I. Admission to the League of Nations, September 1924-December 1925, among others:1) Note, minutes (excerpt), telegrams German representation Paris, Rome, London, Tokyo, Montevideo etc.., 25. September-22. November 1924: Requirements for the Entry of Germany into the League of Nations, Statement by Tschitscherin, Mussolini, Benesch, Herriot, MacDonald and Others, 2706-2740, 2744-2749, 2786-2793;2) Chamber of Industry and Commerce Allenstein to Reich Chancellery, 29. September-22. November 1924: The German Federal Chancellery, 29. September-22. November 1924, 29. September-2740, 2744-2749, 2786-2793;2) Chamber of Industry and Commerce Allenstein to Reich Chancellery, 29. September-22. November 1924, 29. September-2740, 29. November 1924, 29. September 1924: Appeal to refrain from unconditional entry into the League of Nations because of the associated recognition of the eastern border and the corridor (with wording of a telegram of the Association of East Prussian Chambers of Industry and Commerce), 2741-2743;3) Correspondence Foreign Office, Reich Chancellery, Reichswehr Ministry 31 January-24 June 1925: Organization Plan of the League of Nations for the Exercise of the Investigation Right under Art. 213 of the Treaty of Versailles; fundamental agreement of the League of Nations Council on the chairmanship of investigative commissions; statement by the Reich Ministry of the Armed Forces, with organisation chart and other, 2754-2770, 2774-2775, 2798-2800, 2895-2961, 2983-2995, 3114-3118;4) Correspondence by Reich Chancellor, Austrian Federal Chancellor, 16. and 29 September 1924: Austrian proposal for Franco-German negotiations through the mediation of the Netherlands concern Germany's entry into the League of Nations; Statement by Marx on the question of war guilt and Herriot's speech on the fulfilment of the peace treaties, 2777-2784;5) Submission, Correspondence by Envoy of Braunschweig and Anhalt in Berlin, Reich Chancellery, 23-27 October 1924, 18. March 1925: Wish of the state governments of Bavaria, Prussia, Anhalt, Braunschweig, Mecklenburg-Strelitz concerning discussion with Reich government before the final decision on entry into the League of Nations, 2794-2796, 2871-2872;6) Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft an Reichskanzlei, 23. January 1925: Concern about the economic consequences of the German-British trade treaty; protection of colonial interests during negotiations on entry into the League of Nations; with Resolution Kölner Kolonialklub über Rückerstattung aller Kolonien, 2801-2803;7) Memos for Reich Chancellery, Federal Foreign Office and British Embassy, 27. February 1925: Concerns about unreserved acceptance of Article 16 of the League of Nations Statute because of relations with the USSR; concerns about interpretation of the right of inquiry by French politicians; protest against attempt to reintroduce disarmament control bodies over Article 213 of the Versailles Treaty, 2804-2814;8) Correspondence Luther, Sahm, Bruxton and Others, 23. February-18 March 1925: Unofficial British exploratory talks on obtaining a German application for admission to the League of Nations; statement by the Foreign Office; British request for Germany to be invited by the Council of the League of Nations to directly discuss German objections to Article 16 of the Statute, 2815-2828, 2838-2841;9) Recording of Reich Chancellor Luther's meeting with Reich Foreign Minister and British Ambassador, 10. March 1925: Exchange of ideas on equal rights for Germany in the League of Nations; border issues especially in the East and Chamberlain telegram concerning Clemenceau's "new facts" with regard to Upper Silesia and pacification of Europe, 2830-2836;10) Minutes of the Meetings of Reich Chancellor, Reich Foreign Minister and Others on 17 March 1925 March 1925: No entry into the League of Nations without guarantee for evacuation of the Cologne zone and protection of the Rhineland from "Sonderobhut"; difficulties towards the USSR and Poland because of a note of the League of Nations; conversation between Secretary of State Schubert and British ambassador; guidelines for conduct in the Reichstag and information of party leaders, 2842-2848;11) Memo Ministerialdirektor Kiep, Kommentar zur außenpolitischen Lage, ohne Verfasser, 11.-12. March 1925: Warning of possible consequences of a guarantee of the Franco-Belgian eastern border; role of the French debt payment to Great Britain and the USA; recommendation of a protest against the Investigation Plan of the League of Nations and Germany's entry into the League of Nations without regard to Article 16 of the Statute, 2849-2855;12) Telegram [Embassy Paris], 13th ed. March 1925: Consultations of the French Senate and Chamber Commission for Foreign Affairs on the security pact, disarmament of Germany and the question of eviction; Herriot's remarks on his goals, 2863-2864;13) Minutes of the meeting of Reich Chancellor, Reich Foreign Minister etc. with DNVP deputies on 2 March 1925. April 1925: Status of negotiations on Rhineland clearance; Stresemann's hope regarding indirect recognition of the rights to revision of the eastern border and comments on the annexation of Austria, colonial question, etc.; willingness to fight in the event of Polish occupation of German territories, 2876-2882;14) Deputy Reich President to Reich Chancellor, 20. April 1925: Failure of the press concerning the delay of the Allied control report and the entry into the League of Nations; proposals for the formation of public opinion; statement on articles 10 and 16 of the League of Nations Statutes and German tasks in the League of Nations, 2883-2888;15) Reich Chancellor to Thuringian Ministry of State, 01.May 1925: Correction of an inquiry of the National Socialist Freedom Party (Thuringian Landtag faction) on the security offer of the Reich government; no renunciation of the evacuation of the Cologne zone and no recognition of the eastern border; protection of the Rhineland against French expansion by possible assignment of Alsace-Lorraine and Eupen-Malmedy, 28892890;16) Representative of the Reich government in Munich to Reich Chancellery, 11. May 1925: Conflicting mood of the assembly of the "Fighting League against the war guilt lie"; wording of the resolution against the guarantee pact policy of the Reich government and entry into the League of Nations, 2891-2892;17) Correspondence of Reich Chancellor, Reich Foreign Minister, Bavarian envoy, 26 May-18 June 1925: Bavaria's position on the German security offer and entry into the League of Nations; No decisive steps of the Reich government without consultation with the Länder, 2962-2967;18) Confidential Memo Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. med. Lutz, Mitteilung und Aufzeichnung