Source: Nazi Conspiracy and Aggresion. Vol. II. USGPO, Washington,
1946,pp.593-616
[Note: The characters in brackets, eg, (2233-N-PS) refer to the official
document numbers included in the series Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression. A
list of legal references and documents relating to Alfred Rosenberg is on
pages 616-624. For information on the referencing of Internet sources see
Chapter 4 of S D Stein Learning, Teaching and Researching on the Internet.
Addison Wesley Longman 1999-published Nov.1998]
Error Submission Form
Individual Responsibility of Defendants
Alfred Rosenberg
Political Career
Role as Ideologist
Activities Abroad in Preparation for Waging of Aggressive War
Role in Conspiracy to Commit War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in
Occupied Eastern Territories
A. THE POLITICAL CAREER OF ROSENBERG.
The political career of Alfred Rosenberg embraced the entire history of
National Socialism and permeated nearly every phase of the conspiracy, In
order to obtain a full conception of his influence upon and participation in
the conspiracy, it is necessary to review his political history and to
consider each of his political activities in their relation to the thread of
the conspiracy, which stretches from the inception of the party in 1919 to
the defeat of Germany in 1945.
It is interesting to note that for Rosenberg the 30th of November 1918
marked the
"Beginning of political activities with a lecture about the 'Jewish
Problem' ".(2886-PS)
An official German pamphlet entitled, "Dates in the History of the NSDAP",
discloses that Rosenberg was a member of the German Labor Party (afterwards
the National Socialist German Workers Party) in January 1919, and that
Hitler joined forces with Rosenberg and his colleagues in October of the
same year (3557-PS) . Thus, Rosenberg was a member of the National Socialist
movement even before Hitler himself.
An extract from "Das Deutsch Fuehrer Lexikon", 1934/ 35 (3530-PS) completes
the biographical data on Rosenberg:
"From 1921 until the present, editor of the Voelkische Beobachter; editor
of the 'N. S. Monatshefte'; 1930, Reichstag deputy and representative of the
foreign policy of the movement: since April 1933, leader of the foreign
political office of the NSDAP; then designated as Reichsleiter; January
1934, deputized by the Fuehrer for the spiritual and philosophical education
of the NSDAP, the German labor front and all related organizations"
(3530-PS) .
In July 1941 Rosenberg was appointed Reichsminister for the Occupied Eastern
Territories. (2886-PS)
B. ROSENBERG'S PART, AS OFFICIAL NAZI IDEOLOGIST, IN PREPARING FOR THE
SEIZURE OF POWER AND THE LAUNCHING OF AGGRESSIVE WAR.
Rosenberg was the official National Socialist ideologist. Through the
ideological tenets which he expounded he exerted an influence upon the
unification of German thought, a unification which was an essential part of
the conspirator's program for seizure of power and preparation for
aggressive war.
Rosenberg wrote extensively on, and actively participated in, virtually
every aspect of the National Socialist program. His first publication was
the "Nature, Basic Principles, and Aims of the NSDAP", which appeared in
1922. Rosenberg spoke of this book in the following terms:
"During this time (that is, during the early phase of the party) a short
thesis was written, which nevertheless is significant in the history of the
NSDAP. It was always being asked what points of program the NSDAP had and
how they each were to be interpreted. Therefore, I wrote the principal
program and aims of the NSDAP, and this writing made the first permanent
connection between Munich and local organizations being organized and
friends within the Reich." (3054-PS)
Thus, the original draftsman of and spokesman for the party program was
Rosenberg.
Without attempting to survey the entire ideological program advanced by
Rosenberg in his various writings and speeches, certain of his statements
may be considered as indicating the nature and scope of the ideological
program which he championed. There was not a single basic tenet of the Nazi
philosophy which was not given authoritative expression by Rosenberg.
(1) The theory of racism. Rosenberg wrote the "Myth of the Twentieth
Century", published in 1930. At page 479 of this work (3553-PS), Rosenberg
expressed the following views on the race question:
"The essence of the contemporary world revolution lies in the awakening of
the racial types, not in Europe alone but on the whole planet. This
awakening is the organic counter movement against the last chaotic remnants
of liberal economic imperialism, whose object of exploitation out of
desperation has fallen into the snare of Bolshevik Marxism, in order to
complete what democracy had begun, the extirpation of the racial and
national consciousness." (3553-PS)
(2) "Lebensraum". Rosenberg expounded the "Lebensraum" idea, which was
utilized as the dynamic impulse behind Germany's waging of aggressive war.
In his journal, the "National Socialist Monatshefte" for May 1932, he wrote
:
"The understanding that the German nation, if it is not to perish in the
truest sense of the word, needs ground and soil for itself and its future
generations, and the second sober perception that this soil can no more be
conquered in Africa, but in Europe and first of all in the East-these
organically determine the German foreign policy for centuries." (2777-PS)
(3) Persecution of Christian Churches. Rosenberg expressed his theory as to
the place of religion in the National Socialist State in the "Myth of the
Twentieth Century", additional excerpts from which are cited in (2891-PS):
"We now realize that the central supreme values of the Roman and the
Protestant Churches, being a negative Christianity, do not respond to our
soul, that they hinder the organic powers of the peoples determined by their
Nordic race, that they must give way to them, that they will have to be
remodeled to conform to a Germanic Christendom. Therein lies the meaning of
the present religious search." (2891-PS)
In the place of traditional Christianity, Rosenberg sought to implant the
neo-pagan myth of the blood. At page 114 in the "Myth of the Twentieth
Century" (2891-PS) he stated:
"Today, a new faith is awakening-the Myth of the Blood, the belief that
the divine being of mankind generally is to be defended with the blood. The
faith embodied by the fullest realization, that the Nordic blood constitutes
that mystery which has supplanted and overwhelmed the old sacraments."
