1. Seizure of Jewish Property. The first illustration
is contained in the decree signed by Lohse,
Reichscommissar for the Ostland, which is published in
the Verordnungsblatt of
[Page 614]
the Reichscommissar for the Ostland, 1942, No. 38,
pages 158 and 159. This decree provides for the seizure
of the entire property of the Jewish population in the
Ostland, including the claims of Jews against third
parties. The seizure was made retroactive to the day of
the occupation of the territory by the German troops.
This sweeping decree was issued and published by
Rosenberg's immediate subordinate, and it must be
assumed that Rosenberg knew of it and acquiesced in it.
The power to enact such a decree, as previously
outlined, arose by virtue of delegation of that power
by Rosenberg to the Reichscommissar.
2. Extermination of Jews. The second illustration is
the report of the prison warden of Minsk that 516
German and Russian Jews had been killed. The warden
called attention to the fact that valuable gold had
been lost due to the failure to knock out the tooth-
fillings of the victims before they were done away with
(R-135).
3. Deportations for Forced Labor. The third
illustration is a letter which Rosenberg wrote to
Sauckel on 21 December 1942 in the following terms:
"I thank you very much for your report on the
execution of the great task given to you, and I am
glad to hear that in carrying out your mission you
have always found the necessary support, even on
the part of the civilian authorities in the
occupied Eastern territories. For myself and the
officials under my command this collaboration was
and is self-evident, especially since both you and
I have, with regard to the solution of the labor
problem in the East, represented the same view-
points from the beginning." (018-PS)
As late as 11 July 1944 the Rosenberg Ministry was
actively concerned with the continuation of the forced
labor program in spite of the retreat from the East. A
letter from Alfred Meyer, Rosenberg's deputy, addressed
to Sauckel, dated 11 July 1944 shows that this time it
is Rosenberg's Ministry that is urging action:
"1. *** The war employment command
[Kriegseinsatzkommando] formerly stationed in
Minsk must continue under all circumstances the
calling in of your white Ruthenian and Russian
manpower for military employment in the Reich. In
addition, the command has the mission to bring
young boys of 10-14 years of age to the Reich."
(199-PS)
[Page 615]
4. Economic Exploitation. The final illustration of
Rosenberg's criminal responsibility is contained in a
secret letter from Rosenberg to Bormann dated 17
October 1944 (327-PS). It furnishes a graphic account
of Rosenberg's activities in the economic exploitation
of the Occupied East. The first paragraph reads:
"In order not to delay the liquidation of
companies under my supervision, I beg to point out
that the companies concerned are not private firms
but business enterprises of the Reich, so that
also actions with regard to them, just as with
regard to government offices, are reserved to the
highest authorities of the Reich. I supervise the
following companies ***." (327-PS)
There follows a list of nine companies -- a trading
company, an agricultural development company, a supply
company, a pharmaceutical company, and five banking
concerns. The mission of the trading company is stated
to be:
"Collection of all agricultural products as well
as commercial marketing and transportation
thereof. (Delivery to armed forces and the Reich.)
" (327-PS)
The letter continues as follows:
"During this period, the Z.O. (Central Trading
Corporation), together with its subsidiaries, has
collected:
Grain 9,200,000 tons
Meat and meat 622,000 tons
products
Linseed 950,000 tons
Butter 208,000 tons
Sugar 400,000 tons
Fodder 2,500,000 tons
Potatoes 3,200,000 tons
Seeds 141,000 tons
Other 1,200,000 tons
agricultural
products
and 1,075,000,000 eggs
"The following was required for transportation:
"1,418,000 railroad box cars and 472,000 tons of
boat shipping space." (327-PS)
