Minister President General Field Marshal Goering.
Director of the Four Year Plan. Berlin, 8 March 1940
Chairman of the Cabinet Council for the Defense of the Reich.
V. P. k9U/2
To the supreme Reich authorities '
Subject: Treatment of male and female civilian workers of Polish
nationality in the Reich.
The mass employment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality in the Reich necessitates a comprehensive ruling on treatment of these workers.
The following orders are to be executed at once:
1. The Poles are to be provided with a specially marked labor
permit card with photo. This card will serve also for the purpose of police registration. The necessary orders will be issued by the Reich Labor Minister in agreement with the Reichsfuehrer-SS and chief of the German police at the Reich Ministry of the Interior. . .
2. The Poles have to wear a badge firmly attached on their clothing. Regulation will be issued by police decree of the Reich Minister of the Interior (Reichsfuehrer-SS and chief of the German police).
3. Poles are not to be employed in those areas where special national political dangers would be caused thereby. The Reichsfuehrer-SS in his capacity as Reich commissar for the Consolidation of the German race in agreement with the Reich labor minister will determine the definitions and limits of these areas. If
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necessary, foreign workers of non-Polish nationality are to be employed in these areas. -
4. The blameless conduct of the Poles is to be assured by special regulations. The legal and administrative regulations necessary for this will be issued by the Reichsfuehrer-SS and chief of the German police at the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
5. The orders apply to the territory of the Greater German Reich with the exception of the eastern territories incorporated into the Reich.
6. Attention is drawn to the explanations enclosed as appendix.
[signed] Goering
Seal: Minister President General Field Marshal Goering.
Director of the Four Year Plan. Certified: Dietrich Chancellery employee
Berlin, 8 October 1940
Explanations
to the letter of Minister President General Field Marshal Goering—director of the Four Year Plan—chairman of the Cabinet Council for the Defense of the Reich, to the supreme Reich authorities dated 8 March 1940, on the subject of the treatment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality in the Reich.
A comprehensive ruling on the question connected with the mass employment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality in the Reich is urgently required in order to meet the dangers arising from the employment of nearly a million members of nationalities which are strange to and, to a great extent hostile to, Germanism.
To 1.—It is a stipulation for an effective combating of these dangers, that the workers employed within the Reich are provided with sufficient personal papers. At the time of recruiting only a very superficial examination can be made; therefore it must be possible at any time to establish that Poles staying in the Reich are in possession of a labor permit and that the worker employed is the same as the person recruited. Therefore a specially marked labor permit card with photo is indispensable. As the labor permit card is an essential basis for all police inquiries a fingerprint of the bearer must be secured at the time the card is issued.
To 2.—In addition to the labor permit card which legitimized the bearer, it is also necessary to provide all Polish workers who
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enter the Reich with an outward mark of identification. From the very first day of his employment, there must be a guarantee that a Polish worker can be recognized as such by anybody and at any time. Only the badge serves this purpose. No defamation is intended thereby. The form of the badge will have to be in accordance with this.
To 3.—The employment of Poles brings certain dangers with it, which are restricted to definite parts of the Reich. In the same way as Polish civilian workers are not allowed in areas of the frontier zones in the west, there are other areas in Germany, where the employment specifically of Polish workers is undesirable because of national political dangers. This applies especially to Masuria, Lausitz, and areas of the Sudetenland. The employment of Poles in these areas is impracticable, whereas. there is no objection to the employment of other foreign workers (Italians, Hungarians, and Ukrainians).
To 4.—The presence of nearly a million Poles in the Reich makes it necessary to regulate not only the employment as such, but also the conduct of the Poles by comprehensive measures, in order to counteract any behavior by the Poles which might prejudice the purposes of their employment, and to prevent any undesirable evidences in their relation to the German population. The measures necessary for this purpose are so manifold that they must be unified in a manner which will enable the dangers to be eliminated from the outset as far as possible. The mass employment of foreign workers in Germany is so unique and novel that no binding and detailed regulations can be made for the German people, concerning this necessary life amongst foreigners.
