17 Dec. 45
I now offer in evidence Document 630-PS, Exhibit Number
USA342. If Your Honor pleases, I would like to call to your attention
that this is on the personal stationery of Adolf Hitler, dated 1
September 1939. It is addressed to Reichsleiter Bouhler and Doctor of
Medicine Brandt, and it is signed personally by Adolf Hitler. I want to
quote all of that document; it is short:
"Reichsleiter Bouhler and Dr. Brandt
are charged with the responsibility of enlarging the authority of
certain physicians to be designated by name in such a manner that
persons who, according to human judgment, are incurable can, upon a
most careful diagnosis of their condition of sickness, be accorded a
mercy death. Signed, A. Hitler."
A handwritten note on the face of the document states: "Given to me
by Bouhler on 27 August 1940. Signed, Dr. Gürtner.''
In a memorandum recording an agreement between himself and Himmler, the
Minister of Justice Thierack stated that on the suggestion of
Reichsleiter Bormann an agreement had been reached between Himmler and
himself with respect to "special treatment at the hands of the
police in cases where judicial sentences were not severe enough."
I will offer Document 654-PS, Exhibit Number USA-218, which was
previously introduced, and I want to quote one portion:
"The Reich Minister of Justice will
decide whether and when special treatment at the hands of the police
is to be applied. The Reich Führer SS will send the reports,
which he sent hitherto to Reichsleiter Bormann, to the Reich Minister
of Justice."
If the views of
the Reich Führer SS and the Reich Minister of Justice disagreed, "the
opinion of Reichsleiter Bormann will be brought to bear upon the case,
and he will possibly inform the Führer."
In the above note it is further stated:
"The delivery of asocial elements
from execution of their sentence to the Reich Führer of SS to be
worked to death: Persons under preventative arrest, Jews, Gypsies,
Russians and Ukrainians, Poles with more than 3-year sentences, Czechs
and Germans with more than 8-year sentences, according to the decision
of the Reich Minister of Justice. First of all the worst asocial
elements amongst those just mentioned are to be handed over. I shall
inform the Führer of this through Reichsleiter Bormann."
With respect to the "administration of justice by the people,"
he continues: