The Mazal Library

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NMT05-T0149

NUERNBERG MILITARY TRIBUNAL
Volume V · Page 149

effectively as possible acid of separating from both these groups their property located in the occupied Eastern territories as soon as feasible, my office is of the opinion that real estate situated in the annexed Eastern areas, and belonging to members of groups 3 and 4 of the list should be expropriated * * *.

"My office proposes to expropriate the property of these persons under the law concerning the treatment of property belonging to nationals of the former Polish State * * *."

While in that correspondence Greifelt further voiced the opinion that in the case of group 3 compensation should be paid, and in the case of group 4 partial compensation should be paid, this procedure was never followed; and, as we have shown, future measures adopted explicitly provided that no compensation at all should be paid for confiscated property.

As early as 4 October 1940, Greifelt expressly ordered the confiscation of property. In an order to the Central Land Office he declared:

"I wish to inform you that real property of people of Polish citizenship but who belong to other ethnic groups is on principle subject to requisition and confiscation in pursuance of the provisions of the decree concerning the handling of property of citizens of the former Polish State. This applies particularly to real estate of owners belonging to the Czechoslovakian, Russian, and Lithuanian ethnic groups. "I request that the land offices be instructed accordingly and that the necessary action be taken."

Confiscation of property was carried out in such a ruthless and indiscriminate manner that it caused the Reich Minister of Justice to enter a protest against the extent of confiscation of Polish Property. In a letter direct to Himmler on 22 May 1942, the Reich Minister of Justice complained that a sudden action had taken place whereby all live and dead stock belonging to former owners of Polish property had suddenly been seized. He reported:

"During the execution of this order, of which neither the Gauleiter nor the Landrat of the Kreis Bielitz had any knowledge as it was probably initiated by the decision of the head of the Gau Office Strengthening of Germanism, the Poles were robbed not only of their technical appliances but also of their food and personal articles and clothes.

"The Polish inhabitant who has been left practically without means after the extent of the confiscation has become very agitated, which might result in further expressions of hate and acts of sabotage against Germans. The action will also have bad effects as far as nutrition policies are concerned."

Greifelt answered the complaint of the Reich Minister of Justice

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