"The strengthening of security in the field of prisoners of war affairs is to be accomplished between SS-Lieut.
General Berger and the Chief of the Security Police, SS-Lieut.
Gen. Dr. Kaltenbrunner."
mates for use in the aircraft industry. The Tribunal will recall his tele by Mr. Dodd, as U.S. Exhibit No. 221.
Let me now read Himmler's reply to that teletype.
It is our Document 1584-PS, Part 3, and will be found on page 2 of Part 3 of 1584-PS.
I offer it in evidence as U.S.A. Exhibit 457.
I quote the beginning of that letter:
"Most Honored Reichsmarshal:
"Following my teletype letter of the 18 February 1944 I herewith "This survey indicates that at the present time about 36,000 prisoners are employed for the purposes of the air force.
An increase to a total "The production is being discussed, established and executed between main office.
SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of the Waffen-SS, Pohl "We assist with all forces at our disposal.
"The task of my economic-administrative main office, however, is not (Kommandos) and therefore have some influence on the results of production.
found on the next page of the translation:
"The movement of manufacturing plants of the aviation industry 100,000 prisoners.
The plans for this employment on the basis of your letter of 14.
Feb. 1944 are already under way.
"I shall keep you, most honored Reichsmarshal, currently informed on this subject."
Incidentally, I might call to the Tribunal's attention the fact that SS Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl, who was head of the WVHA, was also a general of the Waffen SS, which goes to show that there is no manner in which you can characterize the functions in the SS. efforts is illustrated by our Document 1166-PS, which I offered in evidence yesterday as U.S. Exhibit 458. This document is a report from Office Group D of WVHA, dated 15 August 1944. I shall read the first page of that report, beginning:
"with reference to the above-mentioned telephone call, I am sending herewith a report on the actual number of prisoners for 1.8.1944 and of the new arrivals already announced, as well as the clothing report for 15.8.44.
"(1) The actual number on 1.8.44, consisted of:
a) male prisoners 379,167
b) female prisoners 145,119 "In addition, there are the following new arrivals:
1) from the Hungary program (anti-Jewish action) 90,000
2) from Litzmannstadt (Police prison and Ghetto) 60,000
3) Poles from the General Government 15,000
4) Convicts from the Eastern Territories 10,000
5) former Polish officers 17,000
6) from Warsaw (Poles) 400,000
7) continued arrivals from France approx.15,000-- 20,000 "Most of the prisoners are already on the way and will be received into the Concentration Camps within the next few days."
the program which WVHA had already undertaken to exterminate certain classes of individuals in the camps. I offer a photostatic copy of a letter from WVHA, dated 27 April 1943, our document 1933-PS. It is U.S. Exhibit 459. The letter is addressed to a, number of concentration camp commanders, is signed by Gluecks, SS Brigade Fuehrer and Major General of the Waffen SS. I read the letter:
"The Reich Fuehrer-SS and Chief of German Police has decided, after consultation, that in the future only mentally sick prisoners may be selected for action 14 F 13 by the medical commissions appointed for this purpose.
"All other prisoners incapable of working (tubercular cases, bed-ridden cripples etc.) are to be basically excepted from this action. Bed-ridden prisoners are to be drafted for suitable work which they can perform in bed.
"The order of the Reich Fuehrer SS is to be obeyed strictly in the future.
"Requests for fuel for this purpose therefore do not take place."
The action "4 F 13" is not defined in the letter, but it is perfectly apparent what it means. Every human being, bedridden, crippled, no matter what his physical condition, from whom any work at all could be extracted, was to be excepted from the action. Only the insane, from whom nothing could be expected, were to suffer the action. What could the action be? It is perfectly apparent. The action was extermination. that of increased production and of elimination of undesirables. The Tribunal will recall the agreement between Minister of Justice Thierack and Himmler on September 18, 1942, our Document No.654-PS, which was read in evidence by Mr. Dodd as U.S. Exhibit No.218, I am not going to quote again from that document, but will remind the Tribunal that the agreement provided for the delivery of anti-social elements after the execution of their sentences, to the Reichsfuehrer SS. to be worked to death.
