[Extract from report of Hans Frank to Hitler re situation in Poland, dated 19 June 1943—Pages 10 and 11.]
In the course of time, a series of measures or of consequences of the German rule have led to a substantial deterioration of the attitude of the entire Polish people in the General Gouvernment. These measures have affected either individual professions or the entire population and frequently also—often with crushing severity—the fate of individuals.
Among these are in particular:
1. The entirely insufficient nourishment of the population, mainly of the working classes in the cities, whose majority is working for German interests.
Until the war in 1939, its food supplies, though not varied, were sufficient and generally secure, due to the agrarian surplus of the former Polish state and in spite of the negligence on the part of their former political leadership.
2. The confiscation of a great part of the Polish estates and the expropriation without compensation and resettlement of Polish peasants from manoeuvre areas and from German settlements.
3. Encroachments and confiscations in the industries, in commerce and trade and in the field of private property.
4. Mass arrests and mass shootings by the German police who applied the system of collective responsibility.
5. The rigorous methods of recruiting workers.
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6. The extensive paralyzation of cultural life.
7. The closing of high schools, junior colleges and universities.
8. The limitation, indeed the complete elimination of Polish influence from all spheres of State administration.
9. Curtailment of the influence of the Catholic Church, limiting its extensive influence—an undoubtedly necessary move—and, in addition, until quite recently, the closing and confiscation of monasteries, schools and charitable institutions.
Extracts from a report to Hitler on causes of discontent among the Poles, including the shortage of food, confiscation of property, population transfers, mass arrests and shootings (reprisal actions), forced labor, and the "paralyzation" of culture, education, and religious life
Authors
Hans Frank (Chief of Legal Office, NSDAP; Governor General of Poland)
Hans Frank
German lawyer, Nazi politician, General Governor of Nazi occupied Poland and convicted war criminal (1900-1946)
- Born: 1900-05-23 (Karlsruhe)
- Died: 1946-10-16 (Nuremberg Nuremberg Court Prison) (reason for deprecated rank: item/value with less precision and/or accuracy; reason for preferred rank: most precise value)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: lawyer; politician
- Member of political party: German Workers' Party (since: 1919-01-01); Nazi Party
- Member of: Sturmabteilung; Thule Society
- Participant in: Beer Hall Putsch
- Significant person: John C. Woods (role: executioner)
Date: 19 June 1943
Literal Title: Extract from report of Hans Frank to Hitler re situation in Poland, dated 19 June 1943 - Pages 10 and 11.
Defendant: Hans Frank
Total Pages: 1
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-437
Citation: IMT (page 2469)
HLSL Item No.: 452380
Notes:For the full report, presented by the USSR during cross-examination (18 April 1946), see database item 452414.
Trial Issues
Civilians, mistreatment of, including murder, imprisonment, deportation, f… Plundering of private property and occupied territories (inc. Reinhardt Ac… Hostage-taking and reprisal actions, including killings and fines (IMT, NM… Forced labor and mistreatment of workers in war economy (IMT, NMT 2)
Document Summary
PS-437: Secret detailed report by Hans Frank to Hitler re situation in Poland and concerning measures to gain the Polish people's help to fight Communism
PS-437: Secret report from Frank to Hitler, 19 June 1943, on the situation in Poland with description of harsh measures by the German civil administration and consequent hostile attitude of poles to Germans, also on means of combating communism in Poland