public sentiment. Why? Because our people are guided by the Christian way of thought in all these questions. And as the Party stands implicitly on the basis of a "positive Christianity" and as, again, it implicitly and especially wishes the ethical attitude of the Christian, above all the love of one's neighbor, to be understood under this "positive Christianity," it really cannot approve the measures directed to destroy life. We therefore find it quite understandable that those circles of the Party whose voices can be heard chiefly on the "Schwarze Korps" wish to do away not only with church Christianity but with all Christianity because it represents an obstacle to such measures. They thus confirm the old and frequent experience that a break with the Christian faith also carries with it a break with Christian ethics. But anyhow, the Fuehrer and the Party have so far stood on the platform of positive Christianity which regards charity towards suffering compatriots and their humane treatment as a matter of course. If, however, a serious matter like the care of hundreds of thousands of suffering compatriots in need of care is dealt with solely from the point of view of momentary advantage and if a brutal extermination of these compatriots is decided on, then the final stroke is added to a fateful development and Christanity is given its final conge as a vital power determining the individual and communal life of the German people. But paragraph 24 of the Party program is then also untenable. The claim that only confessional Christianity, not Christianity in itself, is being fought against, is inoperative here; for all confessions are agreed that man and nation have to bear as a burden imposed by God the burden imposed on them by the presence of people who are in need of care and may not eliminate these people by killing them. It is only with honour that I can think that things will continue as they have begun. The possible advantage of these measures will be more and more outweighed, the longer they go on, by the damage they will cause. What conclusion will the young generation draw for private life, when it realizes that human life is no longer sacred to the State? Cannot every outrage be excused on the grounds that the elimination of another was of advantage to the person concerned? There can be no stopping once one starts down this slope. God does not permit people to mock Him; he can turn what we believe we have gained on one side to harm and a curse on the other. Either the National Socialist State also must recognise the limits which God has laid down for it, or it will favour a moral decline which will also carry with it the decline of the State. I can imagine, Mr. Minister, that this protest will be regarded as embarrassing. Hardly dare I express the hope, either, that my voice will be heard. If, nevertheless, I have made this declaration, I have done so primarily because the relations of the compatriots affected expect such action from the leaders of a church. I am also, however, moved by the thought that this action may perhaps give rise to a serious examination and to the abandonment of this path. Dixi et salvari animam meam! Heil Hitler! Yours faithfully, [Signed] Dr. WURM. Wuerttemberg Evangelical Provincial Church. Stuttgart, 23rd August 1940. To Reich Minister of Justice, Gr. Guertner, Dear Reich Minister of Justice, Much comment has been aroused by the measures-directed at the elimination of lives of no value to the community-which are being carried out at the moment on a large scale in certain state institutions, especially in Wuerttemberg, in Castle Grafeneck, village of Dapfen, Muensingen district. I have therefore directed the letter of which I enclose a copy to the Reich Minister of the Interior. I request you, Mr. Reich Minister of Justice, to interest yourself, from your sphere of work, in this matter, which, if continued in the present manner contrary to the legal measures for the protection of the eugenic health of the German people, must shatter the people's confidence in justice as much as their trust in the doctor as a helper of men. Heil Hitler! Yours sincerely, [signed] D. Wurm. Stuttgart, the town of the Germans abroad 5 September 1940 Wuerttemberg Evangelical Provincial Church The Provincial Bishop COPY To the Reich Minister of the Interior Dr. Frick BERLIN. Dear Reich Minister, On the 19th July I sent you a letter about the systematic exter mination of lunatics, feeble-minded and epileptic persons. Since then this practice has reached tremendous proportions: recently the inmates of old-age homes have also been included. The basis for this practice seems to be the opinion that in an efficient nation there should be no room for weak and frail people. It is evident from the many reports which we are receiving that the people's feelings are being badly hurt by the measures ordered and that a feeling of legal insecurity is spreading which is regrettable from the point of view of national and state interests. If the leadership of the state is convinced that it is a question of an inevitable war measure, why does it not issue a decree with legal force, which would at least have this good point that official quarters would not have to seek refuge in lies? But if-as can be assumed with certainty-Germany is in a position to feed these members of the nation as well, why then these rigorous steps? Is it necessary that the German nation should be the first civilised nation to return, in the treatment of weak people, to the habits of primitive races? Does the Fuehrer know about this matter? Has he approved it? I beg you not to leave me without a reply in this tremendously serious matter. Heil Hitler Yours faithfully [signed] Dr. Wurm Wuerttemberg Evangelical Provincial Church Stuttgart, the town of the Germans abroad, To the Reich Minister of Justice Dr. Guertner BERLIN W Wilhelmstr. 65 Dear Reich Minister, Permit me to inform you of a second letter which I have sent to the Reich Minister of the Interior about the systematic extermination of lunatics, weak and frail compatriots. This matter is reaching the proportions of a great danger and a scandal. Dear Reich Minister, I would be very grateful if you would give me the opportunity to give you a more detailed account and to show you documents concerning this matter, next Wednesday the 11th September. Please inform Dean Keppler, Berlin, N.W.87, Holsteiner Ufer 16, Tel. 392950, if and when the reception is possible. Heil Hitler Yours faithfully, [signed] Dr. Wurm Most obediently To the Minister [Guertner] According to order, I informed Dean Keppler by telephone on the 10th September that hospitals and nursing homes come under the Reich Minister of the Interior and that it is therefore recommended that the Provincial Bishop present his wishes first to the Minister of the Interior. Dean Keppler promised to inform the Provincial Bishop accordingly. BERLIN, the 11th of September 1940 [signed] Sommer TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-161 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT” Some 40,000 Jews died in Poland during the last year, the hospitals are overfull. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-162 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT" According to reports from this same paper (Svenska Tagbladet) the 1800 Jews living in Hanover have disappeared. It is not known whether they were taken to a working camp and if so to which. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-163 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT" Very bad news comes from the Ukraine. Thousands of Jewish dead are being mourned, amongst whom are many of the Galician Jews who were expelled from Hungary. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-164 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT" According to news which has arrived from several sources, thousands of Jews (people even speak of many thousands) have 744400-47-79 been executed in Odessa as a punishment for the explosion of a time bomb which buried 220 Rumanian soldiers together with their staff, under the ruins of the townhall. Similar news reaches us from Kiev and other Russian cities. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-165 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT” "In Germany" In Cologne, Muenster, Essen and Duesseldorf and other Rhineland cities there are hardly any Jews left. There remain only a few elderly Jewish persons. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-166 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT” "In the East" In the Lublin region there are 34 punishment camps for Jews, in which 10,000 Jews are imprisoned. Corporal punishment in various forms is the order of the day there. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-167 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT" In Croatia the terror against the Jews is being continued in undiminished form. It rages particularly in the camps, where the hostage system has been introduced and Jews are shot when there is any unrest. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT M-168 "ISRAELITISCHES WOCHENBLATT" No Jews remain in Belgrade. Many were shot as communists and the others deported for forced labour. The "Novo Vreme" reports that capital punishment has been introduced for aiding Jews with money or food. The "Donauer Zeitung" reports that 280 Jews and 100 Serbs have been shot in Belgrade. |