Chapter XII: on Persecution of the Jews.) (1)

It was to the task of educating and poisoning the people with hate, and of producing murderers, that Streicher set himself. For 25 years he continued unrelentingly the perversion of the people and youth of Germany. He went on and on, as he saw the results of his work bearing fruit.

In the early days he was preaching persecution. As persecution took place he preached extermination and annihilation and, as millions of Jews were exterminated and annihilated, in the Ghettos of the East, he cried out for more and more.

The crime of Streicher is that he made these crimes possible, which they would never have been had it not been for him and for those like him. Without Streicher and his propaganda, the Kaltenbrunners, the Himmlers, the General Stroops would have had nobody to do their orders.

In its extent Streicher’s crime is probably greater and more far-reaching than that of any of the other defendants. The misery which they caused ceased with their capture. The effects of this man’s crime, of the poison that he has put into the minds of millions of young boys and girls goes on, for he concentrated upon the youth and childhood of Germany. He leaves behind him a legacy of almost a whole people poisoned with hate, sadism, and murder, and perverted by him. That people remain a problem and perhaps a menace to the rest of civilization for generations to come.

* * * * *

LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO JULIUS STREICHER

│ │ │
Document │ Description │ Vol. │ Page
│ │ │
│Charter of the International Military │ │
│ Tribunal, Article 6. │ I │ 5
│International Military Tribunal, │ │
│ Indictment Number 1, Section IV (H);│ │
│ Appendix A. │ I │ 29, 66
│ ———— │ │
│Note: A single asterisk (*) before a │ │
│document indicates that the document │ │
│was received in evidence at the │ │
│Nurnberg trial. A double asterisk (**)│ │
│before a document number indicates │ │
│that the document was referred to │ │
│during the trial but was not formally │ │
│received in evidence, for the reason │ │
│given in parentheses following the │ │
│description of the document. The USA │ │
│series number, given in parentheses │ │
│following the description of the │ │
│document, is the official exhibit │ │
│number assigned by the court. │ │
│ ———— │ │
*1724-PS │Announcement in Press Conference, 4 │ │
│August 1938, of breaking up of │ │
│synagogue. (USA 266) │ IV │ 224
│ │ │
*1757-PS │Report of Goering’s Commissioners for │ │
│investigation of Aryanisations. (GB │ │
│175) │ IV │ 283
│ │ │
1778-PS │Book “The Poisonous Mushroom”, │ │
│published in Nurnberg 1938, concerning│ │
│Jews. (USA 257) │ IV │ 358
│ │ │
*1814-PS │The Organization of the NSDAP and its │ │
│affiliated associations, from │ │
│Organization book of the NSDAP, │ │
│editions of 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1943,│ │
│pp. 86-88. (USA 328) │ IV │ 411
│ │ │
*1965-PS │Article by Streicher, 4 November 1943,│ │
│published in Der Stuermer. (GB 176) │ IV │ 602
│ │ │
*2153-PS │Defeat the Enemy of the World, │ │
│published in National Socialist Party │ │
│Correspondence No. 358, 30 March 1933.│ │
│(GB 166) │ IV │ 760
│ │ │
*2154-PS │Streicher decrees, published in │ │
│National Socialist Party │ │
│Correspondence, No. 359, 31 March │ │
│1933. (GB 167) │ IV │ 760
│ │ │
*2156-PS │Announcement of Central Committee for │ │
│defense against Jewish horror and │ │
│boycott agitation, 29 March 1933, │ │
│published in National Socialist Party │ │
│Correspondence No. 357. (USA 263) │ IV │ 761
│ │ │
*2409-PS │Extracts from The Imperial House to │ │
│the Reich Chancellery by Dr. Joseph │ │
│Goebbels. (USA 262) │ V │ 83
│ │ │
2583-PS │Quotation from speech made by │ │
│Streicher, 31 October 1939. │ V │ 311
│ │ │
*2697-PS │Article: “The Chosen People of the │ │
│Criminals” from Der Stuermer, No. 2, │ │
│January 1935. (USA 259) │ V │ 372
│ │ │
*2698-PS │Article: “Two little Talmud Jews”, │ │
│from Der Stuermer, No. 50, December │ │
│1938. (USA 260) │ V │ 372
│ │ │
*2699-PS │Article on Ritual Murder, from Der │ │
│Stuermer, No. 14, April 1937. (USA │ │
│258) │ V │ 372
│ │ │
2700-PS │Article: “The Ritual Murder”, from Der│ │
│Stuermer, No. 28, July 1938. │ V │ 373
│ │ │
*2711-PS │Article: “Symbolic Action”, published │ │
│in Fraenkische Tageszeitung-Nurnberg, │ │
│11 August 1938. (USA 267) │ V │ 376
│ │ │
*2975-PS │Streicher’s affidavit, 19 November │ │
│1945, concerning positions held. (USA │ │
│9) │ V │ 681
│ │ │
*M-1 │Speech by Julius Streicher to Hitler │ │
│Youth on “Holy Mountain”, 22 June │ │
│1935. (GB 178) │ VII │ 1115
│ │ │
*M-2 │Speech by Julius Streicher, 10 May │ │
│1935. (GB 172) │ VIII │ 1
│ │ │
M-3 │Extract from Mein Kampf, p. 440. │ VIII │ 2
│ │ │
*M-4 │Streicher’s speech, 5 September 1937, │ │
│commemorating the opening of the │ │
│Wilhelm-Gustloff Bridge in Nurnberg. │ │
│(GB 171) │ VIII │ 3
│ │ │
M-5 │Report of press conference of 4 August│ │
│1938. │ VIII │ 5
│ │ │
*M-6 │Leading article by Julius Streicher │ │
│from Der Stuermer of September 1936. │ │
│(GB 170) │ VIII │ 6
│ │ │
M-7 │NSDAP Proclamation from Voelkischer │ │
│Beobachter, 29 March 1933, concerning │ │
│the boycott. │ VIII │ 7
│ │ │
*M-8 │Hitler’s visit to Nurnberg on │ │
│Streicher’s 50th birthday, from │ │
│Voelkischer Beobachter, 13 February │ │
│1935. (GB 182) │ VIII │ 8
│ │ │
*M-10 │Streicher’s letter to Archbishop of │ │
│Canterbury, from Special edition of │ │
│The Stuermer in May 1939. (GB 173) │ VIII │ 9
│ │ │
*M-11 │Streicher’s speech in Central Hall of │ │
│Coliseum in Nurnberg, 23 November │ │
│1922. (GB 165) │ VIII │ 10
│ │ │
M-12 │Streicher’s speech, 20 November 1924. │ │
│(GB 165) │ VIII │ 10
│ │ │
*M-13 │Streicher’s speech in Nurnberg, 3 │ │
│April 1925. (GB 165) │ VIII │ 11
│ │ │
*M-14 │Streicher’s speech in the Hercules │ │
│Hall in Nurnberg, 21 April 1932. (GB │ │
│165) │ VIII │ 11
│ │ │
*M-20 │Article from 1935 New Year’s issue of │ │
│“German People’s health from Blood and│ │
│Soil”. (GB 168) │ VIII │ 12
│ │ │
M-21 │Article: “Jewish Blood in a Priest’s │ │
│Robe”, from Der Stuermer, March 1936. │ VIII │ 12
│ │ │
M-22 │Letter from Himmler, 19 January 1937, │ │
│from Der Stuermer, April 1937. │ VIII │ 13
│ │ │
*M-25 │Letter from Der Stuermer, April 1936, │ │
│concerning the teachings to boys and │ │
│girls of Jewish question. (GB 170; USA│ │
│861) │ VIII │ 14
│ │ │
M-26 │Article: “He calls himself a party │ │
│member”, from Der Stuermer, March │ │
│1936. │ VIII │ 15
│ │ │
M-27 │Article: “Friends of the Jews on the │ │
│Moselle”, from Der Stuermer, March │ │
│1936. │ VIII │ 15
│ │ │
M-28 │Article: “She must stick to the Jews”,│ │
│from Der Stuermer, March 1936. │ VIII │ 16
│ │ │
*M-30 │Speech by Julius Streicher in Bavarian│ │
│Diet, 26 June 1925. (GB 165) │ VIII │ 16
│ │ │
M-31 │Editorial “The Approaching finale, The│ │
│Prophecy of the Fuehrer”, by Julius │ │
│Streicher, published in Der Stuermer. │ VIII │ 19
│ │ │
*M-32 │Extracts from book “Don’t trust a Fox │ │
│on a green meadow nor the Jew on his │ │
│oath”. (GB 181) │ VIII │ 20
│ │ │
M-33 │“100,000 demonstrate in Koenigsplatz │ │
│against Jewish incitements to │ │
│cruelty”, from Muenchener Beobachter, │ │
│1-2 April 1933. (GB 329) │ VIII │ 21
│ │ │
*M-34 │“Safeguard of German Blood and German │ │
│Honour”, from Voelkischer Beobachter, │ │
│6 October 1935. (GB 169) │ VIII │ 24
│ │ │
M-35 │Extract from Leading Article in Der │ │
│Stuermer, July 1938. │ VIII │ 24
│ │ │
M-36 │Extract from Leading Article in Der │ │
│Stuermer, September 1938. │ VIII │ 25
│ │ │
M-39 │Extract from Leading Article in Der │ │
│Stuermer, January 1938. │ VIII │ 26
│ │ │
M-40 │Headlines of Articles in Stuermer │ │
│Special Issue No. 8, January 1938. │ VIII │ 26
│ │ │
M-41 │Speech by Streicher, 10 November 1938.│ VIII │ 26
│ │ │
*M-42 │Account of November 1938 │ │
│demonstrations in Nurnberg and Fuerth.│ │
│(GB 174) │ VIII │ 28
│ │ │
*M-43 │Streicher’s address to young girls of │ │
│vocational training centre, 19 March │ │
│1934, from Fraenkische Tageszeitung. │ │
│(GB 177) │ VIII │ 28
│ │ │
*M-44 │Report of Streicher’s address to 2,000│ │
│children at Nurnberg at Christmas │ │
│celebrations, from Fraenkische │ │
│Tageszeitung, 22 December 1936. (GB │ │
│179) │ VIII │ 29
│ │ │
*M-45 │Letter by von Schirach, published in │ │
│Der Stuermer, January 1938. (USA 871) │ VIII │ 30
│ │ │
*M-46 │Extracts from book: “Jewish Question │ │
│and School Instruction”, published in │ │
│Der Stuermer, 1937. (GB 180) │ VIII │ 30

