end. "The more we suffier the more brilliant will be the revival of eter­ nal Germany." "I have sown good seed, I have implanted in the heart of the German people a proper un­ derstanding of its war of survival." Eichmann ~ Role (25 February). "In this cruel world in which we have been plunged in~ to two wars, only those white races in the Destruction of Jews will survive and prosper who know how to suffer, who have the courage to fight, even without hope, until By DR. J. KERMISCH death . .." This was the explanation offered by the criminal. But at that INCE the Nuremberg Trials-as Jundenfrage", and at the same time time others were explaining it quite the arraignment of twenty one was engaged in the complete imple­ differently. S leading war criminals before the In­ mentation of the plans, gave his or­ Among the handful of Jews still ternational Military Tribunal in that ders, as far was possible, orally. For surviving in these last months of the city is known-the world has be­ obvious reasons this method was al­ war, and who were still capable of come more closely acquainted with so adopted by other important Nazis thought, some pondered the reasons the name of SS Obersturmbann­ in carrying out their criminal plans. for the delaying of the end and of fUhrer Adolf Eichmann, "that sin­ In spite of this, however, there re­ death and destruction which that ister figure", as he was termed at mains a not inconsiderable body of delay spelt. They came to this con­ the time by the American Public written documents bearing Eich­ d1\sion: Prosecutor J ackson,-"upon whom mann's signature and touching upon "It is only right and just that the was laid the duty of destroying the this aspect of his work, which have Germans should prove obstinate Jews." After the names of the four survived. Needless to say, what has and carryon the war. Only thus principal German Nazi criminals, reached us is only a small part. We will they feel what it is like to leaders of the Third Reich-Hitler, know that Eichmann made a note be without a roof, to be expelled Himmler, Bormann and Goebbels­ of every official conversation he had and forced to wander, to fear. that of Eichmann was the one most with his superiors. Minutes were Only if they prove obstinate will frequently mentioned in the course taken of all official conferences and their cities be destroyed, their of that protracted trial. meetings dealing with all sorts of houses burnt and their factories It is interesting to cite the verdict details of the implementation of the ruined,-and thereby they will of that Tribunal, speaking of Eich­ plans for the destruction of eleven suffer a modicum of punishment." mann: The persecution of Jews million Jews, who, according to Na­ These Jews recalled the tale of perpetrated by the Nazis in Germany zi statistics, were at that time living Pharaoh of Egypt whose heart was before the War, however harsh and in Europe. hardened by God lest he submit to repressive, cannot possibly be com­ Eichmann insisted that his col­ the command, "Let my people go!" pared with the anti-Jewish policy leagues, dispersed over the entire It is a story that has always aroused adopted by the Germans in the ter­ Reich and the occupied territories, astonishment and doubt. After hard­ ritories they occupied during the Se­ submit precise reports on every ac­ ening Pharaoh's heart, could God cond World War. Here the Jews tion they undertook. We know, how­ punish him for that same hardness were compelled to live in separate ever, that prior to the defeat of the of heart? But at that time the Jews ghettos and to work beyond their Third Reich Eichmann took the appreciated the essential justice of strength. But that was not enough. trouble to destroy all the documents the tale: In the summer of 1941 plans be­ of his office and all proof of his Sometimes the only way whereby gan to be prepared for the final "so­ crimes. a little justice can be realized in the lution" of the Jewish problem in But he was not as successful as world, the only way whereby the Germany and in all occupied Eu­ he wished, and even if he succeeded world can be saved from being con­ rope. This final solution of the Jew­ in destroying the original docu­ verted into Sodom and Gomorrah ish problem (the official German ments, a large number of copies lies in that Pharaoh's heart conti­ term was "Endlosung der Juden­ and other written material of his nued to be hard and obstinate ... frage") meant: the physical exter­ office, sent to various other offices The tale of Pharoah of Egypt has mination of all the Jews, which Hit­ in the Reich, were not destroyed repeated itself. Without any pros­ ler had threatened as early as Jan­ at the close of the War. In this pect whatever, without the slightest 'uary 1939 in the event of the out­ respect the Eichmann documents to vestige of faith, without any hope, break of a world war. For this pur­ be found in the Archives of the Germany's blood was being shed. pose a special department of the German Ministry of Foreign Af­ "Indeed sometimes history deve­ Gestapo was established, under the fairs which were preserved-of lops in such a fashion that there leadership of Eichmann, who had to which a microfilm is kept in Yad is no other way to salvage a last implement that policy of extermina­ Washem-are particularly impor­ spark of honesty and justice in tion. tant. The question may be asked: the world, but by the criminals I t must be emphasized that this What connection was there bet­ themselves becoming the instru­ Jewish "department" of the Gesta­ ween the Foreign Ministry and a ments of their own punishment."* po, which was part of' the German department of the Gestapo, dealing "Reich's Security Head Office" with purely internal affairs? The * The above quotations are from a~ (RSHA), was declared a criminal Gestapo as a section of the Reich's article "In those days" printed in the organization in the verdict. Security Head Office came under Yiddischer Kemple?", New York, in Eichmann as the chief expert in Himmler, who in this respect be­ March 1947, and reprinted in my all matters pertaining to the Jews longed to the Ministry of Interior. book, "Wanderings on the Roads of Death," Yad Washem, Jerusalem, in the Third Reich, who evolved It has transpired however, that the 1960. the plans for the "Endlosung der Foreign Ministry had a large share

