. NMT04-T1119
Volume IV · Page 1119
| The matter in question was
considered to be a political problem. The attempt must be made in
accordance with political interests to find the most practicable procedure for
the political offices, the judiciary and the administrative authorities. The
various different regulations followed by each district are to be discontinued,
and a uniform procedure for the annexed Eastern territories as well as for the
remaining Reich territory is to be developed. Because of the raising of the marriage age for Poles, the number of legitimate children is reduced, resulting in an increase in the number of illegitimate children. The information most recently obtained showed that the number of illegitimate children is increasing to an even greater extent than the number of legitimate children is decreasing. It must be the purpose of the intended regulation to reduce the number of illegitimate children as far as possible, but in no way to cause a further increase.¹ |
|
| * * * * * * * * * * | |
| [Signed] HARDERS
SS Captain |
|
| Berlin, 10 March 1943
Certified true copy [illegible] |
|
| TRANSLATION OF BRUECKNER DOCUMENT 12 BRUECKNER DEFENSE EXHIBIT 12 |
|
| AFFIDAVIT OF JOSEF
ALTSTOETTER², 19 NOVEMBER 1947, CONCERNING THE FILE MEMORANDUM OF THE CONFERENCE AT THE REICH MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ON 10 MARCH 1943 (NO-1126, PROS. EX. 419) |
|
| I, Josef Altstoetter, born 4
January 1898 in Griesbach, at present Nuernberg Military Court Prison, was at
first duly warned that I make myself liable to punishment by rendering a false
affidavit. I declare in lieu of oath that my statement is true and was made to
be presented in evidence before the Military Tribunal I, Nuernberg, Germany.
1. From January 1943 until the end of the war I was department chief in the Reich Ministry of Justice in charge of civil law and civil law administration. 2. In the spring of 1943 I presided over a departmental conference that took place at the Reich Ministry of Justice concerning the settlement of alimony suits brought against their procreators by illegitimate Polish children. 3. I no longer remember what authorities or agencies were |
|
¹ Other parts of this document are quoted in the opening statement of the prosecution, pp. 622-694, and in the judgment, section IX, vol. V of this series.
² Defendant in Case 3, United States of America vs. Josef Altstoetter, et al., vol. III, this series.
