. NMT03-T1135
Volume III · Page 1135
| Gerichts…] assessor) on 7 August 1933.
In quick succession he became assistant public prosecutor (1 September 1933),
public prosecutor (1 January 1934), senior public prosecutor (1 February 1935),
and chief public prosecutor (1 November 1936). Between August 1933 and October 1937, Joel was the chief of a newly created subdepartment of the Reich Ministry of Justice, the Central Public Prosecution (Zentralstaatsanwaltschaft). In October 1937 this subdepartment was dissolved, but the Reich Minister of Justice, Guertner, reserved the right to assign Joel as "Referent" for special cases and subsequently made use of this right. After the dissolution of the Central Public Prosecution, Joel worked as "Referent" in the Ministry's Penal Department III (later renumbered IV). By a formal letter of appointment, dated 19 December 1937 and signed by Minister Guertner, Joel was, in addition to his other duties, appointed liaison officer between the Reich Ministry of Justice and the SS, including the SD, as well as the Gestapo. A few months later, namely, in a letter of 2 May 1938, signed by Heydrich, Joel was, effective 30 January 1938, admitted to the SS and, effective the same day, promoted to the rank of SS Untersturmfuehrer and given the position of leader (Fuehrer) in the SD Main Office (Security Service Main Office). His SS personnel record shows how quickly he climbed to high positions in the SS and the SD: on 11 September 1938 he became SS Obersturmfuehrer; on 30 January 1939, SS Hauptsturmfuehrer; on 26 September 1940, SS Sturmbannfuehrer-holding all these ranks as leader in the SD Main Office. The record shows that in his capacity as SS officer Joel was, between 2 and 8 May 1939, sent on an official mission for the Security Office (SD). An official letter from the Reich Leader of SS, Chief of the Security Service Main Office, dated 28 April 1939, so notified the Reich Minister of Justice. Again, on 4 July 1940, the Chief of the Security Police and the Security Service informed the Reich Ministry of Justice that Joel had been "put on the list of indispensable persons on behalf of the Reich Leader SS and Chief of the German Police," thereby reserving to the Security Police and the Security Service the indispensable service of Joel and freeing him from military service. But in his answer, dated 11 July 1940, to this request, Freisler, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, asked: |
"To refrain from calling upon SS Captain Joel, senior public prosecutor, for taking over duties for the Reich Leader SS and Chief of the German Police. Dr. Joel, as you know, is entrusted with extremely important reports at my ministry." |
