NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN LABOR PARTY
Munich, 33, Brown house
at present Berlin, 22 Feb 40 Deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Leader
Mr. Reich leader Alfred Rosenberg Berlin W 35 Margareten Str. 17
Chancellery Rosenbery, 24 Feb 40
rec. No. 555 copy AR and Urban St Subject: Directions for the adnzinistration of classes in religion
Dear Party Member Rosenberg :
The deputy of the Fuehrer has heard from different sources, that Reich Bishop Mueller tells everywhere, that he received a commission from you to work out directions for formulating the teaching of religion for the schools.
I have not been able to examine the statements of Reich Bishop Mueller as to their correctness. The question, having come up for discussion again by the statements of Reich Bi’shop Mueller, is however in my mind of such fundamental importance for the future ideological position of the party, that I find it necessary, already now to point 0u.t to you the serious objections I have in regard to such a commission.
The ministry for education of the Reich has repeatedly indi- cated its desire in the course of the past few years for new directions for formulating the teaching of religion, which would also be acceptable to the NSDAP.
With your agreement, this request has repeatedly been refused by the Fuehrer’s deputy. Just as your ministry did, so the deputy of the Fuehrer took the position based on the assumption, that it could not be the task of the party to give directions for the in- struction of the teachings of Christian religions.
Christianity and National Socialism are phenomona which originated from entirely different basic causes. Both differ fun- damentally so strongly, that it will not be possible to construct a Christian teaching which would be completely compatible with the point of view of the national socialist ideology; just as the communities of Christian faith would never be able to stand by the ideology of national socialism in its entirety. The issuing of national socialist directions for the teaching of religious classes would however be based on a synthesis of national socialism and Christianity which I find impossible.
If the directions should really be permeated by the spirit of national socialism, some very fundamental articles of faith of the Christian teachings could not be recognized. I am referring here only to the position of the Christian churches to the race question, to the question of hindrance or destruction of life not valuable, its position to marriage, which speaks for the celibacy of priests and the toleration and furtherance of orders for monks and nuns, the teaching, contradictory to German feeling, of the immaculate conception of Mary, etc.
No matter how these directions may be formulated, in no case will they ever simultaneously find the approval of the church and the party.
In addition to this, the religions themselves cannot agree on the contents of the Christian teachings; as far as the Protestants themselves are concerned, there are not only the followers of the confessional church in the Reich and the German Christians, but also the adherents of a teaching, which is endeavoring to create
a new Lutheran Christendom of a particular kind approximately in the shape which seems desirabie to the Reich Minister of churches, party member Kerrl. The party thus would have to decide first which of these directions of faith it would give pref-erence, or if it should even decide for a fourth. I do not think it entirely impossible that the Reich Bishop may take this latter road, since according to his last publication he himself has al-ready turned sharply away from coiiceptions which up to now have been part of the faith of the German Christians.
But if directions for the instruction of religion should ever be worked out, it will not be enough, to my mind, to make them for Protestants only; respective directions should also be worked out for Catholics. To work out directions for instructions of Catholic faith, the Reich Bishop is hardly the suitable person, and one would probably have to choose a Catholic. Of course the direc- tions for both faiths would difler in fundamental questions, each, however would lay claim to tine fact that it really contained the truly authentic interpretatior, of article 24 of the party program.
By issuing directions nothing would therefore be improved in the present situatian in the field of the churches. The fight be- tween the faiths would be carried on in the old form and spread into the lines cf the party. Yes, all faiths and Christian groups would attack state and party, because they had assumed to en- croach upon their own territory, that of teaching the Christian faith and to try to reform it.
The churches cannot be conquered by a compromise between national socialism and Christian teachings, but only through a new ideology, whose coming you yourself have announced in your writings. Because of this conviction we have always been care- ful, not to exert a reforming influence on the Christian dogma in any shape nor to exert any influence on the church directives for religious teachings. In complete mutual agreement we have re- jected the intention of the Reich Minister for churches who, against the objection of the party, always tried anew to renew the church life in the frame of national socialist spirit, in search- ing for a compromise between Christian teachings and the ide- ology of national socialism.
Should, however, any one personality emanating from the life of the church, be charged now to work out directions for the teach- ing of the Christian religion, the party would thereby basically approve and accept for itself the position of the Reich Minister for the churches previously opposed by it as there is no basic dif- ference between a position which wants to reform and reorgan-ize the church life in its entirety, and one which aims at this goal solely in the realm of the education of youth.
So far we have always been in accord, that by taking such a step the party would leave the soil on which it is firmly planted and would step on the swaying ground of the controversial
Christian doctrines. It would enter into the domain of the inter-ret tat ion of the teachings of Jesus, and there would doubtless be subordinate to those who for centuries have done nothing but interpret and rewrite the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth as written in the old books about the actual wording of which the scientists fight even today. When in later decades and cen- turies the German people’s soul liberated by national socialism should once again be choked and crippled by Christian doctrines, it could be possible that it may have been caused by today’s at-tempt to effect a synthesis between national socialism and Chris- tianity.
On the other hand, of course I am also of the opinion that it is not possible to eliminate the religious instruction in schools without replacing it with something better for the moral edu- cation of youth.
Religious instruction as given in schools today does not only comprise the instruction in the Christian doctrines of faith, the teachings of the creation of the world-and of the life thereafter; besides, the children receive also instructions in the ten com-mandments, which for most comrades of the people to this day still are the only directives for their moral behavior and for an orderly collective life in the people’s community. If this instruc- tion is taken from the children without replacing it with some- thing better, the objection can be made-in my estimation not without reason, that, as many contend, the present degradation of youth is in part caused by the lack of religious instruction in schools.
What, in my opinipn, is therefore necessary is the preparation of a short directive about a national socialist life formulation. We need for the work of education in the party, especially also in the Hitler Youth a short resume in which the ethical prin- ciples are documented, to respect which each German boy and girl, who at one time will be. representatives of the national socialistic Germany, must be educated. In such a directive for
instance belongs the law of bravery, the law against cowardness, the commandment of love for the soulful nature in which God makes himself apparent also in the animal and the plant, a com- mandment to keep the blood pure; many principles also belong
here which are for instance also contained in the decalogue of the Old Testament, as far as they can be regarded as moral principles of all people’s life.
The publication of such a directive can and must only come out of our national socialist conduct of life. Its commandments of customs need to be explained by reference to any doctrines of faith about the creation of life and about life of the soul after death.
They can and must originate beyond any confessional discus-sions.
I take the publication of such a directive to be of utmost im-portance, because the German boys and girls must once be told what they can and must do, and what is forbidden for them to do. I don’t even think it necessary to introduce this directive
immediately into the schools as a text; it would be sufficient if for the time being it would be introduced into the party and its affiliations. Later it could also be taken over by the schools just as the little Catechism also was not created by the school boards, but first taught by the Church and later taken over by the schools.
As far as the religious instructions in the schools is concerned, I do not think that anything has to be changed in the present situation. No fault can be found with any national socialist teacher, who after the unmistakenly clear instructions of the Fuehrer’s deputy, is ready to give school instructions in the Christian religion. For the contents of this instruction, however, the directives should still be binding which have in former years been made by the churches themselves. In the circular of the Fuehrer’s deputy No. 3/39 of 4 Jan 1939 it is stated explicitly that the teachers charged with religious instruction are not to choose from the material on biblical history at their own discre- tion, but have the obligation to teach the entire biblical instruc- tion material. Interpretations, explanations and separations in the sense of several attempts of particular church directions have to be omitted. The pupils must be given the entire picture of the biblical instruction material.
However, the teachers have the right to present this material as property of biblical thought and not as that of Germany or national socialism. If thus in some cases comparison will be drawn, this, according to the circular, corresponds only to the duties of the educator. Against such instruction of religion the churches cannot have any objections.
When, sometime later, the proposed directive for a new Ger-man conduct of life first to be used in the educational work of the party, will have found entry into the schools, it shall in no way supplant classes in religion. It may perhaps be used as a foundation for some classes in German and must have validity for all pupils, without consideration of their religious affilia-tions. Against such educational procedure the churches could not object, either because it would really be a matter of additional education, which would take place next to the religious instruc-tion and without any connection with it. On the contrary, the
churches would have reason to be thankful to the state because it is not satisfied with the religious instruction according to the very insufficient moral education based on the ten command-ments, but that it is giving youth an additional Education, which makes much higher demands on its moral conduct.
Parallel to that the desire of the parents for the instruction in the doctrines of faith may thus well go on. The stronger and more fertile our positive educational work in the schools will be formulated, however the more certain it is that instruction of religions will be losing in importance.
If the youth which is now being educated according to our moral laws will later have to decide if it is still willing to have its children brought up in the far inferior Christian doctrines, the decision will in most cases be negative.
I would think that today, seven years after taking over the power, it should be possible to set up principles for a national socialist conduct of life. They have long been apparent to the people from the numerous early fighters for the national socialist idea.
As long as we do not master this task, however, it will always be pointed out from various sides, and rightly so, that children, not taking part in religious instruction, are no longer taught even the most simple moral laws which are a standard for the com- munal life of all nations.
The Fuehrer’s deputy finds it necessary that all these ques- tions should be thoroughly discussed in the near future in the presence of the Reich leaders, who are especially affected by them. I would appreciate it very much if you would let me know your position in this matter before the discussion.
Heil Hitler !
/s/ M. Bormann
PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
National Socialist German Workers Party. The Fuehrer’s Deputy Staff leader
Munich 33,
National Socialist German Workers Party. The Fuehrer’s Deputy Staff leader
Munich 33, Brown House, at present Berlin W 8, 9 Jan., 1940. Wilhelmstr. 64 I11
Dr. Kl/Gf. To Reichsleiter Party Comrade Alfred Rosenberg Berlin W 55 Margareten Strasse 17
Subject: Raising of a War Fund from the Churches.
Enclosed, I forward to you the copy of a letter, sent today to the Reichsminister for Finance, for cognizance.
Heil Hitler
/s/
M. Bormann
(M. Bormann)
Enclosure.
Berlin 19 Jan 1940
Dr. Kl/Gf.
To the Reichsminister for Finance
Berlin W 8
Wilhelmplatz 1-2
Subject: Raising of a War Fund from the Churches.
As it has been reported to me, the war fund of the churches has been specified from the 1November 1939 on, at first for the duration of three months at RM 1,800,000.-per month, of which Rm 1,000,000.-are to be paid by the Protestant church and RM 800,000.-by the Catholic church per month.
The establishment of such a low amount has surprised me. I construe from numerous reports, that the political communities have to raise such a large war fund, that the execution of their tasks, partiall? very important for example in the field of pub- lic welfare, is endangered. In consideration of that, a larger quota from the churches appears to be absolutely appropriate.
Y * * * * Y *
In my opinion, the determination of the amount cannot be af- fected by the argument that the fund coilld only have as a conse- quence a decrease of the material expenses, but not of the person- nel expenses of the churches. I consider it absolutely bearable, to decrease also the personnel expenses, especially for the Cath- olic clergymen. In contrast to all other German men, obliged to serve, not one Catholic clergyman is in the field as the soldier; also none of the Catholic clergymen takes obligations unto himself voluntarily, like the ones which must be borne by every German family head.
As far as the technical handling of the war fund to be deter- mined for the Catholic Church is concerned, in my opinion, the state does not have to bother to figure out the individual partial contributions, which must be raised by the various Orders and re- ligious associations. I would rather consider it correct if the amount is determined in one for the entire Catholic Church, and if one then leaves it to the Church to divide up this anlount ac- cording to its own best knowledge. However, the state must be free to call upon the property and funds of the various individual parts and groups of the church arbitrarily to make its demands valid.
As far as the Evangelical Church is concerned, for years the efforts of the Reichminister for Church Affairs have been in the direction to organize all the State Churches [Landeskirchen] of the Evangelical Church into one unified organization with a uni- fied leadership for the spiritual as well as for the financial af- fairs. Despite the objections, raised by the party, these plans were more and more elaborated upon; even during the war, they were followed up without interruption. Therefore it is not un- just, to determine in one for the Evangelical Church the war fund to be raised according to the same principles, which have been developed for the Catholic Church.
It should be left up to the State Churches [Landeskirchen] and religious associations, who consider such treatment unjust, to demonstrate in an easily perceptible manner, that they are not in any dependent relationship to the leadership of the German Evan- gelical Church, and do not desire to come under the latter’s do- minion.
I would be thankful to you, if you could inform us very soon, how high the amount of the war fund of the churches has been set at. The sum, calculated for the duration of the first three months, of which, ‘as I understand, the churches have not paid one Penny, may not correspond in any way to the capability, as fig- ured from the entire fortune *and from the contribution and/or tax income of the Churches.
Heil Hitler
By order
M B (M. Bormann)
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY
Munich 33 Brown House
at present Berlin, 18 Jan 40 Bo/Si The Deputy of the Fuehrer, Chief of Staff Mr. Rosenberg, member of the executive board of the Party
[Reichsleiter] Berlin W 35 Margaretenstr. 17
Office Rosenberg No of entry 196. 20 Jan 40 submitted to RL Rosbg 1/20 Copies AR and Urban Dear Party Member Rosenberg:
A few days ago you expressed to the Fuehrer at the Reich Chancellory that Reich Bishop Mueller had written an excellent book for the German soldier. I am of different opinion. This book familiarizes a new soldier who has already given up Christianity with partly camouflaged trains of thought.
As I have written to you already, I consider it the most essen- tial demand of the hour that NS publications worth reading for the German soldier should be written immediately by your Office and other qualified National Socialists. This opinion has been confirmed by many regional Party leaders. Thus we set against the sale of Christian pamphlets the highly increased sale of na-tional socialist publications which are popular.
Heil Hitler: Yours Signed : BORMANN
(M. Bormann)
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
National Socialist German Workers7 Party Munich 33, the Brown House At Present, Berlin W 8, 17 Jan. 1940 Wilhelmstrasse 64 111-Dr. Kl/Gf Rosenberg Chancellory Entry No. 187-[? ?] 18 Jan. 40 Reich Director Rosenberg
The Deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Director
To Reich Director Party Member Rosenberg
Bedin W 35 Margaretenstr. 17 Nearly all the districts report to me regularly, that the Churches of both confessions are administering spiritually to members of
the Armed Forces. This administering finds its expression es-pecially in the fact that soldiers are being sent religious publica-tions by the spiritual leaders of the home congregations. These ~ublications are in part very cleverly composed. I have repeated reports that these publications are being read by the troops and thereby exercise a certain influence on the morale.
I have in the past sought by sounding out the General Field Marshall, the High Command of the Armed Forces and Party Member Reich Director Amann, to restrict considerably the pro- duction and shipment of publications of this type. The result of these efforts remain unsatisfactory. As Reich Director [Reichs-leiter] Amann has repeatedly informed me, the restriction of these pamphlets by means of the printing paper rationing has not been achieved because the paper used for the production of these writings is being purchased on the open market. Publications can only be confiscated by special police measures because they are designed to weaken the morale of the troops. Such police meas- ures are really unsatisfactory and in their final execution very much disputed.
Likewise, the prior censorship of all writings by the High Com- mand of the Armed Forces which takes place at the distribution points of the Armed Forces service bureau, is not sufficient in my opinion, to guarantee that the soldiers are not given an undesired influence by the Churches. A publication, the contents of which are clearly tied to the Christian dogma and which do not contain attacks ‘against Party, State or the Armed Forces, can not in general be refused permission by this examining commission.
If the influencing of the soldiers by the Church is to be effec- tively combatted, this will only be accomplished, in my opinion, by producing many good publications in the shortest time possible under the supervision of the Party. These publications should be so composed that the soldiers will really prefer to read them, and at the same time, indoctrinate the soldiers with a National Socialist World philosophy, not the Christian viewpoint.
Thus at the last meeting of the deputy Gauleiters complaints were uttered on this matter to the effect that a considerable quantity of such publications are not available. This is the reason I believe, that the publication by your expert, Office Director [Amtsleiter] Party Member Ziegler, “Soldier Belief-Soldier Honor” [Soldatenglaube-Soldatenehre] has had so great a sale in a short time.
I maintain that it is necessary that in the near future we transmit to the Party Service Offices down to local group direc- tors [Ortsgruppenleitern] a list of additional publications of this sort which should be sent to our soldiers by the local groups, Party military units [Sturme] or their adherents and friends in the field. I should not regard it as necessary or even good if the majority of these publications should have a spiritual or philosophical character. Rather I should regard it as much preferable if these publications in their finished form were styled in as varied a manner as possible, thus having an appeal to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of their occupa- tional or professional achievements, regardless of their interests and their background.
I should be very appreciative if you would devote your very special attention to this task, in the near future. My expert, Party Member Dr. Klopfer, is available to you for consultation about the material on hand here which is at your disposal at any time upon your call.
As the production of these publications (which at the moment are not in existence) will take a certain amount of time, and as, on the other hand, I believe that the supplying of the troops with good publications ought not to be delayed a day, I should be in- debted to you if you would transmit to me a list of the already existing publications which the deputy of the Fuehrer can recom- mend to the Party Service Offices as suitable for dispatch to the Armmed Forces.
Heil Hitler ! [Signed] M. BORMANN
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY Munich 17 June 1938 The Brown House Deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Leader
CIRCULAR LETTER NR. 72/38 To all Reichsleiter a,nd Regional Directors [Gauleiter]
Enclosed please find, for your information, a copy directions for participation of the Reichsarbeitsdienstes in religious celebra- tions.
Signed: M. BORMANN Rosenberg Chancellory In Nr. 226601 on 21 June 38 Certified true copy
COPY
Directions for the participation of the Reichsarbeitsdienstes in religious celebrations.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst is a training school in which the Ger- man youth should be educated to national unity in the spirit of National Soci’alism.
This problem can only be solved, if all the ideas which at one time were directed to the breaking up of national unity, are sub- dued in Reichsarbeitsdienst. Therefore it is forbidden to have any class, professional and religious barriers in the Reichsarbeits- dienst.
What religious beliefs a person has is not a decisive factor, but it is decisive that he first of all feels himself a German.
Every religious practice is forbidden in the Reichsarbeitsdienst beczuse it disturbs the comrade-like harmony of all working men and women.
On this basis every participation of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in churchly, that is religious, arrangements and celebrations is not possible.
A religious creed will strive within the German people for pre- dominance. The Reichsarbeitsdienst in all its male and female leaders, working men and women strive for the indissoluble bind- ing of the whole people.
Therefore not only allowing the members of the Reichsarbeits- dienst to attend church in a body, but also participation by the members of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in religious celebrations for example, weddings or funerals, violates the educational task which is facing the organization.
As little as it is the affair of the Reichsarbeitsdienst to forbid its individual members to have a church wedding or funeral, so definitely must the Reichsarbeitsdienst avoid taking part as an organization in a festival which is strictly religious, that is, which excludes Germans of other beliefs.
It is therefore, in any case, necessary to execute a clear tem- Poral separation between the churchly celebration and the debut of the Reichsarbeitsdienst.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst does not participate in religious cele- brations, but rather turns her support to the marriage or burial of a member before or after the churchly celebration.
The participation of the musical band of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in classical churchly concerts (for example, production of the “Schoepfung” by Haydn) is not to be regarded as a partaking in a religous celebration, and is always to be decided according to the local conditions. Signed : HIERL Authenticated : REISMEIR
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
Rosenberg [in pencil]
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY The Deputy of the Fuehrer Chief of Staff Munich, Brown House, 27 July 1938
I11 Entered 11Aug 38 6691
[Stamped]
Rosenberg Chancellery
[Stamped] Entry No. 2896k 3 Aug 38
REGULATION NR 104/38 (Not to be published) Requested to be returned from 111, Returned 22 Aug [in pencil]
With regard to the constantly emphasized neutrality of the party with the churches, it is pertinent to eliminate, as far as possible, the existing frictions. Since pastors, as political and subordinate leaders have shown in the past that they were not able to make decisions when the job of trusteeship was added to the danger of having them drawn into church conflicts, the Deputy of the Fuehrer has decreed the following:
1.
Pastors are to be released immediately from their party function as standard bearers [Hoheitstraeger] .
2.
Pastors are to be interchanged little by little according to replacements at hand as political or subordinate leaders of the congregations.
3.
As of now, it is forbidden to continue appointments of pas- tors to positions in the Party, to their congregations, and to groups associated with church activities.
Signed: M. BORMANN Certified true copy: Friedrichs Distributor: I1 b
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
SECRET
Copy Dt.
National Socialist German Workers Party
The deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Director.
Munich, 24 January 1939. I11 D-ES 3230/0/15-4278 g. Rosenberg Chancellery Receipt Nr. 6007-31 Jan 3
To the Delegate of the Fuehrer for the surveillance of the whole spiritual and world political philosophy schooling and educa- tion of the Nazi Party.
Reich Director [Reichsleiter] Party Member Alfred Rosenberg, -or representative.-Berlin W. 35. Margarethenstr. 17
Concerning: Theological Faculties.
My dear’ Party Member Rosenberg :
I am transmitting to you by the attached enclosure a copy of a letter I have written today to the Reich Minister for Knowl- edge, Education and Popular Education. I request that you take cognizance of the same.
Heil Hitler.
Your very devoted,
(signed) M. BORMANN.
I Attachment.
SECRET
Copy Dt. National Socialist German Workers Party The Deputy of the Fuehrer
Munich, 24 January 1939 , I11 D-FS 3230/0/15-4278 g To the Reich Minister for Knowledge, Education and Popular Education. To the Attention of Government Counsel Jahnert-or representa-tive in the Office. Berlin W. 8 Unter den Linden 69.
Concerning : Theological Faculties.
In regard to your Ietter of 28 Nov 38-(Office Chief W)-and the conference between Mr. State Minister Dr. Wacker and
my expert party member Wemmer, I would like to again inform you of the stand the’ Party is taking.
Fundamentally, theological inquiry cannot be placed on the same footing as the general fields of knowledge in the Universi- ties as it represents less a free field of knowledge than a confes- sional (i. e. religious) aim of research. No doubts exist on this ground if the theological faculties in the German High schools are appreciably restricted.
In this case, as you have likewise pointed out in your letter, the clause of the Concordat and the Church Treaties are to be taken into consideration. In the case of certain faculties, which are not mentioned by a specific clause in the Concordat and Church Treaties, as for example Munich and a few others, a suppression can be begun without further to do. This is equally true of the theological faculties in Austria, Vienna and Graz.
But also, in the case of the faculties which are specifically men- tioned in the Concordat or Church Treaties, there now exists a special legal situation which has been created by the general change in circumstances. Particularly, the introduction of mili- tary service and the execution of the Four Year Plan must be considered. By virtue of these measures, and in addition by vir- tue of the fact of an extraordinary lack of replacement men in contrast to the earlier numerous replacement men available, it will be necessary to execute a certain reorganization of the Ger- man High Schools. Thus economics and simplifications are nec- essary. I should like to refer particularly once more to these questions on the basis of the oral discussion between Mr. State Minister Dr. Wacker and my expert. Because of this I would appreciate it very much if you would restrict the theological faculties insofar as they cannot be wholly suppressed in accord- ance with the above statement. In this event the matter con-cerns not only the theological faculties in the universities, but also the various state establishments which still exist in many places as institutes of high learning exclusively devoted to theology and without connection with a university.
I request in this instance the omission of any express declara- tion to the churches or to other places as well as the avoiding of a public announcement of these measures. Complaints and the like must be answered (if they are to be replied to) in the fashion that these measures are being executed in the course of the eco- nomic plan of reorganization and that similar things are happen- ing to other faculties.
I would appreciate it very much if professorial chairs, thus vacated, can be then turned over to the newly created fields of inquiry of these last years, such as racial research, archeology studies, etc.
Heil Hitler ! as representative Signed: M. BORMANN Certified true copy Signed : Engel
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
National Socialist German Workers’ Party The delegate of the Fuehrer Chief of Staff Munich 28 Jan. 1939 I11 D-Es 2240/0/21 3400 g. Personal Secret
To: The Fuehrer’s delegate for the supervision of the entire mental and doctrinal teaching and education of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party
Reichsleiter Rosenberg. Berlin W 35 Margarethenstr. 17. Chancellery Rosenberg In: Nr. 6231-10 Feb. 39.
Subject: Armed Forces and Church
Dear Esteemed Party Member Rosenberg, I sent to you in the annex for your reference a copy of my letter of to-day to the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. Heil Eitler Your very devoted, Signed : BORMANN. 1Enclosure.
SECRET
National Socialist German Workers’ Party
Carbon copy
28 January 1939
I11 D ES 2240/0/21-34 g. The Fuehrer’s Deputy. To : The Supreme Command of the Arm’ed Forces. To : Captain Thomee or his representative. Berlin W 35 Tirpitzufer 72-76
Subject: Armed Forces and Church
In reference to the conferenoe between Brigadier General Reinecke and my expert party member, Chief Councillor to the Government Wemmer, of Wednesday the 11th of this month, I want to explain to you once more in order to confirm the arrange- ments made by my expert, the attitude of the party with regard to these questions.
In the last years, the party had to announce its position, time and time again, to the plan of establishing a State Church, or of a closer connection between the State and the Church. The party has repudiated these plans with all its force and for the following reasons. In the first place it would not be com-patible for the doctrinal demands of National Socialism to unite the State with the churches as the outer organization of the religious communions which do not have as aim in all their fields the carrying out of the National Socialist principles. In the second place, considerations of a political nature oppose such an outer unity. At present, the churches, the Protestant as well as the Catholic one, are disunited internally, and partly externally too, seen from an organizational point of view, they do not form a unity any longer. A union of these churches with a State built on a strong close leadership and on any National Socialist prin- ciples is bound to fail. Such a union, furthermore, would result in constant arguing between Church and State. Furthermore, competence quarrels would arise constantly there, where meas- ures have to be taken concerning either the State or the Church ; in this case also one must always count with the difficulty that the Churches would refuse such decisions out of dogmatic rea- sons. Numerous examples of such an attitude can be found there, where out of historical reasons, there still is a union between State and Church, such as for instance in the case of the School. But even there where the State has recently tried to bring order in the affairs of the Church by making decisions such as for instance the setting up of a State’s finance committee for the Church administration, experience has been made that one por- tion of the churches thought these decisions were necessary, but another portion thought, for dogmatic reasons, that this was an intolerable meddling with the church life. With such unforl tunate circumstances, there is always a danger for the State that it has to execute its decisions forcibly if these are not being carried out; this particular condition must be prevented for several reasons.
For these reasons of doctrinal and political nature, the deputy of the Fuehrer has opposed the setting up of a State Church; he has also rejected the attempts to make use of the authority of the State for a different kind of union between the State and Church and to settle outer organizational matters which should be the task of the Church. The party, therefore, would regret very much if contrary to this attitude, the Armed Forces would con- tinue with their plans to set up a private consistory for the Armed Forces, that is to say to create a private church for the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces Church would indeed be nothing else but a State Church within the Armed Forces. To supplement this I would like to bring out the following points :
1. A great portion of the ministers of both churches stand, in accordance with the attitude of the churches, in concealed and also open opposition to National Socialism and the State led by it. In these questions a different judgment of the case is presented as it would have been before or during the World War when the churches were in a more positive relationship to the State. To-day, however, the churches and the ministers, should a crisis arise for this National Socialist State, would pass from concealed to open opposition. They will not in times of crisis support or help this state but at best leave it to its own fate. That they will even fight this State in these times in order to regain lost fields is clearly demonstrated by the Protestant beseeching prayer in refer- ence to the Sudetenland crisis; I want to bring this incident to your attention once more. This high treasonlike beseeching prayer proves that the churches have only been waiting till the National Socialist State found itself, at least in their opinion, in a moment of uneasiness, to take up the fight against the State with their whole psychological influential means. I11 my opinion this fact deserves special attention, because this beseeching prayer clearly demonstrates in which spiritually extraordinary successful way these churches try to ihfluence the individuals. I do not think that the ministers of these churches will be a support to the fighting troops, but that on the contrary, they will be to a great extent dangerous destroyers of the spiritual fighting strength in the de- cisive moment.
I want to emphasize that at that time this beseeching prayer was approved by most of the country’s churches and that it was only later on, once these trying days were put to a good end, and often drawn out negotiations from the part of the Reich’s church ministry had been ended, that some of the country’s churches an- nounced their disapproval; this disapproval, however, in the mean- time was in part repudiated. A separate church from the Armed
Forces even though it might free itself, as to its organization, from the other country’s churches, will not be spared from this danger. The Armed Forces church would have to get its recruits from the other churches. Even if one would go as far, and this in my opinion is practically impossible, as to how the Armed Forces form their otvn ministery from youth on, this separation of an Armed Forces church from the rest of the churches will not be possible because their church faith ideas will remain the same because they are all based on dogmatic principles.
2. It is known to me that certain disputes arose when the Armed Forces tried to bring about a union between the Protestant and Catholic churches; furthermore, that certain organizational measures such as for instance the combining of the Church song book, the creation of a unified Church service etc. would be ap- propriate. But according to experiences which the party and the State encountered in these questions, the difficulties, instead of de- creasing, on the contrary increase when these matters are taken in hand by authorities other than the church. But the party, by its logical attitude towards these matters, wanted to spare the State from these diAiculties and arguments within the churches, that are always led back on dogmatic principles. It should re- main up to the church if they can, want or do not, to accomplish these desirable organizational measures and unifications. The State or the party would furthermore oppose an inevitable devel- opment in this field by meddling in church matters; namely a de- velopment which would lead to leaving these affairs to forces which still want to be in connection with the Church.
The Fuehrer’s Deputy has therefore considered it as his duty, after the basic decision to reject a union between State and Church had been made, to see to it that the basic ideological freedom of faith and conscience be also practically realized in all the State’s decrees, decisions etc. Everywhere the church matters have been left up to the church, but also every religious constraint, wherever present, was removed. At the same time, those who wanted to busy themselves, with Church and religious matters in a correct carrying out of the basic faith and conscience freedom were given the possibility to do so.
The Fuehrer’s Deputy would welcome it if the Armed Forces would act in these essential ideological decisions, after the same principles as the party and also now the State have laid out for themselves, instead of pursuing the plans for a creation of an Armed Forces Church or any other closer union between the Armed Forces and the church. I am convinced that in a short time there will be no more difficulties for the Armed Forces either, which difficulties had been brought about by the plan to create a separate Armed Forces Church. In fact the Armed Forces have already taken a position to these questions and basically also in the sense of accomplishing freedom of faith and conscience. It should be decisive, however, in this respect to note that these in- structions are in many cases not always conlpletely ‘carried out. To ‘assure a right execution of this principle of freedom of faith and conscience it would be in my opinion necessary to observe the following points :
(1)
The orders stating that no constraint can be exercised in the attendance of church services during the free evening hours in army camps would really have to be coniplied with. The carry- ing out of these orders should not, as in reality it sometimes is, be left up to the discretion of some higher or lower ranking su- periors. In most cases, no direct constraint is exercised but in some cases the non-assistance of church services is punished by extra duty etc. Such incidents should lead in the future to dis- ciplinary action.
(2)
The duty of Army Chaplains, if they are available in the Armed Forces, should be to give an opportunity to those members of the Armed Forces who have a need to talk things over with them. They could hold religious services if there is a need for it and if the members of the Armed Forces cannot attend the reg- ular services. But the attendance would have to be on a voluntary basis for everybody.
It is evident that in the Armed Forces which grasp all German men, there will be a need to a certain extent for attendance of Church services. These members of the Armed Forces should be given an opportunity, provided it does not interfere with the serv- ice, to visit churches and ministers on their own. But further than that, Army chaplains should not be used to hold church services, to arrange evening hours etc. and to exercise any con- straint to that effect. They should only be available in order to be present there where a need arises for them.
(3)
Special officer ranks of the church service and similar in- stitutions should be abolished.
(4)
The building of own Armed Forces Churches should also be discontinued. I hardly think that there will be many cases where the members of the Armed Forces will not have the possi- bility to visit a church, outside of the Army, just like everybody else.
(5)
No formation Church attendance should take place.
(6)
Church organizations should have nothing to do with the Armed Forces. Everything should be left up to the individual in his field.
In conclusion, I think I can say that with these and other measures, namely with the complete and exact accomplishment of the principle of freedom of faith and conscience, in a short time the technical difficulties which might have arisen here and there could be overcome. I want to point once more to the order dated 13.12.1938, issued by the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. According to this order, military cele- brations are not to be connected any more with a religious bene- diction at the time the recruits are being sworn in. The at-tendance of Church services of the soldiers, which takes place possibly right after they are sworn in, is voluntary. The church services are to be held separately from the swearing in cere-monies.
