MR. LAFOLLETTE: In such cases, Your Honor, we will attempt to see counsel immediately after a session, and if there are things that we can agree can be corrected, we will came back in and stipulates a correction.
JUDGE BRAND: Of course, I understood that.
MR. LAFOLLETTE: Yes, sir.
JUDGE BRAND: If the prosecution can agree that an error has been made, the sooner you make that agreement, the better.
MR. LAFOLLETTE: Exactly; we shall. I have just been advised that Dr. Marx's objection is correct, and we will get together and stipulate with him either before the end of the day or tomorrow, but I don't want to interrupt the procedure now to do that. I simply want to advise him that we are willing to meet with him on that basis. It is the constant objections to affidavits as evidence that I don't believe should come at this time.
I am prepared to offer, after reading, Prosecution's Exhibit No. 7, which is the affidavit of the defendant Lautz, found on page 30 of document book number 1-A.
"I, Ernest Franz August LAUTZ, former chief public prosecutor at the People's Court in Berlin, swear, state and declare:
"I was born on 13 November 1887 in Wiesbaden, went to the elementary school and grammar school in Wiesbaden and studied jurisprudence at the universities of Bonn on the Rhine, Munich, and Marburg on the Lahn. I passed my first State examination in law in October 1909, and my big judicial State examination in law in February 1920.
"I joined the NSDAP on 1 May 1933. My Party number, as far as I remember was something like 3,076,484. As an ordinary member of the Party I did not hold any leading office whatsoever. I am not in possession of any kind of Party badge and I was never a member of the SS, SD, SA or of the corps of political leaders. I was never given any honorary rank in the Party either, or in any of its organizations. However, I was a member of the following Party organizations: The National Socialist Jurists' league, National Socialist Public Welfare Association, National Socialist University Alumni Association, Reich Association for Air Raid Protection and the National Colonial League. I also contributed towards the fund for the care of war graves.
"My activity in the Wehrmacht was as follows:
"From 1910 to 1919 I held the following service ranks: for one year I did service as a volunteer, then I was a sergeant, an acting technical sergeant, a second lieutenant, and first lieutenant of the reserves. I hold the Iron Cross I and Iron Cross II.
"During the second world war, from 1939 - 1944, as a captain of the reserves I was always at the disposition of the Wehrmacht but was never called up, being given the status of indispensability at the request of the Reich Minister of Justice.
"My professional career was as follows: April 1920 to October 1920 I was court assessor, October 1920 to November 1921 prosecutor, November 1921 to December 1929 counsellor of the Public Prosecution at the District Court in Neuwied on the Rhine. From 1 January 1930 to 31 May 1932 I was senior public prosecutor at District Court II in Berlin as Chief of the department for political penal cases.
From 1 June 1932 to 15 November 1934. I was chief public prosecutor at District Court I, later on the District Court, in Berlin, departmental chief and chief of the section for economic penal matters. From 16 November 1934 to 31 August 1936 I was chief public prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Judication in Berlin. In this capacity I had the following duties: I kept the records with personal data of the court assessors, as well as the officials of medium and lower ranks (except those in the prisons), I handled disciplinary matters, and appeals against verdicts of the public prosecution at the District Court and reports to the Minister of Justice, excepting cases of high treason and treason.
"From 1 September 1936 to 30 June 1937 I was general public prosecutor at the District Court of Berlin in the capacity of official loader of the public prosecution at the District Court. However, I did not handle any special branches personally. I was provisionally in charge of this office from February to August 1936. From 1 July 1937 to 30 June 1939 I was general public prosecutor at the Appellate Court in Karlsruhe--Baden. There I had to superintend the public prosecutions in the district and was in charge first and foremost of the personel records of the officials and employees as well as of disciplinary matters and matters concerning the jurisdiction of the court of honor for lawyers.