Auswärtiges Amt, 06-19 June 1925: Talks with Englishmen on Germany's Entry into the League of Nations; Concerns over Hindenburg's Election; Rejection of an Intervention at Cecil and Grey in Favor of a Declaration on War Debt and German Equality by the Auswärtiges Amt, 2968-2975, 2978-2981;19) Minutes (excerpt) of the Meeting of the Reich Ministers, 02. October 1925: Renunciation of political struggle in the Rhineland; statement by General Seeckt on the Investigation Plan of the League of Nations; discussion of questions of aviation and security police in preparation for the Locarno Conference, 3004-3013;20) Minutes of the meeting of the Reich Chancellor with State and Minister Presidents of the Länder on 25 October 1925. September 1925: Statement of the country leaders on the foreign policy situation and action at the Locarno Conference; statements by Luther and Stresemann on relations with the USSR, 3014-3018;21) Elaboration of Sahm "Germany's position in Geneva", with cover letter to Luther, 20 October 1925: Recommendation concerning treaty and tactics in the League of Nations; efforts to prevent decisive Council meetings before Germany's accession, 3019-3024;22) Additional report on meeting of the Prussian State Ministry, 21. November 1925: Instruction for Prussian Plenipotentiaries in the Reich Council on Voting on Draft Law concerning Locarno Treaties and Entry into the League of Nations, 3028;23) Minutes of Ministerial Meeting and Visit of the Bavarian Envoy to Reich Chancellor, Reich President to Reich Chancellor, 27. November 1925: Hindenburg and Bavarian Prime Ministers advocate a separate legislative treatment of the Locarno Treaty and entry into the League of Nations; Stresemann's and Luther's concerns; decision to introduce the bill in its original form, 3029-2032;24) Record Luther, 04. December 1925: Private talks with Briand, Vandervelde and Sciolojo about the time of entry into the League of Nations; Chamberlain wishes German entry while still in office as President of the Council, 3033;25) Memo [without author], [1925]: "The accession of Germany to the League of Nations, from the military and military-political side, 3036-3069;26) Note to members of the Council of Nations, reply notes of the governments of France, etc.., 29 September-01 December 1924: Application for admission and conditions for entry into the League of Nations; reservations of France, Great Britain and others against German conditions; rejection of a permanent German Council seat by Uruguay, 3121-3156; II. "Memorandum and replies concerning Germany's entry into the League of Nations", September 1924-July 1925, inter alia:1) Correspondence League of Nations Secretary General, Reich Foreign Ministry, 19. March-02 July 1925: Decisions of the Council of the League of Nations on the exercise of the right of investigation; transmission of organisational plans, additions and amendments by Drummond; instructions of Stresemann to the Geneva Consulate (with annex), 3072-3118;2) Note to Council Powers of the League of Nations, decree of the Reich Foreign Ministry to diplomatic representatives of France, Great Britain etc.., 25. September-01. December 1924: Clarification of the German position in the League of Nations after possible entry; reservation against Article 16 of the Statutes; agreement of France and others to the permanent seat of the Council for Germany; no assurance regarding Article 16; instructions for handing over the note and oral explanations; with WTB report of 23. September about cabinet resolution, 3120-3145, 3197-3201;3) Note to League of Nations Secretary General, Memo League of Nations Council, Federal Foreign Office Circular (Bülow), 12 December 1924-25 March 1925: Justification of the objections against Article 16 of the League of Nations Statutes; state of German disarmament in comparison with neighbouring states; exemption of Germany's military contribution to sanctions by League of Nations Council, 3157-3196, 3203-3204;4) Strictly confidential memo [without author], 09. February 1925: Settlement of the security question by temporary war ostracism agreement Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy including arbitration clause and guarantee of the acquis on the Rhine or by similar pact in preparation of a world convention, 3206-3207;III. "Akten betreffend Völkerbund", January-May 1926, among others:1) Submission of Colonial Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft to Reich President, 11 January 1926: No entry into the League of Nations without guarantee regarding return of colonial property; reference to French and British statement on the distribution of mandates, 3220-3222;2) Correspondence Representative of the Reich Government in Munich, Sahm, Reich Chancellery, 12.-16 January 1926: Filling of posts in the League of Nations Secretariat; DNVP Group renews request for candidates to be announced, 3224-3226;3) Minutes (excerpt) of the Ministerial Meeting, 14 January 1926: Approval of the Note to the League of Nations Secretary General concerning Investigation Plans of the League of Nations, 3228;4) Correspondence of Prussian Prime Minister, Reich Chancellery, 16 January and 13 February 1926: Demand by Braun for the Reich Government to come into contact with Prussians on resolutions concerning minority issues; Approval by Luther, 3229-3231;5) Draft WTB Message, [without author], 09 January 1926: (in German) February 1926: Motives for the German application for admission to the League of Nations; Economic and political development since the end of the Ruhr conflict; Advantage of joining the League of Nations because of co-determination regarding the Saar administration, protection of Gdansk, German minorities and colonial mandates, 3233-3238;6) Note Reich Chancellery on discussion with member of the Reichstag Graefe, 04. February 1926: Discussion of the necessity of a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag for entry into the League of Nations; Luther's commitment to the policy of Locarno, 3239-3240;7) Secret Records Chief Army Command to Reich Chancellery, 05 February 1926: Statement of France on armament issues, security treaties and Art. 16 of the League of Nations Statutes; French-British discussion on military protective measures; examples of assistance against attackers, 3241-3249;8) Reich Foreign Ministry to League of Nations Secretary General, 08 February 1926: Application for admission of Germany to the League of Nations, 3251;9) Minutes of discussion with Chancellor of the Reich, Foreign Minister of the Reich, etc. with representatives of the state governments on 6 February 1926: Prussia, Saxony, Hesse and Hamburg agree to join the League of Nations; rejection by Bavaria, Thuringia, Mecklenburg and Brunswick, 