Wannsee

The WANNSEE Conference

The Wannsee conference was held on January, 20 1942 in Wannsee (Berlin) to propose and approve the Final Solution to the Jewish Question.    SS Lt. General Heydrich chaired the meeting.  Following are the minutes of the meeting.  All copies were to be destroyed by the attendants, but one copy was found in the headquarters of Undersecretary Luther.

For a great movie on this, see HBO's "Conspiracy" with Kenneth Branagh.   There is also an older German version (the Wannsee Conference).

Minutes of Meeting of the Wannsee Conference

I- The following were in attendance at Greater Wannsee conference concerning the final solution of the Jewish question.

Governor Dr. Meyer and National Director Dr. Leibbrandt - Ministry of the occupied eastern countries.

Sec. of state Dr. Stuckart - Ministry of interior>

Sec. of state Neumann - Director of the 4 Year plan

Sec. of state Dr. Freisler - Justice dep.

Sec. of state Dr. Buehler - office of the Foreign Office>

Undersecretary of state Luther

SS Colonel General Klopfer

Ministerial Director Kritzinger

SS Major General Hofman

SS Major General Mueller

SS Lt. Colonel Eichmann

SS Lt. General Dr. Schoegarth.  Commander of the security police and the SD in occupied Poland.

SS Major Dr. Lange.

[Heydrich was not listed]

II- SS Lt. General Heydrich, chief of the security police and the SD informed all present of his orders to be in charge of the preparation of the final solution of the European Jewish question.  This orders came from Goering, and it was further pointed out that the invitation to this conference was to ensure clarity regarding the fundamental questions.  Goering expressed the wish to develop an outline for him of the organizational, technical and material matters pertaining to the final solution of the European Jewish question.  It is necessary to discuss all questions beforehand by the representatives of the various departments present in order to achieve a parallel direction on the outline.

Responsibility for the overall control in working out the details of the final solution lies without regard to geographical borders centrally with Himmler.

Heydrich gave a brief overview about the struggle against this enemy up to now.   The main points were:

a- Deportations of the Jews from the various regions of the German people.

b- Deportation of the Jews from the areas in the east.

In order to execute the endeavors the only temporary solution was to accelerate the deportation of the Jews from Germany proper.  This was to be attacked with strength and good planning.

By order of Goering, a central federal office for Jewish emigration was opened in Jan 1939.  In charge was the chief of the security police and SD.  This office had as it special task:

    - Take all measures to prepare for an increased deportation of Jews.

    - Guide the flood of deportees.

    - Accelerate the deportation.

The goal of this task was to clean out the Jews from German living space in a legal manner.

Other than funds from the government, monies were also needed from the foreign exchange in order to pay for preliminary and embarkation costs.   In order to preserve the German foreign currency deposits the Jewish financial institutions in foreign countries were urged by Jewish organizations in Germany to take care of any foreign currency needed.  In this way 9,500,000 Marks were endorsed by the foreign Jews by Oct, 30, 1941.  In the meantime Himmler prohibited any further emigration of Jews in view of the dangers of emigration in wartime and the future use of the lands in the east.

Upon permission from the fuehrer, evacuation of the Jews to the east took place, which was not another possible way to solve the problem.  These operations however are to be looked at as evasive possibilities.  Practical experience was gathered during these operations which became very important to arriving at the final solution of the Jewish question.  When viewing the final solution of the European Jewish question the number of approximately 11 million Jews is in question, which are divided as:

The given number of Jews in the foreign countries pertain only to the religious Jews, as the definition of Jews according to race are somewhat still lacking there.   The treatment of this problem in the various countries will run into some difficulties because of the general attitude and comprehension, particularly in Hungary and Rumania.  For example, in Rumania to this very day a Jew can obtain with money the necessary documents that will certify him to have citizenship of a foreign country.

The influence of the Jews in every facet of the USSR is well-known.  In the European part there are approximately 5 million, in the Asiatic part scarcely a quarter of a million.  The classification as to profession of the Jews living in the European part of the USSR is:

Under proper leadership the Jews shall now be put to work in the framework of the final solution.  The Jews shall be led into the areas building roads in large work crews, separated by sex.  Without a doubt, a large number will become casualties.