Rosenberg's attitudes on religion were accepted as the only philosophy
compatible with National Socialism. In 1940 Bormann, in writing to
Rosenberg, made this statement:
"The churches cannot be conquered by a compromise between National
Socialism and Christian teachings, but only through a new ideology whose
coming you yourself have announced in your writings." (098-PS)
Rosenberg actively participated in the program for elimination of church
influence. Bormann frequently wrote Rosenberg in this regard, furnishing him
information as to proposed action to be instituted against the churches and,
where necessary, requesting that action be taken by Rosenberg's department.
See 070-PS dealing with the abolition of religious services in the schools;
072-PS dealing with the confiscation of religious property ; 064-PS dealing
with the inadequacy of anti-religious material circulated to the soldiers ;
089-PS dealing with the curtailment of the publication of Protestant
periodicals; and 122-PS dealing with the closing of theological faculties.
(4) Persecution of the Jews. Rosenberg was particularly zealous in his
pursuit of the "Jewish Question". On 28 March on the occasion of the opening
of the Institute for the Exploration of the Jewish Question, he set the
keynote for its activities and indicated the direction which the exploration
was to take. He spoke in part as follows:
"For Germany the Jewish Question is only then solved when the Last Jew has
left the Greater German space. "Since Germany with its blood and its
nationalism has now broken for always this Jewish dictatorship for all
Europe and has seen to it that Europe as a whole will become free from the
Jewish parasitism once more, we may, I believe, also say for all Europeans:
For Europe the Jewish question is only then solved when the last Jew has
left the European continent." (2889-PS)
Rosenberg had called an Anti-Jewish Congress in June 1944, but the Congress
was cancelled due to military events. (1752-B')
Rosenberg did not overlook any opportunity to put these anti-Semitic beliefs
into practice. He recommended for instance that instead of executing 100
Frenchmen as retaliation for attempts on lives of members of the Wehrmacht,
there be executed 100 Jewish bankers, lawyers, etc. (001-PS) . The
recommendation was made with the avowed purpose of awakening the anti-Jewish
sentiment.
(5) Abolition of Versailles Treaty. In the realm of foreign policy, in
addition to demanding "Lebensraum," Rosenberg called for elimination of the
Treaty of Versailles, and cast aside any thought of revision of that treaty.
In his book, "Nature, Principles and Aims of the NSDAP", Rosenberg wrote:
"The National Socialists reject the popular phrase of the 'Revision of the
Peace of Versailles' as such a revision might perhaps bring a few numerical
reductions in the so-called 'obligations, ' but the entire German people
would still be, just as before, the slave of other nations." * * * * * * *
" 'We demand equality for the German people with other nations, the
cancellation of the peace treaties of Versailles and St. Germain.' "
(2433-PS)
(6) Foreign Nazi Penetration. Rosenberg conceived of the spread of National
Socialism throughout the world and, as will be subsequently shown, took an
active part in promoting the infection of other nations with his creed. In
the "Nature, Principles and Aims of the NSDAP", he stated:
"But National Socialism still believes that its principles and ideology
though in individually different suitable ways of fight according to
racial-national conditions--will be directives far beyond the borders of
Germany for the inevitable fights for power in other countries of Europe and
America. There too a decision of ideas must take place, and the
racial-nationalistic fight against the ever similar loan-capitalistic and
Marxist internationalism must be taken up. National Socialism believes that
once the great world battle is concluded, after the defeat of the present
epoch, there will be a time when the swastika will be woven into the
different banners of the Germanic peoples as the Aryan symbol of
rejuvenation." (2433-PS)
Thus, Rosenberg gave authoritative expression to the basic tenets upon which
National Socialism was founded, and through the exploitation of which the
conspiracy was crystallized in action.
(7) Ideological training and education. Rosenberg's value to the
conspiratorial program found official recognition in his appointment in 1934
as the Fuehrer's Delegate for the Entire Spiritual and Philosophical
Education and Supervision of the NSDAP. His activities in this capacity were
many and varied. The National Socialist Year Book for the year 1938, at page
180, describes as follows the functions of Rosenberg's office as the
Fuehrer's delegate :
"The sphere of activity of the Fuehrer's Commissioner for all spiritual
and ideological instruction and education of the movement, its organization,
including the 'Strength through Joy', extends to the detailed execution of
all the educational work of the Party and of the affiliated bodies. The
office, set up by Reichsleiter Rosenberg, has the task of preparing the
ideological educational material, of carrying out the teaching programme,
and is responsible for the education of those teachers suited to this
educational and instructional work." (353l-PS)
As the Fuehrer's delegate, Rosenberg thus supervised all ideological
education and training in the Party.
It was Rosenberg's belief that upon the performance of his new functions as
ideological delegate depended the future of National Socialism. An excerpt
from an article by Rosenberg appearing on. page 9 of the March 1934 issue of
"The Educational Letter" states:
"The focus of all our educationalwork from now on is the service for this
ideology, and itdepends on the result of these efforts, whether National
Socialism will be buried with our fighting ancestors or whether, as we
believe, it really represents the beginning of a new era." (3532-PS)
In his capacity as the Fuehrer's Delegate for Spiritual and Ideological
Training, Rosenberg assisted in the preparation of the curriculum for the
Adolf Hitler schools. These schools selected the most suitable candidates
from the Hitler Jugend and trained them for leadership within the Party.