3263-3266;10) Telegram from the Embassy in Brussels to the Federal Foreign Office, 18. February 1926: No claim of Belgium to a permanent seat in the Council of the League of Nations; statement by Vandervelde on the increase of the permanent seat of the Council and remarks by Rolin on Polish wishes in this regard; discussion of Envoy Keller with Japanese Ambassador Adatoi, 3270-3273;11) Template for Imperial Chancellor, 16. February 1926: Possibility of preventing an amendment of the League of Nations Statutes concerning unanimity of Council decisions after Germany's entry into the League of Nations, 3274;12) Secret Telegram German Consulate Geneva, 12. February 1926: Secretary General Drummond against extension of the Council of Nations beyond its German seat; In case of inevitable enlargement Drummond advocates the admission of an Asian power; interpretation of the Locarno Treaties in the Far and Middle East as a union of Europe against Asia, 3275;13) Telegram Deutsche Botschaft London, 12. February 1926: Communication from a British cabinet member [Cecil] on the difficulty of the opposition to granting permanent seats in the League of Nations Councils to Poland, Spain and Brazil for lack of a German position; Ambassador Sthamer recommends further restraint, 3276-3277;14) Telegrams from the German Consulate Geneva, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Geneva, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Geneva, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Geneva, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Geneva, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Geneva, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Poland, 12-13 February 1926; German Consulate Poland, 12-1. February 1926: Demarche because of French promises about expansion of the Council of the League of Nations; confirmation of the promises by Berthelot with emphasis on Poland; support of Briand by Chamberlain and demands of Vandervelde for Belgium, 3283-3287;17) Telegram German Embassy Belgrade, 14. February 1926: Warning of the Italian and British envoys against activity for the Anschluss of Austria; Declaration by Mussolini about non-admission of the Anschluss by Italy, 3288;18) Confidential telegram German Embassy The Hague, 23 February 1926: Dutch rejection of an increase of the permanent and non-permanent members of the League of Nations Council except by Germany, USA and possibly USSR; No election of the Netherlands to the Council due to Swedish veto, 3289;19) Telegram German Embassy London, 24 February 1926: No election of the Netherlands to the Council due to Swedish veto, 3289;19) Telegram German Embassy London, 24 February 1926: No election of the Netherlands to the Council due to Swedish veto, 3289;19) Telegram German Embassy London, 24 February 1926: No election of the Netherlands to the Council due to Swedish veto, 3289;19) Telegram German Embassy London, 24 February 1926: No election of the Netherlands to the Council of Nations. February 1926: Views of Chambelain and Turrel on granting a permanent seat in the Council of Nations to a South American state; no protest by the Reich Foreign Ministry in Locarno against the seat of the Council of Poland; ways to solve the corridor question, 3292-3293;20) Telegram German Embassy Belgrade, 24. February 1926: Preparation of the Yugoslavian attitude in the League of Nations by meeting with Mussolini and Briand; Rome trip to Nintschitsch on behalf of King Alexander; reduction of the political reorientation to economic difficulties, 3294;21) Telegrams German Consulate Geneva, Embassy London, 24-25. February 1926: Secretary General Drummond approves the admission of Germany, Spain, Brazil and Poland to the League of Nations; Chinese claims for permanent seat in the Council are registered; Sweden is concerned about possible German approval of the permanent seat for Spain (with excerpt from "Stockholm Tidningen"), 3295-3299;22) Minutes (excerpt) of the ministerial meeting on 24 February 1926 February 1926: Statements by Reich Foreign Minister on Swedish request concerning extension of the League of Nations Council and Gentleman Agreement with Council members to secure the German seat; Statement on the Council seat for Poland and Spain; Decision on withdrawal of the application for admission in the event of failure to conclude the Agreement, 3301-3306;23) "Records [Reich Chancellery] of Germany's admission to the League of Nations", [without author], [22. February 1926]: Basis and form of admission; creation of the permanent seat of the German Council; aspects of the election of non-permanent members of the Council; devaluation of the German position in the event of an increase in the permanent seat of the Council, 3307-3313;24) Report by representatives of the Reich government in Munich, 24. February 1926: Criticism of the Bavarian People's Party (BVP) (Reichstag parliamentary group leadership) of the DNVP's statement against entry into the League of Nations and of the optimism of the Reich Ministry of Finance, 3314;25) Correspondence Reich President, Reich Chancellor, 27 February-04. March 1926: Approval of government decision by Hindenburg on entry into the League of Nations only if Council seats are refused to other powers, especially Poland; concern of the League of Nations circles because of possible change of heart in Germany; no commitment of the Reich government to compromise solutions also for the future, 3315-3317, 3329-3335;26) Memos Reich Chancellery/State Secretary, Rittmeister Plank, 02.-04. March 1926: Inquiry and information concerning states with demands of seats in the Council of the League of Nations; possibilities of German concessions; prevention of a pro-French bloc, 3324-3328;27) Minutes (excerpt) Ministerial meeting on 05. March 1926: Guidelines for action against the League of Nations; tug-of-war France, Sweden and others over new candidacies for Council seats; combating attempts to transform the Military Control Commission into a controlling body of the League of Nations; Mussolini's desire to improve German-Italian relations, 3336-3339;28) Telegram Reich Chancellor to President, 08. March 1926: Result of the discussions with Chamberlain, Briand, Vandervelde and Scioloja; no concrete promise of Germany concerning seats in the League of Nations Council, 3343;29) Minutes (excerpt) of the ministerial meeting on 15 March 1926. March 1926: Differences of opinion on the admission of changes to the League of Nations Council before the entry of Germany; statement by Reich President on the Polish candidacy, 3356-3357;30) Submission by Reich Chancellor on intercession State Secretary Zweigert, 18. March 1926: Urgent request of the Reich Council for information on the foreign policy situation; involvement