Goering Verordnung ueber die Am- Vierte Verordnung zum Frick Zweite Verordnung zur Durch- Frick (4) Program of 9 November 1938 and elimination of Jews from economic life. In the autumn of 1938, within the framework of economic preparation for aggressive war and as an act of defiance to world opinion, the Nazi conspirators began to put into effect a program of complete elimination of the Jews. The measures taken were partly presented as retaliation against "world Jewry" in connection with the killing of a German embassy official in Paris. Unlike the boycott action in April, 1933, when care was taken to avoid violence, an allegedly "spontaneous" pogrom was staged and carried out all over Germany on orders of Heydrich. The organized character of the pogrom is also obvious from the admission of Heydrich and others at a meeting presided over by Goering at the Air Ministry in Berlin. (1816-PS) The legislative measures which followed were discussed and approved in their final form at a meeting on 12 November 1938 under the chairmanship of Goering, with the participation of Frick, Funk and others. The meeting was called following Hitler's orders "requesting that the Jewish questions be now, once and for all, coordinated and solved one way or another.". The participants agreed on measures to be taken "for the elimination of the Jew from German economy." Other possibilities, such as the establishment of ghettos, stigmatization through special insignia, and "the main problem, namely to kick the Jew out of Germany", were also discussed. All these measures were later enacted as soon as conditions permitted. (1816-PS) The laws issued in this period were signed mostly by Goering, in his capacity as Deputy for the Four Year Plan, and were thus connected with the consolidation of control over German economy in preparation for aggressive war. The major laws issued in this period are listed below: Title and gist of law Polizeiverordnung ueber das Gesetz ueber Mietverhaelt- Signed by Heydrich (assistant to Frick) Funk Hitler Guertner Krohn Hess Frick Frick Rust Hess Polizeiverordnung ueber die Heydrich (Police order concerning (5) Extermination of German Jews. Early in 1939 Hitler and the other Nazi conspirators decided to arrive at a "final solution of the Jewish problem." In connection with preparations for aggressive war, further consolidation of controls and removal of elements not belonging to the Volksgemeinschaft (racial community) were deemed necessary. The conspirators also anticipated the conquest of territories in Eastern Europe inhabitated by large numbers of Jews and the impossibility of forcing largescale emigration in war-time. Hence, other and more drastic measures became necessary. The emphasis in this period shifted from legislative acts to police measures. On 24 January 1939 Heydrich was charged with the mission of "arriving at a solution of the Jewish problem." (710-PS) On 15 January 1939 Rosenberg stated in a speech at Detmold: "For Germany the Jewish problem will be solved only when the last Jew has left Germany." On 7 February 1939, Rosenberg appealed to foreign nations to forget "ideological differences" and unite against the "real enemy," the Jew. He advocated the creation of a "reservation" where the Jews of all countries should be concentrated (2843PS). In his Reichstag speech on 30 January 1939, Hitler made the following prophecy: "The result [of war] will be * the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe." (2663-PS) Thus the direction was given for a policy which was carried out as soon as the conquest of foreign territories created the material conditions. (For the carrying out and results of the program of the Nazi conspirators against Jewry, see Chapter XII.) In the final period of the anti-Jewish crusade very few legislative measures were passed. The Jews were delivered to the SS and various extermination staffs. The last law dealing with the Jews in Germany, signed by Frick, Bormann, Schwerin V. Krosigk, and Thierach, put them entirely outside the law and ordered the confiscation by the State of the property of dead Jews (1422– PS). This law was a weak reflection of a factual situation already in existence. Dr. Wilhelm Stuckart, assistant to Frick, stated at that time: "The aim of the racial legislation may be regarded as already achieved and consequently the racial legislation as essentially closed. It led to the temporary solution of the Jewish problem and at the same time prepared the final solution. Many regulations will lose their practical importance as Germany approaches the achievement of the final goal in the Jewish problem." (Stuckart and Schiedermair: Rassen und Erbpflege in der Gesetzgebung des Reiches (The care for Race and Heredity in the Legislation of the Re Leipzig, 1943, p. 14.) |