It would, in my opinion be very necessary, it would also be in accordance with the basic attitude of the Fuehrer’s deputy that these principles contained in this order would be applied wherever the question of the relationship between the Armed Forces and the church arises. Such a correct and exact accom- plishment of the principle of freedom of faith and conscience would present the proof that the Armed Forces cannot be accused of being anti-Church or anti-Christian; on the other hand, it would also prove that the Armed Forces are not based on differ- ent ideological principles than the ones represented and executed by the State, the National Socialist Workers’ Party and its af- filiation. In this way it would be made certain that the same educational principles exist in all the organizations as well as the teaching institutions of our German people, namely the Armed Forces, the Hitler Youth, School labor service and affiliations of the party. I think that this fact would do much more for the spiritual integrity of the German soldier than if the young Ger- man would find himself confronted, during the various stages of his education, with various attitudes toward these questions.
Heil Hitler 1Enclosure. Signed : M. BORMANN
ΔΙΚΗ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗΣ ΝΤΟΚΟΥΜΕΝΤΑ
Η ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΓΟΥΡΟΥΝΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΔΙΕΘΝΕΣ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΙΟ ΚΑΤΩ.
ΑΝ ΚΑΙ Η ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΥ ΕΠΡΕΠΕ ΝΑ ΣΥΜΠΕΡΙΛΑΒΕΙ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΚΑΘΑΡΜΑΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΚΡΕΜΑΣΜΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ ΑΡΚΕΣΘΗΚΕ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΥΚΛΟ ΤΩΝ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΩΝ ΣΤΕΛΕΧΩΝ ΜΟΝΟ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΠΙΟ ΚΑΤΩ.
ΠΛΗΝ ΑΥΤΩΝ ΟΜΩΣ ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΠΑΡΑΛΛΗΛΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΕΣ ΔΙΚΕΣ ΣΤΟ ΠΛΑΙΣΟ ΤΗΣ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗΣ ΓΙΑ ΚΑΤΩΤΕΡΑ ΣΤΕΛΕΧΗ ΤΟΥ Γ ΡΑΙΧ ΤΑ ΟΠΟΙΑ ΣΥΜΦΩΝΑ ΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΕΘΝΟΥΣ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΥ ΤΑ ΚΡΕΜΑΣΑΜΕ ΣΤΗΝ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗ ΑΜΕΣΩΣ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ.
ΗΤΑΝ ΚΑΤΑΠΕΛΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΤΡΙΧΙΑΣΤΙΚΕΣ ΟΙ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΕΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΠΟΥ ΠΕΡΑΣΑΝ ΤΑ ΠΑΝΔΕΙΝΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΖΙ ΟΠΩΣ ΟΙ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΩΧΘΗΚΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΤΑΧΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΦΟΥΡΝΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΟΥΣΒΙΤΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΩΝ ΚΟΛΑΣΤΗΡΙΩΝ.
ΔΙΑΣΩΘΕΝΤΕΣ ΠΟΛΛΩΝ ΕΘΝΙΚΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΑΤΕΘΕΣΑΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΝΑΖΙ.
ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΔΙΣΤΟΜΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ ΧΩΡΙΑ ΟΛΟΚΛΗΡΑ ΕΚΑΙΓΑΝ .
ΠΑΙΔΙΑ ΜΩΡΑ ΕΚΤΕΛΟΥΣΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΟΠΕΔΑ .
ΟΙ ΑΓΟΡΕΥΣΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΣΥΜΑΧΙΚΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ ΗΤΑΝ ΚΑΤΑΠΕΛΤΗΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΝΑΖΙ. ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑ ΟΝΟΜΑΣΑΝ ΟΙ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΙ ΤΑ ΜΠΟΥΜΠΟΥΚΙΑ ΤΟΥ Γ ΡΑΙΧ .
ΣΕ ΕΔΡΑΝΑ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΩΝ ΣΕ ΚΑΠΟΙΕΣ ΔΙΚΕΣ ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΙ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΙΚΟΙ .
ΟΠΩΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΑ 50 ΑΙΧΜΑΛΩΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΥ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΠΙΛΟΤΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΡΑΦ ΚΑΙ ΕΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΑ ΠΙΛΟΤΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΑΣ ΜΑΣ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΕ ΑΥΤΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΑΠΕΔΡΑΣΑΝ ΑΠΟ ΣΤΡΑΤΟΠΕΔΟ ΑΙΧΜΑΛΩΤΩΝ ΟΜΑΔΙΚΑ.
ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΓΝΩΣΤΗ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΑΠΟΔΡΑΣΗ ΠΟΥ ΕΙΧΕ ΓΥΡΙΣΘΕΙ ΕΡΓΟ ΠΑΛΑΙΟΤΕΡΑ ΜΕ ΤΙΤΛΟ Η ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΑΠΟΔΡΑΣΗ . . ΟΣΟΙ ΣΥΝΕΛΗΦΘΗΣΑΝ 50 ΜΕΤΑ ΕΚΤΕΛΕΣΤΗΚΑΝ ΚΑΤΑ ΔΙΑΤΑΓΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΙΤΛΕΡ ΚΑΙ ΕΚΑΨΑΝ ΜΕΡΙΚΩΝ ΤΑ ΠΤΩΜΑΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΑΦΗΣΟΥΝ ΙΧΝΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΤΟΥΣ. ΑΥΤΟ ΕΚΑΝΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΑ ΠΙΛΟΤΟ ΠΟΥ ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΟΥΣΕ ΜΕ ΑΛΛΟΥΣ ΔΥΟ ΝΑ ΠΕΡΑΣΕΙ ΤΑ ΣΥΝΟΡΑ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΟΔΡΑΣΗ.
ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΙ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΙΚΟΙ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΕΜΙΚΟΥ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΗΣ ΥΠΗΡΧΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΔΙΚΗ ΕΝΟΣ ΠΛΟΙΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ . ΕΤΟΡΠΙΛΙΣΘΗΚΕ ΑΠΟ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΙ ΝΑ ΔΙΑΣΩΣΕΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ ΕΚΑΝΕ ΒΟΛΤΕΣ ΓΥΡΩ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕ ΜΥΔΡΑΛΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΧΕΙΡΟΒΟΜΒΙΔΕΣ ΚΑΘΑΡΙΖΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ.
ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΤΟΡΠΙΛΙΖΕΙΣ ΔΕΝ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΘΑΡΙΖΕΙΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΕΡΙΣΥΝΕΛΕΓΕΙΣ
ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΡΑΤΑΣ ΑΙΧΜΑΛΩΤΟΥΣ .
ΔΙΑΣΩΘΗΚΑΝ ΤΡΕΙΣ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΟΙ ΜΑΣ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΥΧΗ ΤΡΑΥΜΑΤΙΣΜΕΝΟΙ ΕΠΑΝΩ ΣΕ ΜΙΑ ΣΧΕΔΙΑ ΠΕΡΙΠΛΑΝΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΕΠΙ 40 ΗΜΕΡΕΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΑΤΛΑΝΤΙΚΟ ΩΚΕΑΝΟ . ΠΕΡΙΣΥΝΕΛΕΓΗΣΑΝ ΤΥΧΑΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΕΝΑ ΠΕΡΑΣΤΙΚΟ ΠΛΟΙΟ ΠΟΥ ΤΟΥΣ ΕΙΔΕ. ΑΥΤΟΙ ΚΑΤΕΘΕΣΑΝ ΣΕ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ. ΑΡΓΟΤΕΡΑ. ΕΠΙΑΣΑΝ ΒΕΒΑΙΑ ΤΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΤΥΧΑΙΑ ΟΙ ΒΡΕΤΑΝΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΕΙΧΕ ΕΞΩΚΕΙΛΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΚΡΑΤΗΣΑΝ ΤΑ ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΤΟΥ. ΕΙΔΑΝ ΟΤΙ ΤΗΝ ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΠΟΥ ΧΑΘΗΚΕ ΤΟ ΠΗΛΕΥΣ ΤΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΗΤΑΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ ΤΟΥ ΦΟΡΤΗΓΟΥ ΠΛΟΙΟΥ.
ΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΚΑΤΑΘΕΣΕΙΣ ΜΕΤΕΠΕΙΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΩΝ Ο ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΛΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΥ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΣΘΗΚΑΝ. ΠΑΡΘΗΚΕ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΝΑ ΕΚΤΕΛΕΣΘΕΙ Ο ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΑ ΤΡΙΑ ΜΕΛΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΥ ΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΟΣ.
ΗΤΑΝ Η ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΦΟΡΤΗΓΟΥ ΠΛΟΙΟΥ ΠΗΛΕΥΣ .
Η ΜΟΝΑΔΙΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΠΟΥ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΦΕΡΘΗΚΕ ΤΟΣΟ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΣΕ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ . ΔΕΝ ΕΙΧΑΜΕ ΑΛΛΗ ΤΕΤΟΙΑ ΠΕΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΤΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΑ ΤΟΡΠΙΛΙΖΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΦΕΥΓΑΝ .
ΑΥΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΓΟΥΡΟΥΝΙΑ.
Η ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΣΤΕΛΕΧΗ ΤΗΣ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΙΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΚΑΙ ΣΚΑΤΑ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΤΑΦΟΥΣ ΤΟΥΣ.
THE SENTENCES
In accordance with Article 27 of the Charter, the President of the International Military Tribunal, at its concluding session of 1 October 1946, pronounced sentence on the defendants convicted on the in- dictment :
Defendant Hermann Wilhelm Goering, on the counts of the indict- ment on which you have been convicted, the International Military Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Rudolf Hess, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to imprisonment for life.
Defendant Joachim von Ribbentrop, on the counts of the indict- ment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Wilhelm Keitel, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Ernst Kaltenbrunner, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Alfred Rosenberg, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the ‘Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Hans Frank, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by , hanging.
Defendant Wilhelm Frick, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Julius Streicher, on the count of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Walter Funk, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to imprisonment for life.
Defendant Karl Doenitz, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Defendant Erich Raeder, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to imprisonment for life.
Defendant Baldur von Schirach, on the count of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Defendant Fritz Sauckel, on the counts of the indictinent on which you have been convicted, the Tribu~lal sentei~ces you to death by hanging.
Defendant Alfred J;odl, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Arthur Seyss-Inquart, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Albert Speer, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Defe~ldant Konstantin von Neurath, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The Tribunal sentences the Defendant Martin Bormann, on the counts of the indictment on which he has been convicted, to death by hanging.
Αυτός ο τελευταίος την κοπάνησε έγινε λουης
Munich, 33, Brown house
at present Berlin, 22 Feb 40 Deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Leader
Mr. Reich leader Alfred Rosenberg Berlin W 35 Margareten Str. 17
Chancellery Rosenbery, 24 Feb 40
rec. No. 555 copy AR and Urban St Subject: Directions for the adnzinistration of classes in religion
Dear Party Member Rosenberg :
The deputy of the Fuehrer has heard from different sources, that Reich Bishop Mueller tells everywhere, that he received a commission from you to work out directions for formulating the teaching of religion for the schools.