of Prussian provincial representatives, 3359-3360;31) "Compilation of some concerns expressed in the German press and other public opinion against the position of the German delegation and the connection of the Geneva Conference", [without author], March 18, 1926, 3361-3364;32) Representative of the Reich Government in Munich to Reich Chancellery, 18-30. March 1926: Bavarian press commentaries on the failure of the German application for admission to the League of Nations; statements by Minister Gürtner on presumed backgrounds; no support of foreign policy by DNVP, 3372-3375, 3400-3401, 3403-3404;33) Representative of the Reich Government in Munich to Reich Chancellery, 20. March 1926: New tactics of the NSDAP against the National Socialist Volksbund; NS assembly for a calculation of Hitler with Graefe; telegram of the Volksbund to Reich President concerning prevention of accession to the League of Nations, 3380;34) "Proposal for reconstruction of the Council of Nations according to the model of the Administrative Council of the International Labour Organization", [without author], March 1926, 3381-3383;35) Reichstag President to Reich Chancellery, 23. March 1926: Resolution of the Reichstag concerning government declaration and position of the German delegation in Geneva; expectations regarding guarantees for the effectiveness and continuation of the Locarno policy even before entry into the League of Nations, 3386;36) Secret telegram of the German consulate Geneva, 19th century March 1926: Election of Switzerland and Argentina to the Examination Committee for Council Reforms of the League of Nations; recommendation of an agreement with Argentina in the case of German participation and participation as observer, 3388-3389;37) Memo Brazilian Government, WTB-Meldung, Telegramme Botschaft Rio de Janeiro, 24 February-01. April 1926: Brazil's resistance to Germany's admission to the Council of the League of Nations without consulting the Brazilian candidacy; no influence of Mussolini on Brazilian attitude in the League of Nations; recommendation of measures to improve German-Brazilian relations, [3391a]-3399, 3410-3411;38) Minutes (excerpt) of the ministerial meeting, note Foreign Office and others, 31 March-12. April 1926: Statement by the Reich Foreign Minister on participation in the Examination Commission for Council Reforms of the League of Nations, instructions to German representatives and relationship with Polish Council candidacy; agreement to participation and letter to Secretary General Drummond; proposals for changes by the Reich President; status of negotiations with the USSR, 3405-3409, 3412-3414, 3417-3422, 3424-3427;39) German Embassy Prague to the Foreign Office, 11. April 1926: Statements by Benesch on Germany's admission to the League of Nations, possible compromise on the increase in Council seats and guidelines for Czechoslovak League of Nations policy, 3415-3418;40) Minutes (excerpt) Ministerial Meeting of 15. April 1926: Resolution concerning the statement concerning the increase of the League of Nations Council seats in the press release; Waiting attitude towards suggestions for the separation of League of Nations policy and Locarno policy (with "press orientation in the publication of the German Note to the League of Nations"), 3428-3437;41) Note Reich Chancellery/State Secretary on Report by Reich Foreign Minister and Minister Envoy von Hoesch, 21. May 1926: Decisions of the Examination Commission concerning the creation of new permanent and the increase of temporary Council seats in the League of Nations; Approval by the Reichstag, Foreign Affairs Committee, except for the factions of the KPD and the League of Nations; Significance of the new regulations for Germany, 3442-3444;42) Minutes of the Ministerial Meeting on [08.May 1926: Proposals by the Reich Foreign Minister concerning the attitude to the increase of the League of Nations Council Seats; Statement on candidacies Poland, Spain and Brazil, 3446-3447;43) German Embassy Madrid to the Foreign Office, 07. May 1926: Energetic Spanish striving for a permanent seat in the League of Nations Council; Spain's political ulterior motives in concluding the favorable trade treaty; hope for rejection of the Spanish candidacy by Great Britain in order to avoid a clarification of the German position, 3448-3452. In it also:Supplementary information on the place of discovery:Bazille (see above mentioned classification: I.20, 3014-3018); Baker I.18, 2968-2975, 2078-2981); Balfour (III.10, 3270-3273); Brown (I.20, 3014-3018), (I.22, 3028), (III.9, 3263-3266); Brown (I.23, 3029-3032), (III.38); Brockdorff (I.1); Bülow (I.1), (II.3, 3157-3196, 3203-3204)Chamberlain (I.9, 2830-2836), (I.13, 2876-2882), (IV.3, 4193-4209), (III.13, 3276-3277), (III.10, 3270-3273), (III.21, 3295-3299), (III.19, 3292-3293); Cuno (II.4, 3206-3207); Curtius (III.22, 3301-3306), (III.29, 3356-3357), (III.38), (III.40, 3428-3437)Other provenances: National Archives Washington DC, Guide 0, p.6, T 120, roll 1690.
Correspondence on the whereabouts of mission members overseas; maintenance of leprosy homes in Tungkun; list of interned missionary women in Sumatra, 1943; Das Schicksal unserer Landsleute im neuen Ostasien, Korrespondenz u. Bericht, 1943; Merkblatt über Lage d. Deutschen in Brasilien, 1943
Rheinische MissionsgesellschaftHistory of the Inventory Designer: 1902-1918 Central Information Office for Emigrants, 1918-1919 Reichsamt für deutsche Rückwanderung und Auswanderung, 1919-1924 Reichsamt für deutsche Einwanderung, Rückwanderung und Auswanderung, 1924-1945 Reichsamt für das Auswanderungswesen. Essential tasks: Informing the public about the prospects for German Auswan‧derer, promoting welfare efforts, regulating migration movements: Teil‧aufgaben was transferred to the Reichsstelle für Nachlasssse und Nachforschungen im Ausland in 1924 Long text: From 1924 to 1943, the "Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen" acted as the central German advisory and observation office for the emigration movement. It largely took over the field of work and tasks as it had developed at the "Zentralauskunftsstelle für Auswanderer" (1902-1919), continued by the "Reichsstelle für deutsche Rück- und Auswanderung" (1918-1919) and expanded by the "Reichsamt für deutsche Einwanderung, Rückwanderung und Auswanderung" (1919-1924). The Foreign Office and the missions abroad of the German Reich were entrusted by the Reich Chancellor with providing information to those interested in emigrating. The processing of fundamental questions of emigration fell within the competence of the Foreign Office as well as that of the Reich Chancellery and the later Reich Office or Reich Ministry of the Interior. Until 1897, federal emigration