They were the elite schools of National Socialism. An excerpt from
"Documents of German Politics" reads as follows:
"Voelkischer Beobachter, 19 January 1937.-' As stated by Dr. Ley,
Reichsorganisationsleiter, on 23 November 1937 at Ordensburg Sonthofen,
these Adolf Hitler Schools, as the first step of the principle of selecting
a special elite, form an important branch in the educational system of the
National Socialist training of future leaders [Fuehrernuchwuchs] '
"Voelkischer Beobachter dated 24 November 1937.-* * * The curriculum has
been laid down by Reichsleiter Rosenberg, together with the
Reichsorganisationsleiter and the Reich Youth Leader." (3529-PS)
Rosenberg exercised further influence in the education of Party members
through the establishment of community schools for all organizations of the
Party. The following statement is taken from the 1934 edition of "Das Dritte
Reich:
"We support the request of the Fuehrer's Commissioner for the supervision
of the whole spiritual and ideological training and instruction of the
NSDAP, Party member Alfred Rosenberg, to organize community schools of all
organizations of the NSDAP twice a year, in order to show by this common
effort the ideological and political unity of the NSDAP and the
steadfastness of the National Socialist will." (3528-PS)
Rosenberg's program was endorsed by Schirach as well as by Himmler, Ley, and
others. Virtually every phase of National Socialist training came under
Rosenberg's influence, and unified ideological concepts were in. culcated in
every echelon of the party due to his influence. The 1936 edition of "Das
Dritte Reich", under the heading "Education in the Ordensburg" states:
"Those Party members, selected for training in leadership in accordance
with such points of view (who must have completed their labor service and
their military service satisfactorily) are to be taught in the Ordensburgen
by the best teachers in history and science of race, philosophy and culture,
economics and specialized training, etc. To determine the ideological
direction of this education, to choose suitable teachers and to train them,
is one of the tasks of the Senior School of the Party [Hohe Schule der
Partei] which is to be established in the near future and will be placed
under the direction of the Reich Leader Party member Alfred Rosenberg in his
capacity as Delegate of the Fuehrer for the Supervision of the Entire
Spiritual and Ideological Teaching and Education of the NSDAP." (3552-PS)
(
Plunder of art treasures. In his capacity as the Fuehrer's delegate,
Rosenberg established the Institute for the Exploration of the Jewish
Question, in Frankfort on Main. (This institute, commonly known as the "Hohe
Schule", has been referred to in the discussion of the Plunder of Art
Treasures in Chapter XIV.) Into its library there flowed books, documents,
and manuscripts which were looted from virtually every country of occupied
Europe. As Ideological Delegate Rosenberg conducted the fabulous art looting
activities of the Einsatzstab Rosenberg, activities which extended to
France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, the Occupied
Eastern Territories, Hungary, and Greece. The extent of the plunder is
indicated in document 1015B-PS which contains a detailed account of the
seizure of over 21,000 valuable objects of art, and in document L-l 88 in
which the looting of the contents of over 71,000 Jewish homes is described.
The importance of Rosenberg's activities as official ideologist of the Nazi
party was not overlooked. The Hart biography of Rosenberg, entitled, "The
Man and His Work" (3559-PS), states that Rosenberg won the German National
prize in 193'7. The creation of this prize was the Nazis' petulant reply to
the award of the Nobel prize to Carlin Assietsky, an inmate, of a German
concentration camp. The citation which accompanied the award to Rosenberg
read as follows:
"Alfred Rosenberg has helped with his publications to lay the scientific
and intuitive foundation and to strengthen the philosophy of the National
Socialist in the most excellent way. His indefatigable struggle to keep
National Socialist philosophy clean was especially meritorious, Only future
times will be able to fully estimate the depth of the influence of this man
on the philosophical foundation of the National Socialist and beyond that,
gratified that the Reich. The National Socialist movement, the entire German
people, will be deeply Fuehrer has distinguished Alfred Rosenberg as one of
his oldest and most faithful fighting comrades by awarding him the German
National Prize." (3559-PS)
The contribution which Rosenberg's book, "The Myth of the Twentieth
Century," made to Nazi ideological propaganda was appraised in the November
1942 edition of the official National Socialist book review publication,
"Bucher Kunde", as follows:
"Next to the Fuehrer's book it has contributed to a unique extent to the
rise and the spiritual and physical development of this people. Twelve years
after Alfred Rosenberg's 'Mythus' first appeared, a million copies of the
book have been published and circulated." * * *
"It must therefore be stated that the phrases coined by Alfred Rosenberg
have passed into the consciousness of the whole people, and it is just today
that they are proving pillars of an ideological building whose completion is
the purpose of the fight being waged not least today." (3554-PS)
The significance of ideological training in promoting the aims of the
conspiracy is emphasized in a brief statement which Hitler made to his
supreme commanders on 23 November 1939. On that occasion, Hitler said:
"The building up of our armed forces was only possible in connection with
the ideological education of the German people by the Party."(789-PS)
The contribution which Rosenberg made through formulation and dissemination
of National Socialist ideology was fundamental to the conspiracy. As
aspostle of neo-paganism, exponent of the drive for "Lebensraum," glorifier
of the myth of nordic superiority, and as one of the oldest and most
energetic Nazi proponents of anti-Semitism, he contributed materially to
unification of the German people behind the swastika. He provided the
impetus and philosophy of National Socialism.
C. ROSENBERG'S ACTIVITIES ABROAD, THROUGH THE APA, IN PREPARATION FOR
AGGRESSIVE WAR.
Rosenberg also actively contributed toward the preparation for aggressive
war through the international activities of the APA (The Foreign Policy
Office of the NSDAP) . Rosenberg became a Reichsleiter, the highest level of
rank in the Leadership Corps, and was made chief of the Foreign Political
Office of the NSDAP in April 1933 (3530-PS). The Organizational Manual of
the NSDAP (2319-PS) describes the functions of the APA as including the
influencing of public opinion abroad so as to convince foreign nations that
Nazi Germany desires peace. The following excerpt indicates the far-flung
activities of the APA:
"* * * II. 1. The APA is divided into three main offices
"A. Office for Foreign Referats with the Main Offices
a. England and Far East
b. Near East
c. South East
d. North
e. Old Orient
f. Controls, personnel questions, etc.
