The Holocaust Historiography Project

Translation of document 3663-PS

The Reich Minister
For the Occupied Eastern Territories

                                  Berlin W 35, 31 October 19
                                          Rauchstrasse 17/18
                            Telephone: 21 95 15 and 39 50 46
                            Cable address: Reichsministerost

No. I / 2591 /41
     It is requested to refer to this
     number and the subject matter in
     future correspondence

                                                    [Stamp]:

                                     Reich Commissioner East
                                        5 November 1941 Main
                                                Division IIa

To the Reich Commissioner for the East (Ostland)
in Riga
Hermann Goering Street 26

The Reich and Security Main Office has complained that the
Reich Commissioner for the East has forbidden executions of
Jews in Liepaja (Libau). I request a report in regard to
this matter by return mail.


                                                    By order

                                                     Signed:
                                              Dr. Leibbrandt
                                                   certified
                                       [illegible signature]
                                         Regierungsinspektor

[Stamp:]

Reich Ministry for the
Occupied Eastern
Territories

                           -------

                           SECRET

The Reich Commissioner for the East
IIa 4 M 219/41 secret

                    Riga 15 November 1941

To the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories
Berlin
Rauchstr. 17/18
Re: Executions of Jews
District of Erlau 31 October 1941 I/2591/41

Reporter: Reg.Rat [Trampedach?]

I have forbidden the wild executions of Jews in Liepaja
because they were not justifiable in the manner in which
they were carried out.

                                                  [Page 402]

I should like to be informed whether your inquiry of 31
October is to be regarded as a directive to liquidate all
Jews in the East? Shall this take place without regard to
age and sex and economic interests (of the Wehrmacht, for
instance in specialists in the armament industry) ?

[note in different handwriting:] Of course the cleansing of
the East of Jews is a necessary task; its solution, however,
must be harmonized with the necessities of war production.

So far I have not been able to find such a directive either
in the regulations regarding the Jewish question in the
"Brown Portfolio” [Brau Mappe] or in other decrees.

                                                   Tr. 8.11.
2) Resubmit 1.12.41   Submitted 1.12.
 [initialed]