11. WALTER FUNK

A. _FUNK ACTIVELY PROMOTED THE CONSPIRATORS’ ACCESSION TO POWER._

A recital of Funk’s positions and activities is set forth in a statement made by him (_3533-PS_). Although Funk signed this statement, he inserted several reservations and denials with respect to certain positions and activities. Funk’s submissions in this connection, which are indicated in his statement (_3533-PS_) should be evaluated in the light of the statements set forth in the collection of relevant excerpts from German publications (_3563-PS_).

An examination of these excerpts will reveal that the German publications directly contradict every contention which Funk has made with respect to his holding the positions and carrying on the activities listed in his statement (_3533-PS_). For example, in his comment concerning item (_b_) of his statement Funk denies that he was Hitler’s Personal Economic Adviser during the 1930’s. On the other hand, there are four German publications, each of which states unequivocally that Funk _was_ Hitler’s Personal Economic Adviser (_3563-PS_).

As is indicated by these documents, Funk, soon after he joined the Nazi Party in 1931, began to hold important positions in the Party and soon qualified as one of the Nazi inner circle. Thus, he promptly became not only Hitler’s Personal Economic Adviser, but also Chief of the Economic Division of the Central Nazi Party Directorate and Chairman of the Party’s Committee on Economic Policy (_3533-PS_). In these capacities, he advanced the Party’s drive for mass support by drafting its economic slogans. In 1932, for example, he wrote a pamphlet entitled “Economic Reconstruction Program of the NSDAP”, which, after its approval by Hitler, became the Party’s official pronouncement on economic matters (_3505-PS_).

Funk also served as the liaison man between the Nazi Party and the large industrialists, from whom he obtained financial and political support on Hitler’s behalf (_3505-PS_; _2828-PS_). Thus, for example, he was present at the meeting of approximately 25 leading industrialists held in Berlin on 20 February 1933 (_2828-PS_). In the course of this meeting, which was arranged by Goering and attended by Funk, among others, and which was designed to obtain the industrialists’ financial and political support for the Nazi program, Hitler and Goering announced some of the fundamental Nazi objectives: the destruction of the parliamentary system in Germany; the crushing of all internal opposition by force, the restoration of the power of the _Wehrmacht_. In addition, Hitler indicated that force was to be used in solving problems with other nations (_D-203_). The financial and political support for the Nazis which Funk secured from industry promoted the campaign of force and terror by which the Nazis seized and consolidated their control of Germany.

The importance of Funk’s general contribution to the conspirators’ accession to power has been described in a book published by the Central Publishing House of the Nazi Party:

“No less important than Funk’s accomplishments in the
programmatic field in the years 1931 and 1932 was his activity
of that time as the Fuehrer’s liaison man to the leading men of
the German economy in industry, trade, commerce and finance. On
the basis of his past work, his personal relations to the German
economic leaders were broad and extensive. He was now able to
enlist them in the service of Adolf Hitler, and not only to
answer their questions authoritatively, but to convince them and
win their backing for the Party. At that time, that was terribly
important work. Every success achieved meant a moral, political,
and economic strengthening of the fighting force of the Party
and contributed toward destroying the prejudice that National
Socialism is merely a party of class hatred and class struggle.”
(_3505-PS_)

After he had helped Hitler become Chancellor, Funk, as Reich Press Chief, participated in the early cabinet meetings, in the course of which the conspirators determined upon the means by which they would secure the passage of the Enabling Act and destroy parliamentary government in Germany (_2962-PS_; _2963-PS_). This law destroyed civil liberties in Germany and marked the conspirators’ seizure of political control over Germany.

B. _FUNK, BY VIRTUE OF HIS ACTIVITIES IN THE MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA,
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE CONSPIRATORS’ CONTROL
OVER GERMANY._

The Nazis created a vast propaganda machine which they used to proclaim the doctrine of the master race, to inveigh against the Jews, to impose the leadership principle upon the German people, to glorify war as a noble activity, to create the social cohesion necessary for war, and to weaken the capacity and willingness of their intended victims to resist aggression. (See Section 9 of Chapter VII on Propaganda, Censorship and Supervision of Cultural Activities.)

The operation of this propaganda machine was principally the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Funk played a significant role in the operations of that Ministry and in related agencies of the Nazi State. On 30 January 1933, the day on which Hitler became Reich Chancellor, Funk was appointed Press Chief of the Reich Government. In that capacity, and even after the establishment of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, he reported regularly to Hitler and President von Hindenburg (_3505-PS_; _3501-PS_).

On 13 March 1933, the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was established with Goebbels as its Chief and Funk as its under-Secretary (_2029-PS_; _Voelkischer Beobachter_ 15 March 1933, p. 2. (South German Edition)). In an interview with a reporter from the _Voelkischer Beobachter_ on 30 March 1933, Funk made clear the importance which propaganda was to have in the Nazi State. He stated:

“Propaganda is the most modern instrument of power and fighting
weapon of state policy. The establishing of the Propaganda
Ministry is vital, for the national political policy of the new
State Leadership is to be the general good of the whole people.
Therefore, the total political, artistic, cultural and spiritual
life of the nation, must be brought on to one level and directed
from one central point.” (Voelkischer Beobachter, South German
Edition, 31 March 1933).

In order to achieve this purpose, the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda was organized so as to reach and control every medium of expression within Germany. In the language of the decree defining the duties of the Minister of Propaganda, he was to have

“* * * jurisdiction over the whole field of spiritual
indoctrination of the nation, of propagandizing the State, of
cultural and economic propaganda, of enlightenment of the public
at home and abroad; furthermore, he is in charge of all
institutions serving these purposes.” (_2030-PS_).

Under this decree, the Ministry controlled propaganda abroad, propaganda within Germany, the press, music, the theater, films, art, literature, radio and all related institutions.

Funk discharged important responsibilities in the Ministry. As Undersecretary, he was Goebbels’ chief aide. In this capacity he appears to have been the primary organizer of the machine from which flowed Nazi propaganda. This is made clear by the following excerpt from an affidavit dated 19 December 1945, and signed by Max Amann, who held the position of Reich Leader of the Press and President of the Reich Press Chamber.

“* * * In carrying out my duties and responsibilities, I became
familiar with the operations and the organization of the Reich
Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment.

“Walther Funk was the practical Minister of the Ministry of
Propaganda and Enlightenment and managed the Ministry. Funk was
the soul of the Ministry, and without him Goebbels could not
have built it up. Goebbels once stated to me that Funk was his
‘most effective man.’ Funk exercised comprehensive control over
all the media of expression in Germany: over the press, the
theater, radio and music. As Press Chief of the Reich Government
and subsequently as Under Secretary of the Ministry, Funk held
daily meetings with the Fuehrer and a daily press conference in
the course of which he issued the directives governing the
materials to be published by the German press”. (_3501-PS_).

A note for the files prepared by one Sigismund, an SS Scharfuehrer, also stresses the important role which Funk played in The Ministry of Propaganda (_3566-PS_). That note records a discussion between Sigismund and one Weinbrenner, an official of the Ministry of Propaganda, about the selection of a General Manager for the German Radio. The note states:

“Weinbrenner made the following statement: * * * it is almost
impossible to determine whom the Minister would name General
Manager, since Dr. Goebbels reaches most of the important
decisions only by agreement with Under Secretary Funk.”
(_3566-PS_).

