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NUERNBERG MILITARY TRIBUNAL
Volume IV · Page 1115

Prague, 22 September 1944
Main Post Office

Subject: Marriages of Polish protectees.

Reference: 1. Circular Decree of the Reich Ministry of
                     the Interior, dated 10 January 1944
                     concerning the fixing of a minimum
                     marriage age (made known in distribution
                     list III/RA 38/44).
                2. Chief Rus/RA-73/44, dated 26 July 1944.

Distribution list: III

There were doubts concerning the fact of whether the above-mentioned circular of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, dated 10 January 1944, applied only to marriages of Polish protectees among themselves, or whether it was to be applied also in general cases of marriage between Polish protectees and stateless persons or other aliens.

In connection with this, the following needs to be pointed out:

1. The circular of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, dated 10 January 1944, concerning the fixing of a minimum marriage age for Polish protectees refers only to marriages of protectees with each other.

The Circular was issued on the basis of Article 11 and by applying Article 8, paragraph 3 of the first Ordinance Concerning the Status of Protectees, which provides that marriages between protectees are not subject to any restrictions, insofar as nothing else is provided on the basis of Art. 11 of this Ordinance.

2. Marriage of Polish protectees to nonprotectees (that is to say, stateless persons or other aliens) are subject to Art. 8, paragraph 1 of the Ordinance Concerning the Status of Protectees which prohibits marriage.

Such marriages cannot be concluded until the implementation order to the Ordinance Concerning the Status of Protectees has appeared, since the higher administrative authorities as well as the subordinated bureaus of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism have not issued directives about granting exemptions according to Art. 8, paragraph 2 of the above-mentioned ordinance.

The statement of the above-mentioned facts is made in agreement with the Reich Ministry of the Interior. It is requested that cognizance be taken of said facts and that action be taken accordingly.

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