The test to which the German people are put in the national political sense by the presence of these foreigners must be met by the inner steadfastness of Nthe people. It is above all the task of the party and its organizations to show up these dangers to the people by ceaseless instruction, and to make them realize the necessity of keeping distance from the Polish workers.
With regard to the Polish workers, however, regulations must be made to prevent any closer contact with the German population as far as possible. Thus Poles will have to be excluded from the cultural life of the German people, from visits to places of entertainment together with Germans and so on. These efforts must also concern the employment itself so that by employing at least an equal number of male and female Polish workers together, the Poles will be prevented from approaching German women and girls. Where this is impossible at certain places where there are concentrations of Poles, brothels with Polish
693261—47—17
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girls should be established. Poles employed in towns, in commercial and industrial, or large agricultural concerns, should so far as possible, be accommodated together in special billets and in hutted encampments so that individual billetting should be necessary only in the case of smaller farms, according to circumstances.
The purpose of the employment, i.e. the furthering of the German economy, must not be hampered by the behavior of the Poles. The employment of Poles during the last few months has shown that unwillingness to work, open insubordination, abuse of liquor, absenteeism and other offenses of all kinds are always occurring. To remedy these abuses, the Poles must be made to understand, by restricting their liberty, that they have come to Germany for the sole purpose of working and that they have to comply with their duty to work. Appropriate measures, such as absolute compulsion to stay at the place of employment, more severe compulsory registration, introduction of a curfew, restrictions on the consumption of alcohol etc., must be taken at once. If the situation develops any further police orders alone will not suffice to prevent all abuses so that other administrative departments will have to cooperate in this matter. Even now it is evident that e.g. free use of public conveyances, such as railroads, omnibusses etc., is an inducement to the Poles to leave their places of work without permission and to roam about uncontrolled in the Reich and it urgently needs to be stopped.
The official authorities must make the Poles thoroughly acquainted with the orders on this matter. Whenever the Poles still offend against the orders, either by neglecting their duty to work or by insufferable behavior towards the German population, the appropriate steps, including suitable measures, if necessary, even the most severe state police measures, are to be taken at once, in order to nip dangers in the bud. As a rule, the measures are to be so devised that Poles are withdrawn from work only where necessary. Compulsory transfer to their homes will therefore hardly be permissible.
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The Reichsfuehrer SS
and Chief of the German Police
at the Reich Ministry of the Interior Berlin, 8 March 1940. IV D 2—382/40 .
To the Fuehrer's Deputy, Munich, Brown House. .
Subject: Employment in the Reich of male and female civilian
workers of Polish nationality.
Appendices: 3
With reference to the letter from the Minister President General Field Marshal Goering to the supreme Reich authorities on the subject of the treatment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality, I enclose as an appendix a copy of the police order of 8 March 1940 concerning distinguishing marks for these Poles, a copy of my decree dated 8 March 1940 and a copy of my letter to the Reich Labor Minister, dated 8 March 1940.
I should be grateful if during the work of instruction undertaken from there, the points of view contained in the leaflet for employers could be stressed and spread abroad particularly among the rural population.
Furthermore, I may mention that I have given further directions to the state police (district) offices to prevent the failure of the employment scheme and undesirable evidences of the relations of the male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality to the German population.