well calculated to lead to their deaths. Those conditions were regulated by the WVHA. As an illustration of WVHA management, I call the Court's attention to our Document 2189-PS, which I offer in evidence as U.S. Exhibit 460. It is an order directed to commandants of concentration camps, dated 11 August 1942, and bearing the facsimile signature, which does not appear on the translation, but does appear on the original, of SS Brigade Fuehrer and General of the Waffen SS Gluecks, who was Chief of Office Group D of WVHA. That is Document 2189-PS. I read the body of that letter:
"The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police has ordered that punishment by beating will be executed in concentration camps for women by prisoners -- under the ordered supervision.
"In order to coordinate this order the main office chief of the main SS economic administration office, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of the Waffen SS Pohl, has ordered, effective immediately, that punishment by beating will also be executed by prisoners in concentration camps for men.
"It is forbidden to have foreign prisoners execute the punishment on German prisoners." of WVHA. I refer the Court to our Document 2199-PS, a letter to comnanders of concentration camps, dated 12 September 1942, and signed by the Chief of the Central Office of Office Group D of WVHA, SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Leibehenschel. I offer this as U.S. Exhibit 461. I shall read the body of that directive, which appears on page 1 of the translation of 2199-PS. I quote:
"According to a communication of the Chief of the Security Police and the SD, and conforming to a report of the Chief of Security Police and SD in Prague, urns of deceased Czechs and Jews were sent for burial to the home-cemeteries within the Protectorate.
"Based on different events (Demonstrations, erecting of posters inimical to the Reich on urns of deceased inmates in halls of cemeteries in the home-communities, pilgrimages to the graves of deceased inmates etc.)
within the Protectorate, the delivery of urns with the ash remnants of deceased Nationals of the Protectorate and of Jews is henceforth prohibited. The urns shall be preserved within the Concentration Camps. In case of doubt about the preservation of the urns oral instructions shall be available at this agency."
The SS indeed regarded the inmates of concentration camps as its own personal property to be used for its own economic advantage. The tribunal will recall that as early as 1942, the Defendant Speer recognised that the SS was motivated by the desire for further profits when he suggested to Hitler that the SS receive a share of the war equipment produced by concentration camp labor in ratio to the working hours of the prisoners. I refer to our Document R-124, at page 136, which was read into evidence by Mr. Dodd as U.S. Exhibit 179. The Fuehrer agreed that a 3 to 5% share would satisfy SS commanders. Himmler himself frankly admitted his intention to derive profits for SS purposes from the camps, in his speech to the officers of the SS Leibstandarte "Adolf Hitler," our Document No. 1918-PS, U.S. Exhibit No. 304 -- the passage in question being found at the top of page 3 of the English translation and on page 10 of the original German, 7 lines from the bottom. The passage begins:
"The apartment-building program, which is the prerequisite for a healthy Nobody is going to give me the money.
It must be earned, and it will criminals, to do positive work.
The man guarding those prisoners serves just as hard as the one on close-order drill.
The one who does this to four months, and we shall see:
in peacetime, I shall form guard inferior beings and inferior races.
This activity is necessary, as I bake bricks, so that the Fuehrer can again erect his grand buildings;raise large families, and have lots of children.
This in turn is we will not be able to rule the world."
mentioned. That is its direction of the program of biological experiments on human beings, which was carried on in the camps. Just a few days ago, another military tribunal passed judgment on some of those who participated in the experiments at Dachau.
THE PRESIDENT: There is no date on that document you just read; is there?
MAJOR FARR: There appears to be no date on the English translation. The original document bears the notation of a speech in April, 1943.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes?
MAJOR FARR (continuing): At a later stage in this case, evidence of some of the details of this program of experiments will be presented. It is no my purpose to deal with those experiments from the substantive aspect. I shall show only that they were the result of SS direction, and that the SS played a vital part in their successful execution.