I have not been able to examine the statements of Reich Bishop Mueller as to their correctness. The question, having come up for discussion again by the statements of Reich Bi’shop Mueller, is however in my mind of such fundamental importance for the future ideological position of the party, that I find it necessary, already now to point 0u.t to you the serious objections I have in regard to such a commission.
The ministry for education of the Reich has repeatedly indi- cated its desire in the course of the past few years for new directions for formulating the teaching of religion, which would also be acceptable to the NSDAP.
With your agreement, this request has repeatedly been refused by the Fuehrer’s deputy. Just as your ministry did, so the deputy of the Fuehrer took the position based on the assumption, that it could not be the task of the party to give directions for the in- struction of the teachings of Christian religions.
Christianity and National Socialism are phenomona which originated from entirely different basic causes. Both differ fun- damentally so strongly, that it will not be possible to construct a Christian teaching which would be completely compatible with the point of view of the national socialist ideology; just as the communities of Christian faith would never be able to stand by the ideology of national socialism in its entirety. The issuing of national socialist directions for the teaching of religious classes would however be based on a synthesis of national socialism and Christianity which I find impossible.
If the directions should really be permeated by the spirit of national socialism, some very fundamental articles of faith of the Christian teachings could not be recognized. I am referring here only to the position of the Christian churches to the race question, to the question of hindrance or destruction of life not valuable, its position to marriage, which speaks for the celibacy of priests and the toleration and furtherance of orders for monks and nuns, the teaching, contradictory to German feeling, of the immaculate conception of Mary, etc.
No matter how these directions may be formulated, in no case will they ever simultaneously find the approval of the church and the party.
In addition to this, the religions themselves cannot agree on the contents of the Christian teachings; as far as the Protestants themselves are concerned, there are not only the followers of the confessional church in the Reich and the German Christians, but also the adherents of a teaching, which is endeavoring to create
a new Lutheran Christendom of a particular kind approximately in the shape which seems desirabie to the Reich Minister of churches, party member Kerrl. The party thus would have to decide first which of these directions of faith it would give pref-erence, or if it should even decide for a fourth. I do not think it entirely impossible that the Reich Bishop may take this latter road, since according to his last publication he himself has al-ready turned sharply away from coiiceptions which up to now have been part of the faith of the German Christians.
But if directions for the instruction of religion should ever be worked out, it will not be enough, to my mind, to make them for Protestants only; respective directions should also be worked out for Catholics. To work out directions for instructions of Catholic faith, the Reich Bishop is hardly the suitable person, and one would probably have to choose a Catholic. Of course the direc- tions for both faiths would difler in fundamental questions, each, however would lay claim to tine fact that it really contained the truly authentic interpretatior, of article 24 of the party program.
By issuing directions nothing would therefore be improved in the present situatian in the field of the churches. The fight be- tween the faiths would be carried on in the old form and spread into the lines cf the party. Yes, all faiths and Christian groups would attack state and party, because they had assumed to en- croach upon their own territory, that of teaching the Christian faith and to try to reform it.
The churches cannot be conquered by a compromise between national socialism and Christian teachings, but only through a new ideology, whose coming you yourself have announced in your writings. Because of this conviction we have always been care- ful, not to exert a reforming influence on the Christian dogma in any shape nor to exert any influence on the church directives for religious teachings. In complete mutual agreement we have re- jected the intention of the Reich Minister for churches who, against the objection of the party, always tried anew to renew the church life in the frame of national socialist spirit, in search- ing for a compromise between Christian teachings and the ide- ology of national socialism.
Should, however, any one personality emanating from the life of the church, be charged now to work out directions for the teach- ing of the Christian religion, the party would thereby basically approve and accept for itself the position of the Reich Minister for the churches previously opposed by it as there is no basic dif- ference between a position which wants to reform and reorgan-ize the church life in its entirety, and one which aims at this goal solely in the realm of the education of youth.
So far we have always been in accord, that by taking such a step the party would leave the soil on which it is firmly planted and would step on the swaying ground of the controversial
Christian doctrines. It would enter into the domain of the inter-ret tat ion of the teachings of Jesus, and there would doubtless be subordinate to those who for centuries have done nothing but interpret and rewrite the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth as written in the old books about the actual wording of which the scientists fight even today. When in later decades and cen- turies the German people’s soul liberated by national socialism should once again be choked and crippled by Christian doctrines, it could be possible that it may have been caused by today’s at-tempt to effect a synthesis between national socialism and Chris- tianity.
On the other hand, of course I am also of the opinion that it is not possible to eliminate the religious instruction in schools without replacing it with something better for the moral edu- cation of youth.
Religious instruction as given in schools today does not only comprise the instruction in the Christian doctrines of faith, the teachings of the creation of the world-and of the life thereafter; besides, the children receive also instructions in the ten com-mandments, which for most comrades of the people to this day still are the only directives for their moral behavior and for an orderly collective life in the people’s community. If this instruc- tion is taken from the children without replacing it with some- thing better, the objection can be made-in my estimation not without reason, that, as many contend, the present degradation of youth is in part caused by the lack of religious instruction in schools.
What, in my opinipn, is therefore necessary is the preparation of a short directive about a national socialist life formulation. We need for the work of education in the party, especially also in the Hitler Youth a short resume in which the ethical prin- ciples are documented, to respect which each German boy and girl, who at one time will be. representatives of the national socialistic Germany, must be educated. In such a directive for
instance belongs the law of bravery, the law against cowardness, the commandment of love for the soulful nature in which God makes himself apparent also in the animal and the plant, a com- mandment to keep the blood pure; many principles also belong
here which are for instance also contained in the decalogue of the Old Testament, as far as they can be regarded as moral principles of all people’s life.
The publication of such a directive can and must only come out of our national socialist conduct of life. Its commandments of customs need to be explained by reference to any doctrines of faith about the creation of life and about life of the soul after death.
They can and must originate beyond any confessional discus-sions.
I take the publication of such a directive to be of utmost im-portance, because the German boys and girls must once be told what they can and must do, and what is forbidden for them to do. I don’t even think it necessary to introduce this directive
immediately into the schools as a text; it would be sufficient if for the time being it would be introduced into the party and its affiliations. Later it could also be taken over by the schools just as the little Catechism also was not created by the school boards, but first taught by the Church and later taken over by the schools.
As far as the religious instructions in the schools is concerned, I do not think that anything has to be changed in the present situation. No fault can be found with any national socialist teacher, who after the unmistakenly clear instructions of the Fuehrer’s deputy, is ready to give school instructions in the Christian religion. For the contents of this instruction, however, the directives should still be binding which have in former years been made by the churches themselves. In the circular of the Fuehrer’s deputy No. 3/39 of 4 Jan 1939 it is stated explicitly that the teachers charged with religious instruction are not to choose from the material on biblical history at their own discre- tion, but have the obligation to teach the entire biblical instruc- tion material. Interpretations, explanations and separations in the sense of several attempts of particular church directions have to be omitted. The pupils must be given the entire picture of the biblical instruction material.
However, the teachers have the right to present this material as property of biblical thought and not as that of Germany or national socialism. If thus in some cases comparison will be drawn, this, according to the circular, corresponds only to the duties of the educator. Against such instruction of religion the churches cannot have any objections.
When, sometime later, the proposed directive for a new Ger-man conduct of life first to be used in the educational work of the party, will have found entry into the schools, it shall in no way supplant classes in religion. It may perhaps be used as a foundation for some classes in German and must have validity for all pupils, without consideration of their religious affilia-tions. Against such educational procedure the churches could not object, either because it would really be a matter of additional education, which would take place next to the religious instruc-tion and without any connection with it. On the contrary, the
churches would have reason to be thankful to the state because it is not satisfied with the religious instruction according to the very insufficient moral education based on the ten command-ments, but that it is giving youth an additional Education, which makes much higher demands on its moral conduct.
Parallel to that the desire of the parents for the instruction in the doctrines of faith may thus well go on. The stronger and more fertile our positive educational work in the schools will be formulated, however the more certain it is that instruction of religions will be losing in importance.
If the youth which is now being educated according to our moral laws will later have to decide if it is still willing to have its children brought up in the far inferior Christian doctrines, the decision will in most cases be negative.
I would think that today, seven years after taking over the power, it should be possible to set up principles for a national socialist conduct of life. They have long been apparent to the people from the numerous early fighters for the national socialist idea.
As long as we do not master this task, however, it will always be pointed out from various sides, and rightly so, that children, not taking part in religious instruction, are no longer taught even the most simple moral laws which are a standard for the com- munal life of all nations.
The Fuehrer’s deputy finds it necessary that all these ques- tions should be thoroughly discussed in the near future in the presence of the Reich leaders, who are especially affected by them. I would appreciate it very much if you would let me know your position in this matter before the discussion.
Heil Hitler !
/s/ M. Bormann
PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
National Socialist German Workers Party. The Fuehrer’s Deputy Staff leader
Munich 33,
National Socialist German Workers Party. The Fuehrer’s Deputy Staff leader
Munich 33, Brown House, at present Berlin W 8, 9 Jan., 1940. Wilhelmstr. 64 I11
Dr. Kl/Gf. To Reichsleiter Party Comrade Alfred Rosenberg Berlin W 55 Margareten Strasse 17
Subject: Raising of a War Fund from the Churches.
Enclosed, I forward to you the copy of a letter, sent today to the Reichsminister for Finance, for cognizance.
Heil Hitler
/s/
M. Bormann
(M. Bormann)
Enclosure.
Berlin 19 Jan 1940
Dr. Kl/Gf.
To the Reichsminister for Finance
Berlin W 8
Wilhelmplatz 1-2
Subject: Raising of a War Fund from the Churches.
As it has been reported to me, the war fund of the churches has been specified from the 1November 1939 on, at first for the duration of three months at RM 1,800,000.-per month, of which Rm 1,000,000.-are to be paid by the Protestant church and RM 800,000.-by the Catholic church per month.
The establishment of such a low amount has surprised me. I construe from numerous reports, that the political communities have to raise such a large war fund, that the execution of their tasks, partiall? very important for example in the field of pub- lic welfare, is endangered. In consideration of that, a larger quota from the churches appears to be absolutely appropriate.
Y * * * * Y *
In my opinion, the determination of the amount cannot be af- fected by the argument that the fund coilld only have as a conse- quence a decrease of the material expenses, but not of the person- nel expenses of the churches. I consider it absolutely bearable, to decrease also the personnel expenses, especially for the Cath- olic clergymen. In contrast to all other German men, obliged to serve, not one Catholic clergyman is in the field as the soldier; also none of the Catholic clergymen takes obligations unto himself voluntarily, like the ones which must be borne by every German family head.
As far as the technical handling of the war fund to be deter- mined for the Catholic Church is concerned, in my opinion, the state does not have to bother to figure out the individual partial contributions, which must be raised by the various Orders and re- ligious associations. I would rather consider it correct if the amount is determined in one for the entire Catholic Church, and if one then leaves it to the Church to divide up this anlount ac- cording to its own best knowledge. However, the state must be free to call upon the property and funds of the various individual parts and groups of the church arbitrarily to make its demands valid.
As far as the Evangelical Church is concerned, for years the efforts of the Reichminister for Church Affairs have been in the direction to organize all the State Churches [Landeskirchen] of the Evangelical Church into one unified organization with a uni- fied leadership for the spiritual as well as for the financial af- fairs. Despite the objections, raised by the party, these plans were more and more elaborated upon; even during the war, they were followed up without interruption. Therefore it is not un- just, to determine in one for the Evangelical Church the war fund to be raised according to the same principles, which have been developed for the Catholic Church.
It should be left up to the State Churches [Landeskirchen] and religious associations, who consider such treatment unjust, to demonstrate in an easily perceptible manner, that they are not in any dependent relationship to the leadership of the German Evan- gelical Church, and do not desire to come under the latter’s do- minion.
I would be thankful to you, if you could inform us very soon, how high the amount of the war fund of the churches has been set at. The sum, calculated for the duration of the first three months, of which, ‘as I understand, the churches have not paid one Penny, may not correspond in any way to the capability, as fig- ured from the entire fortune *and from the contribution and/or tax income of the Churches.
Heil Hitler
By order
M B (M. Bormann)
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY
Munich 33 Brown House
at present Berlin, 18 Jan 40 Bo/Si The Deputy of the Fuehrer, Chief of Staff Mr. Rosenberg, member of the executive board of the Party
[Reichsleiter] Berlin W 35 Margaretenstr. 17
Office Rosenberg No of entry 196. 20 Jan 40 submitted to RL Rosbg 1/20 Copies AR and Urban Dear Party Member Rosenberg:
A few days ago you expressed to the Fuehrer at the Reich Chancellory that Reich Bishop Mueller had written an excellent book for the German soldier. I am of different opinion. This book familiarizes a new soldier who has already given up Christianity with partly camouflaged trains of thought.
As I have written to you already, I consider it the most essen- tial demand of the hour that NS publications worth reading for the German soldier should be written immediately by your Office and other qualified National Socialists. This opinion has been confirmed by many regional Party leaders. Thus we set against the sale of Christian pamphlets the highly increased sale of na-tional socialist publications which are popular.
Heil Hitler: Yours Signed : BORMANN
(M. Bormann)
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
National Socialist German Workers7 Party Munich 33, the Brown House At Present, Berlin W 8, 17 Jan. 1940 Wilhelmstrasse 64 111-Dr. Kl/Gf Rosenberg Chancellory Entry No. 187-[? ?] 18 Jan. 40 Reich Director Rosenberg
The Deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Director
To Reich Director Party Member Rosenberg
Bedin W 35 Margaretenstr. 17 Nearly all the districts report to me regularly, that the Churches of both confessions are administering spiritually to members of
the Armed Forces. This administering finds its expression es-pecially in the fact that soldiers are being sent religious publica-tions by the spiritual leaders of the home congregations. These ~ublications are in part very cleverly composed. I have repeated reports that these publications are being read by the troops and thereby exercise a certain influence on the morale.
I have in the past sought by sounding out the General Field Marshall, the High Command of the Armed Forces and Party Member Reich Director Amann, to restrict considerably the pro- duction and shipment of publications of this type. The result of these efforts remain unsatisfactory. As Reich Director [Reichs-leiter] Amann has repeatedly informed me, the restriction of these pamphlets by means of the printing paper rationing has not been achieved because the paper used for the production of these writings is being purchased on the open market. Publications can only be confiscated by special police measures because they are designed to weaken the morale of the troops. Such police meas- ures are really unsatisfactory and in their final execution very much disputed.
Likewise, the prior censorship of all writings by the High Com- mand of the Armed Forces which takes place at the distribution points of the Armed Forces service bureau, is not sufficient in my opinion, to guarantee that the soldiers are not given an undesired influence by the Churches. A publication, the contents of which are clearly tied to the Christian dogma and which do not contain attacks ‘against Party, State or the Armed Forces, can not in general be refused permission by this examining commission.
If the influencing of the soldiers by the Church is to be effec- tively combatted, this will only be accomplished, in my opinion, by producing many good publications in the shortest time possible under the supervision of the Party. These publications should be so composed that the soldiers will really prefer to read them, and at the same time, indoctrinate the soldiers with a National Socialist World philosophy, not the Christian viewpoint.
Thus at the last meeting of the deputy Gauleiters complaints were uttered on this matter to the effect that a considerable quantity of such publications are not available. This is the reason I believe, that the publication by your expert, Office Director [Amtsleiter] Party Member Ziegler, “Soldier Belief-Soldier Honor” [Soldatenglaube-Soldatenehre] has had so great a sale in a short time.
I maintain that it is necessary that in the near future we transmit to the Party Service Offices down to local group direc- tors [Ortsgruppenleitern] a list of additional publications of this sort which should be sent to our soldiers by the local groups, Party military units [Sturme] or their adherents and friends in the field. I should not regard it as necessary or even good if the majority of these publications should have a spiritual or philosophical character. Rather I should regard it as much preferable if these publications in their finished form were styled in as varied a manner as possible, thus having an appeal to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of their occupa- tional or professional achievements, regardless of their interests and their background.
I should be very appreciative if you would devote your very special attention to this task, in the near future. My expert, Party Member Dr. Klopfer, is available to you for consultation about the material on hand here which is at your disposal at any time upon your call.
As the production of these publications (which at the moment are not in existence) will take a certain amount of time, and as, on the other hand, I believe that the supplying of the troops with good publications ought not to be delayed a day, I should be in- debted to you if you would transmit to me a list of the already existing publications which the deputy of the Fuehrer can recom- mend to the Party Service Offices as suitable for dispatch to the Armmed Forces.
Heil Hitler ! [Signed] M. BORMANN
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY Munich 17 June 1938 The Brown House Deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Leader
CIRCULAR LETTER NR. 72/38 To all Reichsleiter a,nd Regional Directors [Gauleiter]
Enclosed please find, for your information, a copy directions for participation of the Reichsarbeitsdienstes in religious celebra- tions.
Signed: M. BORMANN Rosenberg Chancellory In Nr. 226601 on 21 June 38 Certified true copy
COPY
Directions for the participation of the Reichsarbeitsdienstes in religious celebrations.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst is a training school in which the Ger- man youth should be educated to national unity in the spirit of National Soci’alism.
This problem can only be solved, if all the ideas which at one time were directed to the breaking up of national unity, are sub- dued in Reichsarbeitsdienst. Therefore it is forbidden to have any class, professional and religious barriers in the Reichsarbeits- dienst.
What religious beliefs a person has is not a decisive factor, but it is decisive that he first of all feels himself a German.
Every religious practice is forbidden in the Reichsarbeitsdienst beczuse it disturbs the comrade-like harmony of all working men and women.
On this basis every participation of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in churchly, that is religious, arrangements and celebrations is not possible.
A religious creed will strive within the German people for pre- dominance. The Reichsarbeitsdienst in all its male and female leaders, working men and women strive for the indissoluble bind- ing of the whole people.
Therefore not only allowing the members of the Reichsarbeits- dienst to attend church in a body, but also participation by the members of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in religious celebrations for example, weddings or funerals, violates the educational task which is facing the organization.
As little as it is the affair of the Reichsarbeitsdienst to forbid its individual members to have a church wedding or funeral, so definitely must the Reichsarbeitsdienst avoid taking part as an organization in a festival which is strictly religious, that is, which excludes Germans of other beliefs.
It is therefore, in any case, necessary to execute a clear tem- Poral separation between the churchly celebration and the debut of the Reichsarbeitsdienst.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst does not participate in religious cele- brations, but rather turns her support to the marriage or burial of a member before or after the churchly celebration.
The participation of the musical band of the Reichsarbeitsdienst in classical churchly concerts (for example, production of the “Schoepfung” by Haydn) is not to be regarded as a partaking in a religous celebration, and is always to be decided according to the local conditions. Signed : HIERL Authenticated : REISMEIR
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
Rosenberg [in pencil]
NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY The Deputy of the Fuehrer Chief of Staff Munich, Brown House, 27 July 1938
I11 Entered 11Aug 38 6691
[Stamped]
Rosenberg Chancellery
[Stamped] Entry No. 2896k 3 Aug 38
REGULATION NR 104/38 (Not to be published) Requested to be returned from 111, Returned 22 Aug [in pencil]
With regard to the constantly emphasized neutrality of the party with the churches, it is pertinent to eliminate, as far as possible, the existing frictions. Since pastors, as political and subordinate leaders have shown in the past that they were not able to make decisions when the job of trusteeship was added to the danger of having them drawn into church conflicts, the Deputy of the Fuehrer has decreed the following:
1.
Pastors are to be released immediately from their party function as standard bearers [Hoheitstraeger] .
2.
Pastors are to be interchanged little by little according to replacements at hand as political or subordinate leaders of the congregations.
3.
As of now, it is forbidden to continue appointments of pas- tors to positions in the Party, to their congregations, and to groups associated with church activities.
Signed: M. BORMANN Certified true copy: Friedrichs Distributor: I1 b
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
SECRET
Copy Dt.
National Socialist German Workers Party
The deputy of the Fuehrer Staff Director.
Munich, 24 January 1939. I11 D-ES 3230/0/15-4278 g. Rosenberg Chancellery Receipt Nr. 6007-31 Jan 3
To the Delegate of the Fuehrer for the surveillance of the whole spiritual and world political philosophy schooling and educa- tion of the Nazi Party.
Reich Director [Reichsleiter] Party Member Alfred Rosenberg, -or representative.-Berlin W. 35. Margarethenstr. 17
Concerning: Theological Faculties.
My dear’ Party Member Rosenberg :
I am transmitting to you by the attached enclosure a copy of a letter I have written today to the Reich Minister for Knowl- edge, Education and Popular Education. I request that you take cognizance of the same.
Heil Hitler.
Your very devoted,
(signed) M. BORMANN.
I Attachment.
SECRET
Copy Dt. National Socialist German Workers Party The Deputy of the Fuehrer
Munich, 24 January 1939 , I11 D-FS 3230/0/15-4278 g To the Reich Minister for Knowledge, Education and Popular Education. To the Attention of Government Counsel Jahnert-or representa-tive in the Office. Berlin W. 8 Unter den Linden 69.
Concerning : Theological Faculties.
In regard to your Ietter of 28 Nov 38-(Office Chief W)-and the conference between Mr. State Minister Dr. Wacker and
my expert party member Wemmer, I would like to again inform you of the stand the’ Party is taking.
Fundamentally, theological inquiry cannot be placed on the same footing as the general fields of knowledge in the Universi- ties as it represents less a free field of knowledge than a confes- sional (i. e. religious) aim of research. No doubts exist on this ground if the theological faculties in the German High schools are appreciably restricted.