"On 1 July 1939 I was appointed chief public prosecutor at the People's Court in Berlin. Owing to illness I could not take over the duites of this office until 20 September 1939. My duties in this office, which I held until the end of the war, were as follows: administrative business (matters concerning the personnel, buildings, book-keeping etc.), the conduct in and superintending of the public prosecution with respect to penal cases brought before it, viz, high treason and treason, undermining of the public morale, attacks on the Fuehrer, economic sabotage and damage to materials for national defense.
"I have read the above declaration in the German language and declare that it is the full truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I had the opportunity to make alterations and corrections in the above declaration. I have made this declaration voluntarily without promise of remuneration of any kind, and I was not subject to threat or compulsion whatsoever.
"Nurnberg, 6 February 1947." Signed, "Ernst Lautz."
I now formally offer and introduce into evidence Prosecution Exhibit No. 7.
THE PRESIDENT: It will be received in evidence.
MR. LAFOLLETTE: Document No. 705, if Your Honors please, is at page 13--I beg your pardon, 15. This is the affidavit of the defendant Cuhorst. I will read the affidavit, and then make the formal presentation:
"I Hermann Albert Cuhorst, whose last title was presiding officer of the First Penal Senate and Special Court in Stuttgart, swear, state and declare:
"I was born on 22 July 1899 in Ellwagen/jagst. I attended first the reformed grammar school Eberhard-Ludwigs in Stuttgart and there, in the years from 1919 until 1922, I studied at the university of Tuebingen. I passed my examination as law graduate in 1923 and my examination as assistant judge in 1926. My preparatory training I received at the Lower Court (Amtsgericht) of Boeblingen and at the District Court in Stuttgart.
"In the first world war I served in the Infantry-Regiment No. 125 from 1917 until 1919. During the second World War I served in the Army from 1944 until 1945, ultimately in the Regional Defence unit Battalion No. 444 in Norway. My highest rank was first lieutenant. I was awarded the iron-cross, second class(1914), the veterans-cross and the warservice-cross, second class.
"I became a member of the NSDAP on 1 December 1933, My Partynumber was about 376,000. Since 1 January 1933 I was acting as speaker for the Gau and as Such I wore the uniform of a political leader. I was awarded the Party decoration 3rd level for outstanding service to the Party.
I was a sponsoring member of and belonged to the NS-Lawyers League as well as to the NSV (National Socialist Public Welfare Association) "My professional career was as follows:
"In 1926 I was appointed District Judge at the Lower Court in Stuttgart "Then, from 1926 until 1927, I was assistant magistrate of the Landrat in Essling.
In 1927 I temporarily worked as Deputy District Judge at the Lower Court in Ulm and in the same year was appointed District Judge at the Lower Court in Stuttgart. In March 1930 I became a regular judge in Stuttgart.
I would like to go back and make a correction in my reading which occurred because of a bad copy. I said, "I was a sponsoring member of" and then stepped. The last sentence in the fourth paragraph of the English translation should read as follows: "I was a sponsoring member cf the SS and belonged to the NS-Dawyers' League as well as to the NSV (National Socialist-Public Welfare Association)."
I shall now go down to tho last sentence on Page 15.
"In April 1933 I was promoted councillor to tho Government with tho title cf Chief Counsel to the Government. On 1 November 1934 I was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court cf Appeals. In this position I presided ever tho Fifth Civil-Senate of the Court cf Appeals in Stuttgart. On 1 October 1937 I was appointed president of the First Penal Senate and of the Social Court in Stuttgart. I remained in t is position until I was detached to the Wehrmacht in November 1944.
"I have read the above statement in the German language and I declare that it states the full truth after the best cf my knowledge and belief. I had the opportunity to make changes and corrections in the above statement. I made the statement voluntarily without having been premised a reward and I was not submitted to threat or duress.
"Nuernberg, 3 February 1947. Signed, Cuherst."
I now offer Document No. 705 as Prosecution Exhibit No. 8.
THE PRESIDENT: It will be received in evidence.