19 in the destruction of our people in with the same end in view: to pro­ with general German policy-was Europe and collaborated very close­ mote anti-Semitic agitation through­ compelled to adopt a new course, ly with the Jewish department of out the world, after which the time though constantly he saw before the Gestapo in various fields. would in any case come when the himself-like his leader, Hitler-the The destruction of the Jews in problem would be radically solved. world-enemy, the Jew! the friendly States (Slovakia, Bulga­ When, because of the outbreak of What was the nature of Eich­ ria, Rumania, Hungary, etc.), as in War, all chances were lost of gene­ mann's new duties? the defeated Western countries­ rating the hoped-for rising against . In fact, at the beginning of 1940 France, Holland, etc.-was carried the Jews, Eichmann-in keeping Eichmann was no more than a sub- out by Eichmann with the consent .of the latter in the countries men­ tioned. Secondly, Eichmann used to consult the Foreign Ministry on THETALE OF every detail affecting the Jewish ci­ tizens of foreign countries, livin[ in Germany. Without the consent 0: the Foreign Ministry he did not al low himself to take a single step against these Jews. On the other hand, the Foreign Ministry did nothing affecting the Jews, without a prior understanding with the Jew­ ish department of the Gestapo. And when any German Jew applied for permission to leave the country, the Foreign Ministry contacted Eich­ mann-whose opinion decided the matter. Thanks to this correspond­ ence we have information regarding the various phases of the "End­ losung", how it was planned and implemented in the occupied ter­ ritories. It is known that in the begin­ ning, before he entered the role which ultimately led to his present trial, Eichmann headed the Gov­ ernment office, the purpose of which was "to help" Jews to emigrate from all parts of the Reich. In connection with this activity in "helping in every possible way" Jews to emigrate from the Third Reich, it is worthwhile recalling a document drafted by the Foreign Ministry, (dated 25 January 1939 and entitled: "Die Judenfrage als Faktor der Aussenpolitik im Jahre 1938"), in which it is stated: "The ultimate aim of the German Jewish policy is the emigration of all Jews living in the Reich". This must be done mainly because by expelling the Jews from Germany anti-Semi­ tism is intensified in the countries of reception. The report establishes this "factually and convincingly". The author, seeking ways and means of intensifying anti-Semitic tenden­ cies throughout the world, comes to the conclusion that the poorer the On 2 December 1942 the German as follows to this request: The Reichs­ immigrant Jew and the greater the Foreign Ministry addressed an enquiry fUhrer SS (i.e. Himmler) prohibited the burden he imposes upon the country to Eichmann's bureau whether the Reich emigration of Jews from the Reich and receiving him, the sharper the re­ should grant an exit permit to Profes­ the occupied territories already in Oc­ action in that country, and this is sor A.M. Meyers, a Jew, of the Uni­ tober 1941. Only in exceptional cases, the German propagandist interest. versity of The Hague, who wished to where special advantage accrues to the Between the activities of Eich­ go to Switzerland with his wife and Reich, may individual Jews be permit­ mann in his capacity of head of the daughter. ted to emigrate. Central Office for Jewish Emigra­ The Swedish Embassy in Berlin had In view of the shortage of foreign tion and this report of the German offered a sum of 150,000 Swiss francs currency the State Bank and the Eco­ Foreign Ministry there was a close for the issue of the permit. nomic Ministries have proposed that connection. It was the same activity On 11 December, Eichmann replied individual Jews be permitted to leave,