The program seems to have originated in a request by Dr. Sigmund Rascher to Himmler, for permission to utilize persons in concentration camps as material for experiiments with human, beings, in connection with research he was conducting on behalf of the Luftwaffe. I refer to our Document 1602-PS, a photostatic copy of a letter, dated 15 May 1941, addressed to the Reichsfuehrer SS, and signed "S. Rascher." I offer it as U.S. Exhibit 454. I shall quote from the 2nd paragraph of the translation, the fourth paragraph of the original letter. I quote:
"For the time being I have been assigned to the Luftgaukommando VII, Munich, for a medical course.
During this course, where researches on high-altitude flights play a prominent part (determined by the somewhat higher ceiling of the English fighter planes)considerable and nobody volunteers for them.
I put, therefore, the serious question:
can you make available two or three professional criminals for these experiments?
The experiments are made at "Bodenstaendige Bruefstells fuer Hoehenforschung der Luftwaffe"), Munich.
The take place with my cooperation.
They are essential for test-conditions.
I have had a very confidential talk with a experiments.
He is also of the opinion that the problem in (Feeble-minded could also be used as that material)."Dr. Rascher promptly received assurance from the SS that he would be allowed to utilize concentration camp inmates for his experiments.
to Dr. Rascher, and bearing the stamp of the Personal Staff of the Reichsfuehrer SS, and the initials, "K Br", which initials are those of SS Sturmbannfuehrer Karl Brandt. I offer this letter as U.S. Exhibit 462. I quote the first two paragraphs of that letter:
"Dear Dr. Rascher:
"Shortly before flying to Oslo, the Reichsfuehrer SS gave me your "I can inform you that prisoners will of course be gladly made available for high-flight researches.
I have informed the be instructed to get in touch with you."
General Field Marshal Milch, on behalf of the Luftwaffe, expressed his thanks to the SS for the assistance it furnished in connection with the experiments.
I refer to our document No. 343, and I offer in evidence an original letter, dated 20 May 1942, addressed to SS Obergruppenfuehrer Wolff, and signed E. Milch, as U. S. Exhibit 463. That letter, which appears on page two of the translation, and on page one of the original German, is as follows: "Dear Wolffe (the German says, "Liebes Woelffehen):
"In reference to your telegram of 12 May our sanitary inspector reports to me that the altitude experiments carried out by the SS and Air Force at Dachau have been finished. Any continuation of these experiments seems essentially unreasonable. However the carrying out of experiments of some other kind, in regard to perils at high seas, would be important. These have been prepared in immediate agreement with the proper offices; Major (M.C.) Weltz will be charged with the execution and Capt, (M.C.) Rascher will be made available until further orders in addition to his duties within the Medical Corps of the Air Corps. A change of these measures does not appear necessary, and an enlargement of the task is not considered pressing at this time.
"The low-pressure chamber would not be needed for these lowtemperature experiments. It is urgently needed at another place and therefore can no longer remain in Dachau.
"I convey the special thanks from the supreme commander of the Air Corps to the SS for their extensive cooperation.
"I remain with best wishes for you in good comradeship and with Heil Hitler!/s/ E. Milch"
THE PRESIDENT: Major Farr, hadn't you better read the letter on the preceding page? It may be capable of an explanation.
MAJOR FARR: The letter on the preceding page is dated 31 August 1942, is also from General Field Marshal Milch, and is addressed to the Reichsfuehrer SS. It reads as follows: "Dear Mr. Himmler:
"I thank you very much for your letter of the 25th of August. I have read with great interest the reports of Dr. Rascher and Dr. Romberg.
I am informed about the current experiments. I shall ask the two gentlemen to give a lecture, combined with the showing of motion pictures, to my men in the near future.
"Hoping that it will be possible for me to see you at the occasion of my next visit to Headquarters, I remain with best regards and Heil Hitler!E. Milch."