Among other things, I have ordered the immediate arrest of German nationals who have sexual intercourse with male or female workers of Polish nationality, commit other improprieties, or carry on love affairs. I do not wish this measure to prevent the effects of the justified indignation of the. German population over such shameful behavior. On the contrary, I consider the deterrent effect of public defamations to be exceptionally great and I have no objection, if, for instance, German women have their heads shorn perhaps in the presence of the female youth of the village, because of their disgraceful behavior, or if they are led through the village with a label indicating their offense. The defamations should however keep to about these limits, and should not go further and result in injuries to the persons involved. Above all, ¡they should take place before the arrest, because, once the arrested persons have been seized and police cannot set them free again. '
I should be grateful if these view points were brought to the notice of the party functionaries for their personal information only and in order to ensure a uniform policy; it must be pointed
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out that measures of this kind cannot be carried out smoothly, unless there is close cooperation with the competent state police (district) office. I have given instructions to the state police (district) offices, to get in touch immediately with the competent local party functionaries.
. [signed:] H. Himmler
[Seal] The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police at
the Reich Ministry for the Interior.
Certified
Kerl
Chancellery employee
The Reich Minister of the Interior S Pol. IV D 2—382/40
Berlin, 8 March 1940.
. Police Decree
Concerning the Marking of the Male and Female Civilian Workers of Polish nationality employed in the Reich, dated 8 March 1940
In pursuance of the decree concerning the police decrees of the Reich Minister, dated 14 November 1938 (Reich Gazette I p. 1582) the following is ordered:
1.
(1) Male and female workers of Polish nationality who are or are to be employed in civil work within the Reich, have to wear a badge on the right breast of each garment, firmly attached to the garment they are wearing. This badge must be worn visibly at all times.
(2) The badge consists of a square, with sides 5 cm. long, standing on one corner. It shows a purple colored P, 2 cm. high, on a yellow ground with a purple colored border, i/2 cm. wide.
2.
(1) Whoever offends against the regulation in section 1, whether intentionally or by negligence, is to be punished by a fine of not more than 150 RM or imprisonment for not longer than 6 weeks.
(2) Penal regulations providing a more severe punishment and police security measures remain unaffected.
3.
The Reichsfuehrer SS and chief of the German police at the
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Reich Ministry of the Interior will issue the legal and administrative regulations required for the execution and carrying out of this police decree.
4.
This decree applies to the territory of the Greater German Reich with the exception of the eastern territories incorporated into the Reich.
5.
This decree comes into force 3 weeks after its publication.
for and on behalf of: [signed:] H. Himmler
Seal: The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police in the Reich Ministry for the Interior.
Certified, signed Kerl
Chancellery employee
The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police at the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
Berlin, 8 March 1940.
IV D 2-382/UO
Express Letter
To the Reich Labor Minister Berlin, SW 11, Saarland Str. 96. Subject: Treatment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality employed in the Reich.
Appendices: 2 ,
"In order to prevent untoward events which have occurred again and again, especially with regard to the behavior of Polish workers towards German women and girls, I request, as has already been expressed in the explanations accompanying the letter of Minister President, General Field Marshal Goering, that, as far as possible, equal numbers of female Polish workers be employed in the same place as male Polish workers, especially in agricultural districts.
I request that the chief of the security police, and the SD, be informed of the places where mainly or exclusively male workers only can be employed in large numbers—this will be the case especially in industrial places. He will, thus be able to prevent the dangers as far as possible, by establishing brothels with Polish girls. I therefore request that, in these cases, brothel hutments be set up simultaneously with the billets for male workers.
It is essential for the separation of the male and female civil-
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ian workers of Polish nationality from the German population, that they are housed together in billets. This will not always be possible in the case of agricultural employment, but it usually can be done in towns and in large industrial, commercial, and agricultural enterprises. Special importance may be laid on providing separate rest rooms for the work breaks. This could be made a duty of the factory when the requirement of labor is submitted.
****** *
"I should be grateful if I could have an opinion on the questions raised as soon as possible."
[signed:] H. Himmler . [Seal] The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police at
the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
Certified Signed: Kerl Chancellery employee
The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police at the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
S IV D 2 - 382/iO . '
Berlin, 8 March 1940.
Express Letter To:
The Reich Commissar for the Saar District,
The Reich governors [Statthalter] of Austria [Ostmark].