20 ordinate,-an Unterabteilungsleiter man Police, Heinrich Himmler. The the Gestapo ( Geheime Staatspolizei). of one of the offices, which together RSHA comprised seven depart­ The Gestapo was made up of constituted the Gestapo. We must ments, betokened by Roman nu­ "divisions", denoted by the letters recall that at the beginning of the merals from I to VII. The most "A"-"E". Most important for us War the so-called Reich's Security important for us was the IV Bu­ was the IVB division which en­ Head Office (RSHA) was organ­ reau, the function of which was in­ gaged in such problems as "politi­ ized from various German police vestigation in connection with op­ cal catholicism", "political protes­ departments and come under the SS ponents of the regime. Popularly tantism", freemasons, Jewish affairs Reichsfiihrer and Chief of the Ger- this department was konwn as and the like. For these concrete matters the IVB division was di­ vided up into sections, distinguished by the Arabic numerals 1-4. The PROFESSOR MEYERS sections were divided again into sub-section whose token was IVB4b, which dealt with Judenangelegen­ heiten. In connection with the above it is perhaps worthwhile mentioning what the Gestapo was in the eyes of the Nazi German legislator. What the Gestapo meant for the Germans, and especially for the persecuted nations, particularly the Jews, we know well. Under the law for the Geheime Staatspolizei of 1 Februa­ ry, 1936 this body had the follow­ ing function: Alle staatsgefiihrlichen Bestrebun­ gen im gesamten Staatsge biet zu sammeln ' und auszuwerten, die Staatsregierung zu unterrichten und die ubrigen Behorden uber fur sie wichtige F eststellungen auf dem laufenden zu halten und mit Anregungen zu versehen . .. The Gestapo did not only have to seek out and investigate the enemies of the people but also to charge them and punish them. Among the enemies which the Gestapo fought, pride of place, was, of course, given to der ewige Jude, who according to Nazi doctrine was the principal enemy of Germany and responsible for causing the war, in order to destroy Germany. The war upon and liquidation of the "internal enemy" was the main function of the Gestapo. From this stemmed its great power. It may be said that the authority of the Gestapo was unlimited both by Hitlerite law and Hitlerite prac­ tice, which was beyond the law. In regard to the former, we have al­ ready cited the Gestapo law. This in itself was sufficient to make the Ges­ tapo independent of all other or­ gans of the State. In the Third Reich, however, it was not the writ­ provided they are prepared to pay sub­ paid for their departure. In regard to ten law that decided but what was stantial sums of money in foreign cur­ Professor Meyers however, the Eichmann termed in Nazi German juridical rency. Permission has been granted, ac­ Bureau is opposed to his departure, (sic!) literature - V olksempfinden cordingly, in isolated cases to the de­ though, as stated, a sum of 150,000 (the people's feeling). When the law parture of Jews-notwithstanding the francs has been offered. -even the Hitlerite law-was in fa­ fact that for political reasons all Jewish The reasons for this opposition are vour of a Jew in a given case, it was not the written law that count­ emigration is undesirable-under the not sufficiently clear. Eichmann wrote ed, but the unwritten law, the un­ following conditions: the emigrants shall that he was opposed to permitting the defined V olksempfinden. not be young persons whose departure Professor to leave "notwithstanding the The fact that Eichmann was no might threaten the security of the Reich ; sum offered because of his professional more than head of a sub-section of that at least 100,000 Swiss francs be standing". a Gestapo department contradicts

21 his true role and the pOSItion he occupied in German politics (both internal and external). His impor­ tance and power by far exceeded A FRENCH (JEWISH) PRISONER OF WAR his official rank (the highest rank he achieved was Obersturmbann­ SENT TO AUSCHWITZ fuhrer), and his position in the , , ramified and powerfully constructed .r apparatus of the Security Police. Eichmann's power, accordingly de­ rives .from another source. Eich­ mann was personally appointed by the Fuehrer ( or perhaps by the Reichsfuhrer, with the consent of the Fuhrer) as "responsible for the achievement of the solution of the Jewish problem", and as such he was not subordinate to his Grup­ penleiter or even his departmental chief. In this context we must recall the role played by "authorized" and "responsible" persons in Hitler Ger­ many. If any problem became ur­ gent in the eyes of the Fuhrer, he appointed a special trusted aide to solve it. The aide was given wide powers, notwithstanding the fact . that those powers might encroach·· upon, or even run counter to, the'1 ' authority of other organs of the state. Eichmann had his representatives with the German diplomats. He had his men accredited to the sa­ tellite countries (Slovakia, Ruma­ nia, etc.) as experts for Jewish af­ fairs, officially known as Judenbe­ rater or Judenkommissare, who dictated to the dependent states what they should do with their Jews. Thus, for example, in 1942 two of Eichmann's representatives toured unoccupied France, visiting the camps for Jewish refugees in South­ ern France, giving instructions in the crudest terms to the institutions of the French Government, ultim­ ately securing these Jews for their own purposes. When the fortunes of war changed for Germany, the plan for the so­ lution of the Jewish problem on an international scale once again came to the force. Once again anti-Se­ mitic propaganda was intensified­ and international conferences were From this document we learn that adding: "I cannot agree to his return called. It was thought that this time the Nazis executed not only Soviet but on principle." It must be assumed that propaganda would prove more suc­ cessful, as the military victories of also French prisoners of war. In this behind this nonsense about "principle" the "Jewish Bolshevist" Red Army letter of 2 December 1942 Eichmann there is a more tangible reason: the could be stressed. It was even replied to the Foreign Ministry that man was no longer alive. thought that thereby a wedge could it was correct that the "above Jew" The reference is to a former French be introduced between the West had been sent on June 5, 1942 from prisoner-of-war, the Jew Roger Mass, and the East. Once again it was the Foreign Ministry which took the born December 13, 1884 in the town Compiegne where he had been detained task in hand to cement a European in a POW camp, to the east (Auschwitz) of Besanc;on. bloc against world Jewry. The Mi· nistry, needless to say, was assisted by party and State organs, among which we once again find Eich· mann's Judenberater.

22 • On the other hand the Juden­ referent-with the consent of his head undertook to conduct negotia­ EICHMANN'S BLOODHOUNDS ALSO tions with the representatives of HUNTED INDIVIDUALS World Jewry. He met with repre­ sentatives of the Jews in Occupied Slovakia and Hungary (Jews from "outral countries were brought in I '11 neutral Sweden and Switzer- )and) , with the object of saving the Jews, still living in the Third Reich, Ifor a certain price. But the real aim was entirely different: To contact world Jewry with a view to deceiv- ing the latter, to promise and to betray whatever was promised. All means were justified in order to weaken the foes of the Third Reich. But if "you cannot get over it you must go round it" in the words of the folk saying. Negotiations were conducted with the arch-enemy, the World Jew, regarding the emigra­ tion of the Jews surviving in the Reich. It was not the Jews that they were concerned about, but what would they not do to save their own face, and ultimately to secure vic­ tory? Hitler's Germany did not like ? acts of non-agression. Now the time had come to conclude such a pact with World Jewry and in this opera­ tion, as we know, Eichmann once again played a central role.

HISTORY OF THE PLAN TO DESTROY THE JEWS (Continued from page 11) the negotiations for the liberation of one million Jews in exchange for ten thousand trucks, which, it was promised would be used only on the Eastern Front ... This was the last trick of the Nazis, a link in their long chain of deceit which had continued from the very first day. Incidentally the lack of good faith on the part of the Germans in these negotiations is proved by the fact that at this time (the second half of 1944) there were no longer a mil­ lion Jews in the hands of the Ger­ mans, who could be liberated. The negotiations, accordingly, were to create the impression that large num­ Eichmann, whose net covered all Eu­ discovered by "secret means" that the bers of Jews were still alive in the rope to capture millions of Jews did not names of his parents were Ephraim and German occupied territories, and to stop short at the capture of single in­ Eugenia Reiss, pure Jews who had lived indicate that the reports of their des­ dividuals. He spared no investigation and died in Budapest. But in order to truction were at least exaggerated. and did not fail to enlist the aid of sentence the man to death "documents" It is noteworthy that insofar as various Government bodies in order to were necessary. So Eichmann wrote the there still existed a considerable seek out a single humble individual, es­ above letter to the German Foreign Mi­ number of Jews in these territories, pecially when he "feared" that the lat­ nistry (of course, to the notorious Thad­ they were living underground or ter might escape the murderers. den), asking him to instruct the Reich were members of the resistance. This In Berlin a man with a pure Magyar representative in Budapest to investig­ was the "merchandise" offered for name (Messarash) of Hungarian citi­ ate in the Office of the Population Re­ sale. zenship was arrested. He strongly de­ gistry and to transmit to Eichmann the In short: even at the very last nied that he was of Jewish descent. But papers necessary for the killing of the moment the German hangmen con­ Eichmann's bloodhounds had already prisoner Messarosh-Reiss. tinued to deceive the entire world for their own advantage ... 23 - I I EICHMANNJS BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY HIMSELF

I was born in Solingen, Rhineland, ~ntil June 1933-in Upper Austria, fUhrer SS (i.e. Himmler) for inspection on 19.3.1906. I went to primary school Salzburg and Upper Tyrol. At that time of the organization in Upper Austria, in Linz on the Danube where my I was dismissed because of my mem­ in 1932, I was sworn in. father was the manager of the Mu­ bership in the NSDAP (the National On. " 8.1933, upon orders from nicipal Tramways and Power Station. I Socialist Party). The German Consul in the Gauleiter of the NSDAP of Upper completed four forms of the Govern­ Linz testified to this in writing, a copy Austria, Herr Bolek, I went to the Lech­ ment Realschule (non-classical secondary being appended to my personal file in feld Camp for military training. On 19 school) and two years in the Trade the Head Office of the SD. September 19 ... I was transferred to School for Electricity and Building. After being a member of the Austrian the liaison staff of the S'S in Passau, From 1925 to 1927 I was employed Front Fighters Union (a belligerent an­ and when this staff was disbanded, in as a salesman by the Electricity Com­ ti-Marxist organization), I joined the January 1934 I was sent to the Austrian pany of Upper Austria. I left this post NSDAP Austria on 1.4.1932, receiving SS in the Dachau Camp. On October 1, of my own free will, as the Viennese Party Membership Card No. 889,888. At 1934 I was sent to the Head Office of branch of Vacuum Oil offered me the that time I also joined the SS, accord­ the SD where I am employed to this day. post of representative of the company ing to Identity Card No. 45,326. Upon in Upper Austria. I worked for this firm the occasion of the arrival of the Reichs- Adolf Eichmann

OONTENTS

Chronology of the Catastrophe About the Concept and Implementation of Annihilation-N. Blumental The Holocaust of European Jewry Hitler's Political Testament-N. Eck The Problems of the Eichmann Trial­ M. Mushkat EichJnann's Role in The Destruction of Jews-J. Kermisch

Published by Yad Washem-Remembrance Authority for the Disaster and the Heroism, Jerusalem. Printed in Israel by The Jerusalem Post Press, Jerusalem Editor: Dr. Nathan Eck