[Page 86]

entitled, "Operations of the Sipo and the S.D. (S.S., Einsatzkommando Paris) against these organisations and against leading Jewish personages" (the report comes from the S.S. Hauptsturmfuehrer Hagen). I think I might read the beginning:

"From a study of the records collected in Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland, it was possible to conclude that the center of Judaism in Europe and its chief lines of communication with countries overseas must be sought in France. It is on the basis of these observations that the great Jewish organisations already known, such as 'World Jewish Congress'" -- then follows an enumeration -- "have been searched and sealed."

"To sum up, we can say, on the basis of the records which have been collected, that France, where Judaism was linked with Catholicism and with certain important politicians, was its last bulwark on the Continent of Europe."

"After the Armistice and the return to normal life it appeared that almost all the Jewish associations had ceased to exist (in the absence of responsible officials and of persons who gave financial assistance, who had fled into the unoccupied zone) while there was a ever-growing need for aid.

In this there is a very subtle idea. We note that the German legislature, that is to say, the legislature of the Military Command, brought about a great aggravation of social problems, and we conclude that this was to facilitate the general organisation of the Jews. This reasoning confirms, I think, what I said to the Tribunal a while ago, namely, that we were faced with a whole system of measures, the first of which were intended to facilitate the separation of the Jewish community, which was to be exterminated.

Dannecker then explains how a co-ordination committee was created.

I omit the details and come to Page 20, paragraph 2:

"An agreement has been made with the office of the Commandant of Greater Paris that in the future, Jewish organisations may address themselves to the German services only through the intermediary of the Committee of Jewish Co-ordination. In this way all the small Jewish organisations will be forced to combine. Moreover, an agreement has been made with the Paris Office for national relief (Bureau de Secour National) that, after the expiry of a period of four weeks, no Jew can any longer be fed and housed by national relief. The S.N. will appoint a special

[Page 87]

representative to have control the co-ordination committee in this matter. Moreover, the blocking of Jewish holdings in the very near future will force the Jews to ask that the co-ordination committee be authorised to receive gifts from these blocked holdings."

"After the promulgation by the French Government of the Jewish statute of 3rd October, 1940, a certain slowing- down occurred in the solution of the Jewish Question in France, and for this reason the delegate for Jewish Questions worked out plans for a Central Jewish Bureau. The plan was discussed with the military administration on 31st January, 1941. The latter showed no interest, and as the question was a purely political one, it was referred to the S.D. in agreement with the German Embassy."

"The proposal of the Office for Jewish Affairs has been referred to S.S. Brig. Fuehrer Dr. Best by S.S. Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Knochen. This proposal means that a liaison office is to be created which should comprise the representatives of the four offices cited above. The management was to be in the hands of the S.D. delegate for Jewish Questions who was in no way to encroach on the O.K.W., the O.K.H. and the Military Commander in France. As a result of this suggestion, a conference was held on 10th June, 1941. Those who attended were: Ministerial Counsellor Dr. Stortz for the Military Commander in France" -- then German titles follow which have not been translated into French and which are a little hard for me to read. "Dr. Blancke, Economic Service, Counsellor to the Embassy; Dr. Zeitschel, German Embassy; and Obersturmfuehrer S.S. Dannecker. The representatives of the military administration stated clearly that the competence of the S.D. resulted from the decrees of the O.K.W. and of the O.K.H. as well as from the last confidential decree of the Military Commander in France of 25th March, 1941. Dr. Stortz declared that for various reasons it would be better to abstain from setting up a liaison bureau, properly speaking, under the direction of the S.D. S.S. Obersturmfuehrer Dannecker explained for his part that the only thing that mattered was the final settlement of the question, and that consequently the S.D. should be in a position to carry out the orders given by the R.S.H.A."

M. FAURE: I shall simply read one sentence on the same page:

"After the conference they decided to meet every week at the same place, at the office of the delegate for Jewish Questions.

In the course of these meetings they would discuss in common all their aims, experiences and objections."

The following pages of the report can be passed over. They contain appreciations of Vallat, notes relating to the establishment of files concerning the Jews,

[Page 88]

and an analysis of the German ordinances. This is important as showing that these ordinances had their place in the general plan.

Dannecker likewise speaks of the Anti-Jewish Institute, and observes that this institute is financed by the German Embassy.

The report goes on to give statistical notes and concludes with statement of which I shall read only one paragraph:

"I hope I have succeeded in giving an idea of the present situation, and in giving a general view of the difficulties of all kinds that we have had to surmount. I cannot speak of this subject without recalling the really friendly support which has been given to our work by Ambassador Abetz and his representative, Attache Schleier, as well as by S.S. Sturmbannfuehrer and Counsellor to the Embassy, Dr. Zeitschel."

The first heading is "Task of the Sipo and of the S.D. in France"; the second is "Card Index of Jews"; the third, "French Commissariat for Jewish Questions"; the fourth, "The French Anti-Jewish Police." The fifth is entitled "Activity." I shall quote this paragraph:

"Up to now three operations of great scope have been carried out against the Jews of Paris. On each occasion our services have been responsible for selecting the Jews who were to be arrested, and also for all the preparatory work, as well as for the technical organisation of the operations. The Jewish Card Index already described has considerably facilitated the organisation of all these operations."

"A conference has been held every Tuesday since the middle of 1941" -- Page 5 of the document -- "attended by representatives of the following offices:

(1) Military Command, Administrative Staff, Administrative Section.
(2) Administrative Staff, Police Group.
(3) Administrative Staff, Economic Section.
(4) German Embassy in Paris.
(5) Operations Staff West of Reichsleiter Rosenberg.

The result of these conferences was that, except in very rare and isolated cases, Jewish policy in the occupied territories could be made absolutely uniform."

(A recess was taken.)

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