Cover letter to Alfred Rosenberg, and a plan for the reduction of the theological faculties in the universities

NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY Deputy of the Fuehrer Chief of Staff
Munich, 17 April 1939 Brown House [Rubber stamp] :
Receipt Rosenberg Chancellory 24 Apr 39 III/16—Tho 3230/0/15 270 g
To the Official appointed by the Fuehrer for the Supervision of spiritual and philosophical schooling and education of the NSDAP.
Attention of office director Kerksiek or his deputy in the office. Berlin W 35 Margaretenstrasse 17.
[Rubber stamp]
SECRET
[handwritten note: submitted to Pg Bradmann for comment—R] Subject: Theological faculties.
I send you the enclosed photostatic copy of a plan suggested by the Reichs Minister for Science, Education and training, for the combining of theological faculties with a request for your cognizance and prompt action.
Heil Hitler!
Signed: M. BORMANN
1 enclosure
[SYNOPSIS OF DOCUMENT]
Berlin W 8, 6 April 1939
Letterhead of Reichs Minister of Science, Education and Training
The plan which I expect to put into operation at the beginning of the winter semester 1939/40 presents the following picture.
In the East the following faculties will be maintained: Koe-nigsberg (Evangelic), Braunsberg (Catholic), Breslau (Evangelic and Catholic), Vienna (Evangelic and Catholic). I have already ordered the combination of the Catholic faculty in Graz with the one in Vienna which will remain the only place in Austria with both faculties.
In Bavaria after closing the Munich faculty there will remain the Catholic faculty at Wurzburg and the Evangelic faculty at Erlangen. The continuation of these is important but the five state theological institutes of Bavaria should be reduced to three. I ask you to suggest the two to be closed.
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In the Southwest regions I suggest the removal of the Evangelical faculty in Heidelberg to Tubingen and of the Catholic faculty in Tubingen to Freiberg. That will provide an exchange between Württemberg and Baden based on the Catholic predominance in Baden and Evangelic predominance in Württemberg.
In West Germany a similar exchange between Bonn and Munster is proposed but which shall be designated Catholic or Evangelic is a difficult question. A decision I should like to postpone a little time.
A similar question arises with the proposed transfer of the faculty from Giessen to Marburg. Since the closing of the forestry faculty at Giessen this university has not many students. The reversal of transfer is perhaps the solution but that is not feasible at this time because of the newly organized Institute for Religious Science. Professor Frick who is to head this institute has pointed out that his transfer from religious to philosophical endeavors may be viewed as a tendency against religion. I have suggested a gradual transfer of activity and consider the final time of transfer to be the propitious moment for such a transfer of the Evangelic faculty of the University of Marburg to that of the University of Bonn. Until that time it will be best to maintain the faculty at Gottingen since its influence in the Anglican world is great.
In the central German regions I propose a transfer of the Leipzig faculty to the University of Halle. The small faculty at Jena I should like to maintain because of its German-Christian stand.
In north German regions a combination of the Evangelic faculties of Rostock and Kiel at Kiel is planned.
Finally I should like to combine the faculties of Berlin and Griefswald in Greifswald. A double purpose would be achieved. Griefswald's weak enrollment would be improved and the Berlin faculty would not have to be included in the new university city of Berlin. I am sure this proposal will rouse the Berlin faculty but believe I can handle that problem.
To recapitulate this plan would include the complete closing of theological faculties at Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich, the transfer of the faculty of Graz to Vienna and the vanishing of four Catholic faculties.
a. Closing of three Catholic theological faculties or Higher Schools and of four Evangelic faculties in the winter semester 1939/40.
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b. Closing of one further Catholic and of three further Evangelic faculties in the near future.
I ask your comments at your earliest opportunity. I propose then to give the Ministry of Churches this information.
By direction: ZSCHINTZSCH
(Authenticated)