In addition to his position as Undersecretary, Funk had many other important responsibilities in subordinate offices of the Ministry for Propaganda (_3533-PS_). In 1933, for example, he was appointed Vice President of the Reich Chamber of Culture, whose President was Goebbels (_3533-PS_; _Reichsgesetzblatt_, 1933, I, p. 798).

Funk’s position as Vice President of the Reich Chamber of Culture was related to his position as Undersecretary of the Ministry, since the Chamber of Culture and the seven subordinate chambers were by law subject to the control of the Ministry of Propaganda (_2082-PS_). This control was insured in practice by placing officers of the Ministry of Propaganda in the highest positions of the Chambers. Thus, for example, Goebbels was its President and Funk its Vice President. By virtue of his dual position, Funk directly promoted two fundamental and related Nazi policies: (1) the regimentation of all creative activities in the interest of Nazi political and military objectives; (2) the elimination of Jews and dissidents from the so-called cultural professions.

The mechanics by which these policies were carried out have been described in Section 9 of Chapter VII on Propaganda, Censorship and Supervision of Cultural Activities. That description will be supplemented here only by reference to the second decree for the Execution of the Law of Reich Chamber of Culture, dated 9 November 1933 (_2872-PS_). This decree, which was signed by Funk, representing Goebbels, fixed the effective date for the entire scheme for the domination and purging of the cultural professions.

The control of the Ministry of Propaganda was based in part on the requirement that persons engaged in so-called “cultural activities” belong to the appropriate Chamber (_1933 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 797). Decrees were then passed which prescribed standards of admission to these Chambers, which automatically excluded Jews. For example, in the field of journalism, “only persons who were of Aryan descent and not married to a person of non-Aryan descent” were permitted to be so-called _Schriftleiter_, that is, to perform any work relating to the contents of a newspaper or a political magazine (_2083-PS_).

Similarly, newspaper publishers had to submit proof tracing their Aryan descent (and that of their spouses) as far back as the year 1800 (Decree 24 April 1935, issued by the President of the Reich Press Chamber, Article 1, 3 and Article II, 1(f) and 2, reprinted in Karl Friedrich Schrieber in “_Das Recht der Reichskulturkammer_”, vol. 2, 1935, pp. 109-112; Decrees 15 April and 22 May 1936 issued by the President of Reich Press Chamber reprinted in Karl Friedrich Schrieber “_Das Recht der Reichskulturkammer_”, vol. 4, 1936, pp. 101-102, 120-122; see also: Decree 17 September 1934 reprinted in Karl Friedrich Schrieber’s “_Das Recht der Reichskulturkammer_”, vol. 2, 1935, p. 79).

In view of Funk’s official positions and the policies which he advanced, it is natural that Nazi writers have stressed his contribution to the perversion of German culture. Thus Oestreich’s biography of Funk states:

“Besides, Funk had a special duty from his Ministry received the
task to take care of the cultural life. In this position he
organized quietly a tremendous concern which represented an
investment of many hundreds of millions. In close co-operation
with the Reich Leader of the Press, Max Amann, the economic
fundamentals of the German press were reconstructed according to
the political necessities. The same took place in the film
industry and in other cultural fields.” (_3505-PS_)

The reconstruction of “the economic fundamentals of the German press * * * and other cultural fields” was a biographer’s euphemism for the elimination of Jews and dissidents from the field of literature, music, theater, journalism, broadcasting, and the arts.

The completeness with which the policy of cultural extermination was carried out is made clear by a pamphlet entitled “The Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda”, by Georg Wilhelm Mueller, an official of the Ministry of Propaganda, which was published by the German Academy for Politics as part of a series on the organization of the Nazi Government. That pamphlet states:

“The Department Special Cultural Tasks (a department within the
Ministry of Propaganda) serves mainly the purpose to remove the
Jews from cultural professions. It reviews the political
attitude of all artistic or cultural workers and cultural
economic enterprises that are members of the seven individual
chambers of the Reich Chamber of Culture (except the Reich
Chamber of the Press), it has to supervise the removal of Jews
in the entire field of the seven individual chambers and settles
as highest authority all complaints and appeals of cultural
workers whose membership was rejected by the Chamber because of
lack of proof of Aryan descent. At the same time, it is the task
of this department to supervise the activities of non-Aryans in
the intellectual and entire cultural field, therefore, also the
supervision of the only Jewish organization in the cultural
field in the entire Reich territory, that is, the ‘Jewish
_Kulturbund_’ (Jewish Cultural Association).

“In this way this department also cooperates with all other
professional departments of the Ministry or the Chambers by
consulting the local officials of the party, the State police
offices, etc., and when supervising the Jewish ‘cultural work’
with the political police.

“It is mainly the merit of this department—to 1937 a department
in the Managing Office of the Reich Chamber of Culture—that the
purge of the entire German cultural life from Jewish or other
non-German influences was completely accomplished according to
the assignments of the Minister.” (_Das Reichsministerium fuer
Volksaufklaerung und Propaganda_ (Reich Ministry of Public
Enlightenment and Propaganda) pp. 30-31).

Funk contributed to the achievement of the Nazi propaganda program in other capacities. Thus, in 1933, Goebbels appointed him Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Reich Broadcasting Company (_3505-PS_). That company was the coordinating authority for all German radio broadcasting and supervised all German radio stations, with a view to insuring that radio serve the political purposes of the Nazi State (_Das Deutsche Fuehrerlexikon_, 1934-1935, p. 139; _3505-PS_). Moreover, in 1933, Funk was also appointed Vice-president of the _Filmkreditbank_. The _Filmkreditbank_ was a government-controlled financing corporation which influenced film production in the interests of the Nazi program by granting financial assistance in connection with only those films deemed desirable from the Nazi point of view (Seager, “_Der Film im Nationalsocialistischen Staat_” (“The Film in the National-Socialist State”), in Frank: “_Nationalsozialistisches Handbuch fuer Recht und Gesetzgebung_” (“National Socialist Handbook for Law and Legislation”), 1935, 2nd edition, p. 512). It is clear from the foregoing that Funk was from 1933 until the end of 1937 a versatile and key figure in the propaganda field. His activities ranged from daily conferences with the Fuehrer and the organization of a new large Ministry vital to the Nazi program, to depriving the most humble Jewish artist of his power to earn a livelihood. Funk appears to have been what Goebbels said he was: Goebbels’ “most effective man” (_3501-PS_).

