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ment of Funk as Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics was made public. Thus on 27 August 1939, Funk, in this capacity, issued two decrees, one introducing general rationing of consumers' goods, the other setting up regional economic authorities (1939 Reichsgesetzblatt, I, pp. 1495 and 1498).

Finally, on 30 August 1939, Hitler, Goering, and Lammers signed a decree establishing the Ministerial Council for Reich Defense, composed of Goering, Funk, and Hess, among others, to act as a War Cabinet (1939 Reichsgesetzblatt, I, p. 1532).

Funk mobilized the German economy for war with full knowledge of the plans for military aggression. An irresistible inference of such knowledge arises from the combination of several factors: from Funk's long and intimate association with the Nazi inner circle; from the very nature of his official functions; from the war-dominated setting of Nazi Germany; from the fact that force and the threat of force had become the open and primary instruments of Nazi policy; and finally from the fact that at the same time that Funk was making economic preparations, specific plans for aggression-later to be carried out-were being formulated, plans which could only be effective if they were synchronized with the complementary economic measures.

The inference of Funk's knowledge and intent is reinforced beyond question by considering, in the light of the factors described above, the more specific evidence of Funk's knowledge of aggressive plans. Thus, Funk, at the very beginnings of the Nazi Government, had stated that the absorption of Austria by Germany was a political and economic necessity, and that it would be achieved by whatever means were necessary (1760-PS).

Goering had issued instructions to the Ministry of Economics -in the language of a man waging aggressive war (1301-PS). Moreover, Funk and his subordinates in May 1939 were making detailed plans for financing the war, that is, a particular war, the war against Poland (3562-PS).

In connection with Funk's economic planning for aggression, reference should be made to other evidence of the preparatory work which Funk carried on prior to the aggression against Poland. Shortly before the attack on Poland, in a letter to Hitler dated 25 August 1939, Funk expressed his gratification for his role in the "tremendous events" of these days, and his thanks for Hitler's approval of his economic war measures. He concluded by giving Hitler his pledge in that hour (699-PS). The text of the letter is as follows:

"Reich Minister Walther Funk.

"My Fuehrer:

Berlin W. 8, August 25, 1939.
Unter Den Linden 13.

"For the congratulations which you transmitted to me on
my birthday, in such extremely friendly and kind fashion,
I want to thank you from the depths of my heart. How happy
and how grateful we must be to you to be favored to expe-
rience these colossal and world-moving times, and that we
can contribute to the tremendous events of these days.
"General-Field-Marshal Goering informed me, that last night
you-my Fuehrer-have approved in principle the measures
prepared by me for financing the war, for setting up the
wage and price systems and for carrying out the plan for an
emergency contribution [Notopfer]. This news has made me
deeply happy. I hereby most obediently report to you that I
have succeeded, through the provisions made already during
the last month, to make the German Reichsbank internally
so strong and so safe against attack from without that even
the most serious disturbances of the international currency
and credit systems would be absolutely unable to affect us.
"In the meantime I have in a wholly inconspicuous manner
converted into gold all assets of the Reichsbank and of the
German economy abroad on which we could possibly lay
hands. With the proposals worked out by me regarding a
ruthless choking of any unessential consumption and any
public expenditure and project not necessary for war we will
be able to meet all financial and economic demands without
any serious reverberations.

"In my capacity as General Plenipotentiary for Economics,
appointed by you, my Fuehrer, I have regarded it as my duty
to give you this report and this pledge in this hour.

"Heil, my Fuehrer

"(signed) Walther Funk". (699-PS).

Funk both personally and through duly designated representatives also participated in the planning which preceded the aggression against the USSR. Thus, in April 1941, Rosenberg, after he had been appointed deputy for centralized treatment of problems concerning the Eastern Territories, discussed with Funk the economic problems which would be raised when the plans for aggression in the East were carried out (1039-PS). At that time Funk appointed Dr. Schlotterer as his deputy to

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work with Rosenberg in connection with the exploitation of the Eastern Territories. Funk's deputy met with Rosenberg almost daily.

E. FUNK WAS A MEMBER OF WAR-PLANNING AGENCIES WHICH WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICIES AND ACTS CONTRARY TO THE LAWS OF WAR.

After the launching of the Nazi aggression against Poland, Funk, in his capacities as Minister of Economics, President of the Reichsbank, and Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics, and as a member of the Central Planning Board (to which he was appointed in September 1943), actively participated in the waging of aggressive war on the economic front. Moreover, by virtue of his membership in the Central Planning Board, which formulated and directed the execution of the program for the enslavement, exploitation, and degradation of millions of foreign workers, Funk shares special responsibility for the Nazi Slave Labor Program. (See Chapter X on the Slave Labor Program. This special aspect of Funk's responsibility was left for development by the French prosecuting staff.)

F. CONCLUSION.

It is clear that Funk was a central figure in the Nazi conspiracy and that, as a member of the Nazi inner circle, he helped formulate, was aware of, and promoted the realization of, the conspirators' program. He knew, moreover, that this program envisaged the use of terror and force within and if necessary outside of Germany, and that it contemplated the use of criminal means. Funk, by promoting the conspirators' accession to power and the realization of their program, signified his approval of such crimes.

The evidence has also established that, after the Nazi seizure of power, Funk promoted the achievement of the conspirators' program by virtue of his activities in the Ministry of Propaganda, activities which fomented and carried out the persecution of Jews and dissidents; which psychologically mobilized the German people for aggressive war; and which reduced the willingness and capacity of the conspirators' intended victims to resist aggression. Funk also participated, as Minister of Economics, in the formulation and execution of the policy for the complete elimination of the Jews from the German economy.

As Minister of Economics, President of the Reichsbank, and

Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics, Funk mobilized the German economy for aggressive war, with full knowledge of the conspirators' plans for aggression. Moreover, in these capacities, and as a member of the Ministerial Council for the Defense and the Central Planning Board, he also actively participated in the waging of aggressive wars. Finally, by virtue of his membership in the Central Planning Board, which formulated and directed the execution of the program for the enslavement, exploitation, and degradation of millions of foreign workers, he bears a special responsibility for the war crimes committed in the execution of that program.

LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO WALTER FUNK

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*699-PS

*1039-PS

*1301-PS

1409-PS

1662-PS

Letter from Funk to Hitler, 25 Au-
gust 1939, reporting on economic
affairs. (GB 49).....

Report concerning preparatory
work regarding problems in East-
ern Territories, 28 June 1941,
found in Rosenberg's "Russia
File". (USA 146)..
File relating to financing of arma-
ment including minutes of confer-
ence with Goering at the Air Min-
istry, 14 October 1938, concerning
acceleration of rearmament. (USA
123)....

Order concerning utilization of
Jewish property, 3 December 1938.
1938 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I,
p. 1709....

Order eliminating Jews from Ger-
man economic life, 12 November
1938. 1938 Reichsgesetzblatt,
Part I, p. 1580....

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*1760-PS

Affidavit of George S. Messer

*1816-PS

smith, 28 August 1945. (USA 57). IV
Stenographic report of the meet-
ing on The Jewish Question, under
the Chairmanship of Fieldmarshal
Goering, 12 November 1938. (USA
261)....

305

IV

425

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