"B. Office of the German Academic Exchange Service.
"C. Office of Foreign Commerce.
"2. Moreover, there is in the APA a main office for the press service and
an educational office." (2319-PS)
The Press activities of the APA, designed to influence world opinion in such
a manner as to conceal the conspirators' true purposes and thus facilitate
the preparation for waging aggressive war, were conducted on an ambitious
scale. "A Short Report on the Activities of the APA of the NSDAP" describes
the press activities as follows:
"* * * The Press: The Press Division of the APA is comprised of persons
who together master all the languages that are in use. Daily they examine
approximately 300 newspapers and deliver to the Fuehrer, the deputy Fuehrer,
and all other interested offices the condensations of the important trends
of the entire world press. I know that these press reports are highly
praised by all who constantly follow them. The Press Division furthermore
conducts an exact archives on the attitudes of the most important papers of
the world and an exact archives on the most important journalists of the
world. Many embarrassments during conferences in Germany could have been
avoided had one consulted these archives (case of Leumas, Nurnberg, 1934;
case of Dorothy Thompson ; and others). Further, the Press Division was able
to arrange a host of interviews as well as conducting a great number of
friendly foreign journalists to the various official representatives of
Germany." (003-PS)
The nature and extent of the activities of the APA are amply disclosed in a
"Report on the Activities of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Party from
1933 to 1943," signed by Rosenberg (007-PS). This report contains a recital
of widespread activities in foreign countries. These activities range from
the promotion of economic penetration, to fomentation of anti-Semitism; from
cultural and political infiltration to the instigation of treason.
Activities were carried on throughout the world and extended to such widely
separated points as the Middle East and Brazil. (007-PS)
(1) Activities in Hungary, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. Much of the
APA's achievements were brought about through the subtle exploitation of
personal relationship. Activities in Hungary proceeded as follows:
"* * * The first foreign state visit after the seizure of power took place
through the mediation of the Foreign Affairs Bureau. Julius Gombos, who in
former years had himself pursued anti-Semitic and racial tendencies, had
reached the Hungarian Premier's chair. The Bureau maintained a personal
connection with him." (007-PS)
The APA endeavored to strengthen the War Economy by shifting the source of
food imports to the Balkans:
"Motivated by reasons of War Economy, the Bureau advocated the transfer of
raw material purchases from overseas to the areas accessible by overland
traffic routes, i. e., primarily in the Balkans, naturally insofar as
practicable. At first little heed was paid to the Bureau in these endeavors,
but it later secured the active support especially of the Food Estate
[Naeurstand] . Through its cooperation, e. g., on the subject of fruit and
vegetable imports, a very substantial shift in the source of imports was
attained, particularly through the currently initiated cooperation with
Croatian and Hungarian cooperatives as well as with commercial associations
all over the Balkans." (007-PS)
Activities in Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg were confined to "observation
of existing conditions" and "to the establishment of relations, especially
of a commercial nature." (007-PS)
(2) Activities in Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq. In Iran the APA achieved a
high degree of economic penetration, in addition to promoting cultural
relations:
"The Bureau's initative in developing, with the help of commercial
circles, entirely new methods for the economic penetration of Iran found
expression, in an extraordinarily favorable way, in reciprocal trade
relations.
"Naturally in Germany, too, this initiative at first encountered a
completely negative attitude and resistance on the part of the competent
state authorities, an attitude that had first to be overcome.
"In the course of a few years the volume of trade with Iran was multiplied
five-fold, and in 1939 Iran's trade turnover with Germany had attained first
place. Even Soviet Russia, the competitor who had been biggest and most
dreaded previously, had been eliminated from the running. Concurrently with
activation of commercial relations, the Bureau had also intensified cultural
relations and had, in conjunction with growing commercial influence and in
closest collaboration with the Iranian Government, created a series of
cultural institutions headed and directed by Germans." (007-PS)
Rosenberg further reports on APA activities in other parts of the world:
"Afghanistan's neutral position today is largely due to the Bureau's
activity." * * *
"The Arab question, too, became part of the work of the Bureau. In spite
of England's tutelage of Iraq the Bureau established a series of connections
to a number of leading personalities of the Arab world, smoothing the way
for strong bonds to Germany. In this connection, the growing influence of
the Reich in Iran and Afghanistan did not fail to have repercussions in
Arabia." (007-PS)
In view of the numerous "personal connections" maintained by the Bureau in
many different countries, it is not difficult to surmise what Rosenberg
meant when he stated at the conclusion of his report:
"The Bureau has carried out the initiating of all politically feasible
projects. With the outbreak of war it [the APA] was entitled to consider its
task as terminated. The exploitation of the many personal connections in
many lands can be resumed under a different guise. " (Signed) Rosenberg"
(007-PS)
(3) Activities in Rumania. Annex Two of the report deals with activities in
Rumania. Here the APA's intrigue was more insidious, its interference in the
internal affairs of a foreign nation more pronounced. After describing the
failure of what Rosenberg terms a "basically sound anti-Semitic tendency",
due to dynastic squabbles and party fights, Rosenberg describes the APA's
influence in the unification of conflicting elements:
"What was lacking was the guiding leadership of a political personality.