C. _FUNK, AS MINISTER OF ECONOMICS, CONTINUED TO ADVANCE THE CONSPIRACY
TO PERSECUTE THE JEWS BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE PLANNING AND
EXECUTION OF THE MEASURES WHICH ELIMINATED THE JEWS FROM THE GERMAN
ECONOMY._

The systematic anti-Jewish program of the Nazi conspirators is discussed in Chapter XII. The evidence discussed below shows that Funk, by virtue of his activities as Minister of Economics, is responsible for the planning and execution of the program to exclude the Jews from the German economy.

The first record of Funk’s anti-Jewish activities as Minister of Economics consists of a series of decrees which he signed and which were designed to exclude the Jews from various occupations, such as real estate business, auctioneering, etc. Reference will be made to only a few of these decrees (Decree amending trade code of 6 July 1938, (_1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 832); decree concerning occupation of auctioneers, 12 February 1938, _1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 202. Moreover, on 14 June 1938, Funk signed a decree providing for the registration of “Jewish enterprises” (_1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 627)). This decree was part of a system of economic persecution which obliterated Jewish ownership in all commercial, financial and industrial enterprises.

In 1938, the death of von Rath in Paris was exploited by the Nazis as a pretext for intensifying the persecution of the Jews. Their new anti-Jewish policy called for the complete elimination of Jews from the economic life of Germany. Funk took a significant part in both the formulation and execution of this policy.

Thus, he was present at the meeting of 12 November 1938, where, with Goering as the leading spirit, the basis for a more drastic policy against the Jews was established (_1816-PS_). Goering described the meeting as a decisive one, and demanded “that the Jewish question be now, once and for all, coordinated and solved, one way or another.” (_1816-PS_). Funk came to the meeting with a draft law which he had prepared, and which he submitted with the following explanation:

“I have prepared a law elaborating that, effective 1 January
1939, Jews shall be prohibited to operate retail stores and
wholesale establishments, as well as independent artisan shops.
They shall further be prohibited from keeping employees or
offering any ready products on the market. Wherever a Jewish
shop is operated, the police shall shut it down. From 1 January
1939, a Jew can no longer be employed as an enterpriser, as
stipulated in the law for the Organization of National Labor
from 20 January 1934. If a Jew holds a leading position in an
establishment without being the enterpriser, his contract may be
declared void within 6 weeks by the enterpriser. With the
expiration of the contract, all claims of the employee,
including all claims to maintenance become obliterated. That is
always very disagreeable and a great danger. A Jew cannot be a
member of a corporation; Jewish members of corporations shall
have to be retired by 31 December 1938. A special authorization
is unnecessary. The competent Ministers of the Reich are being
authorized to issue the provision necessary for the execution of
this law.” (_1816-PS_)

The substance of Funk’s draft law promptly found its way into the _Reichsgesetzblatt_. On 12 November 1938, Goering signed a decree entitled “For the Elimination of Jews from the German Economic Life” (_1662-PS_).

An examination of the provisions of the decree will reveal how well it deserved its title. Thus, Jews were forbidden to operate retail stores or mail order houses, or to engage independently in any handicraft, to offer goods or services at markets, or to take orders therefor (Section I): or to be “leaders” of any industrial enterprise. That decree also provided that any Jew in an executive position of an industrial enterprise was subject to notice of dismissal (Section 2), and that Jews should be excluded from membership in cooperative organizations (Section 3). Funk was expressly authorized in Section 4 of the decree to issue the regulations necessary for implementing its provisions (_1662-PS_).

Funk was also authorized to issue the regulations in connection with another anti-Jewish decree, also issued on 12 November 1938. This decree provided that all damage done to Jewish enterprises and apartments during the riots of 8, 9, and 10 November, was to be repaired by the Jewish owners out of their own pockets, and that claims by German Jews against insurance companies were to be confiscated in favor of the German Government (_1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1581).

Soon after the passage of the decree of 12 November, Funk, in a speech which he delivered on the Jewish question, made it clear that the program of economic persecution was a part of the larger program of extermination and boasted of the fact that the new program insured the complete elimination of the Jews from the German economy. In the course of this speech, Funk stated:

“The state and the economy constitute a unity. They must be
directed according to the same principles. The best proof
thereof has been rendered by the most recent development of the
Jewish problem in Germany. One cannot exclude the Jews from the
political life, but let them live and work in the economic
sphere. The fact that the last violent explosion of the disgust
of the German people, because of a criminal Jewish attack
against the German people, took place at a time when we were
standing just before the termination of the economic measures
for the elimination of the Jews from the German economy—this
fact is a result of the other fact that in the last years we had
not handled this problem sufficiently early and consistently. In
any event, the basis of a complete elimination of the Jews also
from the economy had already been laid by the decrees of the
Commissioner for the Four Year Plan, General Field Marshal
Goering, who was the first to undertake the solution of this
problem. In the meantime, by means of Aryanization, performed
under governmental supervision, the Jews had already been
excluded completely from the stock exchanges and the banks and
almost completely from the large businesses and all important
industrial enterprises. According to estimates, of the net
property of approximately 7 billion marks, determined pursuant
to the decree for the registration of Jewish property, 2 billion
marks have already been transferred into German possession.”
(_3545-PS_).

On 3 December 1938, Funk again advanced the policy of economic extermination by signing a decree which carried out the promise of the more severe anti-Jewish policy implied in his above speech (_1409-PS_). This decree imposed additional and drastic economic disabilities upon Jews and subjected their property to confiscation and forced liquidation. It provided that: owners of Jewish enterprises could be ordered to sell or liquidate their enterprises (Section 1); trustees could be appointed for such enterprises, with the expenses of trusteeship borne by the owner of the enterprise (Section 2); Jews could be ordered to sell their property (real estate, etc.) (Section 6); Jews were prohibited from acquiring any real estate (Section 7); governmental consent was required for any disposition of real estate (Section 8); Jews were forced to deposit all stocks, mining shares, bonds, and other securities with specially designated banks, and accounts had to be marked “Jewish” (Section 11); Jews were forbidden to acquire, to give as security, or to sell objects made of gold, platinum, or silver, precious stones, or pearls, etc. (Section 14); and Jews could be required to make certain payments to the Reich before receiving the consent necessary for the transfer of their property (Section 15). (_1409-PS_).

