administration of the Government General in Poland.
The main exploitation of the raw materials in the East was centered
on agricultural products and very large amounts of food were shipped
from the Government General to Germany.
The evidence of the widespread starvation among the Polish People
in the Government General indicates the ruthlessness and the severity
with which the policy of exploitation was carried out.
The occupation of the territories of the U.S.S.R. was
characterized by premeditated and systematic looting. Before the
attack on the U.S.S.R. an economic staff — Oldenburg — was
organized to ensure the most efficient exploitation of Soviet
territories. The German Armies were to be fed out of Soviet
territory, even if "many millions of people will be starved to
death." An OKW directive issued before the attack said: "To
obtain the greatest possible quantity of food and crude oil for
Germany — that is the main economic purpose of the
campaign."
Similarly, a declaration by the Defendant Rosenberg of 20 June
1941 had advocated the use of the produce from Southern Russia and of
the Northern Caucasus to feed the German People, saying:
"We see absolutely no reason for
any obligation on our part to feed also the Russian People with the
products of that surplus territory. We know that this is a harsh
necessity, bare of any feelings."
When the Soviet territory was occupied, this policy
was put into effect; there was a large scale confiscation of
agricultural supplies, with complete disregard of the needs of the
inhabitants of the occupied territory.
In addition to the seizure of raw materials and manufactured
articles, a wholesale seizure was made of art treasures, furniture,
textiles, and similar articles in all the invaded countries.
The Defendant Rosenberg was designated by Hitler on 29 January
1940 Head of the Center for National Socialist Ideological and
Educational Research, and thereafter the organization known as the
"Einsatzstab Rosenberg" conducted its operations on a very
great scale. Originally designed for the establishment of a research
library, it developed into a project for the seizure of cultural
treasures. On 1 March 1942 Hitler issued a further decree,
authorizing Rosenberg to search libraries, lodges, and cultural
establishments, to seize material from these establishments, as well
as cultural treasures owned by Jews. Similar directions were given
where the ownership could not be clearly established. The decree
directed the co-operation of the Wehrmacht High Command, and
indicated that Rosenberg's activities in the West were to be
conducted in his capacity as Reichsleiter, and in the East in his
capacity as Reichsminister. Thereafter, Rosenberg's activities were
extended to the occupied countries. The