After manifold groping trials the Bureau believed to have found such a
personality-the former Minister and poet, Octavian Goga. It was not
difficult to convince this poet, pervaded by instinctive inspiration, that a
Greater Romania, though it had to be created in opposition to Vienna, could
be maintained only together with Berlin. Nor was it difficult to create in
him the desire to link the fate of Rumania with the future of the
National-Socialist German Reich in good time. By bringing continuing
influence to bear, the Bureau succeeded in inducing Octavian Goga as well as
Professor Cuza to amalgamate the parties under their leadership on an
Anti-Semitic basis. Thus they could carry on with united strength the
struggle for Rumania's renascence internally, and her Anschluss with Germany
externally. Through the Bureau's initiative both parties, which had
heretofore been known by distinct names, were merged as the
National-Christian Party, under Goga's leadership and with Cuza as Honorary
President." (007-PS, Annex II)
Rosenberg's man, Goga, was supported by two "splinter parties" which had not
joined the anti-Semitic trend of these two parties. Rosenberg has this to
say:
"Through intermediaries, the Bureau maintained constant contact with both
tendencies, just as it constantly consulted with Goga, through Staff
Director [Stabsleiter] Schickendanz, about tactics to be followed." (007-PS
Annex II)
Goga was appointed Prime Minister by the King in December 1937. The
influence of Rosenberg's ideology had achieved a major triumph, for he
states:
"Thus a second government on racial and anti-Semitic foundations had
appeared in Europe, in a country in which such an event had been considered
completely impossible." (007- PS, Annex II)
Rosenberg's intrigues made a significant contribution to Nazi preparations
for aggressive war, and the benefit to Germany's position in the Balkans was
great. Rosenberg reports that upon Goga's resignation he left a personal
heir in Marshal Antonescu, who was appointed by Goga as Minister of War
against the wishes of the King. Of Antonescu Rosenberg says:
"After Goga's resignation, Antonescu still remained in the king's cabinet
at Goga's wish. He also maintained continued relations with the Iron Guard.
Thereby the possibility of eliminating the king was at hand-and was
exploited. Antonescu today appears in practice as executor of the heritage
bequested to him by Goga, who had led him from political insignificance into
the political arena. Thereby a change to Germany's liking had become
possible in Rumania. "( Signed) Rosenberg." (OO7-PS)
It will be recalled that on 5 September 1940 Antonescu became President of
the Rumanian Council of Ministers and immediately suspended the Rumanian
constitution. King Carol abdicated on the following day, and Rumania existed
as a German satellite throughout the war. Rosenberg's aims had been
achieved.
The substantial contribution which Rosenberg had thus made to Germany's
strategic plans for aggressive war is evident from a brief review of the
military action which followed in the wake of his political maneuvers.
Shortly after King Carol's abdication Antonescu "invited" German troops to
"protect" the Rumanian oil fields. When Hungary subscribed to the Axis pact
a few weeks later, Germany acquired a continuous land bridge to the Black
Sea, through Austria, Hungary, and Rumania. When Bulgaria subscribed to the
Pact in March 1941, a German thrust southward through Yugoslavia and Greece
became feasible, for with Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria secure, the entire
German eastern flank was safe from attack. A month later, Yugoslavia and
Greece were invaded. Only when they were overcome was Germany free to attack
the Soviet Union. Seven weeks after the fall of Crete, Germany launched her
war on the U. S. S. R. Thus, Rosenberg's intrigue in Rumania provided a
vital link in the chain of the German strategy of aggression.
(4) Relations with Quisling in Norway. Rosenberg also played a leading role
in the development of fifth-column activities in Norway. He fostered the
development of close relations between Germany and Quisling, procured
financial backing for Quisling's activities, and brought him into contact
with Raeder and Hitler. Rosenberg kept the Reich informed as to internal
developments in Norway through his contacts with Hagelin, Quisling's deputy,
and took an active part in the development of plans for a Quisling coup in
Norway. The record is clear that Rosenberg provided the inspiration and the
means for the betrayal of Norway by Quisling and Hagelin-treason for which
the Norwegian Government has tried, condemned, and executed them. (007-PS;
C-64; C-65; C-66; OO4-PS; 957-PS)
D. ROSENBERG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES AND
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN THE OCCUPIED EASTERN TERRITORIES.
Rosenberg participated in the conspiracy to commit war crimes and crimes
against humanity in the areas of the Occupied East which he administered for
over three years. This area included the Baltic States, White Ruthenia and
the Ukraine, and the Eastern portion of Poland.
(The mass murder and mistreatment of the Eastern peoples, and the spoliation
of their territories is discussed in Chapter X on Forced Labor, Chapter XIII
on Germanization and Spoliation, Chapter XI on Concentration Camps, Chapter
XII on Persecution of the Jews, Section 5 of Chapter XV on the SS, and
Section 6 of Chapter XV on the Gestapo and SD.) Rosenberg bears personal
responsibility for these crimes.
Rosenberg may contend that some of these crimes were committed against his
wishes. There is, indeed, some evidence that he protested on occasion, not
out of humanitarian reasons, but on the ground of political expediency.
Rosenberg may also attempt to place the blame for these crimes on other
agencies and other defendants. The documents prove, however, that he himself
formulated the harsh policies in the execution of which the crimes were
committed; that the crimes were committed for the most part by persons and
agencies within his jurisdiction and control ; that the other agencies which
participated in the commission of these crimes were invited by him to
cooperate in the administration of the East, although the brutal methods
customarily employed by them were common knowledge; and that his Ministry
lent full cooperation to their activities despite the criminal methods that
were employed.
(1) Activities as "Commissioner for the Central Control of Questions
Connected with the East European Region." Rosenberg was actively
participating in the affairs of the East as early as 20 April 1941, two
months prior to the German attack upon the Soviet Union. On that date he was
designated by Hitler as 'Commissioner for the Central Control of Questions
connected with the East European Region" (865-PS). The initial preparations
undertaken by Rosenberg for fulfillment of his new task indicate the extent
to which he cooperated in promoting the military plans for aggression. They
also show that he understood his task as requiring the assistance of a
multitude of Reich agencies and that he invited their cooperation.
