10 Dec
45
only one to whom you should communicate
the contents of this letter.
"I should be obliged if you would acknowledge the receipt of
this letter.
"Heil Hitler, Yours very sincerely, signed, Dr. Lammers."
In the next letter Keitel writes Lammers acknowledging receipt of his
letter and telling of his compliance with the request Keitel also writes
Rosenberg telling him of the action he has taken, Now, the letter to Dr.
Lammers I shall read the text:
"Dear Reich Minister:
"I acknowledge receipt of the copy of the Führer's decree
in which the Führer appointed Reichsleiter Alfred Rosenberg as
his commissioner for the central control of questions connected with
the east European region. I have named General of the Artillery Jodl,
head of the Armed Forces Operational Staff, as my permanent deputy,
and Major General Warlimont as his, deputy to Reichsleiter Rosenberg."
And the letter to Reichsleiter Rosenberg on the same
date:
"The head of the Reich Chancellery
has sent me a copy of the Führer's decree, by which he has
appointed you his commissioner for the central control of questions
connected with the east European region. I have charged General of the
Artillery Jodi, head of the Armed Forces Operational Staff, and his
deputy, Major General Warlimont, with the solving of these questions
as far as they concern the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. Now I
ask you, as for as your office is concerned, to deal with them only."
Immediately upon receipt of the order from Hitler Rosenberg began
building his organization, conferring with the various ministries,
issuing his instructions, and generally making the detailed plans and
preparations necessary to carry out his assigned mission. Although
Rosenberg's files, which were captured intact, were crowded with
documents evidencing both the extent of the preparation and its purpose.
I believe that the citation of a small number which are typical should
be sufficient for the Tribunal and the record. All of those I shall now
discuss were found in the Defendant Rosenberg's files.
Our document numbered 1030-PS is a memorandum, dated 8 May 1941,
entitled, General Instructions for all Reich commissioners in the
occupied Eastern Territories." I offer that in evidence as Exhibit
USA-144.
In these instructions to his chief henchmen Rosenberg outlines the
political aims and purposes the attack. in the second and third
paragraphs of the English translation, which appear on Page 2 of the
German, the following remarks appear.