legislation applied. Until then, the Reich had regulated only a few individual questions which were in a certain connection with emigration (e.g. §§ 1 and 3 of the Passgesetz of 12 October 1867, Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz of 1 June 1870). It was not until the Emigration Act of 9 June 1897 (see Reichsgesetzblatt 1897, p. 463) that a uniform emigration law was created. The Emigration Act confirmed the Reich Chancellor as the highest supervisory authority in the field of emigration. According to § 38 of the Emigration Act, an "Advisory Council for Emigration" (1898-1924) was attached to the Reich Chancellor (Auswärtiges Amt). The work and duties of the Advisory Council were governed by the regulations of 17 February 1898 issued by the Federal Council (cf. Announcement of the Reich Chancellor of 17 February 1878, in: Central-Blatt für das Deutsche Reich 1898, p. 98; BArch, R 1501/101567). The Chairman of the Advisory Council was appointed by the Emperor, the members were selected by the Federal Council for a period of two years. The ongoing business work of the Advisory Board was carried out by the Foreign Office's office staff. The Advisory Council for Emigration had only an advisory function in the licensing of settlement societies and emigration enterprises. The circular instruction of the Reich Chancellor of 10 June 1898 on the implementation of the Emigration Act obliged the German consular authorities to provide the Auswärtiges Amt constantly with information and documents for the provision of information in the field of emigration (cf. BArch, R 1501/101574). Soon after the Emigration Act came into force, efforts to establish a central information centre for emigrants did not lead to the constitution of an independent Reich authority. Rather, one of the already existing private information associations, the "Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft", was commissioned to provide the information. It was placed under state supervision and supported financially by the state. Before 1902 the following private associations were active in the field of emigration counselling in the German Reich: Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft, Berlin, Verein für Auswandererwohlfahrt, Hanover, Zentralverein für Handelsgeografie und Förderung deutscher Interessen im Ausland, Berlin, Leipzig, Jena, Stuttgart, Evangelischer Hauptverein für deutsche Ansiedler und Auswanderer, Witzenhausen, St. Gallen, Berlin, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen, St. Gallen Raphaelsverein, Limburg (Lahn), Central Office for the Provision of Information to Emigrants and for German Enterprises Abroad, Berlin, Public Information Office for Emigrants, Dresden, German Emigration Association of Seyffert, Berlin, German-Brazilian Association, Berlin, Overseas Association, Munich, All-German Association, Berlin, German School Association, Nightingale Society, Evangelical African Association, Catholic African Association. On 1 April 1902, the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft opened the "Zentralauskunftsstelle für Auswanderer" (1902-1919) as the administrative department of the Kolonialgesellschaft based in Berlin (cf. BArch, R 1501/101573). The Central Information Office was under the supervision of the President of the "Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft", who appointed the head of the Central Information Office with the permission of the Reich Chancellor. The head of the central enquiry unit was responsible for the management and publications of the unit. The Reich Chancellor exercised the right of supervision over the Central Information Office. The organisation of the Central Enquiry Office was governed by the provisions laid down in the "Guidelines for the provision of information to persons wishing to emigrate" and in the "Rules of Procedure of the Central Enquiry Office for Emigrants". The provision of information extended to all non-German territories as well as to the German colonies. It was carried out free of charge, either directly through the Central Information Office or through branches of the Central Information Office. Branch offices were departments of the D e u t s c h e K o l o n i a l s e l s c h a f t , as well as private emigrant associations and organizations. The Central Information Office for Emigrants had a network of more than 50 voluntary branches. The main task of the Central Information Office was to exert propagandistic influence on the flow of emigrants flowing out of the German Reich. The German emigration movement should be contained and brought under control as effectively as possible. Until 1914, the focus was on providing information on possibilities of emigration to the German colonies, to the United States of America and to South America. This advisory and information activity was accompanied by a corresponding collection, inspection and processing of the news and documents submitted by the diplomatic and consular representations of the German Reich via the Foreign Office to the Central Information Office. Similar information on the situation and prospects of emigrants abroad was also sent to the Central Information Office by public bodies, non-profit associations and registered associations at home and abroad. The Central Information Office cooperated closely with the emigrant associations that operated independently in the German Reich. The Central Information Office published information booklets on immigration regulations, economic conditions and career prospects in various countries, e.g. Paraguay, Mexico, Chile, Argentina or the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. On 9 May 1902, the "Advisory Council of the D e u t s c h e K o l o n i a l s c h e G e l l l s c h a f t for the Central Information Office" - Information Advisory Council - was constituted (cf. Barch, R 1501/101573). The Information Advisory Board assisted the President of the D e u t s c h e K o l o n i a l g e s e l l s c h a f t or his representative in the supervision of the Central Information Office. One third of the members of the Advisory Board were representatives of the D e u t s c h e K o l o n i a l g e s e l l s c h a f t , and two thirds were the chairman of the information associations and organizations that had joined the Central Information Office. The ordinary meetings of the Advisory Board, convened once a year in Berlin by the President of the D e u t s c h e K o l o n i a l g e s e l l s c h a f t , took place in camera. The head of the Central Information Office submitted the annual report of the Central Information Office to the Information Advisory Board for confirmation after obtaining the consent of the Reich Chancellor. The Imperial Chancellor