Cover letter to Sievers, and minutes of an SS conference on labor, including Bormann's order on Himmler's expanded jurisdiction over the party and "in all German matters"

Berlin-Grunewald 1. Feb 1943 Hagenstrasse 45
The Reichsfuehrer SS SS Hauptamt, Office VI VI/l-Ni-VS-Tagbuch No 704/43 geh. VI-Tagbuch No 214/43 geh.
SECRET . '
. [Stamped:]
000579 * 5 Feb 1943 Akt Z . . . G/S/23
To SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers Ahnenerbe Office Berlin—Dahlem Puecklerstr 16
By order of SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr Riedweg, Office VI— German Leitstelle—sends in the enclosed the minutes' of the conference on the 12 Jan 1943 of the SS-Committee for General Labor in the German zone, with a request for acknowledgement.
By direction
BERGER [?] (SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer)
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The Reichsfuehrer-SS Bln-Wilmersdorf 1, 20 Jan 1943
SS-Hauptamt, Office VI Hohenzollerndamm 31
VI/l-Dr. Schm/Ni.-VS-Tgb Nr 704/43 geh.
VI-Tgb Nr 214/43 geh.
SECRET
Minutes of the conference on the 12 Jan 1943 at 1200 of the SS-Committee for General Labor in the German zone, took place at the SS-Hauptamt
The following participated in
1. SS-Brigadefuehrer Bauer
2. SS-Oberfuehrer Ellersieck
3. SS-Standartenfuehrer Loerner
4. SS-Standartenfuehrer Schmidt
5. SS-S'tandartenfuehrer Sievers
6. SS-Obersturmbann-fuehrer Dr Riedweg
7. SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Dr Stier
8. SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Paulus
9. SS-Hauptsturm-fuehrer Dr Tesch
10. SS-Hauptsturm-fuehrer Dr Sichelschmidt
11. SS-Obersturmfuehrer Harderer
12. SS-Obersturmfuehrer Dr Schneider
13. SS-Obersturmfuehrer Dr Schmidt
14. SS-Obersturmfuehrer Ulrich
the conference: SS-Fuehrungshauptamt, Kommando Allgemeine-SS. Kommandeur der SS-Mann-schaftshaeuser SS-Wirtschafts-Verwaltungs-hauptamt
Fuersorge- u. Versorgungsamt Ausland
Amt Ahnenerbe
SS-Hauptamt, Amt VI
. Stabshauptamt of the Reich Commissioner for the consolidation of the German nationality
SS-Personal-Hauptamt Amt Lebensborn
Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle Race and Settlement Hauptamt Amt Ahnenerbe SS-Hauptamt, Amt VI SS-Hauptamt, Amt VI
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As introduction SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr Riedweg delivered a report on conditions in the German territories.
During the period covered by the report, hostile circles in the German territories have made themselves more actively noticeable. Various measures have had an aggravating effect on the political developments, primarily the compulsory labor and service conscription in Flanders and the Netherlands.
The development of the conscription situation makes it necessary to have larger procurement programs organized even in Germanic regions. All Germans—with the exception of the Flemish —are collected in one German association. The Flemish remain in the "Langemarck" regiment.
Meanwhile, the "Prinz Eugen" division has been transferred to Croatia. Furthermore a Croatian legion is to be activated here, which is to be under the command of SS-Gruppenfuehrer Phleps.
Of great importance is the fact that the Fuehrer has assented to the activation of an SS-Standart of French volunteers, which is to be called the "Karl der Grosse" standart.
Norway: Meanwhile in Norway Minister Fuglesang has succeeded the late Minister Lunde after the latter's unfortunate demise. In spite of promises made by the Quisling Party, one cannot count on Norway supplying a contingent of appreciable size.
Denmark: In Denmark the situation is especially favorable since SS-Gruppenfuehrer Dr Best has taken over the control. One can be sure that here SS-Gruppenfuehrer Dr Best will offer a good example of national Reich politics.
The situation in regard to Parteifuehrer Clausen has had unfavorable developments recently. Clausen agreed to the plan of activating a combat corps as introduction to the German Schutzstaffel in Denmark only on the supposition that membership in this corps would exclude membership in the Party. Negotiations for this very necessary collecting organization of the combat corps go on apace. The monopolistic position of the Party is not tenable; all recruits must be brought in, even if Clausen himself—however without his clique—is to stand in the foreground.
Netherlands: Meanwhile Reich Commissioner Dr. Seyss-In-quart has proclaimed Mussert leader of the Netherland' people. This measure has had an extremely disturbing effect on the other Germanic countries, especially in Flanders. The decisive role devolves again on the General Commissariat, whose principle of using Mussert too much, in order to disregard him, must be rejected on the part of German Reich policy in the sense of the Schutzstaffel.
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Flanders: In Flanders the recent developments of the VNV have become even more unfavorable. Even the very clever policy of the new VNV-leader, Dr Elias, has been a disappointment; Dr Elias, moreover, once stated the opinion that Germany was ready for concessions in the natural political sphere, only when matters were going very badly for her.
Recently the Walloon question has been particularly accentuated. Leon Degrelle, who was a lieutenant in the Walloon Legion and earned there the Iron Cross First Class, is at present in Belgium and uses this time in testing the political barometer in all quarters. Degrelle's intention of founding a Wallonian Allgemeine SS has been rejected. Judging by the connection between religion and politics, it appears in Degrelle's case that he is a Frenchman in his thinking.
A favorable development has occurred in the case of the Flemish Arbeitsdienst. The negotiations carried out by the Reichs-arbeitsfuehrer and especially by Oberstarbeitsfuehrer Mueller-Brandenburg with the assent of the Reichsfuehrer SS have had as a result that on the 1 April 1943 labor duty becomes obligatory in Belgium, both in the Flemish and Wallonian sectors. To bridge the gap students and apprentice officials were inducted into the Labor Service on the 15 Jan 43.
Finland: In Finland Field Marshal Mannerheim has bèen proposed as successor to the national presidency.
In correspondence with General Talvela particular discretion is suggested.
Just now wounded Finns (Officers, NCO's, men and Lottas) are in Germany as guests of the Reichsfuehrer-SS. This caring for the wounded has proved itself quite essential.
Southeast: Meanwhile in the southwest all volunteers from the Germans residing outside the Reich have been assigned to the SS.
In Hungary, as has been previously stated, there are difficulties in regard to the procuring of the necessary bills of exchange for the maintenance of the families of inducted volunteers. The suggestions of the Hungarian government are always only patchwork. '
In general a strong violence manifests itself in the southeast as a consequence of the general military situation, and doubtless one must count on the existence of a certain sympathy with hostile powers through the Vatican.
After the order of the 12 August '42 by Reichsleiter Bormann regarding the competence of the Reichsfuehrer-SS in all German
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matters and the strict supervision of all Party units had been issued, a similar decree was prepared by Reich Minister Dr Lam-mers for the sphere of the State, which is soon to be issued. The new formulation demands even in sectors of the state the right of the Reichsfuehrer SS to a joint stipulation in fundamental national questions, that is to say, the Reich commissioners are to consult with the Reichsfuehrer SS in all actually fundamental questions regarding the nation.
SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr Riedweg reports again on questions of terminology which had been mentioned in the internal labor conference of the German Leitstelle in Copenhagen. Principally this terminology concerns the conceptions "Reich", "Nation", "Volk" and "Stamm", as well as "nordisch" and "germanisch". .
In agreement with the Ahnenerbe office it was determined that the concept "Reich" is to remain reserved for the whole Reich of all German races and people. For Germany the official expression "Deutsches Reich" is to be used.
"Nation", being a concept stamped predominantly by liberalism, is no longer to be applied to the German peoples.
Difficulties arise also in differentiating between the concept "Stamm" and "Volk". The expression "Volk" is whenever possible to include the whole German area.
The word "Stamm", where it applies, is to be used for countries.
In regard to the definition of the term "nordisch" and "germanisch", the first expression must be used less and less. With the expression "nordisch", too high a position has been granted Norway, Sweden and Denmark at the expense of the west Germans.
SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers of the Ahnenerbe office states again the importance of the December conference of Office VI and reports on the conference of the scientific committee, which has been concluded there. A conference on the German historical work took place in the RSHA.
SS-Standartenfuehrer Loerner reports on an inventory of finances and affirms that a new agreement has been reached between the Reichs Treasurer and the Economic Administrative Office.
SS-Standartenfuehrer Schmidt still wishes a condensation of the bureaus on Flanders for the simplification of the work, in particular shifting the Antwerp bureau to Brussels. In addition he reports on the continuous difficulties in the work of family maintenance especially in Hungary.
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