In this case, as you have likewise pointed out in your letter, the clause of the Concordat and the Church Treaties are to be taken into consideration. In the case of certain faculties, which are not mentioned by a specific clause in the Concordat and Church Treaties, as for example Munich and a few others, a suppression can be begun without further to do. This is equally true of the theological faculties in Austria, Vienna and Graz.
But also, in the case of the faculties which are specifically men- tioned in the Concordat or Church Treaties, there now exists a special legal situation which has been created by the general change in circumstances. Particularly, the introduction of mili- tary service and the execution of the Four Year Plan must be considered. By virtue of these measures, and in addition by vir- tue of the fact of an extraordinary lack of replacement men in contrast to the earlier numerous replacement men available, it will be necessary to execute a certain reorganization of the Ger- man High Schools. Thus economics and simplifications are nec- essary. I should like to refer particularly once more to these questions on the basis of the oral discussion between Mr. State Minister Dr. Wacker and my expert. Because of this I would appreciate it very much if you would restrict the theological faculties insofar as they cannot be wholly suppressed in accord- ance with the above statement. In this event the matter con-cerns not only the theological faculties in the universities, but also the various state establishments which still exist in many places as institutes of high learning exclusively devoted to theology and without connection with a university.
I request in this instance the omission of any express declara- tion to the churches or to other places as well as the avoiding of a public announcement of these measures. Complaints and the like must be answered (if they are to be replied to) in the fashion that these measures are being executed in the course of the eco- nomic plan of reorganization and that similar things are happen- ing to other faculties.
I would appreciate it very much if professorial chairs, thus vacated, can be then turned over to the newly created fields of inquiry of these last years, such as racial research, archeology studies, etc.
Heil Hitler ! as representative Signed: M. BORMANN Certified true copy Signed : Engel
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT
National Socialist German Workers’ Party The delegate of the Fuehrer Chief of Staff Munich 28 Jan. 1939 I11 D-Es 2240/0/21 3400 g. Personal Secret
To: The Fuehrer’s delegate for the supervision of the entire mental and doctrinal teaching and education of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party
Reichsleiter Rosenberg. Berlin W 35 Margarethenstr. 17. Chancellery Rosenberg In: Nr. 6231-10 Feb. 39.
Subject: Armed Forces and Church
Dear Esteemed Party Member Rosenberg, I sent to you in the annex for your reference a copy of my letter of to-day to the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. Heil Eitler Your very devoted, Signed : BORMANN. 1Enclosure.
SECRET
National Socialist German Workers’ Party
Carbon copy
28 January 1939
I11 D ES 2240/0/21-34 g. The Fuehrer’s Deputy. To : The Supreme Command of the Arm’ed Forces. To : Captain Thomee or his representative. Berlin W 35 Tirpitzufer 72-76
Subject: Armed Forces and Church
In reference to the conferenoe between Brigadier General Reinecke and my expert party member, Chief Councillor to the Government Wemmer, of Wednesday the 11th of this month, I want to explain to you once more in order to confirm the arrange- ments made by my expert, the attitude of the party with regard to these questions.
In the last years, the party had to announce its position, time and time again, to the plan of establishing a State Church, or of a closer connection between the State and the Church. The party has repudiated these plans with all its force and for the following reasons. In the first place it would not be com-patible for the doctrinal demands of National Socialism to unite the State with the churches as the outer organization of the religious communions which do not have as aim in all their fields the carrying out of the National Socialist principles. In the second place, considerations of a political nature oppose such an outer unity. At present, the churches, the Protestant as well as the Catholic one, are disunited internally, and partly externally too, seen from an organizational point of view, they do not form a unity any longer. A union of these churches with a State built on a strong close leadership and on any National Socialist prin- ciples is bound to fail. Such a union, furthermore, would result in constant arguing between Church and State. Furthermore, competence quarrels would arise constantly there, where meas- ures have to be taken concerning either the State or the Church ; in this case also one must always count with the difficulty that the Churches would refuse such decisions out of dogmatic rea- sons. Numerous examples of such an attitude can be found there, where out of historical reasons, there still is a union between State and Church, such as for instance in the case of the School. But even there where the State has recently tried to bring order in the affairs of the Church by making decisions such as for instance the setting up of a State’s finance committee for the Church administration, experience has been made that one por- tion of the churches thought these decisions were necessary, but another portion thought, for dogmatic reasons, that this was an intolerable meddling with the church life. With such unforl tunate circumstances, there is always a danger for the State that it has to execute its decisions forcibly if these are not being carried out; this particular condition must be prevented for several reasons.
For these reasons of doctrinal and political nature, the deputy of the Fuehrer has opposed the setting up of a State Church; he has also rejected the attempts to make use of the authority of the State for a different kind of union between the State and Church and to settle outer organizational matters which should be the task of the Church. The party, therefore, would regret very much if contrary to this attitude, the Armed Forces would con- tinue with their plans to set up a private consistory for the Armed Forces, that is to say to create a private church for the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces Church would indeed be nothing else but a State Church within the Armed Forces. To supplement this I would like to bring out the following points :
1. A great portion of the ministers of both churches stand, in accordance with the attitude of the churches, in concealed and also open opposition to National Socialism and the State led by it. In these questions a different judgment of the case is presented as it would have been before or during the World War when the churches were in a more positive relationship to the State. To-day, however, the churches and the ministers, should a crisis arise for this National Socialist State, would pass from concealed to open opposition. They will not in times of crisis support or help this state but at best leave it to its own fate. That they will even fight this State in these times in order to regain lost fields is clearly demonstrated by the Protestant beseeching prayer in refer- ence to the Sudetenland crisis; I want to bring this incident to your attention once more. This high treasonlike beseeching prayer proves that the churches have only been waiting till the National Socialist State found itself, at least in their opinion, in a moment of uneasiness, to take up the fight against the State with their whole psychological influential means. I11 my opinion this fact deserves special attention, because this beseeching prayer clearly demonstrates in which spiritually extraordinary successful way these churches try to ihfluence the individuals. I do not think that the ministers of these churches will be a support to the fighting troops, but that on the contrary, they will be to a great extent dangerous destroyers of the spiritual fighting strength in the de- cisive moment.
I want to emphasize that at that time this beseeching prayer was approved by most of the country’s churches and that it was only later on, once these trying days were put to a good end, and often drawn out negotiations from the part of the Reich’s church ministry had been ended, that some of the country’s churches an- nounced their disapproval; this disapproval, however, in the mean- time was in part repudiated. A separate church from the Armed
Forces even though it might free itself, as to its organization, from the other country’s churches, will not be spared from this danger. The Armed Forces church would have to get its recruits from the other churches. Even if one would go as far, and this in my opinion is practically impossible, as to how the Armed Forces form their otvn ministery from youth on, this separation of an Armed Forces church from the rest of the churches will not be possible because their church faith ideas will remain the same because they are all based on dogmatic principles.
2. It is known to me that certain disputes arose when the Armed Forces tried to bring about a union between the Protestant and Catholic churches; furthermore, that certain organizational measures such as for instance the combining of the Church song book, the creation of a unified Church service etc. would be ap- propriate. But according to experiences which the party and the State encountered in these questions, the difficulties, instead of de- creasing, on the contrary increase when these matters are taken in hand by authorities other than the church. But the party, by its logical attitude towards these matters, wanted to spare the State from these diAiculties and arguments within the churches, that are always led back on dogmatic principles. It should re- main up to the church if they can, want or do not, to accomplish these desirable organizational measures and unifications. The State or the party would furthermore oppose an inevitable devel- opment in this field by meddling in church matters; namely a de- velopment which would lead to leaving these affairs to forces which still want to be in connection with the Church.
The Fuehrer’s Deputy has therefore considered it as his duty, after the basic decision to reject a union between State and Church had been made, to see to it that the basic ideological freedom of faith and conscience be also practically realized in all the State’s decrees, decisions etc. Everywhere the church matters have been left up to the church, but also every religious constraint, wherever present, was removed. At the same time, those who wanted to busy themselves, with Church and religious matters in a correct carrying out of the basic faith and conscience freedom were given the possibility to do so.
The Fuehrer’s Deputy would welcome it if the Armed Forces would act in these essential ideological decisions, after the same principles as the party and also now the State have laid out for themselves, instead of pursuing the plans for a creation of an Armed Forces Church or any other closer union between the Armed Forces and the church. I am convinced that in a short time there will be no more difficulties for the Armed Forces either, which difficulties had been brought about by the plan to create a separate Armed Forces Church. In fact the Armed Forces have already taken a position to these questions and basically also in the sense of accomplishing freedom of faith and conscience. It should be decisive, however, in this respect to note that these in- structions are in many cases not always conlpletely ‘carried out. To ‘assure a right execution of this principle of freedom of faith and conscience it would be in my opinion necessary to observe the following points :
(1)
The orders stating that no constraint can be exercised in the attendance of church services during the free evening hours in army camps would really have to be coniplied with. The carry- ing out of these orders should not, as in reality it sometimes is, be left up to the discretion of some higher or lower ranking su- periors. In most cases, no direct constraint is exercised but in some cases the non-assistance of church services is punished by extra duty etc. Such incidents should lead in the future to dis- ciplinary action.
(2)
The duty of Army Chaplains, if they are available in the Armed Forces, should be to give an opportunity to those members of the Armed Forces who have a need to talk things over with them. They could hold religious services if there is a need for it and if the members of the Armed Forces cannot attend the reg- ular services. But the attendance would have to be on a voluntary basis for everybody.
It is evident that in the Armed Forces which grasp all German men, there will be a need to a certain extent for attendance of Church services. These members of the Armed Forces should be given an opportunity, provided it does not interfere with the serv- ice, to visit churches and ministers on their own. But further than that, Army chaplains should not be used to hold church services, to arrange evening hours etc. and to exercise any con- straint to that effect. They should only be available in order to be present there where a need arises for them.
(3)
Special officer ranks of the church service and similar in- stitutions should be abolished.
(4)
The building of own Armed Forces Churches should also be discontinued. I hardly think that there will be many cases where the members of the Armed Forces will not have the possi- bility to visit a church, outside of the Army, just like everybody else.
(5)
No formation Church attendance should take place.
(6)
Church organizations should have nothing to do with the Armed Forces. Everything should be left up to the individual in his field.
In conclusion, I think I can say that with these and other measures, namely with the complete and exact accomplishment of the principle of freedom of faith and conscience, in a short time the technical difficulties which might have arisen here and there could be overcome. I want to point once more to the order dated 13.12.1938, issued by the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. According to this order, military cele- brations are not to be connected any more with a religious bene- diction at the time the recruits are being sworn in. The at-tendance of Church services of the soldiers, which takes place possibly right after they are sworn in, is voluntary. The church services are to be held separately from the swearing in cere-monies.