MR. LA FOLLETTE: I shall no t offer NG 734 at Page 18 cf Document Book 1-A, tho affidavit cf Carl Engert, which will be Exhibit 9.
"I, Dr. Karl Engert, former chief of departments V and XV cf tho Reich Ministry of Justice, swear, state and declare:
"I was born on the 23 October 1877. I attended the elemen tary school in Munich from 1884 to 1888, the Wilhelm classical grammar school from 1889 to 1897 and the university of Munich from 1898 to 1902.
I passed my first examination in jurisprudence in 1902, the State examination in 1905. I did a preparatory state of service in Munich from 1902 to 1905. I was a member cf the NSDAP already in 1921. My membership number was something 57331. I held tho following offices in tho Party as far as I can remember: from 1928 to 1933 I was Gaulfuehrer in the National Socilaist Jurists' League , from 1932 to 1933 Reich Speaker for the Party in tho Bavarian State Legislature. I was awarded the following party distinctions: he gallon badge of honor, the silver service badge for ton years' membership and tho Sudeton medal. I was a number cf the SS and the SA. The latter I joined in 1930, tho former in 1936. As far as I remember, my highest rank in the SA was that cf Sturmfuehrer, my highest rank in tho SS, Oberfuehrer. I was given the following honorary positions: that of Ehrenfuehrer (honorary leader) of the SS with tho following tokens of distinction: a ring cf honor and a sword cf honor. Furthermore I was a member cf tho fallowing Party organizations: NSRB (Rational Socialist jurists' League) NSRDB (?), NSV (National Socilaist Public Welfare Association) RLB (German Air Raid Protection League) and DRX (German Red Cross).
"I an a veteran of tho first world war in which I served as a Counsellor at court martials with the rank cf captain. During the second world war I was not drafted for service with the Wehrmacht because cf my ago.
" My professional career was as follows: Gerichtsassessor 19? to 1912; District-judge in Scheinfeld, Middle Francenia, 1912 to 1922; Chief District-judge in the same place 1922 to the end cf 1925; Director of the District Court cf Regensburg from approximately 1 September 1932 to Juno 1933; President of tho District Court of Schweinfurt in the summer 1933.
"In this capacity in July 1933 (?) I was appointed to tho Bavarian State Ministry of Justice as technical adviser in charge of personnel matters for tho judges and prosecutors of Bavaria. In summer 1934 I was appointed ministerial counsellor, whilst at tho same time retaining tho above office. In 1935 I became Ministerial Counsellor in the Reich Ministry of Justice where I officiated as technical advisor for personnel matters for the Bavarian judges. In summer 1936 I was appointed President of tho Senate and a few weeks later Vice-President of tho People's Court in Berlin and Chairman of the second Senate, which was handling cases of high treason based on sympathy with communism."
Excuse me, Your Honors, I will have to got -- I shall offer this exhibit in evidence without further reading. I am sure the Court can obtain better copies than I have, and I hope tho German copies are better than mine. I can't road them.
I now offer in evidence Prosecution Exhibit No. 9. I am afraid if I road them they will not be accurate and it would be unfair either to the Prosecution or the defense.
THE PRESIDENT: The defendants have copies cf them?
MR. LA FOLLETTE: Yes, they have copies.
THE PRESIDENT: The reading adds nothing, apparently. They will be received in evidence, there being no objection.
MR. LA FOLLETTE:NG 707, Your Honor, is at Page 24. This will be Prosecution Exhibit No. 10. Hay I say to tho Court, please, that we do not wish to bore tho Court, and we will hereafter on many occasions not road extensively from documents. We do feel, to tho extent that they are leg ible, that a reading of tho biographies of tho defendant is considerably helpful to tho Prosecution's case.
For that reason we ask the Court's indulgence, although we realize that you can go back and them your solves.
THE PRESIDENT: We wonder if there are not some unimportant matters in each of these affidavits that might be omitted in any event.
MR. LA FOLLETTE: I think I understand. I believe I can comply with Your Honor's desires.
THE PRESIDENT: Of course if the defense counsel would rather have them road, they will be read, of course.
MR. LA FOLLETTE: They are translated. I will indicate where I will go from, and I am sure that neither the defendants not their counsel will be harmed by that procedure.
"I, Herbert Klemm, formerly State secretary of the Reich Ministry of Justice, swear, state and declare:
"I was born in Leipzig on 15 May 1903."
I shall now go down to the Sentence which begins: "My first legal State Examination I passed in December 1925, the Second legal State Examination in October 1929. My preliminary service I completed from 1926 to 1929. My preliminary service I completed from 1926 to 1929 with the legal administration of the Province of Saxony in Leipzig, Freiberg, Burgstaedt, Sebnitz and the District Courts of Plauen and Dresden.
"I applied for membership of the NSDAP on 4 November 1930 and was given membership card number 405576, dated 1 January 1931. On 30 June 1933 I joined the SA and in April /May 1933 I was assigned to the Adjutancy of the Chief of Staff of the SA as SA liaison officer for the Reich Ministry of Justice with the rank of Sturmbannfuehrer of Obersturmbannfuehrer. The highest rank I attained in the SA was that of SA-Oberfuehrer. Besides I was a member of the NS Welfare Organization, the Reich League of German Civil Servants, possibly the Reich Truck Drivers' League and the soldiers' league. From September 1944 on I was deputy chief of the National Jurists' League (Member since middle or end of 1933).
"I am holder of the bronze party service decoration (conferred in 1941) and the golden party decoration (conferred in 1943)."
I shall go to the last paragraph which I want to read on Page 24.
"From November 1929 to March 1933 I was court assessor of the Prosecuting Authority of Dresden. From March 1933 to March 1935 I was advisor and adjutant of the Minister of Justice of Saxony, Thierack, in Dresden. In the meantime, on 1 May 1933, I was appointed Public Prosecutor of Saxony and on I May 1934 Chief Public Prosecutor of Saxony. On 1 April 1933 I was assigned, besides other duties, to the Reich Ministry of Justice as advisor in political penal.
cases from various appellate court districts. My activity included, as far as I can remember from the end of 1936, also political questions of a general official nature, especially the superintending of uniform regulations and matters not regulated concerning criminal prosecution pursuant to the law against malicious political acts against the State or Party (Heimtueckegesetz), furthermore the finding and safeguarding of historically valuable documents. On 20 April 1939 I was promoted to the office of Ministerial Councellor (Ministerialrat). On 1 July 1940 I was assigned to the Reich Commissioner for the occupied Dutch territories. My activity in Holland included in particular the German civil jurisdiction, besides I was liaison officer between the Commissioner General for Administration and Justice (Dr. Wimmer) and the Secretary General of the Dutch Ministry of Justice at the Hague (Tenking). On 17 March 1941 I was transferred to the Staff of the Deputy of the Fuehrer (after May 1941) Party Chancellery in Munich as Leader of Group III C. Group III C was in charge, within the compass of its competence, of matters concerning the attitude of the Party Chancellery towards drafts of laws and ordinances proposed by the Reich Ministry of Justice, of complaints by the judicial authorities against Party offices, and vice versa, of the Party offices against Justice. My appointment as Ministerial Director of the Reich Ministry of Justice took place during my activity in the Party Chancellery. On 4 January 1944 I resigned from the Party Chancellery as per 31 December 1943, taking up on 4 January 1944 the position as State Secretary in the Reich Ministry of Justice. I held this position to the end of the war. My sphere of work comprised representing the Minister during his absence in matters which could not be postponed. I was also empowered to settle such business conclusively as was not important enough to be submitted to the Minister. Besides I was chief of department II (matters concerning examinations and the rising generation).