It was clear to everyone concerned with this matter about the consequences of this forced deportation.  However, in the absence of solution possibilities these consequences had to be tolerated.

The problem of deportation was in the following time not only a German one, but also a problem for the government of the target - or receiving countries.  Financial difficulties, such as the raising of money by the various foreign government, was one of the problems.  Others were missing cabin spaces, continually stricter immigration restrictions, or suspension.  All this made the efforts of deportation extremely difficult.  In spite of this obstacles approx. 537,000 Jews were deported from the time Hitler came to power in 1933 until Oct. 10, 1941.

of this:

since Jan. 30, 1933, from Germany itself: about 360,000
since March 15, 1938, from Austria: about 147,000
since March 15, 1938, from occupied Czechoslovakia: about 30,000

The financing of the deportation came from Jews, respectively Jewish political organizations.  In order to avoid leaving behind of the lower-class Jew, it was the policy to have rich Jews, depending on their financial fortune, pay an appropriate assessment as a deportation payment.  These funds were used to help out those Jews who were financially broke at the time of deportation.

The Jews who remain will have to be treated in a special way.  These Jews are undoubtedly the most resistant group because they represent a natural elite which when free again could be the sperm cell of a new Jewish revival.   (see lessons of history)

During the practical part of the implementation of the final solution, Europe will be thoroughly combed from west to east.  Germany and occupied Czechoslovakia will have to be done first as there are housing problems and other sociopolitical necessities.

The evacuated Jews will be brought at first w/o delay to transitional camps in order to be transported further to the east.

The important premise, SS Lt. General Heydrich further explained, is to determine the exact range of people by age in order to be able to carry out the deportation.

It is intended not to evaluate Jews over 65, but to transfer them to an old age ghetto for which Theresiendtadt was earmarked.

Added to this age classifications in these old age ghettos were also the Jewish disabled veterans and Jews decorated with the iron cross first class.   Of the 280,000 Jews in Germany in Austria, there were approx. 30% over 65 as of Oct. 10, 1941.   Because of this practical solution all of the many requests for exemptions were halted at once.

The start of these larger evacuation operations will depend largely on military developments.  As far as administering the final solution in those territories occupied by us, it was proposed that the caseworkers of the foreign office discuss things with the proper representatives of the security police and the SD.

In the occupied part of Czechoslovakia and Croatia it should not present any difficulties because the key questions in this matter have already been brought to a solution.  In the meantime, the government of Rumania has also appointed a deputy for the Jewish question.  In order to settle the question in Hungary, it is necessary to impose an advisor for Jewish questions upon the Hungarian government.

In view of the start of settling the problem in Italy SS Lt. General Heydrich feels it necessary to have liaison with the chief of police there.

There should be not many difficulties in getting the Jews together for evacuation in the occupied and the unoccupied territory in France.

Undersecretary of state Luther remarked here that the intense treatment of this problem will cause difficulties in some countries, and it is therefore recommended to set aside at first all operations in these countries.

In view of the small number of Jews in question, this setting aside and waiting present no substantial limitation on the overall plan.  On the other hand, the foreign office sees no great difficulties concerning the south east and west of Europe.

SS Major General Hofmann intends to send a caseworker from the race and settlement main office for general orientation to Hungary as soon as this matter is begun by the chief of the security police and the SD.  It was determined to add this caseworker, who will be inactive for now, as assistant to police attache in the meantime.

In the course of the proposed final solution, the Nuremberg laws shall be the basis whereby the assumption of the completed cleanup of the problem also would include the solution to mixed marriages and the half-breeds.  Heydrich discussed at first theoretically the following points in view of a letter from the chief of the Reichs Chancellory.

1) Treatment of Half-breed First degree

Half-breeds of the first degree are in view of the final solution of the Jewish question to be equal to the Jews.  Exclude from this treatment:

   - Half-breeds first degree married to people of German blood, from which union their children (half-breed second degree) came      forth.   These half-breeds second degree are essentially  to be put on a par with Germans.

    - Half-breeds first degree who have received an extraordinary exemption from the highest places in the party and the government.

