"Non-Germans" Under the Third Reich (175 page)

4.
Police decree of July 7, 1943, by district president, Kattowitz (Katowice), Stück 30, no. 137, university library, Warsaw, Sign. O34693): “Male and female Eastern workers shall wear a square badge in blue and white on the right chest of all outer garments, bearing the sign
Ost.
”

5.
Transcript of a discussion on June 25, 1942, between Gauleiter Bracht (Upper Silesia) and the head of the Race and Settlement Office (SS-
Gruppenführer
Greifelt), in which the latter made a suggestion to this effect (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
).

6.
Presumably there was a corresponding central instruction from the Reich governor of Posen. Cf. the activity report of the
Kreisleitung
Hermannsbad (Ciechocinek) for June 1941 (State Archive Pozna
, NSDAP Gauleitung Wartheland 13, Bl. 13): “In all localities, but especially in the larger ones of the district, the greatest care shall be taken that every German is recognizable as such by his external appearance. Any German not wearing a sign will be treated like a Pole and will just have to accept being turned out of shops during shopping hours reserved for Germans.”

7.
Letter of March 30, 1943, from the District Propaganda Office of the NSDAP Lissa (Leszno) to the
Gau
Propaganda Office of Posen (State Archive Pozna
, NSDAP
Kreisleitung
Lissa 46, Bl. 34).

8.
Police decree of September 4, 1940, by the district president of Posen (
Abl. Regierung Posen
, no. 10, of September 5, 1940, 47 f.; also in State Archive Pozna
, Gendarmerie Schrimm, 103, Bl. 62).

9.
Decree of October 22, 1940, communicated by way of Posen Gestapo circular of October 24, quoted in an administrative decree by the Reich governor of Posen of April 21, 1941 (State Archive Pozna
, Gendarmerie Schrimm, 104, Bl. 50).

10.
Instruction of the
Gau
Bureau of Nationhood Affairs of the NSDAP of November 3, 1943 (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
).

11.
Fines were imposed of up to RM 150; in nonprosecuting cases prison sentences of up to three weeks could be imposed (police decree of September 4, 1940, issued by the district president of Posen,
Abl. Regierung Posen
, no. 10, of September 5, 1940, 47 f.). Under the terms of the administrative decree of April 21, 1941, by the district president of Posen (State Archive Pozna
, Gendarmerie Schrimm, 104, Bl. 50), Poles found wearing German or Austrian medals or decorations were to have these taken away from them and were expressly forbidden to continue wearing them. It was always presumed that there was an intention to deceive. Any Pole who continued to wear medals or decorations after being warned was to be taken to the Secret State Police. In some cases the Pole could also be brought before the Gestapo immediately. Cf. p. 2 of the report of August 18, 1940, by the district president of Hohensalza (Posen University Library).

12.
Instruction (undated) by the
Landrat
of the Konin District on the obligation of all male Poles to salute uniformed Germans, reproduced in a letter dated October 1, 1942, from the SD Posen to the deputy Gauleiter of Posen (
Doc. Occ.
5:301 ff.); directives of September 29, 1939, by the head of the Civil Administration Posen (ZS, Poland, film 14, 764 ff.) (prohibition of standing around with hands in pockets when Wehrmacht vehicles are passing by); instruction of October 17, 1939, from the Bürgermeister of Strzelno to the Strzelno police (Łuczak,
Diskriminierung der Polen
, 143 f.), forbidding Poles from “standing around on the street and in doorways, and having their hands in their pockets”: in the event of nonobservance, twenty strokes of the whip were threatened in punishment.

13.
K. M. Pospieszalski, in
Doc. Occ.
5:301 f. n. 44.

14.
Instruction of November 4, 1939 (quoted in Łuczak,
Diskriminierung der Polen
, 343 ff.); repeated in the decree of November 25, 1939, quoted in the letter of October 1, 1942, from the SD-
Leitabschnitt
Posen to the deputy Gauleiter of Posen (printed in
Doc. Occ.
5:301 ff.): the obligation to salute should be introduced “for reasons of discipline” and relates to leaders of the Party, state, and Wehrmacht.

15.
Letter of October 6, 1941, from the District Propaganda Office of the NSDAP, Lissa, to the Gauleitung Wartheland (State Archive Pozna
, NSDAP
Kreisleitung
, Lissa, 46, Bl. 51): “Regarding the obligation of Poles to salute, I have issued an appropriate instruction and request the
Kreisleiter
from now on not to impose fines in the event of nonobservance and to order forced labor during the Pole’s free time. This will enable us to keep our streets clean, particularly in winter, and many other things.” Cf. also the report of November 21, 1940, from the district president of Hohensalza (Posen University Library). Administrative decree of July 28, 1941, issued by the Reich governor of Wartheland (State Archive Pozna
, Gendarmerie Schrimm, 108, Bl. 388):

The discipline of the Poles in public places has worsened considerably. The Gauleiter and Reich governor have noted to their concern when traveling in the
Gau
that the majority of Poles not only do not salute but confront the Gauleiter’s car with a neglectful and sometimes provocative attitude, although the vehicle and its occupants are clearly distinguished by the territorial flag and uniforms…. I request that the discipline demanded be enforced with all severity. Poles are to obey the obligation to salute Germans in all cases in the countryside, especially if the German is in uniform or is exhibiting the service flag. In towns this rule will have to be relaxed somewhat, although here too it is essential that the Gauleiter and Reich governor be saluted.