Having finished his high altitude experiments, Dr. Rascher proceeded to experiment with methods of rewarming persons who had been subjected to extreme cold. I refer to our Document 1618-PS, which is an intermediate report on intense chilling experiments which had been started in Dachau on 15 August 1942. That report, signed by Dr. Rascher, I offer in evidence as U. S. Exhibit 464. I shall read only a few sentences from the report, beginning with the first paragraph:
"Experimental procedure "The experimental subjects (V P) were placed in the water, dressed in complete flying uniform, winter or summer combination, and with an aviator's helmet.
A life jacket made of rubber or kapok was to prevent submerging. The experiments were carried out at water temperatures varying from 2.5 degrees to 12 degrees. In one experimental series, occiput and brain stem protuded above the water, while in another series of experiments, the occiput and brain stem back of the head were submerged in the water.
"Electrical measurements gave low temperature readings of 26.4 degrees in the stomach and 26.5 degrees in the rectum. Fatalities occurred only when the brain stem and the back of the head were also chilled. Autopsies of such fatal cases always revealed large amounts of free blood, up to 1/2 liter, in the cranial cavity. The heart invariably showed extreme dilation of the night chamber. As soon as the temperature in these experiments reached 28 degrees, the experimental subjects (V P) died invariably, despite all attempts at resuscitation."
I skip now to the last paragraph of the report. Excuse me, the next to the last paragraph of the report. I quote:
"During attempts to save severely chilled persons, it was shown that rapid rewarming was in all cases preferable to slow rewarming, because after removal from the cold water, the body temperature continued to sink rapidly. I think that for this reason we can dispense with the attempt to save intensely chilled subjects by means of animal heat.
"Rewarming by animal warmth - animal bodies or women's bodies - would be too slow." by women's bodies would, be too slow, means for conducting such experiments were nevertheless placed at his disposal. refer to our Document 1583-PS, a photostatic copy of a letter from Reichsfuehrer SS Himmler, addressed to Lieutenant General pohl, dated 16 November 1942. I offer it as US Exhibit 465. I can read just the first two paragraphs of that letter:
"Dear Pohl:
"The following struck me during my visit to Dachau on the 13th of November 1942, regarding the experiments conducted there for the saving of people whose lives are endangered through exposure in ice, snow or water, and who are to be saved by the employment of every method or means: had ordered that suitable women are to be set aside from the concentration camp for these experiments for the warming of those who were exposed. Four girls were set aside who were in the concentration camp due to loose living, and being prostitutes, they formulate a danger of contagion." paragraph, in which he expresses his dissatisfaction that a German prosti tute should be used for this purpose.
To insure the continuance of Rascher's experiments, Himmler arranged for his transfer to the Waffen SS. I offer in evidence a letter which appears as our Document 1617-PS. It is a letter from Reichsfuehrer SS addressed to "Dear Comrade Milch" -- General Field Marshal Milch -- dated November 1942. I offer it as US Exhibit 466. I will now read the first two paragraphs of that letter, our Document 1617-PS.
I quote:
"Dear Comrade Milch:
"You will recall that through General Wolff I particularly recommended to you for your consideration the work of a certain SS Fuehrer, Dr. Rascher, who is a physician of the air force on leave.
"These researches which deal with the behavior of the human organism at great heights, as well as with manifestations caused by the prolonged cooling of the human body in cold water, and similar problems which are of vital importance to the air force in particular, can be performed by us with particular efficiency because I personally assumed the responsibility for supplying asocial individuals and criminals who deserve only to die from concentration camps for these experiments." upon the difficulties of conducting such experiments, because Christian medical circles were opposed, and pass on to the last paragraph on the first page of the translation. That is the seventh paragraph of the letter:
"I beg you to release Dr. Rascher, Stabsarzt in reserve, from the air force and to transfer him to me to the Waffen SS. I would then assume the sole responsibility for having these experiments made in this field, and would put the results, of which we in the SS need only a part for the frost injuries in the East, entirely at the disposal of the air force. However, in this connection I suggest that with the liaison between you and Wolff a non-Christian physician should be charged, who should be at the same time honorable as a scientist and not prone to intellectual theft and who could be informed of the results. This physician should also have good contacts with the administrative authorities, so that the results would really obtain a hearing.
