CZECHOSLOVAK OFFICIAL REPORT, SUPPLEMENT NUMBER 5, 12 DECEMBER 1945
The Activities of the Defendant Wilhelm Frick Wilhelm Frick, former Reichminister of the Interior, became in August 1943 so-called Reichsprotector in Bohemia and Moravia. Simultaneously with this appointment, Hitler also reorganized the position, duties and rights of the Reichsprotector. By virtue of this reorganization the Reichsprotector became in future the representative of Hitler in his character as Chief of the Reich. It was his duty to confirm the members of the so-called Protectorate Government, to nominate and dismiss German officials in the Protectorate and decide on their superannuation; his competence extended further to amnesty and abolition.
From the point of view of Czecho-Slovakia, Wilhelm Frick has also been guilty in his character as Minister of the Interior. Frick was already Minister of the Interior in January 1933.
Already the Decree of Hitler of 1.10.1939 (RGB1, I, page 1331) regarding the administration of the Sudeten-German territory bears inter alia Frick's signature. By the occupation of the frontier territory, the integrity of the Czecho-Slovak Republic was illegally violated. Paragraph 81 et seq. of the Treaty of Versailles, and the Arbitration Agreement between the Czecho-Slovak Republic and Germany of 16.10.1925 (Locarno Pact), which decided that all disputes between the Czecho-Slovak Republic and Germany, of whatever kind, must be brought before the Permanent International Tribunal, were thereby violated. Hitler's Decree, above cited, regarding the administration of the Sudeten-German territory, stipulated that Frick himself, as Minister of the Interior, should he the main authority for the transfer of the Sude-ten-Germany territory.
Hitler's Decree of 16.3.1939 (VBIProt. Page 7) regarding the establishment of the so-called Protectorate of Bohemia and Mo-
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ravia bears Frick's signature. This Decree of Hitler not only violates at the same time the Treaty of Versailles and the bilateral Locarno Pact, but also the agreement of the four Great Powers, enforced by Hitler himself, regarding the cession of the frontier territory, of 29 and 30, September, 1938 (Munich Agreement).
Of the more important authoritative decisions for which Frick is responsible, we cite particularly his Decree of 5.12.1941 (VB1-Prot 1942, page 16 RGB1. I, Page 750) regarding the introduction of certificates, so-called identity cards, in the territory of the so-called Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, in the so-called Sudeten territory and in the Eastern territories.. It is true that at first sight it might give the impression of being a simple regulation for the purpose of obtaining police evidence regarding the population; this regulation, however, had a much more profound basis and background. The object of this evidence was—in so far as it concerned the Bohemian countries—the germanising and expulsion of the majority of the Czech population (approx. 60%) from Bohemia and Moravia.
Another authoritative decision which may be charged to Frick's account is his Order of 10.7.1942 (RGB1. I, page 466) regarding the introduction of the legal regulations for the Technical Emergency Service in the Protectorate. By the realization of this measure Frick contributed in a great degree to the increase of Germany's war potential and thereby to the prolongation of the war. Frick was also one of the signatories of the Order of 7.6.1939 (RGB1. I, Page 1039) regarding the right of publication of legal regulations in the Protectorate.
To the sphere of Frick's Ministry of the Interior belong also the Concentration Camps established in the Reich, in which also Czech nationals were confined. The blame for the administration of these camps therefore also devolves on Frick.
Prague, 12th December 1945
Nürnberg, December 15, 1945
Supplement Nr. 5 to the Official Czechoslovak Report called "German Crimes Against Czechoslovakia"
Presented by order of the Czechoslovak Government by Colonel Dr. B. Ecer, Plenipotentiary Minister, Czechoslovak Representative to the Commission of the United Nations for the Investigation of War Crimes in London, at present Chairman of the Czeshoslovak Delegation to the Nürnberg Proceedings.
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By order of my Government I submit Supplement Nr. 5 of the Czechoslovak Report in Accordance with Art. 21 of the Charter containing an official memorandum on the activities of the defendant Wilhelm Frick.
for Colonel Dr. B. Ecer
Capt. Dr. A. Hochwald
Supplement to a report, on Frick's activities involving Czechoslovakia (as Interior Minister and Protector of Bohemia and Moravia), including the German takeover of the Sudeten territory, Germanization, deportations, military production, and the concentration camps
Authors
Bohuslav Ecer (Dr., Czech representative to War Crimes Commission (1945))
Bohuslav Ecer
Czech lawyer
- Born: 1893-07-31 (Brno Hranice)
- Died: 1954-03-13 1954-03-14 (Brno)
- Country of citizenship: Czechoslovakia
- Occupation: jurist; pedagogue; university teacher
- Member of political party: Czech Social Democratic Party
- Military rank: colonel
- Position held: judge
- Educated at: Faculty of Law, Charles University in Prague
Date: 12 December 1945
Literal Title: The Activities of the Defendant Wilhelm Frick.
Defendant: Wilhelm Frick
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-3443
HLSL Item No.: 453407
Notes:Dr. A. Hochwald signed for Ecer in submitting the document on 15 December 1945. This document was apparently not entered by the prosecution in the case against Frick. A copy was submitted as Frick defense exhibit 29. The Czechoslovakian report's title is given as "German Crimes against Czechoslovakia."
Trial Issues
Wars of aggression Nazi regime (rise, consolidation, economic control, and militarization) (I… Germanization of persons, property, or occupied territories (IMT, NMT 3, 8) Deportation or expulsion of civilian populations from occupied territories… Concentration camp system (administration, forced labor, abuse of inmates)…
Document Summary
PS-3443: Note on Frick's activities and resonsibilities in the Czech Protoctorate