In addition, many other decrees aiming at the economic ruin of the Jews were promulgated over the signature of the Minister of Economics. For example:

Decree, 23 November 1938, _1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1642,
signed by Brinkmann acting for Funk and containing detailed
rules for the liquidation of Jewish retail stores, etc.;

Decree, 14 December 1938, _1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1902,
also signed by Brinkmann acting for Funk, and providing detailed
rules for the elimination of Jews from industrial enterprises;

Decree, 8 May 1939, _1939 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 895, signed
by Dr. Landfried acting for Funk, excluding Jews from the
occupation of travel agents;

Decree, 4 May 1940, _1940 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 730, also
signed by Dr. Landfried acting for Funk, concerning registration
of transfers of Jewish property;

Decree, 14 November 1940, _1940 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1520,
also signed by Dr. Landfried acting for Funk, establishing a
procedure for setting aside financial arrangements which Jews,
discharged from executive positions of industrial enterprises
prior to 12 November 1938, had made with their companies.

Extending certain of the above-described decrees to Austria,
see, e.g.:

Decree, 22 August 1942, _1942 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 537,
signed by von Hanneken, acting for Funk;

Decree, 4 December 1940, _1940 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1564,
signed by Dr. Landfried acting for Funk.

Funk had important responsibilities, not only in the formulation of anti-Jewish policy and in the drafting of anti-Jewish legislation, but also in the administration of the conspirators’ anti-Jewish measures. Funk was the person to whom appeals were made concerning action taken by subordinate officials in the administration of the anti-Jewish economic program. In fact, he was the paramount authority in this field; his decisions were final and conclusive. For example, he had the final voice in the administrative hierarchy set up for deciding whether an enterprise was a Jewish enterprise within the meaning of the decree requiring the registration of such enterprises (Decree of 14 June 1938, section 9, _1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 628; see also decree of 3 December 1938, section 19, _1938 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1711; decree, 14 November 1940, _1940 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1520).

Nazi publications have recognized the significant contribution made by Funk to the anti-Jewish program. Thus Hans Quecke, an official of the German Ministry of Economics, in describing the work of the Ministry during Funk’s incumbency, stated:

“A task of special political significance and economic
importance arose as an absolute necessity out of the National
Socialist conception of state and economy, namely, _the
eradication of Jewish influence from the economy_. In this
connection, a wealth of legislative and administrative work,
though temporary, was created for the Ministry. The steps of the
work were as follows: definitions of the term ‘Jewish
enterprise’, registration of Jewish property, securing the
‘deployment’ of such property in accordance with the interests
of the German economy, exclusion of Jewish employees from
executive positions, and, finally, re-examination of steps taken
in the de-Judaization of enterprises with a view to ordering
payments to the Reich for the unjust profits secured in the
process of de-Judaization. That task can now be considered as
practically completed in the field of the industrial economy.”
(Building of the Third Reich (_Das Dritte Reich in Aufbau_) Vol.
5, pp. 318-319 (1941)).

Moreover, Funk himself, in the course of administering this program, emphasized the importance of his new role. For example, on 6 February 1939, he issued a circular in connection with the administration of the decree of 3 December 1938 which, as indicated, he himself signed. In that circular, which was published in the Ministerial Gazette of the Reich and Prussian Ministry of the Interior (“_Ministerialblatt des Reichs—und Preussischen Ministeriums des Innern_”), for 1939, No. 7, p. 265, Funk stressed (at p. 265) “the great political and economic importance” of the anti-Jewish program and stated with respect to the broad powers conferred by the decree of 3 December 1938, that:

“* * * The extent and speed with which they [the powers] will be
utilized, is dependent upon _my_ orders, to be given under the
general direction of Goering.”

In the same circular (at p. 265) Funk also emphasized the importance of the laws for de-Judaization, stating:

“The execution of the laws for the economic de-Judaization will,
for a time, impose extraordinary burdens upon the administrative
organization. However, it is expected that the officers charged
with the execution, in view of the great political and economic
importance of the tasks assigned to them, will bend all their
efforts to assure a most rapid, efficient, and in every way
faultless execution of the de-Judaization.”

Funk, in an interrogation dated 22 October 1945, admitted and deplored his responsibility for the economic persecution of the Jews:

“Q. All the decrees excluding the Jews from industry were yours,
were they not?

“A. * * * So far as my participation in this Jewish affair is
concerned, that was my responsibility and I have regretted it
later on that I ever did participate. The Party had always
brought pressure to bear on me previously to make me agree to
the confiscation of Jewish property, and I had refused
repeatedly. But later on, when the anti-Jewish measures and the
force used against the Jews came into force, something legal had
to be done to prevent the looting and confiscation of all Jewish
property.

“Q. You know that the looting and all that was done at the
instigation of the Party, don’t you?

“(_Here witness weeps_)

“A. Yes, most certainly. That is when I should have left in
1938, of that I am guilty, I am guilty. I admit that I am a
guilty party here.” (_3544-PS_)

D. _FUNK WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONSPIRATORS’ PLANS FOR AGGRESSION,
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN MOBILIZING THE GERMAN ECONOMY FOR AGGRESSIVE
WAR: HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE WAGING OF AGGRESSIVE WARS AND WAS A
MEMBER OF WAR PLANNING AGENCIES WHICH WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICIES AND
ACTS CONTRARY TO THE LAWS OF WAR._

Funk was vested with, and carried out, major responsibilities in connection with the planning and execution of the Nazi program of economic mobilization for aggression. Thus, in 1938 he succeeded Schacht as Minister of Economics (_3533-PS_).

