2 Jan. 46
order that I first referred to — "to
create, for deterrent purposes, through the transportation into Reich
territory of persons arrested in occupied areas on account of activity
inimical to Germany, uncertainty about the fate of prisoners among
their relatives and acquaintances. This goal would be jeopardized if
the relatives were to be notified in cases of death. Release of the
body for burial at home is inadvisable for the same reason, and beyond
that also because the place of burial could be misused for
demonstrations.
"I therefore propose that the following rules be observed in the
handling of cases of death:
"a. Notification of relatives is not to take place.
"b. The body will be buried at the place of decease in the
Reich.
"c. The place of burial will, for the time being, not be made
known."
Now passing to the
next activity of the SD and Gestapo, which was that they arrested,
tried, and punished citizens of occupied countries under special
criminal procedure and by summary methods. And I next offer in evidence
Document 674-PS, Exhibit Number USA-505.
The Gestapo arrested, placed in protective custody, and executed
civilians of occupied countries under certain circumstances. Even where
there were courts capable of handling emergency cases the Gestapo
conducted its own proceedings without regard to normal judicial
processes.
This document, 674-PS, Exhibit Number USA-505, is a letter from the
Chief Public Prosecutor at Katowice, dated the 3rd of December 1941; and
it is addressed to the Reich Minister of Justice, attention Chief
Councillor to the Government Stadermann or representative in office,
Berlin. The subject is "Executions by the Police and Expediting of
Penal Procedure; without order; enclosure: 1 copy of report." I
quote from the beginning:
"About 3 weeks ago, six ringleaders
(some of them German) were hanged by the police in connection with the
destruction of a treasonable organization of 350 members in Tarnowskie
Góry without notification of the competent court. Such
executions of criminals have previously taken place in the Bielsko
district, too, without the Public Prosecutor having knowledge of them.
On 2 December 1941 the head of the State Police at Katowice,
Oberregierungsrat Mildner, reported orally to the undersigned that he
had ordered, with authority from the Reichsführer of the SS as
necessary immediate action, these executions by public hanging at the
place of