4 Jan. 46
not be evacuated. Since this assurance was also
intended for General Eisenhower, he was doubly disappointed at this
breach of promise. Muesi, Jr., called on me personally at my office. He
was deeply offended and reproached me bitterly. I could not understand
what had happened; and I at once contacted Himmler's secretary,
protesting against this sort of procedure. Shortly after, it was
admitted that the facts as depicted by Muesi, Jr., were true, although
it was still incomprehensible, because Himmler had not given these
orders. I was assured that everything would be done to put an immediate
halt to the evacuations. This was confirmed on the telephone personally
by Himmler a few hours later. I believe it was on the same day, after a
meeting of office chiefs, that I informed Kaltenbrunner of the situation
and expressed my profound concern at this new breach of international
assurances. As I paused in the conversation, the Chief of the State
Police, Gruppenführer Müller, interrupted and explained that
he had started the evacuation of the more important internees from the
individual camps 3 days ago on Kaltenbrunner's orders. Kaltenbrunner
replied with these words:
"Yes, that is correct. It was an
order of the Führer which was also recently confirmed by the Führer
in person. All the important internees are to be evacuated at his
order to the south of the Reich."
He then turned to me mockingly and, speaking in dialect, said:
"Tell your old gentleman (i.e. Muesi,
Sr.) that there are still enough left in the camps. With that you too
can be satisfied."
I think
this was on 10 April 1945.
COL. AMEN: That is all, may it please the Tribunal.
THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): Can you say now what the functions of
the RSHA were?
SCHELLENBERG: That I cannot answer in one sentence. I believe ...
THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): Be brief, be brief! What were the
aims?
SCHELLENBERG: The RSHA was a comprehensive grouping of the Security
Police, that is, the State Police ...
THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): We know about this organization on the
basis of the documents which are at the disposal of thee Court, but what
were its functions?
SCHELLENBERG: I just wanted to explain its functions. Its functions
consisted of security, that is, State Police activity, of Criminal
Police activity, and of intelligence activity at home and abroad.