Reinhard Heydrich
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Chief of the Reich Security Main Office · Germany
On the regime page: Nazi Germany
4 quotes, oldest first. Filter with other speakers.
Content note: Order accompanying the November 1938 pogrom, including mass arrests of Jewish men. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“2. Only such measures are to be taken, which do not entail a danger to German life and property (for example: burning of synagogues only if no fire hazard is present in the neighborhood). 3. As soon as the course of events tonight permits the use of the appointed officials for this purpose, as many Jews are to be seized, especially wealthy ones, in all regions as can be accommodated in the prisons at hand. Moreover, only healthy, male Jews of not too great an age are to be seized. After carrying out the seizure, negotiations are to be taken up at once with the proper concentration camps for the quickest accommodation of the Jews.”
English: Office of United States Chief of Counsel, translation of Nuremberg document 374-PS. Original-language text not found.
Sent in the early hours of 10 November 1938, during the nationwide attacks on Jews, synagogues and Jewish businesses that followed the shooting of the German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris. Point 1 of the teletype told police chiefs to contact local party leaders about the 'demonstrations'.
Secret teletype to all State Police offices and SD districts, 10 November 1938, 01:20, signed Heydrich, document 374-PS, in Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality, Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression (US Government Printing Office, 1946), vol. 3, p. 278
Content note: Order to concentrate Jews as a step towards an undefined 'ultimate goal'. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“I refer to the conference held in Berlin today, and again point out that the planned joint measures (i.e. the ultimate goal) are to be kept strictly secret. Distinction must be made between (1) the ultimate goal (which requires a prolonged period of time) and (2) the sectors leading to fulfillment of the ultimate goal, (each of which will be carried out in a short term). [...] The first prerequisite for the ultimate goal is first of all, the concentration of the Jews from the country to the larger cities. This is to be carried out speedily.”
English: Office of United States Chief of Counsel, translation of Nuremberg document 3363-PS. Original-language text not found.
Written after a conference in Berlin on 21 September 1939, three weeks into the occupation of Poland. It told Einsatzgruppen commanders to concentrate Jews in larger towns and to set up Jewish Councils of Elders.
Special delivery letter of the Chief of the Security Police to the chiefs of all Einsatzgruppen, 'The Jewish problem in the occupied zone', Berlin, 21 September 1939, document 3363-PS, in Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality, Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression (US Government Printing Office, 1946), vol. 6, p. 97
Content note: Order for executions of Soviet prisoners of war. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“Those Soviet Russians who are definitely found to be untrustworthy are to be forthwith reported — as designated in the directives of the 17th July 1941. Following the introduction of the execution authorization, further fulfillment of the designated measures are to begin without further delay. A further custody in the camps in question are to be avoided for various reasons. Finally I reemphasize that under no circumstances are the executions to be carried out either in the Camp or in the near vicinity. It is self-understood that these executions are not public. It is a matter of principle not to admit spectators.”
English: Office of United States Chief of Counsel, translation of Nuremberg document 078-PS. Original-language text not found.
Supplement to directives of 28 June 1941 and 17 July 1941 on screening Soviet prisoners of war in German camps. The directives named categories of prisoners (among them officials, political commissars and Jews) to be 'segregated' and 'specially handled'.
Supplement to the directives for the Security Police and SD commands assigned to prisoner-of-war camps, signed Heydrich, document 078-PS, in Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality, Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression (US Government Printing Office, 1946), vol. 3, p. 126
Content note: Minutes of a meeting planning the deportation and killing of European Jews. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“Under proper guidance, in the course of the final solution the Jews are to be allocated for appropriate labor in the East. Able-bodied Jews, separated according to sex, will be taken in large work columns to these areas for work on roads, in the course of which action doubtless a large portion will be eliminated by natural causes. The possible final remnant will, since it will undoubtedly consist of the most resistant portion, have to be treated accordingly, because it is the product of natural selection and would, if released, act as a the seed of a new Jewish revival (see the experience of history.)”
English: English translation as published by the Avalon Project, Yale Law School (translator not named on the page). Original-language text not found.
Heydrich chaired a meeting of state secretaries and SS officials at which he reported that the Reich Marshal had appointed him to prepare the 'final solution of the Jewish question in Europe'. The minutes were drawn up by Adolf Eichmann and record about 11 million Jews as the target population.
Minutes of the meeting on the 'final solution of the Jewish question', Berlin-Wannsee, 20 January 1942 (the Wannsee Protocol, 16th of 30 copies), Avalon Project text Source