could be represented by commissioners at the meetings of the Advisory Council and veto the decisions taken there. With the outbreak of the First World War, the "Central Information Office for Emigrants" stopped providing information to those interested in emigrating. After the Prussian War Ministry had established a "Central Office of Evidence for War Losses and War Graves" at the beginning of the war, the A u s w ä r t i g e s A m t assigned similar tasks to the Central Information Office, especially for the circle of Reich citizens interned in civilian affairs. On the basis of the announcement made by the Reich Chancellor on the creation of a "Central Office for the Provision of Information on Germans in Hostile Foreign Countries" on 1 September 1914, the Central Information Office assumed responsibility for the provision of information, the transfer of money, the transmission of information, the processing of applications for release, and the investigation of German citizens of the Reich both in the Entente states and in the neutral states (cf. German Reich Gazette No. 205 of 1 September 1914). By decree of the Reich Chancellor of 30 September 1914, the "Zentralauskunftsstelle für Auswanderer" (Central Information Office for Emigrants) was annexed to the Foreign Office as a "Reich Commission for the Affairs of German Civilians in Enemy Land" with official character (cf. BArch, R 1501/118320). Even before the beginning of the First World War, a "Reichsstelle für deutsche Rückwanderung und Auswanderung" (Reich Migration Office) was issued by the Reich Chancellor on 29 May 1918 at the Reich Office of the Interior to regulate the return migration and emigration of Reich Germans and Volks Germans (Announcement by the Reich Chancellor on 29 May 1918, in: Deutscher Reichsanzeiger on 30 May 1918 and Königlich Preußischer Staatsanzeiger No. 125). The Reich Migration Office commenced its activities on 1 June 1918, which until the end of 1918 extended almost exclusively to return emigrant affairs. This was essentially a matter of central influence on the return migration from the occupied Polish, Romanian and Russian parts of the territory. Special attention was also paid to the return migration from the western Entente countries and the German colonies. In this context, the Reich Migration Office dealt with the collection, inspection and processing of incoming documents, the provision of information, the promotion of care for returnees, the organisation of returnees, the securing of admission, care, secondment and temporary accommodation of returnees. The chairman, his deputy and the members of the advisory board of the Reich Migration Office were appointed by the Reich Chancellor. The "Advisory Council of the Reich Migration Office", under the direction of the Chairman of the Reich Migration Office, advised the plenum and the committees on fundamental questions of return and emigration (cf. BArch, R 1501/118318). The Reich Migration Office was initially divided into an administrative and an advisory department. The advisory department consisted of members of the administrative department and of the advisory board members who discussed policy issues of return and emigration in a joint meeting. The Reich Migration Office subsequently consisted of five working groups: an administrative group, an information group, a welfare group, a legal group and a scientific group. In the occupied eastern territories, the Reich Migration Office maintained two branch offices, which had to be dismantled at the beginning of the armistice negotiations. The area to the south of the Polozk-Lida railway line and the Warsaw General Government were the responsibility of the "Deutsche Rückwandererfürsorstelle Ostgebiet Bezirk Süd" with its head office in Kowel. The area north of the railway line Pskow-Wilna-Grodnow belonged to the "Sprengel der Deutschen Rückwandererfürsorgestelle Ostgebiet Bezirk Nord" with its head office in Vilnius. Both main offices were subject to several border transit and return migration collection camps (cf. BArch, R 1501/118318). In central Russia and the Ukraine "representatives of the Reich Migration Office" were appointed (cf. BArch, R 1501/118318). They had the task of contacting the German population living there, informing them about settlement and accommodation possibilities in Germany and advising them on legal, supply and property matters. The commissioners remained active only until the withdrawal of German troops or the severance of diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia. On 1 April 1919, the work and tasks of the "Central Information Office for Emigrants" were transferred to the Reich Migration Office (cf. BArch, R 1501/118318). Since then, the Reich Migration Office has been responsible not only for dealing with the affairs of returnees but also for keeping lists and records of the Reich German civilians interned abroad. At that time, the organisation and powers of the Reichswanderungsstelle no longer met the requirements for dealing with questions of return, immigration and emigration. By decree of the Reich President of 7 May 1919, the Reich Migration Office was renamed "Reichsamt für deutsche Einwanderung, Rückwanderung und Auswanderung" (Reich Migration Office) (Reichsgesetzblatt 1919, p. 451), while the business area was expanded (see Reichsgesetzblatt 1919, p. 451). In addition, the "Reichskommissar zur Erörterung von Gewalttätigkeiten gegen deutsche Zivilpersonen in Feindesland" (Reich Commissioner for the Discussion of Violence against German Civilians in Enemy Land) remained responsible for the settlement of war damages and the "Reichszentrale für Kriegs- und Zivilgefangene" (Reich Central Office for War and Civil Prisoners) remained responsible for the care of German returnees from war captivity and civil internment. The Reich Migration Office, as an independently operating Reich Resources Authority, was simultaneously subordinate to the Reich Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign Office. The Ministry of the Interior was responsible, among other things, for combating unreliable emigration agents, monitoring private information activities and promoting the welfare of migrants in Germany. The Federal Foreign Office was responsible for communicating with the German missions abroad and promoting migration assistance abroad. The Central Office of the Reich Migration Office in Berlin was initially divided into eight, later fourteen working groups, which were grouped into three departments. According to the business distribution plan of 1 April 1923, valid until the dissolution of the Reich Migration Office, the central office was structured as follows (cf. BArch, R 1501/118321): Department A I. Administrative Affairs