It would, in my opinion be very necessary, it would also be in accordance with the basic attitude of the Fuehrer’s deputy that these principles contained in this order would be applied wherever the question of the relationship between the Armed Forces and the church arises. Such a correct and exact accom- plishment of the principle of freedom of faith and conscience would present the proof that the Armed Forces cannot be accused of being anti-Church or anti-Christian; on the other hand, it would also prove that the Armed Forces are not based on differ- ent ideological principles than the ones represented and executed by the State, the National Socialist Workers’ Party and its af- filiation. In this way it would be made certain that the same educational principles exist in all the organizations as well as the teaching institutions of our German people, namely the Armed Forces, the Hitler Youth, School labor service and affiliations of the party. I think that this fact would do much more for the spiritual integrity of the German soldier than if the young Ger- man would find himself confronted, during the various stages of his education, with various attitudes toward these questions.
Heil Hitler 1Enclosure. Signed : M. BORMANN
ΔΙΚΗ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗΣ ΝΤΟΚΟΥΜΕΝΤΑ
Η ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΓΟΥΡΟΥΝΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΔΙΕΘΝΕΣ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΙΟ ΚΑΤΩ.
ΑΝ ΚΑΙ Η ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΥ ΕΠΡΕΠΕ ΝΑ ΣΥΜΠΕΡΙΛΑΒΕΙ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΚΑΘΑΡΜΑΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΚΡΕΜΑΣΜΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ ΑΡΚΕΣΘΗΚΕ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΥΚΛΟ ΤΩΝ ΗΓΕΤΙΚΩΝ ΣΤΕΛΕΧΩΝ ΜΟΝΟ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΠΙΟ ΚΑΤΩ.
ΠΛΗΝ ΑΥΤΩΝ ΟΜΩΣ ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΠΑΡΑΛΛΗΛΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΕΣ ΔΙΚΕΣ ΣΤΟ ΠΛΑΙΣΟ ΤΗΣ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗΣ ΓΙΑ ΚΑΤΩΤΕΡΑ ΣΤΕΛΕΧΗ ΤΟΥ Γ ΡΑΙΧ ΤΑ ΟΠΟΙΑ ΣΥΜΦΩΝΑ ΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΕΘΝΟΥΣ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΥ ΤΑ ΚΡΕΜΑΣΑΜΕ ΣΤΗΝ ΝΥΡΕΜΒΕΡΓΗ ΑΜΕΣΩΣ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ.
ΗΤΑΝ ΚΑΤΑΠΕΛΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΤΡΙΧΙΑΣΤΙΚΕΣ ΟΙ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΕΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΠΟΥ ΠΕΡΑΣΑΝ ΤΑ ΠΑΝΔΕΙΝΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΖΙ ΟΠΩΣ ΟΙ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΩΧΘΗΚΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΤΑΧΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΦΟΥΡΝΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΟΥΣΒΙΤΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΩΝ ΚΟΛΑΣΤΗΡΙΩΝ.
ΔΙΑΣΩΘΕΝΤΕΣ ΠΟΛΛΩΝ ΕΘΝΙΚΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΑΤΕΘΕΣΑΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑΣ ΤΩΝ ΝΑΖΙ.
ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΔΙΣΤΟΜΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ ΧΩΡΙΑ ΟΛΟΚΛΗΡΑ ΕΚΑΙΓΑΝ .
ΠΑΙΔΙΑ ΜΩΡΑ ΕΚΤΕΛΟΥΣΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΟΠΕΔΑ .
ΟΙ ΑΓΟΡΕΥΣΕΙΣ ΤΩΝ ΣΥΜΑΧΙΚΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ ΗΤΑΝ ΚΑΤΑΠΕΛΤΗΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΝΑΖΙ. ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑ ΟΝΟΜΑΣΑΝ ΟΙ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΙ ΤΑ ΜΠΟΥΜΠΟΥΚΙΑ ΤΟΥ Γ ΡΑΙΧ .
ΣΕ ΕΔΡΑΝΑ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΩΝ ΣΕ ΚΑΠΟΙΕΣ ΔΙΚΕΣ ΥΠΗΡΞΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΙ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΙΚΟΙ .
ΟΠΩΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΑ 50 ΑΙΧΜΑΛΩΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΥ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΠΙΛΟΤΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΡΑΦ ΚΑΙ ΕΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΑ ΠΙΛΟΤΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΑΣ ΜΑΣ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΕ ΑΥΤΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΑΠΕΔΡΑΣΑΝ ΑΠΟ ΣΤΡΑΤΟΠΕΔΟ ΑΙΧΜΑΛΩΤΩΝ ΟΜΑΔΙΚΑ.
ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΓΝΩΣΤΗ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΑΠΟΔΡΑΣΗ ΠΟΥ ΕΙΧΕ ΓΥΡΙΣΘΕΙ ΕΡΓΟ ΠΑΛΑΙΟΤΕΡΑ ΜΕ ΤΙΤΛΟ Η ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΑΠΟΔΡΑΣΗ . . ΟΣΟΙ ΣΥΝΕΛΗΦΘΗΣΑΝ 50 ΜΕΤΑ ΕΚΤΕΛΕΣΤΗΚΑΝ ΚΑΤΑ ΔΙΑΤΑΓΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΙΤΛΕΡ ΚΑΙ ΕΚΑΨΑΝ ΜΕΡΙΚΩΝ ΤΑ ΠΤΩΜΑΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΑΦΗΣΟΥΝ ΙΧΝΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΤΟΥΣ. ΑΥΤΟ ΕΚΑΝΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΑ ΠΙΛΟΤΟ ΠΟΥ ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΟΥΣΕ ΜΕ ΑΛΛΟΥΣ ΔΥΟ ΝΑ ΠΕΡΑΣΕΙ ΤΑ ΣΥΝΟΡΑ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΠΟΔΡΑΣΗ.
ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΙ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΙΚΟΙ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΛΕΜΙΚΟΥ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΗΣ ΥΠΗΡΧΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΔΙΚΗ ΕΝΟΣ ΠΛΟΙΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ . ΕΤΟΡΠΙΛΙΣΘΗΚΕ ΑΠΟ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΙ ΝΑ ΔΙΑΣΩΣΕΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ ΕΚΑΝΕ ΒΟΛΤΕΣ ΓΥΡΩ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕ ΜΥΔΡΑΛΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΧΕΙΡΟΒΟΜΒΙΔΕΣ ΚΑΘΑΡΙΖΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ.
ΤΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΤΟΡΠΙΛΙΖΕΙΣ ΔΕΝ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΘΑΡΙΖΕΙΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΠΕΡΙΣΥΝΕΛΕΓΕΙΣ
ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΡΑΤΑΣ ΑΙΧΜΑΛΩΤΟΥΣ .
ΔΙΑΣΩΘΗΚΑΝ ΤΡΕΙΣ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΟΙ ΜΑΣ ΚΑΤΑ ΤΥΧΗ ΤΡΑΥΜΑΤΙΣΜΕΝΟΙ ΕΠΑΝΩ ΣΕ ΜΙΑ ΣΧΕΔΙΑ ΠΕΡΙΠΛΑΝΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΕΠΙ 40 ΗΜΕΡΕΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΑΤΛΑΝΤΙΚΟ ΩΚΕΑΝΟ . ΠΕΡΙΣΥΝΕΛΕΓΗΣΑΝ ΤΥΧΑΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΕΝΑ ΠΕΡΑΣΤΙΚΟ ΠΛΟΙΟ ΠΟΥ ΤΟΥΣ ΕΙΔΕ. ΑΥΤΟΙ ΚΑΤΕΘΕΣΑΝ ΣΕ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΚΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ. ΑΡΓΟΤΕΡΑ. ΕΠΙΑΣΑΝ ΒΕΒΑΙΑ ΤΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΤΥΧΑΙΑ ΟΙ ΒΡΕΤΑΝΟΙ ΠΟΥ ΕΙΧΕ ΕΞΩΚΕΙΛΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΚΡΑΤΗΣΑΝ ΤΑ ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΤΟΥ. ΕΙΔΑΝ ΟΤΙ ΤΗΝ ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΠΟΥ ΧΑΘΗΚΕ ΤΟ ΠΗΛΕΥΣ ΤΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΗΤΑΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ ΤΟΥ ΦΟΡΤΗΓΟΥ ΠΛΟΙΟΥ.
ΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΚΑΤΑΘΕΣΕΙΣ ΜΕΤΕΠΕΙΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΩΝ Ο ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΛΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΥ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΣΘΗΚΑΝ. ΠΑΡΘΗΚΕ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΝΑ ΕΚΤΕΛΕΣΘΕΙ Ο ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΑ ΤΡΙΑ ΜΕΛΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΥ ΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΟΣ.
ΗΤΑΝ Η ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΦΟΡΤΗΓΟΥ ΠΛΟΙΟΥ ΠΗΛΕΥΣ .
Η ΜΟΝΑΔΙΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΠΟΥ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟ ΥΠΟΒΡΥΧΙΟ ΦΕΡΘΗΚΕ ΤΟΣΟ ΕΓΚΛΗΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΣΕ ΝΑΥΑΓΟΥΣ . ΔΕΝ ΕΙΧΑΜΕ ΑΛΛΗ ΤΕΤΟΙΑ ΠΕΙΠΤΩΣΗ ΤΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΑ ΤΟΡΠΙΛΙΖΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΦΕΥΓΑΝ .
ΑΥΤΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΓΟΥΡΟΥΝΙΑ.
Η ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΣΤΕΛΕΧΗ ΤΗΣ ΝΑΖΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΜΟΡΙΑΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΙΟ ΚΑΤΩ ΚΑΙ ΣΚΑΤΑ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΤΑΦΟΥΣ ΤΟΥΣ.
THE SENTENCES
In accordance with Article 27 of the Charter, the President of the International Military Tribunal, at its concluding session of 1 October 1946, pronounced sentence on the defendants convicted on the in- dictment :
Defendant Hermann Wilhelm Goering, on the counts of the indict- ment on which you have been convicted, the International Military Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Rudolf Hess, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to imprisonment for life.
Defendant Joachim von Ribbentrop, on the counts of the indict- ment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Wilhelm Keitel, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Ernst Kaltenbrunner, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Alfred Rosenberg, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the ‘Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Hans Frank, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by , hanging.
Defendant Wilhelm Frick, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Julius Streicher, on the count of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Walter Funk, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to imprisonment for life.
Defendant Karl Doenitz, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Defendant Erich Raeder, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to imprisonment for life.
Defendant Baldur von Schirach, on the count of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Defendant Fritz Sauckel, on the counts of the indictinent on which you have been convicted, the Tribu~lal sentei~ces you to death by hanging.
Defendant Alfred J;odl, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Arthur Seyss-Inquart, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to death by hanging.
Defendant Albert Speer, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Defe~ldant Konstantin von Neurath, on the counts of the indictment on which you have been convicted, the Tribunal sentences you to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The Tribunal sentences the Defendant Martin Bormann, on the counts of the indictment on which he has been convicted, to death by hanging.
Αυτός ο τελευταίος την κοπάνησε έγινε λουης
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