purpose Staff "Science."1 chest of Bolshevist data in Germany and others.

4.27 Sept 43: Material of the Prehistoric Museum.

Independently from the work of the Special Purposes, Staff of Prehistoric History had packed and shipped to Krakau the most important items of the Prehistoric Museum.

5.1 Oct 43: Materials of the Ukrainian Museum in Kiev.

On the basis of the general evacuation orders of the city commissioner the following were sorted out by us and loaded for shipment to Krakau:

Textiles of all kinds (clothes, blouses, shirts, coats, over-coats, etc.)Collection of valuable embroidery patternsCollections of brocadesCollection of Ukrainian easter eggsNumerous items of wood, etc.

6.1 Oct 43: Materials of the Prehistoric Museum.

In a second inspection party member (Pg.) Prof. Dr. Stampfuss with the help of several collaborators gathered another collection of prehistoric articles and also shipped it to Krakau.

When the civil administration left Kiev the head of the provincial administration for archives, libraries, and museums, Dr. Winter and his helper Dr. Benzing, again joined the Special Purposes Staff on 20 Sep. However these two gentlemen also left Kiev on 25 Sep. The Special Purpose Staff did then undertake again its original task of protecting the cultural articles and goods. Though the personnel has been decreased materially in the course of the development of the situation, it was then arranged that right up to the last minute one group of workers capable of action remained in Kiev for the carrying out of the final tasks. The Special Purpose Staff is the last German office which remains in the dead zone of Kiev. Its remaining and its assistance to the G-2 (Ic) of the combat division involved has made a strong impression on the army. We were permitted to remain in the fighting zone up until the point when we would be bombed out of the office.

This successful work was in the main due to the devotion to duty and to personal inspiration of the Chief of the Special Purposes Staff Anton, but also due to the unselfish performance of duty of his other co-workers.

Signed: Dr. ZEISSChief of the Special Purposes Staff.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 041-PS

Memorandum for the Fuehrer

By a decision of the Fuehrer the Reichsminister for the occupied Eastern territories has received the authority to put to use for the support of government arrangements in the Eastern territories the available household goods of refugees, absent or deported Jews in the occupied Western areas. This is the so-called Action "M". For the execution of Action "M" the service office West [Dienststelle Westen] has been set up in Paris with directive authority in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Up to the present time about 40,000 tons of household goods have been loaded on free transportation space (ship and railway) bound for the Reich.

In recognition of the fact that the requirements of bomb damaged persons in the Reich must take precedence over the demands of the East, the Reich Ministry has placed a major portion (over 19,500 tons) of the household goods at the disposal of the bomb damaged persons in the Reich. The goods have then been transported by the appropriate service office west in the occupied territory. Likewise, the Reich Ministry will place at the disposition of bomb damaged persons the greatest portion, at least 80%, of the goods accruing from Action "N" [sic]. For its own purposes only these goods which are urgently needed in the East will be reserved.

The execution of Action "M" has resulted in two categories of difficulties up to the present time:

a.Transportation Question. The goods have been transported up to this point as Armed Forces goods by means of railway cars and ships. The transportation authorities [Kommandanturen] now wish to treat the transport requirements of Action "M" as the transport of the civilian sector. This would lead to unbearable delays and among other difficulties would require the export-approval of the French State. Because of this the following decree is required: Goods which the Reich Minister for the East-Service Office West [Dienststelle Westen] Paris or their directive authorities in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, declare as goods accruing from Action "M", are to be transported as Armed Forces goods.

b.Distribution of furniture among bombed-out persons. The giving up of the furniture to bomb-damaged persons is being delayed in order that it may be submitted upon import into the Reich territory to handling by the customs. After time-losing determination of the value, the furniture in many cases is auctioned to the bomb-damaged persons by Chief Financial Commissioners [Oberfinanzpraesidenten]; to avoid these red-tape procedures the following decree is proposed:

1. Goods accruing from Action "M" are exempt from all customs handling. For such goods there are no obligations or duties to pay.

2. Bomb damaged districts announce their needs in household furnishing under the auspices of the competent Reich defense commissar to Reich Ministry for Occupied Eastern Territories—Central Section. The Reich Ministry instigates the immediate removal of the objects placed at its disposal by its service office West [Dienststelle Westen] and in accordance with the indication of the Reich defense commissar ships directly to the competent regional directorates [Gauleitungen]. These give the furniture to the persons suffering the bomb damage on a loan basis. The determination of the value of the furniture and the definitive acquisition by the person suffering the bomb damage remains in abeyance till a later accounting. Up to the time of reckoning the goods are Reich property, and are subject to the evaluation right of the Reich Minister for the occupied Eastern territory.

By these proposals a type of management would be achieved whereby persons who have suffered bomb damage would have furniture and household goods at their disposal in the shortest possible time. And thereby also a portion of their most immediate difficulties would be eliminated.

Berlin, 3 October 1942Signed: A ROSENBERG

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 047-PS

HOTEL KAISERHOFBerlin W 8Berlin 24 August 1931My dear Mr. Rosenberg:

I am just reading in the Voelkischer Beobachter, edition 235/236, page 1, an article entitled "Does Wirth intend to come over?". The tendency of the article is to prevent on our part a crumbling away from the present form of government. I myself am travelling all over Germany to achieve exactly the opposite. May I therefore ask that my own paper will not stab me in the back with tactically unwise articles.

Persons, who are known to seek connection or are even prepared to break from the present constellation,are to be spared under all circumstances. Our fight is to be directed in the first line against the stubborn defenders of the present course and against persons who reject us.

I ask therefore the Voelkischer Beobachter as well as the Party Press Office to pay punctilious attention to this in the interest of our work.

With German greetings,signed: ADOLF HITLER

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