13 Dec.
45
Jews in the Reich at present are being
criticized. It is being tried intentionally, as is obvious from the
reports on the morale, to talk about cruelty, harshness, et cetera.
Before I continue, I would beg you to agree with me on the following
formula: We will principally have pity on the German people only and
nobody else in the whole world. The others, too, had no pity on us. As
an old National Socialist I must also say: This war would be only a
partial success if the whole lot of Jewry would survive it, while we
would have shed our best blood in order to save Europe. My attitude
towards the Jews will, therefore, be based only on the expectation
that they must disappear. They must be done away with. I have entered
negotiations to have them deported to the East. A large conference
concerning that question, to which I am going to delegate the State
Secretary Dr. Bühler will take place in Berlin in January. That
discussion is to take place in the Reich Security Main Office with SS
Lieutenant General Heydrich. A great Jewish migration will begin, in
any case. "But what should be done with the Jews? Do you think
they will be settled down in the 'Ostland' in villages? This is what
we were told in Berlin: Why all this bother? We can do nothing with
them either in the 'Ostland' or in the 'Reichskommissariat.' So
liquidate them yourselves.
"Gentlemen, I must ask you to arm yourselves against all feeling
of pity. We must annihilate the Jews, wherever we find them and
wherever it is possible, in order to maintain there the structure of
the Reich as a whole. This will, naturally, be achieved by other
methods than those pointed out by Bureau Chief Dr. Hummel. Nor can the
judges of the Special Courts be made responsible for it because of the
limitations of the frame work of the legal procedure. Such outdated
views cannot be applied to such gigantic and unique events. We must
find at any rate a way which leads to the goal, and my thoughts are
working in that direction.
"The Jews represent for us also extraordinarily malignant
gluttons. We have now approximately, 2,500,000 of them in the
Government General, perhaps with the Jewish mixtures and everything
that goes with it, 3,500,000 Jews. We cannot shoot or poison those
3,500,000 Jews; but we shall nevertheless be able to take measures
which will lead, somehow, to their annihilation, and this in
connection with the gigantic measures to be determined in discussions
with the Reich. The Government General must become free of Jews, the
same as the Reich. Where and how this is to be achieved is a matter
for the offices which we must appoint and create here. Their
activities will be brought to your attention in due course."