. NMT04-T1071
Volume IV · Page 1071
| EXTRACT FROM THE CLOSING
STATEMENT* FOR DEFENDANT HOFMANN |
| It remains to be discussed whether and to
what extent a participation of Hofmann in the action in Southern Carinthia and
Lower Styria can be established. Schafhauser mentioned in his affidavit, Document NO-5004, Prosecution Exhibit 703, document book 8-D, that the children had been racially examined by RuSHA before they reached the camp. But he also mentioned that they had been forcibly separated from their parents in June or July 1943, in other words at a time when Hofmann did not hold office in RuSHA any longer. Inasmuch as parts of the population in the Austrian border areas were deported, this was a police action taken for reasons of military security, or it concerned the deportation of members of partisan bands and their families. The racial screenings carried out in this connection have been fully discussed by the witness Roedel. (Tr. p. 3452.) Whereas, in the prosecution affidavits it is mentioned repeatedly that Roedel received his instructions from a certain RuS Field Leader, Obersteiner, it must be kept in mind that Obersteiner was then holding a twofold position. He was a RuS field leader attached to the Higher SS and Police Leader and at the same time Referent [Sachbearbeiter] of the Deputy of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism. (Tr. pp. 1992-3.) In both cases, he was subject to the supervision of the Higher SS and Police Leader, in other words he was responsible to the Higher SS and Police Leader. In his capacity as RuS field leader, only technical directives could be given to him by RuSHA. Insofar as plans and measures concerning the re-Germanization of children were concerned, he did not receive any instructions from the defendant Hofmann either directly or through Obersteiner. Roedel has pointed out particularly that he did not submit to RuSHA a report on the St. Veit camp. (Tr. p. 3452.) He was not in charge of the Veldes camp. The document (NO-3019, Pros. Ex. 394) as such confirms that this statement is correct. The letterhead reads: "The Higher SS and Police Leader in the Military District XVIII, Deputy of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism," and the letter is signed, "By order: [Signed] OBERSTEINER." On page 2 of the document, it is said: "SS Captain Roedel is commissioned by the Higher SS and Police Leader Alpenland with the classification of the families and their children respectively and will arrange for the lists and card indices to be handed |
* This part of the closing statement was not read into the record but was presented to the Tribunal in the form of a brief. Closing statement is recorded in mimeographed transcript. 17 February 1948, pp. 5077-5112