a) Personnel Affairs b) Administrative and Economic Affairs c) General Affairs of the Emigration Service d) Welfare Affairs II. Country Affairs 1. Europe 2. Asia Section B I. General Affairs II. Country Affairs 1. Africa 2. Asia 3. Australia 4. America C. The Reich Migration Office maintained official branch offices administered by employees of the Reich Migration Office, municipal branch offices whose administration was left to municipal bodies, and private branch offices. On the basis of the "Richtlinien für die Anerkennung gemeinnütziger Auskunftsstellen für deutsche Aus-, Rück- und Einwanderer durch das Reichswanderungsamt" (Guidelines for the Recognition of Non-Profit Information Centres for German Immigrants, Returnees and Immigrants by the Reich Migration Office) of 1 January 2006, the following information is available In June 1920, the Reichswanderungsamt assigned tasks from branches of the Reichswanderungsamt to institutions and associations such as the "Deutsche Auslandsinstitut" in Stuttgart, the "Evangelische Hauptverein für deutsche Ansiedler und Auswanderer" in Witzenhausen and the "Raphaelverein zum Schutze deutscher katholischer Auswanderer" in Freiburg im Breisgau (cf. BArch, R 1501/118320). Outside the German Reich there were no information facilities under the control of the Reich Migration Office. In Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, "experts in emigration matters" worked to support the Reich Migration Office by providing information and promoting emigration assistance. The experts had been assigned to the German missions abroad and were subordinate to them in official and disciplinary respects (cf. BArch, R 1501/118320). According to the constitution of the Reichswanderungsamt of 24 May 1919 (cf. BArch, R 1501/118320), an "Advisory Council of the Reichswanderungsamt" was constituted for the purpose of an expert opinion on fundamental migration matters. The Advisory Council consisted of 54 members appointed by the Reich Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign Office for a period of two years. Advisory councils were also set up in the branches of the Reich Migration Office. These advisory councils brought together all the local organisations active in the area of activity of the branch offices, which, like the branch associations of the "Verein für das Deutschtum im Ausland", the "Red Cross", dealt, among other things, with questions of migration. The Reich Migration Office operated an extensive intelligence, reconnaissance and information service. Those interested in emigrating should be made aware of the employment and settlement opportunities available in Germany and held back from emigrating. The information and documents forwarded to the Reichswanderungsamt were processed by the Reichswanderungsamt into information leaflets on countries considered as German emigration destinations and into leaflets on emigration problems of general interest. The Reichswanderungsamt published twice a month since 1919 the "Nachrichtenblatt des Reichsamtes für deutsche Einwanderung, Rückwanderung und Auswanderung (Reichswanderungsamt)", since 1921 under the title "Nachrichtenblatt des Reichswanderungsamtes (Reichsamt für deutsche Einwanderung, Rückwanderung und Auswanderung)". After the dissolution of the Reichswanderungsamt, the newsletter was published until 1944 under the title "Nachrichtenblatt der Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen". The business area of the Reichswanderungsamt expanded continuously until 1924. At the beginning of 1920, the Reich Migration Office took over from the Passport Office of the Foreign Office the processing of all written and oral applications for travel opportunities for Germans abroad, emigrants and returnees from Germany to other countries and vice versa. With effect from 1 October 1923, the tasks of the probate office and the civil status department were largely transferred from the legal department of the Foreign Office to the Reich Migration Office (cf. the news bulletin of the Reich Migration Office 1923, p. 210). In this way the migration, investigation, inheritance and civil status matters were essentially united at the Reich Migration Office. The scope of duties of the Reich Migration Office was limited only by the responsibilities of the Reich Commissioners for Emigration and the Reich Ministry of the Interior for dealing with emigration ship matters, for dealing with emigrant and refugee welfare associations and associations, and for deciding on applications for entry by returnees. This demarcation, however, did not have such a strong effect as the head of the Reich Migration Office was at the same time expert for return migration matters and personnel officer for the office in the Reich Ministry of the Interior. The efforts of the Administrative Removal Commission to dismantle the Reich Migration Office led to the decision of the Administrative Removal Commission of 24 January 1924, according to which the Reich Migration Office was to be dissolved with effect from 1 October 1924. Under the pressure of the financial situation of the German Reich, a cabinet decision of 12 February 1924 and the ordinance of 28 March 1924 set the dissolution date for 1 April 1924 (see BArch, R 1501/118321). By decree of 29 March 1924, the newly formed "Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen" (Reich Office for Emigration) continued from 1 April 1924 only to deal with the central tasks connected with the emigration movement (cf. Reichsgesetzblatt 1924 I, p. 395). The Reich Office for Emigration processed information and documents for emigration counselling, forwarded relevant materials to the counselling offices, and supervised the emigration counselling offices permitted in the German Reich. The Reich Office carried out its activities with the assistance of an advisory council in the portfolio of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, with a significantly limited circle of employees compared to the Reich Migration Office. With effect from 1 April 1924, the legal ownership of the official branches of the Reich Migration Office was transferred from the German Reich to public corporations, non-profit associations and registered associations. According to the business distribution plan of 1 April 1924 (cf. BArch, R 1501/118322), the Reich Office began its work with the following subject areas grouped into groups: 1. general administrative matters; general matters of the information centres and recognised information centres; dealings with associations, societies and the press; observation of the emigration movement; prevention and combating of grievances in the emigration movement; legal cases; annual reports; matters of the Advisory Council 2. personnel