"I have read the above statement in the German language and declare that it is the full truth to the best of my knowledge and belief. I was able to make corrections and alterations in the above statement. I made this statement voluntarily without any promise of remuneration and I was not subject to any threat or compulsion.
Nuernberg, 1 February 1947."
I formally introduce into evidence Prosecution Exhibit Number 10.
THE PRESIDENT: Inasmuch as only portions of this affidavit have been read, if Dr. Schilf, as counsel for the defendant Klemm, thinks he must have other parts read, I think that would be entirely proper at this time.
MR. LAFOLLETTE: I do not believe Dr. Schilf feels that I, in any way, have adversely affected his client by what I did not read.
THE PRESIDENT: He seems to have no objection. It will be received in evidence.
MR. LAFOLLETTE: I certainly had no intention of so doing.
NG-690 is on page 33. This is the affidavit of Dr. Wolfgang Mettgenberg. If Your Honor please, I will ask Mr. King to introduce this in evidence.
MR. KING: "I, Dr. Wolfgang Mettgenberg, late Ministerialdirigent in the Reich Ministry of Justice in Berlin, state and declare under oath:
"I was born on 10 October 1882 in Kleve. From 1890 to 1893 I attended the elementary school in Kleve, from 1893 to 1898 the high school in Kleve, from 1898 to 1902 College in Koblenz. Immediately afterwards I attended the following universities: Grenoble (France) in 1902, Bonn from 1902 to 1903, Berlin from 1903 to 1904, and then Bonn again from 1904 to 1905.
"In Cologne in 1905 I passed my examination as a young barrister. I passed my assessor's examination in 1909 in Berlin. In 1906 I received my doctor's degree from the University of Bonn."
I will now skip a couple of paragraphs and start reading again with:
"My professional career was as follows:
"From 1909 to 1917 I was Court Assessor in Cologne, Aachen, and Koblenz. From 1917 to 1920 I was first sent as public prosecutor to Wuppertal-Elberfeld, then to Duesseldorf, then again to Elberfeld, and finally to Berlin.
"In 1920 I was first called to the Reich Ministry of Justice as a public prosecutor, and. then after three months, as a Higher Government Counsellor (Oberregierungsrat). In 1923 I became Ministerialrat and in 1939 Ministerialdirigent. I held this rank until the end of the war, I had to supervise the work on matters punishable by criminal law, especially those which came under the international penal code in a wider sense of the word.
"I was not a member of the NSDAP and belonged neither to the SS nor the SA. I was only a member of the Rechtswahrenbund, and thus automatically belonged to the Reichsbeamtenbund ---"
I apologize for the pronunciation.
"--- of the NSY, the Reichskolonialbund, the Red Cross, and supporting member of the NSFK."
Then follows the affidavit of Dr. Mettgenberg.
THE PRESIDENT: Does Dr. Schilf desire that any other parts of the affidavit be read?
DR. SCHILF: No.
MR. KING: The Prosecution formally offers NG-690 in evidence.
THE PRESIDENT: It will be received in evidence.
MR. KING: The next biographical affidavit which we wish to introduce is NG-732. It is the biographical affidavit of Oswald Rothaug.
THE PRESIDENT: On what page will that be found.
MR. KING: That will be found on Page 42 of Document Book 1-A.
"I, Oswald Rotaug, former attorney of the Reich Public Prosecution at the People's Court in Berlin swear, state and declare:
"I was born on 17 May 1897 in Mittelsinm. When I had gone through the elementary school in Aura (1909) I went to the new Gymnasium in Wuerzburg."
I think we can dispense with reading the rest of that paragraph and proceed with the third paragraph.
"I joined the NSDAP officially in spring 1938 and my membership was made effective from 1 May 1937. My membership number, I do not remember. I did not hold any kind of offices in the party. I was neither a member of the SS nor of the SD nor of the SA. However, I was a member of the National Socialist Jurists' League, the National Socialist Public Welfare Association, the Reich Association for Airraid Protection and the National Colonial League.
