. ©MAZAL LIBRARY

NMT04-T0714


. NUERNBERG MILITARY TRIBUNAL
Volume IV · Page 714
Previous Page Home PageArchive
 
2. GERMAN PEOPLE'S LIST (DVL) 
 
 
a. Selections from the Evidence of the Prosecution 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THE TESTIMONY OF
PROSECUTION WITNESS KUNO WIRSICH* 
 
DIRECT EXAMINATION 
 
MR. SCHWENK: Witness, will you please state your name.

WITNESS WIRSICH: My name is Kuno Wirsich. 
 
* * * * * * * * * * 
 
MR. SCHWENK: Witness, when did you get in contact for the first time with the organization of the Staff Main Office?

WITNESS WIRSICH: That was on 16 January 1940. At that time, I began my work with the Reich Commissioner.

Q. In which capacity were you employed at that time?

A. First of all, I was a legal expert, and I was the deputy to the head of the legal department, in approximately the middle of February 1942.

Q. Who was your chief at that time-your immediate chief? A. My direct superior was the head of the legal department, Attorney Goetz.

Q. Were you promoted afterwards, and when?

A. In the middle of February 1942, Attorney Goetz, within the agency, was given another assignment, and I occupied his position as the head of the legal department. This was sometimes called the Chief Legal Advice Department Staff Office. 
 
* * * * * * * * * * 
 
Q. I am now turning to a new subject matter; the DVL procedure. Will you please explain, Witness, what the "Deutsche Volksliste", DVL, meant?

A. Those parts of Poland incorporated into the Reich in 1939, that is, particularly the old provinces of Poznan, West Prussia, and Upper Silesia contained a certain number of people of German racial descent. In addition, there were a number of people whose descent and ethnic origin were obscure. The aim of the German People's List was that those people who were of German descent and of German ethnic descent were to be ascertained and were to be Germanized.

Q. Which were the basic decrees for the "Deutsche Volksliste", the German People's List; how did it come into existence?

A. The "Deutsche Volksliste" existed already since the fall of 1939. The local agencies, regional subprefects [Landraete], and
__________
* Complete testimony is recorded in mimeographed transcript, 27-24 October 1947, pp. 207-380.
 
 
 
714
Next Page NMT Home Page