Shortly after his appointment by Hitler, Rosenberg conducted a series of
conferences with representatives of various Reich agencies (1039-PS).
Cooperation of the following agencies in the administration of the Eastern
Territories was contemplated and solicited by Rosenberg:
OKW
OKH
OKM
Ministry of Economy
Commissioner for the Four Year Plan
Ministry of the Interior
Reich Youth Leadership
German Labor Front
Ministry of Labor
The SS
and the SA-( as well as several others). (1039-PS)
These arrangements, it should be noted, were made by Rosenberg in his
capacity as Commissioner on Eastern Questions-before the attack on the
Soviet Union, before Rosenberg was appointed Minister of the Occupied East,
and before there was any Occupied Eastern Territory for Germany to
administer.
(a) "Solution" of the Jewish Problem. Emphasis must be placed on Rosenberg's
basic attitudes regarding his new task, and the directives he knew he would
be expected to follow. On 29 April 1941 he stated:
"A general treatment is required for the Jewish problem for which a
temporary solution will have to be determined (forced labor for the Jews,
creation of Ghettos, etc.)" (1 024-PS)
On 8 May 1941, instructions were prepared for all Reich Commissars in the
Occupied Eastern Territories (1030-PS). The last paragraph of these
instructions reads as follows:
"From the point of view of cultural policy, the German Reich is in a
position to promote and direct national culture and science in many fields.
It will be necessary that in some territories an uprooting and resettlement
of various racial stocks [ Voelkerschaften] will have to be effected."
(1030-PS)
In his "Instructions for a Reich Commissar in the Baltic Countries and White
Russia" (officially referred to together as the "Ostland"), Rosenberg
directs that the Ostland be transformed into a part of the Greater German
Reich by Germanizing racially possible elements, colonizing Germanic races,
and banishing undesirable elements. (1029-PS)
In a speech delivered by Rosenberg on 20 June 1941 he stated that the job of
feeding Germans was the top of Germany's claim on the East; that there was
no obligation to feed also the Russian peoples; that this was a harsh
necessity bare of any feeling; that a very extensive evacuation would be
necessary; and that the future would hold many hard years in store for the
Russians.(1058-PS)
On 22 June 1941 the German armies invaded the U. S. S. R.
(b) Deportation of Prisoners of War for Labor in the Reich. On 4 July 1941 a
representative of the Rosenberg Bureau attended a conference on the subject
of mobilization of labor and utilization of Soviet prisoners of war. A
memorandum of this conference (1199-PS) states that among the participants
were representatives of the Commissioner for the Four-Year Plan, of the
Reich Labor Ministry, of the Reich Food Ministry, and of the Rosenberg
Bureau. The conference proceeded as follows:
"After an introduction by Lt. Col. Dr. Krull, Lt. Col. Breyer of the P. W.
department explained that actually there was in effect a prohibition by the
Fuehrer against bringing Russian P. W.' s into the Reich for mobilization of
labor [Arbeitseinsatx] ; but that one might count on this prohibition being
relaxed a little." * * *
"The chairman summarized the results of the discussion as indicating that
all the interested bureaus unqualifiedly advocated and supported the demand
for utilization of P. W. 's because of manpower needs [Arbeitseinatz] in the
Reich. The War Economy and Armament office will approach the Commissioner
for the Four-Year Plan with a request for relaxation of the restrictive
regulations and express to the Chief of Operational Staff of the Armed
Forces its point of view, accordingly." (1199-PS)
(c) Germanization. On 16 July 1941, the day before Rosenberg's appointment
as Minister of the Occupied East, he attended a conference at the Fuehrer's
Headquarters. At that time Hitler stated that
"The Crimea has to be evacuated by all foreigners and to be settled by
Germans alone." (L-221)
Hitler further stated that Germany's objectives in the East were three-fold,
first, to dominate it; second, to administer it; third, to exploit it.
(L-221)
Thus, the character of the administration contemplated for the Occupied East
was well established before Rosenberg took office as Minister of the
Occupied East. He knew of these plans and was in accord with them.
Persecution of the Jews, forced labor of prisoners of war, Germanization and
exploitation were basic points of policy at the time he assumed office.
(2) Activities as Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories. O n 17 July
1941 Hitler appointed Rosenberg as Reichminister for the Occupied Eastern
Territories, territories which included nearly all the area seized by
Germany from the U. S. S. R. (1997-PS)
(a) Rosenberg's complete control over, knowledge of, and responsibility for
all non-military German activities and policies in the occupied Eastern
Territories. The organizational structure and chain of responsibility within
the Ministry for the Occupied East emphasizes Rosenberg's responsibility.
A treatise entitled "The Organization of the Administration of the Occupied
Eastern Territories" (1056-PS) is undated and unsigned, but further
information regarding it may be obtained by reference to document EC-347,
Goering's "Green Folder." Part II, subsection of EC-347 is entitled,
"Excerpts from the Directives of the Reich Minister for the Occupied
Eastern Territories for the Civilian Administration. (Brown Folder, Pt. I,
pp. 25-30) ." (EC-347)
The two paragraphs which follow are identical to two paragraphs found in
document 1056-PS. Thus, 1056-PS is identified as being a reproduction of
Part I of the Brown Folder which was mentioned in the "Green Folder," and
was issued by the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories.