matters 3. treasury and accounting matters 4. Emigration and information statistics 5. collection and transmission of information material to advice centres and cooperation in the news bulletin for North and Central America and Asia (excluding Siberia) 6. the same for South America 7. the same for Western and Northern Europe 8. the same for Western and Northern Europe the same for Southern Europe 9. the same for Eastern Europe and Siberia 10. the same for Africa, Australia and the South Seas 11. Editing and publication of the newsletters, leaflets and information leaflets 12. Internal ministry 13. Library and archive 14. Registry 15. Chancellery. The investigation, estate and civil status matters processed to date by the Reich Migration Office were transferred to the newly founded "Reichsstelle für Nachlässe" by ordinance of 1 April 1924 (cf. Reichsgesetzblatt 1924 I, p. 402). This Reich Office was an authority subordinate to the Federal Foreign Office with a central area of responsibility. The Reichsnachlassstelle was dissolved by decree of 30 December 1927 (see Reichsgesetzblatt 1927 I, p. 4). It handed over the subjects it dealt with to the Federal Foreign Office, the German missions abroad and the responsible state authorities. The Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen lost considerable importance during the Nazi era. The fundamental questions of emigration were concentrated to a greater extent at the Reich Ministry of the Interior, the Foreign Office and, in the following years, especially at NSDAP offices and, since 1938/39, at the "Reichsführer SS und Chefs der Deutschen Polizei", such as the "Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle" and the "Deutsche Umsiedlungs- und Treuhandgesellschaft mbH". From 1924 to 1936, the Reich Office for Emigration was subject to Department II (Public Health, Welfare, German Studies) and from 1936 to 1943 to Department VI (German Studies, Surveying) of the Reich Ministry of the Interior. After the dissolution of Division VI of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, the "Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen" (Reich Office for Emigration) with the subjects "Flüchtlings- und Rückwandererfürsorge" (Refugee and Return Migration Welfare), "Wanderungswesen" (Migration), "Auswanderungsschifffahrt" (Emigration Shipping), previously dealt with by Division VI of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, merged in December 1943 into the "Hauptamt Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle, Amt VI. Reichswanderungsstelle" (cf. BArch, R 4901/185). Inventory description: Inventory history On November 30, 1951, the Deutsche Zentralarchiv Potsdam took over files of the "Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen" (Reich Office for Emigration) from the cellar of the registry office I, Berlin C 2, Stralauer Straße 42/43, amounting to about 1,400 files. According to information provided by the former main archives department at the Ministry of the Interior of the GDR, these files had been found in the building of the former Reichsarchiv in Troppau and had been handed over to Berlin by the CSSR at an unknown time. According to investigations carried out after 1945, the files of the Reich Office for Emigration (most recently "Amt VI Reichswanderungsstelle" of the Hauptamt Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle) were moved in 1944/45 to the Posterholungsheim Templin and to the Reichsarchiv in Troppau. The files that were transferred to Templin included state and administrative files from 1918 to 1945, German origin files from 1920 to 1945, files from Department VI of the Reich Ministry of the Interior, which was dissolved in 1943, and personnel files from the personnel registry. These files had not been found in 1946. Of the files moved to Troppau - more than 12,000 files are said to have been sent to more than 170,000 German civilian internees all over the world from the time of the First World War - the aforementioned 1,400 files were transferred to the German Central Archive in Potsdam. The files were in an extraordinarily poor state of preservation, disordered and unrecorded. These were very fragmentary documents on individual cases from the activities of the "Central Information Office for Emigrants", the "Reichswanderstelle", the "Reichswanderungsamt" and the "Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen". Archival evaluation and processing At the beginning of the 1960s, around 1,360 file units were collected due to a lack of archival value. 44 file units remained as inventory 15.05 "Reichsstelle für das Auswanderungswesen" for permanent storage. They provide an insight into the subject and method of work of the emigration authorities. The first indexing of the files took place in 1960. In view of the fragmentary tradition at hand, the organizing work was limited to a classification according to factual aspects. The following classification groups were formed: Group I Provision of information to those interested in emigrating Group II Investigation of German citizens interned in civilian life Group III Organization and business operations Wolfgang Merker provided the initial development in 1960/63. The finding aid he has compiled forms the basis for the present finding aid. During the revision in 2009, a previously unlisted fragment was integrated into the collection (R 1505/45). The classification of the stock has been retained. Subsequently, series and band sequences were created. The listing information as well as the introduction to the history of the authorities and the inventory have been editorially revised. Characterisation of content: Characteristics of content: The files handed over to the German Central Archive in Potsdam in 1951 essentially contained inquiries from individuals, associations under private law and authorities about the whereabouts of emigrants, prisoners of war and civilian internees of the First World War, processes concerning the settlement of property and inheritance matters, correspondence about search forms and communications with foreign missions, German and foreign authorities as well as applications for the release and extradition of prisoners of war and civilian internees. There are no procedures on fundamental issues of emigration, the organisation and the remit of the emigration authorities. The 45 AE (1.3 running meter) of the stock remaining after the archival processing are assigned to three classification groups: Provision of information to prospective emigrants 1902-1928 (18), searches for civilian internees of the German Reich 1914-1923 (17), business operations and personnel files 1920-1945 (10). ‧‧ State of development: Online-Findbuch (2009) Citation method: BArch, R 1505/...