Immediately before Funk actually took over the Reich Ministry of Economics there was a major reorganization of its functions, which integrated the Ministry with the Four Year Plan as the Supreme Command of the German military economy. The reorganization was accomplished by Goering, in his capacity as Commissar for the Four Year Plan, by a decree dated 4 February, 1938 (“The Four Year Plan” (_Der Vierjahresplan_) official monthly bulletin, issued by Goering, Vol. II, 1938, p. 105). Under this decree, the jurisdiction of the Economics Ministry was defined as covering the following fields of Germany’s economy: German raw and working materials, mining, iron industry, power industry, handicrafts, finance and credit, foreign trade, devisen, and exports. As a result of this decree, sectors of the German economy which were strategic in the organization of war and armaments economy were placed under the immediate control of Funk.

Furthermore, the Reich Office for Economic Development, charged by the decree, with “research, planning and execution of the Four Year Plan”, was incorporated into the Reich Ministry of Economics. Similarly, the Reich Office for Soil Research and the Office of the Reich Commissar for the exploitation of Scrap Materials were made subject to that Ministry. Thus, it is clear that the reorganization decree concentrated significant responsibilities in the hands of Funk and thereby made him one of the chief agents of economic mobilization during a decisive period.

Subsequently, Funk was, by a secret law, expressly charged with the task of mobilizing the German economy for war. On 4 September 1938, while the conspirators were engaged in intensive planning for aggression against Czechoslovakia, Hitler signed a revision of the so-called Reich Defense Law (_2194-PS_). This law conferred upon Funk substantially the same authority which had been vested in Schacht by the Reich Defense Law of 21 May 1935 (_2261-PS_). The law of 4 September 1938 provided in part:

“It is the task of the GBW [Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics]
to put all economic forces into the service of the Reich
defense, and to safeguard economically the life of the German
nation. To him are subordinate: the Reich Minister of Economics,
the Reich Minister of Nutrition and Agriculture, the Reich
Minister of Work, the Reich Chief of Forestry, the Reich
Commissar for Price Control. He is furthermore responsible for
directing the financing of the Reich defense within the realm of
the Reich Finance Ministry and the Reich Bank.

“The GBW must carry out the demands of the OKW which are of
considerable importance for the armed forces; and he must insure
the economic conditions for the production of the armament
industry directed immediately by the OKW according to its
demands. If the demands of the armed forces cannot be brought
into accord with the affairs of economy, then the Fuehrer and
Reich Chancellor decides.

“The GBW has the right within his sphere to issue laws with the
consent of the OKW and GBV which differ from the existing laws.”
(_2194-PS_).

The law of 4 September 1938, which at the specific direction of Hitler was not made public, was signed by Hitler and by Funk, among others, as “Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics” (_2194-PS_).

Funk, in a speech which he delivered on 14 October 1939, explained how he, as Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics, had, for a year and a half prior to the launching of the aggression against Poland, advanced Germany’s economic preparation for war. He stated:

“Although all the economic and financial departments were
harnessed in the tasks and work of the Four Year Plan under the
leadership of _Generalfeldmarschall_ Goering, the war economic
preparation of Germany has also been advanced in secret in
another sector for well over a year, namely, by means of the
formation of a national guiding apparatus for the special war
economic tasks, which had to be mastered at that moment, when
the condition of war became a fact. For this work as well all
economic departments were combined into one administrative
authority, namely under the General Plenipotentiary for Economy,
to which position the Fuehrer appointed me one and a half years
ago.” (_3324-PS_)

In his dual capacity of Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics and Minister of Economics, Funk naturally was advised of the requirements which the conspirators’ program of aggression imposed on the economy. Thus, during a conference in the Reich Aviation Ministry on 14 October 1938 under the chairmanship of Goering, Goering referred to Hitler’s orders for an abnormal increase of armament, particularly weapons for attack, and directed the Ministry of Economics to submit suggestions on how to finance this rearmament by increasing exports. The report of Goering’s remarks states in part:

“General Field Marshal Goering opened the session by declaring
that he intended to give directives about the work for the next
months. Everybody knows from the press what the world situation
looks like and therefore the Fuehrer has issued an order to him
to carry out a gigantic program compared to which previous
achievements are insignificant. There are difficulties in the
way which he will overcome with utmost energy and ruthlessness.

“The amount of foreign exchange has completely dwindled on
account of the preparation for the Czech Enterprise and this
makes it necessary that it should be strongly increased
immediately. Furthermore, the foreign credits have been greatly
overdrawn and thus the strongest export activity—stronger than
up to now—is in the foreground. For the next weeks an increased
export was first priority in order to improve the foreign
exchange situation. The Reich Ministry for Economy should make a
plan about raising the export activity by pushing aside the
current difficulties which prevent export.

“These gains made through the export are to be used for
increased armament. The armament should not be curtailed by the
export activity. He received the order from the Fuehrer to
increase the armament to an abnormal extent, the air force
having first priority. Within the shortest time the air force is
to be increased five fold, also the navy should get armed more
rapidly and the army should procure large amounts of offensive
weapons at a faster rate, particularly heavy artillery pieces
and heavy tanks. Along with this manufactured armaments must go;
especially fuel, powder and explosives are moved into the
foreground. It should be coupled with the accelerated
construction of highways, canals, and particularly of the
railroads.” (_1301-PS_).

Goering’s words were the words of one already at war. And the emphasis on quintupling the Air Force and accelerating weapon manufacture for attack, were the words of a man waging aggressive war.

Funk actively participated in the planning of wartime financial measures (_1301-PS_). This was natural since Funk, after 1938, occupied three positions crucial to finance: Minister of Economics, President of the Reichsbank (to which he was appointed in January 1939), and Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics. Funk’s role in war financing is illustrated by a letter, dated 1 June 1939, from the Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics (Funk), signed on his behalf by Dr. Posse (_3562-PS_). This letter found in the captured files of the Reich Ministry of Economics, transmitted the minutes of a meeting concerning the financing of the war. This meeting had been held under the chairmanship of Dr. Landfried, Funk’s Undersecretary in the Reich Ministry of Economics. The document bears a marginal note in the bottom left hand corner, dated 5 June, stating that the document was “to be shown to the Minister” [i.e., Funk]. Only eight copies were made of the Minutes, which were marked “Top Secret”. Four of these copies were sent to officials directly subordinate to Funk (two in the Reich Ministry of Economics, one in the Reichsbank, and one in the Office of the Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics). During the course of the meeting, which was attended by twelve officials, five of whom were directly responsible to Funk in his various capacities, the conferees discussed a memorandum regarding war finance which had been prepared by the Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics on May 9, 1939. The minutes of this meeting state:

“* * * Then a report was made of the contents of the ‘Notes on
the Question of Internal Financing of War’, of 9 May of this
year (appendix to GBW 8/2179/39 Top Secret), in which the
figures given to me by the Reichs Minister of Finance are also
discussed. It was pointed out that the General Plenipotentiary
for the Economy is primarily interested to introduce into the
legislation for war finance, the idea of financing war
expenditures by anticipating future revenues, to be expected
after the war. * * *

“Undersecretary Newman, first, submitted for discussion the
question whether the production would be able to meet to the
assumed extent, the demands of the Army, especially if the
demands of the Army, as stated in the above report, would
increase to approximately 14 billions in the first three months
of war. He stated that, if the production potential of the
present Reich territory is taken as a basis, he doubts the
possibility of such a production increase.” (_3562-PS_).

During the course of the meeting one of the representatives of the High Command stated:

“The demands of the Army would probably be higher in the first
three months of war than during the further course of the war.”
(_3562-PS_).

In the files of the Reich Ministry of Economics there was also found, attached to the above letter and minutes, a Top Secret memorandum entitled “Notes Concerning Financing of War.” That memorandum reveals the plans to use the resources of countries to be occupied in the interest of the Nazi war machine. It states:

“* * * First, as concerns the scope of the total production, it
is clear that the economic power of the Protectorate and of
other territories, possibly to be acquired, must of course be
completely exhausted for the purposes of the conduct of the war.
It is, however, just as clear that these territories cannot
obtain any compensation from the economy of Greater Germany for
the products which they will have to give us during the war,
because their power must be used fully for the war and for
supplying the civilian home population.” (_3562-PS_).

It is plain that Funk exercised comprehensive authority over large areas of the German economy whose proper organization and direction were critical to effective war preparation. The once powerful German military machine, which rested on the foundation of thorough economic preparation, reflected the contribution which Funk had made to Nazi aggression.

Immediately before this machine was directed against Poland, the final preparatory steps were taken, and the previous appointment of Funk as Chief Plenipotentiary for Economics was made public. Thus on 27 August 1939, Funk, in this capacity, issued two decrees, one introducing general rationing of consumers’ goods, the other setting up regional economic authorities (_1939 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, pp. 1495 and 1498).

Finally, on 30 August 1939, Hitler, Goering, and Lammers signed a decree establishing the Ministerial Council for Reich Defense, composed of Goering, Funk, and Hess, among others, to act as a War Cabinet (_1939 Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, p. 1532).

Funk mobilized the German economy for war with full knowledge of the plans for military aggression. An irresistible inference of such knowledge arises from the combination of several factors: from Funk’s long and intimate association with the Nazi inner circle; from the very nature of his official functions; from the war-dominated setting of Nazi Germany; from the fact that force and the threat of force had become the open and primary instruments of Nazi policy; and finally from the fact that at the same time that Funk was making economic preparations, specific plans for aggression—later to be carried out—were being formulated, plans which could only be effective if they were synchronized with the complementary economic measures.

The inference of Funk’s knowledge and intent is reinforced beyond question by considering, in the light of the factors described above, the more specific evidence of Funk’s knowledge of aggressive plans. Thus, Funk, at the very beginnings of the Nazi Government, had stated that the absorption of Austria by Germany was a political and economic necessity, and that it would be achieved by whatever means were necessary (_1760-PS_).

Goering had issued instructions to the Ministry of Economics—in the language of a man waging aggressive war (_1301-PS_). Moreover, Funk and his subordinates in May 1939 were making detailed plans for financing the war, that is, a particular war, the war against Poland (_3562-PS_).

In connection with Funk’s economic planning for aggression, reference should be made to other evidence of the preparatory work which Funk carried on prior to the aggression against Poland. Shortly before the attack on Poland, in a letter to Hitler dated 25 August 1939, Funk expressed his gratification for his role in the “tremendous events” of these days, and his thanks for Hitler’s approval of his economic war measures. He concluded by giving Hitler his pledge in that hour (_699-PS_). The text of the letter is as follows:

“Reich Minister Walther Funk.

Berlin W. 8, August 25, 1939.
Unter Den Linden 13.

“My Fuehrer:

“For the congratulations which you transmitted to me on my
birthday, in such extremely friendly and kind fashion, I want to
thank you from the depths of my heart. How happy and how
grateful we must be to you to be favored to experience these
colossal and world-moving times, and that we can contribute to
the tremendous events of these days.

“General-Field-Marshal Goering informed me, that last night
you—my Fuehrer—have approved in principle the measures
prepared by me for financing the war, for setting up the wage
and price systems and for carrying out the plan for an emergency
contribution [_Notopfer_]. This news has made me deeply happy. I
hereby most obediently report to you that I have succeeded,
through the provisions made already during the last month, to
make the German Reichsbank internally so strong and so safe
against attack from without that even the most serious
disturbances of the international currency and credit systems
would be absolutely unable to affect us.

“In the meantime I have in a wholly inconspicuous manner
converted into gold all assets of the Reichsbank and of the
German economy abroad on which we could possibly lay hands. With
the proposals worked out by me regarding a ruthless choking of
any unessential consumption and any public expenditure and
project not necessary for war we will be able to meet all
financial and economic demands without any serious
reverberations.

“In my capacity as General Plenipotentiary for Economics,
appointed by you, my Fuehrer, I have regarded it as my duty to
give you this report and this pledge in this hour.

“Heil, my Fuehrer
“(signed) Walther Funk”. (_699-PS_).