The directives issued by the Rosenberg Ministry itself (1056- PS) prove the
extent of Rosenberg's authority: he was the Supreme civilian authority in
the Eastern Territories. There was a continuous chain of command from
Rosenberg down to regional administrative officials, extending even to the
local prison warden (1056-PS). The relationship which existed between the
Rosenberg Ministry and other German agencies varied from full control by
Rosenberg, to close cooperation with them made mandatory by his directives
and by Hitler's orders. Finally, the various subdivisions of the Ministry
were required to submit period-reports of the situation within their
jurisdiction-so that the numerous reports of brutality which Rosenberg
received were submitted to him pursuant to his orders. (1056-PS)
The treatise on the organization of Rosenberg's ministry states as follows:
"The newly occupied Eastern Territories are subordinated to the Reich
Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories. By directions of the Fuehrer
he establishes a civil administration there upon withdrawal of the military
administration. He heads and supervises the entire administration of this
area and represents the sovereignty of the Reich in the occupied Eastern
Territories." * * *
"To the Reich Ministry is assigned a deputy of the Reich Leader SS and
Chief of the German Police in the Reich Ministry of the Interior." (1056-PS)
The responsibility of the Reich Commissars is described as follows :
"In the Reich Commissariats, Reich Commissars are responsible for the
entire civil administration under the supreme authority of the Reich
Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories. According to the instructions
of the Reich Minister for the 'Occupied Eastern Territories the Reich
Commissar, as a functionary of the Reich, heads and supervises, within his
precincts, the entire civil administration. Within the scope of these
instructions he acts on his own responsibility.
"Subordinate offices of the Reich Commissar are:
"General Commissariats,
"Main Commissariats,
"District Commissariats." (1056-PS)
The SS was placed under Rosenberg's jurisdiction and control:
"The Higher SS-and Police Leader is directly subordinated to the Reich
'Commissar. However, the Chief of Staff has the general right to secure
information from him also. His official title is:
'The Reich Commissar for the Eastern Territory
The Higher SS-and Police Leader. '
"Great stress is to be placed on close cooperation between him, the Chief
of Staff, and the other Main Department Heads of the office of the Reich
Commissar, particularly with the one for Policies." (l056-PS)
The scope of Rosenberg's control over the SS in the Occupied Eastern
Territories is revealed in a decree signed by Rosenberg, dated 17 July 1941,
and found in the Verordnungsblatt of the Reich Minister for the Occupied
East, 1942 #2, pages 7 and 8. This decree provides for the creation of
summary courtsmartial to punish crimes committed by non-Germans in the East,
as determined by the Reich Commissar. The courts are to be presided over by
a police officer or an SS leader, who have authority to order the death
sentence and confiscation of property, and whose decisions are not subject
to appeal. The General Commissar is given the right to reject a summary
Courts' decision. Thus, the determination of the SS is subordinated to the
authority of Rosenberg's Ministry.
The position of the General Commissar is defined as follows in the
organizational treatise:
"The General Commissar forms the administrative office of intermediate
appeal. Within his jurisdiction he heads the administration according to the
general directives of the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern
Territories and the prescriptions of the Reich Commissar." * * *
"The SS-and Police Leader assigned to the General Commissar is directly
subordinated to him; however, the Chief of Staff has the general right of
requiring information from him." (1056-PS)
Regional Commissars are described as follows:
"The Regional Commissar heads the entire administration of the lower
administrative office in the Circuit District [Kreisgebiet] in accordance
with the instructions of the General Commissar and the superior offices * *
* The leader of the police unit assigned to him is directly subordinated to
him." (1 056-PS)
Main Commissars are described in these terms:
"Upon recommendation by the Reich Commissar the Reich Minister for the
Occupied Eastern Territories appoints Main Commissars for Main Districts
formed by the consolidation of several Circuit Districts." (1056-PS)
The order of superiority in the service among these various officials is
stated as follows:
"The Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories is the service
superior of the Reich Commissar and the officials and the employees
subordinate to them. The Reich Commissar is the superior of all officials
and employees of his office and of the offices subordinate to him. The
General Commissar is the superior of the officials and employees of his
office and of the officials and employees of the offices of the Main and
Regional Commissars. The Main Commissar and the Regional Commissar are the
superior of the officials and employees of their offices." (1056-PS)
Thus, there is a continuous chain of command and of accountability from the
Reich Minister, Rosenberg, down through each subdivision of the Ministry.
Furthermore, Rosenberg had authority to legislate for the entire area, and
the jurisdiction of his Ministry was exclusive, aside from that of the
military. The organizational treatise states :
"The Reich Commissars, General Commissars, Main Commissars and Regional
Commissars (City Commissars) are-aside from the military agencies-the only
Reich authorities [Reichsbehoerden] in the Occupied Eastern Territories.
Other Reich authorities may not be established alongside them. They handle
all questions of administration of the area which is subordinate to their
sovereignty and all affairs which concern the organization and activity of
the administration including those of the Police in the supervision of the
native [landeseigenen] agencies and organizations, and of the population.
