18 Dec. 45
the execution of the policy to strip the occupied
countries of the accumulated product of centuries of devotion to art and
the pursuit of learning.
May I digress here a moment and state that we are not going to offer
all the documents and all the details because our Soviet and French
colleagues will offer a great many of the detailed documents in support
of their case on War Crimes.
I now offer in evidence Document 136-PS as Exhibit USA-367. And that is
an order of Hitler dated the 29th of January 1940 which set into motion
the art-seizure program that was to envelop the continent. I now offer
the original. I call Your Honors' attention to this original, being
signed by Adolf Hitler, and I believe it is in the famous Jumbo type. I
quote the order in its entirety. It is very short:
"The 'Hohe Schule' is to become the
center for National Socialistic research, indoctrination, and
education. It will be established after the conclusion of the war. I
order that the already initiated preparations be continued by
Reichsleiter Alfred Rosenberg — especially in the way of research
and setting up of the library.
"All sections of the Party and State are required to co-operate
with him in this task."
Although the above order makes no specific mention of the seizure of art
properties, by the 5th of November 1940 the program had extended beyond
its original scope to include the seizure of Jewish art collections.
I now offer in evidence Document Number 141-PS (Exhibit
USA-368), which is a certified copy of an order signed by Göring
dated 5 November 1940, in which the Defendant Göring states-, and I
quote:
"In conveying the measures taken
until now for the securing of Jewish art property by the Chief of the
Military Administration, Paris, and the Einsatzstab Rosenberg ... the
art objects brought to the Louvre will be disposed of in the following
way:
"1. Those art objects the decision as to the use of which the Führer
will reserve for himself;
"2. Those art objects which serve the completion of the Reich
Marshal's collection;
"3. Those art objects and library materials which seem useful
for the establishment of the Hohe Schule and for the program of
Reichsleiter Rosenberg;
"4. Those art objects which are suitable for sending to the
German museums ... "