Every single case has to be investigated, whereby it is not precluded that the decision may be unfavorable to the half breed.  A prerequisite for an exemption must be based exclusively on the accomplishments of these half-breeds themselves. (not on any merits of their German-blooded parents or marriage partners).   Those half-breeds first degree who are exempted from the evacuations will be sterilized in order to clean up once and for all the half-breed problems and to prevent any off-spring.  The sterilization is to take place voluntarily.  It is a prerequisite to remain in Germany.  The sterilized half-breed is from then on exempt from all laws concerning Jews to which he had been subject up to now.

2) Treatment of Half-breed second degree.

Categorically they are to be with the German-blooded with the exemption of the following cases in which the half-breeds are to be put with the Jews.

    - Descend of the half-breed second degree from a bastard marriage (both parties half breeds)

    - Special unfavorable appearance of the half-breed second degree in which his outer appearance makes him look Jewish.

    - particularly poor record with the police and political arm of the party of the half-breed second degree, which shows that he acts      and feels like a Jew

In these cases there shall also be no exceptions if the half-breed second degree is married to a full blooded German.

3) Marriages between full blooded Jews and full blooded Germans.

Each of these cases must be judged simply and determination made if the Jewish partner should be deported or if he will be sent to an old-age guetto because of the detriment effect on the German relatives of this mixed marriage.

4) Marriages between half-breeds first degree and full-blooded Germans.

    - without children:  If there are no children the half-breed first degree will be either deported or put into an old-age ghetto.  (same      treatment as marriages between full-blooded Jews and full-blooded Germans)

    - with children: If there were children in the marriage which are half-breeds second degree, they will- if they are put in the same          footing as the Jews)- be deported together with the half-breeds first degree send to an old-age ghetto.  If in special cases those children are put on the same footing as the Germans they are to be excluded from the evacuation and with them also the half-breed first degree.

5) Marriages between half-breeds first degree and half-breed first degree or Jews.

In these marriages (including the children) all parties will be treated like Jews, and therefore be deported or sent to and old-age ghetto.

6) Marriages between half-breeds first degree and half-breeds second degrees.

Both marriage partners will be deported without consideration if there are children or not, or sent to an old-age ghetto.  This is because children as a rule show a stronger Jewish blood content as Jewish half-breed second degree.

SS Major General Hofmann is of the opinion that sterilization must be widely used, particularly since the half-breed , if given the choice between deportation or sterilization will prefer to submit to sterilization.

State secretary Dr. Stuckert  stated the practical execution of the above mentioned solution possibilities to clear up the question of mixed marriages and half-breeds will cause a never ending amount of administrative work.   In order to take into account also the biological facts, Dr. Stuckert proposed proceeding to forced sterilization.

In order to simplify the half-breed problem, further possibilities should be contemplated toward the goal that the legislature just needs to say, "these marriages are terminated."

Regarding the question of the consequences of the deportation of Jews on the economic situation, state Secretary Neumann declared that the Jews working in arms factories cannot be evacuated as long as there is no one to take their place.

SS Lt. General Heydrich then pointed out that these Jews would not be evacuated anyway.  He referred to the guidelines issued by him in this matter.

State Secretary Dr. Buehler declared that the government of occupied Poland would welcome it if the final solution to this question would be started in occupied Poland.   His reason: transport plays no important role here and the deployment of workers during the operation would not cause any problems. Jews have to be removed as quickly as possible from occupied Poland because here specially the Jew is a danger as a carrier of epidemics.  The Jews also present a danger as black market leaders who constantly upset the economic structure of the country.  Of those in question the majority of approx. 2.5 million Jews are unable to work anyway.

State Secretary Dr. Buehler furthermore declared that the responsibility of the final solution of the Jewish question in occupied Poland lies mainly with Heydrich, whose efforts are supported by the officials of occupied Poland.  He would have only one request: to solve the Jewish question in Poland as soon as possible.

Finally the various kinds of possible solutions were discussed.  Governor Dr. Meyer and also State Secretary Dr. Buehler adopted the view to carry out certain preliminary work in the affected areas themselves.  During this it would be necessary to avoid upsetting the populace.

The conference was closed and Heydrich asked all participants to assist him accordingly during the carrying out of the work involved in the solution