"The Reich Minister governs the occupied Eastern Territories by order of
the Fuehrer. He can make the law for all the territories." (1056-PS)
The following passage shows that the economic exploitation of the territory
was undertaken in fullest cooperation with the Commissioner of the Four-Year
Plan:
"The Fuehrer has entrusted Reich Marshal Hermann Goering, as Commissioner
for the Four Year Plan, with the supervision of the tasks of the war economy
in the Occupied Eastern Territories. The economic inspectorates and economic
commands are active there as his representatives [Organe] [see Green Folio],
These economic inspectorates and economic commands will be substantially
absorbed in the agencies of the civil administration after the establishment
of the civil administration." (1056-PS)
Careful provision was made for channeling to Rosenberg complete and accurate
information as to the situation throughout the territory governed by him:
"The Reich and General Commissars will determine the periods at which the
subordinate agencies are to report regularly about the general situation
without prejudice to the duty to provide individual reports and special
delivery reports (at first, at short intervals which can be later
lengthened). At first the Reich Commissars will give the Reich Minister for
the Occupied Eastern Territories a comprehensive report on the situation in
brief form twice a month, on the first and fifteenth of each month. The
Reich Minister is to be given a report by the Reich Commissar immediately
about incidents of an especially important nature. The General Commissars
and Regional Commissars must report directly to the Reich Minister for the
Occupied Eastern Territories by the quickest means particularly important
incidents, as, for example, widespread unrest, more important acts of
sabotage and strikes, great natural catastrophes and the like, and at the
same time report them to the next superior agency." (1056-PS)
The Second Section of this organizational treatise, entitled "Working
directives for the Civil Administration," contains this statement:
"* * * the Hague Rules of Land Warfare which deal with the administration
of a country occupied by a foreign armed power are not valid." (1056-PS ;
EC-3 47)
The document continues as follows:
"The handling of cases of sabotage is the concern of the Senior SS-and
Police Leader, of the SS-and Police Leader and/ or the police leaders of the
lower echelon. Insofar, however, as collective measures against the
population of a definite region appear appropriate, the decision about them
rests with the competent Commissar on the proposal of the Police Leader. The
calling of the population for the tasks of guarding can be ordered by the
Regional Commissar.
"The assessment of fines of money or goods, as well as the ordering of the
seizure of hostages and the shooting of inhabitants of the territory in
which the acts of sabotage have taken place, can only be by the General
Commissar, insofar as the Reich Commissar himself does not intervene." * * *
"The District Commissar is responsible for the supervision of all prisons,
insofar as the Reich Commissar does not decree otherwise." (1056-PS ;
EC-847)
(b) Rosenberg's Use of His Authority and Power for Criminal Purposes. The
manner in which Rosenberg's authority and power were wielded is illustrated
in other sections of this volume, which show that in the Eastern Territories
millions of Jews were exterminated; that millions of slave laborers were
pressed into service under indescribable conditions; that the populace was
degraded, starved, beaten, and murdered; and that the country was stripped
of its resources. However, in order to illustrate the manner in which
Rosenberg participated in the criminal activities conducted within his
jurisdiction, four examples may be mentioned.
1. Seizure of Jewish Property. The first illustration is contained in the
decree signed by Lohse, Reichscommissar for the Ostland, which is published
in the Verordnungsbtatt of the Reichscommissar for the Ostland, 1942, No.
38, pages 158 and 159. This decree provides for the seizure of the entire
property of the Jewish population in the Ostland, including the claims of
Jews against third parties. The seizure was made retroactive to the day of
the occupation of the territory by the German troops. This sweeping decree
was issued and published by Rosenberg's immediate subordinate, and it must
be assumed that Rosenberg knew of it and acquiesced in it. The power to
enact such a decree, as previously outlined, arose by virtue of delegation
of that power by Rosenberg to the Reichscommissar.
2. Extermination of Jews. The second illustration is the report of the
prison warden of Minsk that 516 German and Russian Jews had been killed. The
warden called attention to the fact that valuable gold had been lost due to
the failure to knock out the tooth-fillings of the victims before they were
done away with (R-135).
3. Deportations for Forced Labor. The third illustration is a letter which
Rosenberg wrote to Sauckel on 21 December 1942 in the following terms:
"I thank you very much for your report on the execution of the great task
given to you, and I am glad to hear that in carrying out your mission you
have always found the necessary support, even on the part of the civilian
authorities in the occupied Eastern territories. For myself and the
officials under my command this collaboration was and is self-evident,
especially since both you and I have, with regard to the solution of the
labor problem in the East, represented the same viewpoints from the
beginning." (018-PS)
As late as 11 July, 1944 the Rosenberg Ministry was actively concerned with
the continuation of the forced labor program in spite of the retreat from
the East. A letter from Alfred Meyer, Rosenberg's deputy, addressed to
Sauckel, dated 11 July 1944 shows that this time it is Rosenberg's Ministry
that is urging action:
" 1. * * * The war employment command [Kriegseinsatzkommando] formerly
stationed in Minsk must continue under all circumstances the calling in of
your white Ruthenian and Russian manpower for military employment in the
Reich. In addition, the command has the mission to bring young boys of 10-14
years of age to the Reich." (199-W)
4. Economic Exploitation. The final illustration of Rosenberg's criminal
responsibility is contained in a secret letter from Rosenberg to Bormann
dated 17 October 1944 (327-PS). It furnishes a graphic account of
Rosenberg's activities in the economic exploitation of the Occupied East.
The first paragraph reads:
"In order not to delay the liquidation of companies under my supervision,
I beg to point out that the companies concerned are not private firms but
business enterprises of the Reich, so that also actions with regard to them,
just as with regard to government offices, are reserved to the highest
authorities of the Reich. I supervise the following companies * * *."
(327-PS)
There follows a list of nine companies-a trading company, an agricultural
development company, a supply company, a pharmaceutical company, and five
banking concerns. The mission of the trading company is stated to be:
"Collection of all agricultural products as well as commercial marketing
and transportation thereof. (Delivery to armed forces and the Reich.)"
(327-PS)
The letter continues as follows:
"During this period, the Z. O. (Central Trading Corporation) , together with
its subsidiaries, has collected:
"Grain 9,200,000 tons
Meat and meat products 622,000 tons
Linseed 950,000 tons
Butter 208,000 tons
Sugar 400,000 tons
Fodder 2,500,000 tons
Potatoes 3,200,000 tons
Seeds 141,000 tons
Other agricultural products 1,200,000 tons
and1,075,000,000 eggs
"The following was required for transportation:
"1,418,000 railroad box cars and 472,000 tons of boat shipping space."
(327-PS)
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