"I believe that this solution - to transfer Dr. Rascher to the SS, so that he could carry out the experiments under my responsibility and under my orders, is the best way. The experiments should not be stopped; we owe that to our men. If Dr. Rascher remained with the air force, there would certainly be much annoyance, because then I would have to bring a series of unpleasant details to you, because of the arrogance and assumption which Professor Dr. Holzlochner has displayed in the post of Dachau, who is under my command, about me in utterances delivered to SS Colonel sievers.
In order to save both of us this trouble, I suggest again that Dr. Rascher should be transferred to the Waffen SS as quickly as possible."
THE PRESIDENT: Is that letter from Himmler?
MAJOR FARR: That letter is from Himmler. Now Rascher's experiments were by no means the only experiments in which the SS was interested. Without attempting even to outline the whole extent of the experimental program, I shall give just one further illustration of this type of SS activity. I refer to our Document L-103, which is a report prepared by the Chief Hygienist in the office of the Reich Surgeon of the SS and Police, dated 12 September 1944. I offer it as US Exhibit 467. Parenthetically I might note that the office of the Reich Surgeon SS and Police will be found in the personal staff department, as indicated by the second box on the right-hand side of the line leading down from the personal staff.
prepared by the Chief Hygienist in the office of the Reich Surgeon of SS and Police, and signed SS Oberfuehrer Dr. Murgowsky. It relates to experiments with poison bullets. Beginning with the first paragraph, I quote:
"On 11 September 1944, in the presence of SS Sturmbamfuehrer Dr. Ding, Dr. Widman and the undersigned, experiments with Akonotinnitrate bullets were carried out on five persons who had been sentenced to death. The calibre of the bullets used was 7.65 centimeters, and they were filled with poison in crystal form. Each subject of the experiments received one shot in the upper part of the left thigh, while in a horizontal position. In the case of two persons, the bullets passed clean through the upper part of the thigh. Even later no effect from the poison could be seen. These two subjects were therefore rejected." 2 of the report:
"The symptoms shown by the three condemned persons were surprisingly the same. At first, nothing special was noticeable. After 20 to 25 minutes, a disturbance of the motor nerves and a light flow of saliva began, but both stopped again. After 40 to 44 minutes, a strong flow of saliva appeared. The poisoned persons swallowed frequently, later the flow of saliva, is so strong that it can no longer be controlled by swallowing. Foamy saliva flows from the mouth. Then a sensation of choking, and vomiting start." the reactions of the dying persons. The description then continues, and I quote beginning with the last paragraph of the report, just before the conclusion to follow. I beg the Tribunal's pardon, I want to quote the two paragraphs before the conclusion.
It is the last paragraph on page 1 of the translation, the sixth paragraph of the report.
"At the same time there was pronounced nausea. One of the poisoned persons tried in vain to vomit. In order to succeed he put four fingers of his hand, up to the main joint, right into his mouth. In spite of this, no vomitting occurred. His face became quite red.
"The faces of the other two subjects were already pale at an early stage. Other symptoms were the same. Later on the disturbances of the motor nerves increased so much that the persons threw themselves up and down and rolled their eyes and made aimless movements with their hands and arms. At last the disturbance subsided, the pupils were enlarged to the maximum, the condemned lay still. Massetercramp and loss of urine was observed in one of them. Death occurred 121, 123 and 129 minutes after they were shot". It was consistent with an ideaology and racial philosophy which, to use Himmler's words, regarded human beings as lice and offal. But the most important factor was that the SS alone was in a position to supply necessary human material. And it did supply such material through WVHA. I refer to our Document 1751-PS, which is a letter from the Chief of Office Group D of WVHA, dated 12 May 1944. I offer it as US Exhibit 468, our Document 1751PS. I quote that letter. It appears in the original file on the last page I quote:
"There is cause to call attention to the fact that in every case permission for assignment has to be requested here before assignment of prisoners is made for experimental purposes.
