17 Dec. 45
a leadership which is firmly tied to
National Socialist ideology and which promotes its dissemination with
all of its energy ....
"It is the supreme task of the Reich Organization Leader to
preserve the Party as a well-sharpened sword for the Führer."
The
domination of the German Government by the top members of the Leadership
Corps was facilitated by a circular decree of the Reich Minister of
Justice, dated 17 February 1934, which established equal rank for the
offices within the Reichsleitung of the Leadership Corps and the Reich
offices of the German Government. In this decree it was expressly
provided that, " . . . the supreme offices of the Reich Party
Directorate are equal in rank to the supreme Reich Government
authorities". The Party Manual termed the control exercised over
the machinery of the Government by the Leadership Corps, "the
permeation of the state apparatus with the political will of the Party".
At a later stage in this proceeding it will be shown that the
Leadership Corps of the Nazi Party incontestably dominated the German
State and Government. The control by the Leadership Corps of the German
Government was facilitated by uniting in the same Nazi chieftains both
high offices within the Reichsleitung and the corresponding offices
within the apparatus of the Government. For example, as shown in
Document 2903-PS, Goebbels was Reichsleiter in charge of Party
propaganda, but he was also a cabinet minister in charge of propaganda
and public enlightenment.
Himmler held office within the Reichsleitung as head of the Main Office
for Folkdom and also was Reichsführer of the SS. At the same time,
Himmler held the governmental position of the Reich commissioner for the
consolidation of Germandom, and was the governmental head of the German
police system.
As will be shown, this personal union of high office in the Leadership
Corps and high governmental position in the same Nazi leaders greatly
accommodated the plan of the Leadership Corps to dominate and control
the German State and Government.
In addition to the Reichsleiter the Party Directorate included about 11
Hauptämter, or main offices, and about four Ämter, or offices.
As set forth in the exhibit, the Hauptämter of the Party included
such main organizations as those for personnel, training, technology,
headed by the Defendant Speer; folkdom, headed by Himmler; civil
servants, communal policy, and the like. The Ämter or offices, of,
the Party within the Reichsleitung included the office for foreign
policy under the Defendant Rosenberg which, the evidence will show,
actively participated in plans for the launching