The provincial governments (provincial captains)—Ministry of the Interior. ,
The Government presidents in Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, Sudenten-Gau,
The President of the Police in Berlin.
For information: To :
The Reich commissars for Defense.
The Reich governors.
The lord lieutenants in Prussia. .
Subject: Treatment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality employed in the Reich.
Appendices: 7
* * * * * *
3. The local police authorities are to bring the appended list (in two languages) of duties (Form I) during their stay in the Reich to the notice of the male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality when they make their compulsory registration.
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The Polish workers must be informed of the list of duties by having it read out to them or given to them. Poles who can read and write may be used for this purpose. Form I may in no case be handed out either to, Poles or the German employers."
* * * * * * ' *
"Application for form I may be made to the Reich Security Main Office." ,
*******
5. A curfew for male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality, is to be instituted, for the period from April 1st to September 30th from the hours of 2100-0500, for the period from October 1st to Mj^rch 31st from the hours of 2000-0600, insofar as employment does not necessitate the fixing of other specific times.
6. Civilian male and female workers of Polish nationality must obtain the written consent of the competent local police authorities before they can use public conveyances.
The consent should be withheld unless the Labor Office certifies that use of public conveyances is necessitated by their employment.
The use of merely local public conveyances is allowed without consent.
I have asked the Reich Minister for Transport also to issue orders from his sphere of office, that tickets should be issued to male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality only if the written consent of the local police authorities is produced. Corresponding measures must also be taken in the facilities for public travel in the district concerned.
7. Male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality must not be permitted to visit German cultural, church, or social functions. I have asked the Reich Minister for Church Affairs, to issue the orders necessary for the spiritual welfare of the male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality—above all for the holding of special church services.
8. Male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality must not be permitted to visit inns. However, according to the local conditions, one or several inns of a simple type may be opened to them at certain hours. No inn-keeper is to be compelled against his will, to open his inn to male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality. So far as possible, use for this purpose should be made of canteens of industrial concerns, etc. in which workers of Polish nationality are employed.
During the times fixed, no German may enter inns where Poles may go.
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9. It must be made the duty of employers, to whom male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality have been sent, to report to the local police authorities immediately on any cases they become aware of where these workers fail to comply with the orders applying to them op leave their place of employment without permission."
* * sf: :{: * £ *
"The higher administrative authorities are to issue the police decrees necessary for the execution of the measures ordered in Nos. 5-9. In-order that the Poles may continue working, the payment -of a fcompulsory sum or the fine laid down by the terms of provincial law, should be decided and/or imposed should they offend. Arrest and/or imprisonment may be decided and/or imposed on employers failing to comply with the orders issued in accordance with No. 9. Any male or female workers of Polish nationality who repeatedly or severely violate the orders issued, so that the imposition of a fine does not seem adequate, are to be reported to the competent state police (district) office and, if nec-cessary, arrested at once. The state police (district) offices have been given further instructions for combatting unwillingness to work and strikes and also the immoral behavior of workers of Polish nationality. .
In order to obtain compliance with the orders, very severe action should be taken during the first eight weeks. In every district therefore, any cases which occur are to be reported at once to the competent state police (district) offices who will take measures as an example."
*******
[signed] H. Himmler
[Seal] The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German
' Police at the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
Certified: [illegible] Chancellery employee
[Attached are several forms:
a. "Labor card of Polish workers from the General Government of Poland and certificate about wage savings paid in", providing space for prints of the left and right digit, name, Christian name and photo.
b. Personal card, for personal details and finger-prints, and photo.
c. Card for details of the residence of the worker.
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"Residence form for Workers of Polish nationality" providing for details of residence, registrations and labor card Nos. etc.]
The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German '
Police at the Reich Ministry
of the Interior. Berlin, 8 March 1940.
IV D 2—382/4-0
Express Letter
To all state police district offices and state police offices (with the exception of those of the eastern territories incorporated into the Reich).
For Information: To:
Departments I, II, III, V, and VI, of the Reich Security Main Office,
the superior SS and police officers, the inspectors of the security police and the SD, the commanders of the security police and the SD, the state police district offices and state police offices of the ' eastern territories incorporated into the Reich.
Subject: Treatment of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality employed in the Reich'.
Appendices: 6
* * * * £ * *
The measures ordered together with the instruction of the foreign workers, will not however suffice to meet, in the necessary way, the dangers which threaten as a result of the employment in Germany of nearly a million members of a nation which is foreign and to a great extent hostile to the German people. It is therefore mainly the duty of the secret state police to combat these dangers with all means at-their disposal. For this purpose the following principles are to be followed:
1. Combatting insubordination and unwillingness to work on the part of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality. —The insubordinate behavior of the Polish workers, which has been observed np till now, leads to the conclusion that the orders given in the appended decree are frequently not complied with and that the fines to be imposed under them will not have a sufficiently deterrent effect. In every case where the type of the offence or the frequency of omission shows, that the offender is of an insubordinate attitude of mind, the state police must intervene
261
in order to guarantee the authority of official orders. For this reason I have ordered in the appended decree that such cases are to be reported to the state police (district) offices.
It is mainly the work of the secret state police to deal with cases where the success of employment is prejudiced by constant decrease in work done, strikes, incitement of the workers, absenteeism, acts of sabotage etc. It is important for this purpose to bring the male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality round to complying with their duty to work by every available method.
The steps to be taken to combat insubordination and non-compliance with the duty to work, must be decided according to the severity of the case and to the spirit of resistance of the offender. It is of most importance that they be taken immediately after the offence is committed so that they have a decisive effect. In accordance with my instructions in the appended decree, especially severe measures must be taken during the first eight weeks, in order to bring home to the workers ef Polish nationality from the outset the consequences of non-compliance with the orders issued. In every district therefore, in a few cases of disobedience and unwillingness to work, the workers of Polish nationality concerned are to be transferred to labor training camps for several years. In order to increase the deterrent effect of these measures, they are to be announced verbally to the workers of Polish nationality by an official of the secret state police or of- the local competent police office (e.g. gendarmerie posts) with the aid of an interpreter, especially in the factories or (agricultural) places where the punished Poles were employed.
In general, in all cases where a warning by the state police or a short imprisonment is not sufficient to induce the worker to fulfill his duties, application is to be made for his transfer to a labor training camp, and an opinion given on what treatment he should receive there. The treatment in the labor training camps will have to be in accordance with the severity of the offence. It is suitable e. g. to make, obstinate shirkers work in the stone-quarries of the Mauthausen camp. By a special decree to the heads of SS-Deathshead units and concentration camps, I have ordered that the treatment of these persons under protective custody be undertaken in a concentration camp.
Extraordinarily serious cases have to be reported to the chief of the security police and the SD who, after examination, make the decision on a special treatment of the workers of Polish nationality in question. „ .
2. Combatting an undesirable behavior of male and female
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/
workers of Polish nationality towards the German population.— The measures to be taken in accordance with Section 1. must be applied in such a way as to stop the unbearable behavior of workers of Polish nationality towards the German population.
This is especially applicable in cases of sexual offences. Male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality who have intercourse with Germans, or are guilty of any other immoral behavior are to be arrested at once and are to be reported by teleprinter to the chief of the security police and the SD to be put under his own special treatment.
Germans, who have intercourse, behave immorally in other ways or have love affairs with male or female civilian workers of Polish nationality are to be arrested at once. A proposal for their transfer to a concentration camp is to be made. The arrest, however, should not make a suitable defamation of these persons by the population impossible. To this extent, I refer to my enclosed letter to the Fuehrer's deputy and request that the local party functionaries be contacted immediately in the matter and constant cooperation assured. The transfer of Germans into a concentration camp is to be announced in a short press notice whose form is determined by the Reioh Security Main Office; the name is to be given.
3. Combatting activities of the male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality which are detrimental to the Reich.— General statements and activities by these workers of Polish nationality which are detrimental to the Reich are to be dealt with in the appropriate way as in No. 1. .
:|s sjc 5k v s*c sH sje
4. Searching for male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality who have escaped.
* sk ❖ '-'f * * #
5. Measures with regard to the German population.—The employment in the Reich of great numbers of male and female workers of Polish nationality necessitates measures being taken also against those Germans who behave towards these foreign workers in a manner prejudicial to the honor and dignity of thé German people.
Those Germans who hinder the Poles from the duty of fulfilling their duties at work and hamper the prevention of an unpleasant behavior towards the German population, e.g. by visiting inns and billets reserved for Poles, or by buying tickets, posting letters, collecting money and clothing for them etc. are to be imprisoned for a short time, if urgent warnings are not sufficient. In more serious cases however, a proposal for a longer term of
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protective custody or transfer to a concentration camp may seem required.
A special eye in this respect must be kept on the churches, which may—as in the case of Polish prisoners-of-war—try to see to the spiritual care of the Polish workers of both sexes together with the German population. I refer to my letter to the Reich Minister for Church Affairs.
6. Continual reports are to be sent on the results of the orders made to ensure blameless conduct of the Poles, and of the state police measures in accordance with these.
The decree is not suitable to be forwarded to the district [Kreise] and the local police authorities.
[signed] H. Himmler
[Seal] The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German
Police at the Reich Ministry of the Interior.
Certified:
, Kerl
Chancellery employee
Instructive Leaflet
for German Employers with Regards to the Employment and
Treatment of Civilian Workers of Polish Nationality from the General Government
The demands upon the German war-time economy require the employment of all available workers. For this reason the German government has engaged large nùmbers of male and female workers of Polish nationality for employment in the Reich.
A. General behavior towards Polish civilian workers.—Every German employer must always bear in mind that the civilian workers of Polish nationality employed by him are members of an enemy state, and he must act accordingly. All social contact between these civilian workers and Germans is forbidden. Every employer must see that the restrictions imposed on these workers are strictly complied with. These restrictions include compulsory registration within 24 hours after arrival at the place of employment, prohibition of visits to theatres, movies, inns etc. with the German population, the obligation to wear a badge attached to outer clothing on the right breast, where it is visible, and curfew for certain hours of the night.
Germans who prejudice the success of these measures e.g. by collecting money and clothing for the Poles, who post letters or buy tickets, who visit inns which are open to Poles, during their
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presence etc., will be called to account. Sexual intercourse between Germans and .Polish civilian workers of both sexes will be punished most severely.
Every employer must report any offences of these workers against the orders applicable, and any other undesirable conduct to the local police authorities as soon as they come to his knowledge.
The employer must see to it that his German employees restrict their contacts with Polish workers to what is strictly necessary, and avoid any contact whatsoever with them outside work.
* * sjs * * * #
D. Pay—The pay of Polish agricultural workers is on principle lower than that of German workers. The "Reich Tariff Regulations for Agricultural Workers, who are not German Citizens, with the exception of those whose Labor Conditions form the Object of Treaties", issued 8 January 1940 (Reich Labor Gazette No. 2 dated 15th January 1940) are applicable. Existing labor contracts providing for higher pay as fixed by the Reich tariff regulations may be reduced at 4 weeks notice, in accordance with an order dated 8 January 1940 issued by the Reich Trustee for Labor for the economic district of Brandenburg in his capacity as special trustee, to the schedules of the Reich tariff regulations. Civil law suits arising from the labor contracts of Polish farmworkers are to be decided by courts of arbitration set up at the appropriate labor offices, excluding the ordinary jurisdiction of the labor courts.
The working conditions for industrial Polish labor are equal to those of German labor unless special provisions are being issued. The Reich Ministry for Labor has published a leaflet giving information regarding the actual payment of wages to Polish civilian workers and regarding the remittance of their savings to their home country.
^ sf: * £ sfc * *
Duties of Male and Female Civilian Workers of Polish Nationality during their stay in the Reich
The Greater German Reich provides each and every worker of Polish nationality with work, bread, and pay. It demands in return that everyone carry out conscientiously the work allotted to him and that everyone comply carefully with the laws and orders in force. The following special regulations apply to Polish male and female workers:
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1. It is strictly forbidden to leave the place of residence.
2. It is also forbidden to leave the billets during the time of curfew ordered by the police.
3. Public conveyances, such as railroads, may be used only after special consent has been obtained from the local police authority.
4. Every Polish male and female worker must always wear visibly the badge issued to him or her. They should be worn on the right breast of every piece of clothing. The badge is to be sewn onto the clothing.
5. Whoever shirks his work, strikes, incites other workers, arbitrarily absents himself from the place of employment, etc., will be transferred to a concentration camp for forced labor. Sabotage and other serious offences against work-discipline will be punished severely, at least by transfer to a labor training camp for several years.
6. All social contact with the German people is forbidden; especially visits to theatres, movies, dances, inns and churches, in company with Germans. Dancing and drinking is allowed only in inns especially allocated to Polish workers.
7. Whoever has sexual intercourse with a German man or
woman, or whoever approaches them in any other improper manner, will be punished by death. .
8. Every offence against the orders and regulations issued for civilian workers of Polish nationality will be punished in Germany. Nobody will be sent back to Poland.
9. Every Polish male and every Polish female worker must always bear in mind, that they came to work in Germany of their own free will. Whoever works satisfactorily, obtains bread and pay. Whoever shirks his work or disregards the regulations issued, will be taken to account severely, especially during war time.
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The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police at the Reich Ministry * of the Interior.
Berlin, 8 March 1940
IV D 2—382/40
To the Reich Minister for Church Affairs
Berlin, W 8 Leipziger Strasse 3
Subject: Spiritual welfare of male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality employed in the Reich.
Appendices: 2
The employment of great numbers of male and female workers of Polish nationality in the Reich has necessitated a comprehensive ruling on the treatment of these workers. The basis for this regulation is the letter of the Minister President, General Field Marshal Goering of 8th March, addressed to the supreme Reich authorities. In the sphere of police matters the orders given in the appended Police decree of 8 March 1940 and the decree, also appended, dated 8th March 1940, have been issued.
Undesirable evidences in the relations of the male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality to the German people are to be prevented. Therefore it should be avoided as far as possible that these workers have any contact whatsoever with the German population, unless it has a direct connection with the employment itself. For. this reason I have issued an order to the effect that Poles are prohibited from visiting church functions of the German people, and especially from attending services.
The churches and their various representatives may now be expected in the same, way (as they did in the case of Polish prisoners of war), to take an interest in male and female civilian workers of Polish nationality, to hold services for them together with the German population, to collect money and gifts in kind for them, and to try to establish similar connections between the German population and these workers.
For this reason I ask you to take precautions that the civilian male and female workers are excluded from the general church services for Germans. Spiritual care of them should be undertaken by way of special church services, open only to them. No sermons should be preached and no use should be made of the Polish language. Any church welfare of these workers should be undertaken separately from the German population.
I deem it necessary further to make it clear to the churches
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that they may have no dealings whatsoever with the male arid female civilian workers of Polish nationality except in purely spiritual welfare. *
I have made appropriate state police measures to deal with any conduct of the clergy which is contrary to these principles.
I should be grateful if the Reich Security Main Office would be informed of any measures to be taken on your part.
[signed:] H. Himmler
[Seal]
The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police in the
Reich Ministry for the Interior.
Certified:
, [signed] Kerl
Chancellery employee.