"To be included in this request are number, kind of custody, and in case of aryan prisoners, exact personal data, file number in the Main Reich's Security Office and the reason for detainment into the concentration camp.
"Herewith, I explicitly forbid assignment of prisoners for experimental purposes without permission.
appears from the original that it is the signature of Gluck, since he was the department chief of Department D of WVHA. It was on the basis of being able to supply such material that the Reich Ministry of Finance was prepared to subsidize the SS experimental program. I offer in evidence a series of letters between the Ministry of Finance, the Reichs Research Department, and the Reich Surgeon of the SS and Police. They are our Document 002-PS, which I offer in evidence as US Exhibit 469. The first letter from which I quote appears on page 4 of our Document 002-PS, and is from the head of the Security Council of the Reichs Research Department, addressed to the Surgeon of SS and Police. It is dated 19 February 1943. I read the first three paragraphs of that letter:
"The Reichs Minister of Finance told me that you requested 53 leading positions for your office, partly for new research institute.
"After the Reichsmarshall of the great German Reich had, as President of the Reichs Research Department, entrusted himself with all German research, issued directives among other things, that in the execution of military important scientific tasks, the available institutions including equipment and personnel should be utilized to the utmost for reasons of necessary economisation of effort.
"The foundation of new institutes comes therefore only in question in as far as there areno outstanding institutes available for the furtherance of important war research tasks."
I omit the rest of the letter. 26th of February 1943. The reply will be found on page 2 of the English translation. It is a letter from the Reich Surgeon SS and Police to the head of the Security Council of the Reichs Research Department, dated 26 February, 1943. I quote the first three paragraphs of that letter. It begins: "My dear Bureau Chief:
"In acknowledgment of your correspondence of the 19th February 1943, I am able to reply the following to it today:
"The appropriation for the 53 key positions for my office which you made the basis of your memorandum was a veritable peace plan.
"The special institutes of the SS which are to be partly staffed through this appropriation are to serve the purpose to establish and make accessible for the entire realm of scientific research the particular possibilities of research only possessed by the SS."
Omitting the next two paragraphs, I continue:
"I will gladly be at your disposal at any time to discuss the particular research aims in connection with the SS, which I would like to bring up upon the direction of the Reichs Director SS." the original letter, took place, and on the 25th of March, 1943, Mentzel wrote a letter to the Reich Minister of Finance, which is found on page 1 of the translation. It is a letter from the President of the Reichs Research Department Head of the Security Council to the Reich Minister of Finance, dated 25 March, 1943. The letter begins:
"In regard to your correspondence of the 19th December" -- and then follow the serial numbers of the letter -- "to which I gave you a preliminary communication on the 19th of February, I finally took the following position:
"The Surgeon General-SS and Police, in a personal discussion, told me that the budget claim which he looks after is used primarily in the pure military sector of the Waffen SS. Since it is established on a smaller scale for the enlarging of scientific research possibilities, they pertain therefore exclusively to such affairs that are carried out with the material (prisoners) which isonly accessible to the Waffen SS and are therefore not to be undertaken for any other experimental purposes.
"I cannot object therefore on the part of the Reichs Experimental Counsel against the budget claims of the Surgeon General, SS and Police." The letter is signed, "Mentzel, Bureau Chief." the program of experiments that it took the lead in that field of endeavor.
THE PRESIDENT: Does the letter on page 4 mean that the Defend Goering was President of the Reichs Research Department?
MAJOR FARR: Page 4 of the translation? That I understand to be the case. The point of the letter being that Goering had laid down the rule that during the war there was to be no duplication of experimental facilities. Therefore, the Reichs Research Department to whom the Minister of Finance had turned for an opinion asked the Reich Surgeon, "Why do you want to carry on this program of experiments?"
THE PRESIDENT: I was only asking whether the President of the Reichs Research Department was the Defendant Goering?