"I was serving in the Wehrmacht as Lance Corporal with the regional defense battalion at Stalag XIII from the end of August 1939 until the end of September 1939. After this I was given the status of indispensability as my services were required by the President of the Appellate Court in Nuernberg.
"After the usual preparatory service, I began my career as a jurist in December 1925, as the assistant of Dr. Bayer, an attorney in Ansbach. In May 1926 I had further practice as an assistant-judge with the Public Prosecution in Ansbach. From May until about August 1926 I was an assistant-judge at the Local Court of Weissenburg, from August 1926 until some time in December 1926, I was assistant-judge at the Local Court of Pfaffenhofen, from December 1926 to June 1927 at the local Court of Ingolstadt and from 1 June 1927 to 1 October 1929, I was public prosecutor in Hof in charge of general criminal cases.
From 1 October 1929 to 1 June 1933 I officiated as counsellor at the Local Court in Nuernberg. I acted as the sole judge in penal cases and as the chairman of a Lay Assessor's Court, and from autumn 1930 as civil judge. From 1 June 1933 until 1 November 1934 I was senior public prosecutor with the Public Prosecution in Nuernberg. My duties in this capacity were the following: I was the official in charge of general criminal cases, assistant of the chief public prosecution (examination of suspensions of proceedings, and of petitions for pardon). From 1 November 1934 to 1 April 1937 I officiated as Counsellor of tho District Court in Schweinfurt.
I was legal adviser in the Civilian Penal Chamber and at tho Court cf Assizes, and was chairman cf tho Lay Assessors' Court. On 1 April 1937 I was appointed director of the District Court in Nuernberg. I held this office until 1 May 1943. During this time I was chairman of tho Court of Assizes, cf a Penal Chamber and cf the Special Court. The latter handled serious Criminal cases in general, matters of a political nature and matters concerning the martial-law cf the Reich in penal affairs.
From 1 May 1943 to April 1945 I officiated as public prosecutor cf the Public Prosecution at tho People's Court in Berlin. As the head of a department I handled cases of high treason in the southern Reich territory and from 1 Jan uary 1944 cases concerning the undermining cf public morale in the Reich territory.
There follows tho declaration of defendant Rothaug. There being no objections from defense course 1, the prosecution new offers NG-732 in evidence.
THE PRESIDENT: We hear no objection and it will therefore be received in evidence.
MR. KING: That will be Exhibit No. 12. The next biographical affidavits which the prosecution wishes to introduce will be NG-694, tho affidavit of Guenther Nebelung, beginning on page 35 of Document Book No. 1.
"I, Guenther Nebelung, former Chief Justice of the Berlin People's Court, swear, state and declare:
"I was born at Harlingerode on 24 March 1896. Between" -I think we will skip down to the third paragraph on page 1 of that exhibit.
I passed my first state examination in juris prudence in 1921, and my second examination in 1924. I served for my preparatory training with tho courts and administrative authorities of Brusnwick between 1921 and 1924.
I joined the NSDAP in 1928, my membership number being 74, 371. In tho NSDAP I hold the position cf Ortsgruppenleiter at Eschershausen and Seesen. At the sane time I wag Ortsobmann cf the National Prolifics at Seesen. In 1944 I joined tho SA. As legal adviser I took an active part in the SA. My rank was that cf an SA-Sturmfuehrer. In the years between 1929 and 1930, and from 1933 to 1939 I was a member cf the Corps of Political Leaders. I was also a member of the NSV, which is the National Social Public Welfare Association. I was recipient of the NSDAP Decoration in gold, of the SA-Sport Badge, and f tho Party Service Badge for distinguished services over a period of 10 to 15 years.
During World War I, I served from 1914 to 1919 with tho Artillery on feet and sound ranging teams. My last rank held was that cf Vize-Feldwebel der Reserve. From 1939 until 1940, I served with the now Army, first with tho 19th Observation detachment No. 19. From August 1941 until October 1941, I served with the 216th Artillery Replacement Detachment; and from October 1941 until March 1942 with the 475th Coast Artillery Detachment, from April 1942 to November 1942 with tho 828th Coast Artillery Detachment, and from November 1942 until February 1943 with tho 215th Artillery Replacement Detachment. My highest rank was that cf Captain in the reserve units. I was awarded the Iron Cross IInd class with clasp. After a brief status as "indispensable from the end of 1940 until 31 July 1941, I was classified permanently "indispensable "on behalf of the Reich Administration of Justice, effective February 1943.
My professional career was tho following:
From 1924 on I was a lawyer and from 193P on notary at Eschershausen. From 1931 to 1934 I was a lawyer and notary at Seesen. On 15 July 1934, I became Chief Justice with the Supreme Court Of Appeals in Brunswick. I remained in this position until 51 December 1954. During this period I served in the Third Civil Senate in the Criminal Senate, and in the Hereditary Farm Court. On 1 January 1935, I was appointed President of tho Court of Appeals of tho Brunswick Court of Appeals district. I remained in this posit on until 30 June 1944. My sphere of duties comprised. District administration, presiding ever tho First Civil Senate, tho Hereditary Farm Court, the Examining Office, tho Disciplinary Penal Chamber, and tho Criminal Senate. On 1 July 1944, I was appointed Chief Justice at the Berlin People's Court. I occupied this position until tho end of the war. In my capacity as Chief Justice I presided ever tho Fourth Senate of tho People's Court.
There follows the statement of Nebelung that he has read tho statement, part of which we have just introduced. There being no objections, the prosecution offers in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit No. 13, NG-694.
THE PRESIDENT: We hear no objection and it will therefore be received in evidence.
MR. LA FOLLETTE: I was wondering if tho court would care to recess now. It would be longer than five minutes to read these documents. There will be throe more, but we will get right in tho middle of one possibly at 12:30, and I was wondering if the court would have any objection if we could recess a few minutes earlier.
THE PRESIDENT: We will recess at this time until one-thirty o'clock.
(A recess was taken until 1330 hours.)
AFTERNOON SESSION (The hearing reconvened at 1330, 6 March 1947.)
MR. KING: May it please the Court, the next biographical affidavit which the prosecution would like to read, at least in part, is NG-692, the biographical affidavit of Rudolf Oeschey. That is to be found on page 37 of Document Book 1-A. I think we can start with the second paragraph:
"I joined the NSDAP 1 December 1931. I do not know my Part number. In the NSDAP I had the position of war representative for the Gau Main Office for Legal Aid and Legal advice. I was not a member of the SS or the SA. I have only been a member of the NS Jurists' League, the NS Public Welfare Association and the NS Colonial League.
"I was in the army from February 1945 until the end of the war. I was a soldier in the medical corps Replacement and Training Division. I was not awarded any orders or decorations.
"My professional career was as follows:
"From 1 December 1933 until 15 February 1934 I was a Court Assessor in the Public Prosecutor's Office in Augsburg. From 16 February until 1 November 1935 I was Assistant Public Prosecutor at the Public Prosecutor's Office in Hof. On 1 November 1935 I was promoted Senior Judge at the Local Court in Aschaffenburg. I remained in this position until 31 December 1938. I was in charge of the departments for the Land Registry, Civil Law Suits and the Training of Candidate-Attorneys. From 1 January 1939 until I believe about 1 April 1941 I was Senior Judge at the District Court in Nuernberg/Fuerth. Ch 1 April 1941, as far as I remember, I was appointed District Court Director at the same court. In this office I remained until the end of my professional career. From October 1943 until I was drafted into the army in February 1945 I was Chairman of the District Court of the Court of Appeals of the Nuernberg district. After my induction I was released by the army from 4 April until 14 April 1945 to function as Chairman of the Court Martial Nuernberg."