MAJOR FARR: That is what is stated in the letter. I understand, that to be the case.
THE PRESIDENT: Then what do the words, "President of the Reichs Research Department" on page 1 mean? Does that mean that the letter went to the Defendant Goering?
MAJOR FARR: No. The letterhead bears the notation "President of the Reichs Research Department," and the letter proceeds from an office of that department, Head of the Security Counsel. The letter is addressed to the Reich Minister of Finance.
THE PRESIDENT: I see.
MAJOR FARR: I have concluded the concentration camp phase.
THE PRESIDENT: We will recess now for ten minutes.
(A recess was taken from 1120-1135)
THE PRESIDENT: It will perhaps be convenient that I should announce that the Tribunal will adjourn today at four o'clock.
MAJOR FARR: Through its activities with respect to concentration camps, the SS performed part of its mission to safeguard the security of the Nazi regime. But another specialized aspect of that mission must not be forgotten. The Tribunal will recall Himmler's definition of that task -- a definition I referred to earlier -- the prevention of a JewishBolshevist revolution of subhumans. In plain words, participation in the Nazi program of Jewish persecution and extermination. evidence relating to that program which the Tribunal heard a day or so ago from Major Walsh. I want to call attention to just a few documents showing how the program involved every branch and component of the SS. outset, made that organization a natural agency for the execution of all types of anti-Semitic measures. The SS position on the Jewish question was publicly stated in the SS newspaper "Das Schwarze Corps", the issue of August 8, 1940, by its editor, Gunter d'Alquen, a statement that has already been read into evidence as U.S. Exhibit No.269. It was our Document 2668-PS. I shall not repeat that quotation in which d'Alquen says that the Jewish question will not be solved until the last Jew has been deported, and that the German peace which awaits Europe must be a peace without Jews. demonstrations in Germany following the murder of von Rath in November of 1938 has been presented to the Tribunal; In those demonstrations all branches of the SS were called on to play a part. I refer to the teletype message from SS Gruppenfuehrer Heydrich, Chief of the Security Police and SD, issued on the 10th of November 1938. It is our Document 3051-PS. Portions of that teletype have already been read into evidence as U.S. Exhibit 240, I wish to read one further paragraph, which has not been read. It appears on page two of the translation, the fourth paragraph.
"The direction of the measures of the Security Police concerning the demonstrations against Jews is vested with the organs of the State Police (by which he means the Gestapo) inasmuch as the inspectors of the Security Police are not issuing their own orders. In order to carry out the measures of the Security Police, officials of the Criminal Police, as well as members of the SD, of the Verfuegungstruppe and the Allgemeine SS may be used." Europe, the SS participated in solving the Jewish question in other countries in Europe. The solution was nothing short of extermination. To a large degree these wholesale murders were disguised under the name of "antipartisan" or "anti-guerilla" actions, and as such included as victims not merely Jews but Soviets, Poles, and other Eastern peoples. With this anti-partisan activity I shall deal in a few moments. I want to refer now to a few actions confined essentially to Jews. To take one example -the mass annihilation of Jews in gas vans -- described in our Document 501-PS, which was read into the record by Major Walsh, as U.S. Exhibit No. 288. I don't think that that document appears in the document book, because I am not going to read from it. I simply want to point out that these gas vans, as appears from the letters, were operated by the Security Police and SD under the direction of RSHA. Or to take another example -- the report entitled "Solution of the Jewish Question in Galicia", our Document L-18, prepared by SS Gruppenfuehrer and Lt. General of the Police Katzmann and rendered to SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of the Police Kreuger -that report has already been referred in evidence as Exhibit No.277. The Tribunal will recall that the solution consisted in evacuation and extermination of all the Jews in Galicia, and the confiscation of their property carried out under the energetic direction of the SS and Police Leaders with the assistance of SS police units. I wish to read three short items in the report, which has not already been read. The first is a text under a paragraph which appears on page 3 of the translation and on page 3(a) of the original report. It is the first item on page 3 of the translation. I quote: