History of the inventor: In 1884 the German Reich took over the protection of the Bremen merchant Franz Adolf Eduard Lüderitz by acquiring land; in 1885 the German administration was established; the German colonial society, founded in 1895, expanded the German sphere of influence; in 1915 the Schutztruppe surrendered to the armed forces of the South African Union and the German administration ended. Inventory description: Inventory history At the end of the 1930s, the Reichsarchiv took over the files of the Colonial Administration of D e u t s c h - S ü d w e s t a f r i k a, in some cases with considerable gaps in their transmission. After the relocation caused by the war, they were transferred to the Central State Archive in Potsdam in 1945. Here, the classification of the holdings into the central administration of Windhoek, the local administrations and the special administrations (justice, police, mining, railways) with their substructures, which had already been carried out in the Reich Archives, was preserved. The few volumes of files kept in the Federal Archives in Koblenz were assigned to the holdings after the reunification of Germany. Archive evaluation and processing In addition to the factual files of the most varied areas and administrative levels, the personnel files of the inspection of the state police as well as the railway administration and railway construction authorities form the most extensive groups of files with about 80 per cent of the transmission. The classification of the stock was carried out largely in accordance with the classification shown in the provisional finding aid, which was based on the registry scheme valid at the time. Only in a few individual cases were volumes assigned to a different classification. The order and titles of the volumes remained essentially unchanged. An index of persons, objects and places has been omitted, so that searches are only possible via the online version of this finding aid book. Content characterisation: Central administration; governorate in Windhoek; commissioner of the former governorate in Windhoek; local administration; district offices; district offices; administration of justice; high court in Windhoek; district courts; mountain authorities; registration aids. State of development: Findbuch 1942; Online-Findbuch 2002 Citation method: BArch, R 1002/...
14 Aug 1915, Federal Archives, BArch N 1030 Franke, Victor (Major General)
I. Pact of Four Powers, disarmament, colonial question, cooperation Germany-Italy, April-May 1933 [676 002-676 205], therein:1. telegram ambassador Paris, 08. April 1933: government declaration Daladier concerning Revision questions, Bégery for controlled disarmament with subsequent arms equality, doubts of the French voters about security solely through alliance with the small Entente and Poland, concern about possible isolation;2. Note and Correspondence Foreign Office, Embassy London, 07-10. April 1933: Discussion of Ambassador Hoesch with John Simon and Vansittart on the Four-Power Pact, no fundamental reservations of England against revision ideas despite rejection by Vansittart, British (British) efforts for compromise formula because of presumed resistance France, German (German) negotiations with France only after knowledge of the French memo and Italy's further course of action;3. telegram Embassy Moscow, 08 April 1933: Announcement Litvinow on early conclusion of the Four-Pact and benevolent statement USA;4. Note from the Federal Foreign Office (Bülow) on the report of Italian (Italian) ambassadors, 10 April 1933: Inquiries by Norman Davis concerning the failure of the USA to invite him to participate in the Four-Power Pact, statements by Mussolini about possible American accession after the unification of the European powers;5. Records from Bülow, Correspondence from the Reich Foreign Ministry, Embassy in Rome, 12 April 1933.April 18, 1933: Statement by Mussolini on the French Four-Power Pact draft and suggestion to postpone the disarmament conference until after the conclusion of the Pact; discussion by Mussolini, Papen, Hassell, German concerns and proposals for change, instructions to the embassies of Rome and London, with French version of the draft Four-Power Pact. with cover letter from the German Embassy in Brussels, 14 April 1933;8. Notes by Bülow on a meeting with the French and Italian ambassadors, 19 April 1933: Statement by France and German statement on Mussolini proposals concerning the Four-Power Pact; ignorance of Hitler concerning the French proposal for the German-French assistance pact and its rejection by Blomberg; Italian concern about possible military understanding between Germany and France and the German-Russian (German-Russian) ambassador to Germany; 8. notes by Bülow on the meeting with the French and Italian ambassadors, 19 April 1933: Statement by France and German statement on Mussolini proposals concerning the Four-Power Pact; ignorance of Hitler concerning the French proposal for the German-French assistance pact and its rejection by Blomberg; Italian concern about possible military understanding between Germany and France and the German-Russian (German-Russian) ambassadors of the German-Russian ambassadors; 8.Russian) Relations;9. telegrams Embassy in Rome, Foreign Office, 19 April 1933: Italian insistence on Hitler's decision concerning further negotiations between Italy and France and England on the Four Pact at a meeting with Papen, Hassell, Suvich, Aloisi; recommendation for an accelerated conclusion due to the isolation of Germany; German colonial wishes; points from the German minimum demand;10. telegrams to the Embassy in Rome, Federal Foreign Office, 19 April 1933: Italian pressure for a decision by Hitler on the Four Pact; recommendation for an accelerated conclusion due to the isolation of Germany; German colonial wishes; points from the German minimum demand;10. Federal Foreign Office, Telegram Bülow, 20-21 April 1933: Discussion Papen, Bülow, Gaus on negotiations in Rome; formulations and draft pacts; intention of Hitler to consult Papen and Blomberg; approval of the drafts with minor changes;11. Correspondence, Embassy London, Foreign Office, 20-25 April 1933: Instructions to the English Embassy Berlin for discussion with the Foreign Ministry on Art. 19 of the League of Nations Statute in relation to the Four-Party Pact; clarification of German wishes regarding the handling of revision issues by four powers, also outside the League of Nations; 12th Circular, Foreign Office, to embassies and missions, 20 April 1933: Development of negotiations on the Four-Power Pact; assessment of draft texts, with development and memos, partly in French, German, English, French and Italian, English, and German counterproposals;13. telegram Embassy Rome, April 20, 1933: Statements by Mussolini on the German-Italian. Cooperation in the Danube Region, Colonial Question, League of Nations Policy, Relations with Austria; Advice from Mussolini to Dollfuss and Billigg, no official approval of the position by Hitler yet;14. Federal Foreign Office (Bülow) to Embassy London, 28. April 1933: Information and instructions on the new version of the Four-Power Pact; state of negotiations; Hitler's approval of the German position; instructions to the German Embassy in Paris, with annexes; 15th telegram from the Embassy in Rome, Foreign Office, 21-22 April 1933: Preparation of a "gentlemen's agreement" with the Italian Embassy in Paris, with annexes; 15th telegram from the Embassy in Rome, Foreign Office, 21-22 April 1933: Preparation of a "gentlemen's agreement" with the Italian Embassy in Paris, with annexes to the "Agreement". Government concerning colonies; Aliosi statement on German requests for change, in particular dates of rearmament;16. Records Foreign Office, telegram Embassy Paris, 24-27 April 1933: German proposals handed over to Daladier; no French presumption yet concerning German intention to create an institution of signatories outside the League of Nations, discussion with Francois-Poncet on draft pacts, interest Foreign Office for German rearmamentFrench Assistance Pact;17. telegrams German delegation Geneva, Foreign Office, 27 April 1933: False report Reichswehr Ministry on final rejection of German equality in arms matters by France and England; concerns Francois-Poncet against German disarmament proposals;18. Telegramme Embassy London, 27 April 1933 and 01 May 1933: Statement by John Simon on German amendments to the Four Pact and the French position; concerns about German armament after 5 years; discussion with Ambassador Grandi, Hoesch on the inclusion of the French draft in Rome and Italian. Negotiations with France and Germany;19. telegram Embassy Rome, Foreign Office, 02.-05. May 1933: Communication Suvich concerning negotiations with British and French ambassadors on the Four Pact; most important changes compared to French text; compromise proposal Reich Foreign Ministry on arms claim and general observations Neurath on the Pact;20. telegram Embassy Paris, 05. May 1933: Communication Suvich concerning negotiations with British and French ambassadors on the Four Pact; most important changes compared to French text; compromise proposal Reich Foreign Ministry on arms claim and general observations Neurath on the Pact;20. telegram Embassy Paris, 05. May 1933: Communication Suvich on the Pact. May 1933: Quotes from Senate Speech by Foreign Minister Paul-Boncourt; concern about the Austrian loan because of uncertainty about the political situation; prevention of a block formation in Europe through cooperation with Italy and the Four Pact within the framework of the League of Nations; statement on secret armament in Germany; II. Foreign Office: Mussolini Pact, May-September 1933; original version of the Four-Power Pact Mussolini, London and Paris versions; memo of the French government, German proposals; reports, in part English, french [Original file vol. 2] [676 206-676 644]; therein:1. German Embassy Ankara, 06. May 1933: no striving of Italy for alliance with Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria; cooling of the Turkish-Italian relations because of four power pact and debt question;2. Note from the Federal Foreign Office (Bülow), Telegrams from the embassies in Rome and London, 10-13 May 1933: Mussolini's negotiations with France and England on the basis of German proposals on the Four Pact; Mussolini's remarks on revision, corridor question, German version of the text.russian Treaty; Suvich's doubts about armament; Vansittart's appreciation of German concessions; negotiations discontinued on Italian agreement. Wunsch, mit Pakten dra drafts;3. telegram message London, 16. May 1933: consternation about Papen speech; tense expectation of the rally Hitler; no official British statement about sanctions, aversion of England against involvement in possibly continental war;4. note and note Reichsaußenministerium, Auswärtiges Amt an Blomberg u.a., 16.-20. May 1933: statement to ital. Compromise proposals for four pacts, especially arms issues; Göring inquires from Rome about pact negotiations; Neurath approves limitation of pact to five years; 5. notes by Reich Foreign Minister and Bülow, telegram from Embassy in Rome, 21-22. May 1933: Fundamental agreement Göring-Mussolini on new version of the Four-Party Pact, discussion of contentious points by Hassell and Suvich, reservations of the Federal Foreign Office against new draft, discussion Neurath, Göring on Roman negotiations, including Austrian question;6. Aufzeichnungen Auswärtiges Amt (Neurath, Bülow), May 24, 1933: Discussion with Hitler, Papen, and others, on the Four-Power Pact, Hitler advocates approval after the Abandonment Conference, Bülow's statement on British allegations concerning Mussolini's relationship to the Pact and enquiry about the German Pact for the Promotion of the Rights of the Child, and the German Pact for the Promotion of the Rights of the Child.Austrian tensions;7. telegram message Paris to Federal Foreign Office, press department, 24. May 1933: press reports about planned England journey Göring, Viermächtepakt and German emigrants;8. records Federal Foreign Office, telegrams legation Athens, message Rome among other things, 25.-28. May 1933: Resistance of the small Entente and Poland against Viermächtepakt, attitude France, England, Greece to the pact conclusion, German - Italian. Disagreement over time of initialling, with ital. Draft;9th WTB report, telegrams from the Federal Foreign Office to embassies in Rome, London, Paris, 28-29 May 1933: 'Matin' report on planned French guarantee concerning maintenance of contracts with allies and French politics after conclusion of the Four Power Pact, statement by the Reich Foreign Ministry;10th records from the Federal Foreign Office (Neurath, Bülow) about meetings with Hitler, Blomberg and others, 29 May-01 June 1933: Hitler's approval of the Quad Pact subject to Mussolini's declaration concerning the tragweite of part of the Equality Clause; approval of initialling of the Pact;11 May-01 June 1933: WTB Message, telegrams German delegation Geneva, embassies Paris, Rome, 29-31 May 1933: Hitler's approval of the Quad Pact subject to Mussolini's declaration concerning the tragweite of part of the Equality Clause; consent to initialling of the Pact;11 May-01 June 1933: Hitler's approval of the Quad Pact; 11 May 1933: Hitler's approval of the Pact; 11 May 1933: Hitler's approval of the Pact; 11 May 1933: Hitler's approval of the Pact; 11 May 1933: Hitler's approval of the Pact. May 1933: Initialling; statement of the French press, Mussolini doubts special French guarantee for allies, distribution of the alleged wording of the pact by British United Press;12. Bülow submissions, Federal Foreign Office records, telegrams to embassies in Rome, Paris, etc.., 31 May-07 June 1933: Tug-of-war over final editing of the Four Power Pact, Daladier declaration on agreement, fears of possible Polish attempts to form an Eastern bloc, Leger denial of a special French guarantee to allies, with drafts, reports on Times articles concerning Anschluss Austria;13. Secret submission from the Foreign Office (Bülow) about the content of the Mussolini message to Hitler, 01 June 1933: Endangerment of the Four Powers Pact by German resistance against Article 2 and German desire concerning disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, appeal to confidence in Hitler in support by Italy, speculation about French disarmament, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament talks at an earlier point in time, German disarmament at an earlier point in time, German disarmament at an earlier point in time, German disarmament at an earlier point in time, French disarmament. Statements to allies, instructions Mussolini to Ambassador Cerruti concerning lecture at Hitler;14. Records Foreign Office (Köpke) about long-distance call with Göring, 03. June 1933: Information about announced conference Daladier, Davis, Londonderry in Paris, brit. Attempts to influence France for concessions to Germany in disarmament matter;15. handwritten note Reichsaußenministerium, 07 June 1933: Adoption of the Four Powers Pact by Hitler, order by Hitler to authorize Ambassador Hassell to sign, information of the Italian Foreign Ministry, and the German Foreign Ministry's decision to accept the Pact. Ambassador and Instructions Hassell;16. Awards Federal Foreign Office (Hassell), Telegram Embassy Rome, 08 June 1933: Announcement of the conclusion of the Four Pact by Mussolini with emphasis on the question of revision and German equality of armament, Reactions of the Italian Federal Foreign Office (Hassell), Telegram Embassy Rome, 08 June 1933: Announcement of the Four Pact Agreement by Mussolini with emphasis on the question of revision and German equality of armaments, Reactions of the Italian Federal Foreign Office (Hassell), 16. Senate, Romania's satisfaction with German recognition of the League of Nations, Locarno Pact;17. Records Federal Foreign Office (Bülow), Telegram Reich Foreign Ministry, Embassies of Rome, Paris, 09-15 June 1933: Exchange of Notes Paul-Boncourt, Ambassador Osusky on the interpretation of the Four-Party Pact in matters of revision and maintenance of the closest French- German law; 17.Czechoslovak cooperation, similar notes to Poland and others, statement by Mussolini, Neurath and others, no signing of the pact before clarification of the French position;18. Telegrams Embassies Rome, Paris, 09-11 June 1933: Meeting Mussolini, Hassell concerning the settlement of disarmament issues or freedom of rearmament for Germany after signing of the Four-Party Pact; Italian: "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union and the European Union"; "The European Union; "The European Union and the European Union". Press; Chamber Speech Daladier, Background;19. Telegram Embassy Washington, 12. and 15. June 1933: Reactions of the USA to the Four Power Pact, Philipp's Statement on the French Interpretation of the Pact, Formal American Objections to French Proceedings;20. Vorlagen Auswärtiges Amt (Bülow), Embassy Rome, 13.-26. June 1933: Recommendations and Negotiations Mussolini, Neurath et al. concerning Response to the French Pact, 12. and 15. June 1933: The USA's Reactions to the Four Power Pact, Philipp's Statement on the French Interpretation of the Pact, Formal American Objections to French Proceedings;20. Note to small Entente and Poland, Neurath order on further action, instructions to Ambassador Hassell on handing over protocol and oral statement to Mussolini, with text of note;21. Telegrams Foreign Ministry, Embassy Paris, 16 Juni-05. July 1933: Suvich about meeting Hitler-Mussolini and plans Mussolini, reports of the french press and statement french government about possible pronunciation Daladier-Mussolini, thought french government circles about personal contact Daladier-Hitler;22. records Reich Foreign Ministry about meeting with ital. Ambassador, 30 June 1933: Hope Mussolini for early signing of the Four Pact and meeting of heads of government to discuss arms issues, proposal Neurath to the German-Italian. Feelings concerning subjects of consultation;23. Telegrams Papen, Embassy Rome, 30 June and 04 July 1933: Assurance to Mussolini on behalf of Hitler about disinterest in annexation of Austria because of German-Italian border. Relations, statements by Mussolini about alleged reorganization of the Danube region, economic cooperation with Germany in Southeastern Europe and Italian-French understanding, insistence on conclusion of Concordat;24. Records from the Foreign Office, WTB report, telegrams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies in Rome, Paris, 11-17 July 1933: Approval of Italian agreement. Note verbale to England and France concerning protest against French guarantee for allies, signature of Four Power Pact, Paul-Boncourt meeting with Ambassador Jouvenel and interview on Pact, with congratulatory messages from heads of government;25. Records Foreign Office, Telegrams Embassy Rome, 11 July-08 September 1933: Statement ital. Government to treaty negotiations with USSR, Russian disgruntlement because of German action against Jews and Communists, statement by Foreign Minister Tewfik Ruschdy on Turkish Ostpolitik, benevolent assessment Russian-Italian. Agreement by Bülow;III. Foreign Office, Office of the Reich Minister: Federalism, September 1920-October 1923 [Original file volume 2] [676 645-676 810], therein:1. record Simon [excerpt], 20. September 1920: reference Greek legation to attempts emanating from Bavaria to found a monarchistic triple alliance Bavaria-Austria-Hungary, trust Simon in Kahr's adherence to Reich unity, surveillance of separatist efforts;2. Foreign Office memo on meeting with English chargé d'affaires, 23 September 1920: Expectation of a monarchist coup in Bavaria, Landesschießen 25 September 1920, attempts by Lincoln Trebitsch to reconcile with England;3. Foreign Office memo on conversation with Gesandtem Naumann, 29 January [September?] 1920: The situation in Poland worsens, Russian troops march up. Troops at the Lithuanian border, monarchist agitation in Bavaria with connections to Austria, Hungary, France, Belgium, unclear role of Erzbergers, Naumann report on Reichstreue Kahr;4. Correspondence Simon, German Embassy Bern (Müller), 17th and 29th century, German Embassy Bern (Müller), 17th and 29th century, German Embassy Bern (Müller), 17th and 29th century, German Embassy Bern (Müller), 17th century, 17th century, 17th century. September 1920: Application of the Hungarian imperial crown to Karl von Habsburg by former minister Benitzky on behalf of Horthy; conditions of Hungary and Habsburg, preparation of Karl von Habsburg's illegal journey through Austria, risk due to Wissen Renner, refusal of restoration by small Entente;5th Reich Chancellery Fehrenbach to Reich Foreign Minister Simons, 29. September 1920: Kahr's energetic position against the dissolution of the local defence forces at a meeting in Munich; wishes of the Bavarian government regarding diplomatic representation of the Reich; endorsement of the appointment of Zech as envoy in Munich by Reich Minister of the Interior Koch (with attached letter Koch to Fehrenbach of 28 September 1920). September);6th Report, [without author], 08 October 1920: Strength and Armament of the Resident Armed Forces in Munich and Bavaria; Relationship between the Resident Armed Forces and Jews; Cessation of the Resident Armed Forces to Prussia, Echerich, and Epp;7th Report German Embassy Rome, 11 October 1920, [without author]. October 1920: Alleged intention of the Bavarian government to send an envoy to Naples;8. Aufzeichnungen Auswärtiges Amt, 16. October 1920: Discussion with Bavarian envoy Preger concerning inhabitant questions and representatives of the Reich government in Munich;9. report, [without author], [1920]: Monarchistic and separatist efforts of the organization Escherich; anchoring of the organization Escherich in Carinthia, Tyrol, and Styria with connection to Hungary; proposal for listening posts in Munich to monitor these efforts;10. Report, [without author], [1920]: Influence of Police President Pöhner and Peasant Leader Heim on Kahr; Cooperation of Pöhner with Escherich and Ludendorff Group; Anti-Semitic agitation and riots of the NSDAP presumably under Aegide Pöhner;11. Report Prussian Legation in Munich, 01. November 1920: Statement on the record [Naumann] of "Bavarian personalities", including Kahr, Escherich, Pöhner, Heim, Faulhaber, member of the royal family, recommendations for the defence against French and separatist efforts by setting up envoys of the Reich government with South German governments; 12th report Künzelmann, correspondence C. Bosch, Reich Foreign Ministry, 25-27 October 1920: The French envoy in Bavaria is misled by Wittelsbach agents; the former royal family's hopes for restoration and acquisition of Tyrol and Salzburg with France's help; the French attitude towards Bavaria is changed; the House of Habsburg is supported by France;13. Mitteilungen aus München, [ohne Verfasser], Korrespondenz Stresemann, Simons, 27. October-09 November 1920: Wishes of the Bayerische Volkspartei (BVP) concerning the form of government, the establishment of envoys and the annexation of Austria; Kahr's accession to the BVP; particularist tendencies; aims and equipment of the local defence forces; warning of the dissolution of the EWW and a left-wing Reich government; statement by Simon; 14th Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, 10th issue of the German Allgemeine Zeitung. November 1920: Transmission of a report by the Württemberg central organ "Deutsches Volksblatt" on the decision of the Entente to carry out the occupation of the Ruhr in the event of further non-delivery of military weapons and maintenance of the local defence forces in Bavaria;15th Bavarian Minister President Kahr to Simons, 22 November 1920: Preparation of Kahr's trip to Berlin to discuss questions from the local defence forces (with note from the Foreign Office);16th Confidential Correspondence Stockhammern, Simons, 07. and December 15, 1920: Discussion of Nuntius Pacelli, Italian Ambassador de Martino and Stockhammer in Munich on Bavaria's separatist efforts; wishes of the Italian government to maintain German unity; Nuntius's evasive statement on Martino's questions regarding the curia's attitude to separatism; 17th submission of Nuremberg City Council to Reich President, Correspondence Office of the Reich President, Board of Nuremberg City Council, December 30, 1920-07. January 1921: Appeal against the new order of the State Commissioners concerning the obligation to approve assemblies and against the continued existence of the 1919 Ordinance on the Restriction of Freedom of Assembly; recognition of the unconstitutionality of the Ordinance by the President of the Reich;18. Rechberg an Stresemann [excerpt], [28. December 1920]: Urgent warning against French proposals to maintain the Resident's Defences after Bavarian annexation of France; determination of Bavaria to take an uncompromising stance on questions of the Resident's Defences and disappointment at insufficient support by the Reich government;19. December 1921 on the establishment of this legation;21. report representative of the Reich government in Munich, letter Zech to the Foreign Office, 30 January-31 March 1922: statement on reports on relations between Bavaria and Austrian Alpine countries; no promise Kahr regarding the deployment of auxiliary troops to Salzburg; local support in political unrest in the border region; reference to statements of the BVP organ "Regensburger Anzeiger" on Mauracher;22. report by Zech to the Foreign Office, 30 January-31 March 1922: statement on relations between Bavaria and Austrian Alpine countries; no promise Kahr regarding the deployment of auxiliary troops to Salzburg; reference to statements of the BVP organ "Regensburger Anzeiger" on Mauracher;23. Comment [Minister Zech] to report to the Passport Office Salzburg an Auswärtiges Amt, [1922]: Practices, reasons and aims of Bavarian particularism; hope for the annexation especially of Tyrol and Salzburg; acute danger of separatism only in case of possible revolution in Berlin, occupation of the Ruhr and the like; financing of the separatists presumably by France; distrust of the legal circles against "Bund Oberland" because of its loyalty to the Reich;23. Note Auswärtiges Amt on WTB report no. 1402 of 20 July 1922: Attitude of the Reich representative in Munich in high treason matter Count Leoprechting; vote of no confidence and Bavarian desire for recall Zech;24th report German Embassy Paris, 02 August 1922: Statement [Peretti] on the German declaration concerning exclusion of the public in the high treason trial Leoprechting in Munich and witness statements on support for Leoprechting by French envoy Dard;25th secret report German Embassy Paris, 10th report August 1922: Rumours concerning Paris negotiations with Crown Prince Rupprecht about restoration of the Wittelsbach dynasty, separation of Bavaria from the Reich and merger with Austrian disclosure of information through correspondence in the Chicago Daily News about France's presumed interest in Rupprecht's proposals;26. Note from the Federal Foreign Office, [without date]: Programme speech by the Bavarian Prime Minister Knilling on 9 November 1922 (Frankfurter Zeitung No. 805 of 10 November 1922);27. Confidential notes [Rosenberg], ]9 January 1923]: Statements by the Austrian envoy on Bavarian loyalty to the Reich from "Kahr to Knilling"; danger to the unity of the Reich in the event of possible weakness against French influences;28. Reports Reichsvertreter in Munich, [16.]-17. January 1923: Concern of Bavarian party circles about a possible NSDAP coup on the occasion of the consecration of the flag on 20 January; Kahr's belief in Hitler's rejection of such actions; statement by the Bavarian envoy Preger and his intention to warn Kahr of the consequences of a Nazi coup;29. Report German Embassy London, January 18, 1923: Berlin warning to secretary of the Anglo-Jewish Association against a planned pogrom in Bavaria, taking advantage of the excitement about the occupation of the Ruhr; support of the movement with French money; request for energetic intervention by the Reich government and warnings from the German press for prudence;30. Records and telegram from the Federal Foreign Office, Reichsvertreter reports in Munich, 21 January 1923: Bavarian envoy Preger reports on steps taken by the Reich government to recall the French envoy in Munich and on the trip of the Bavarian Minister of the Interior to Berlin; no mobilization of the press against envoy Dard; Kahr doubts NS program plans in Munich;31. Rundtelegramm Auswärtiges Amt an diplomatische Vertreter, 21. January 1923: Protests against the Ruhr occupation in Munich; mass meetings of the SPD; resolution of the Reich government to maintain German unity; press reports on dwindling influence of Hitler because of disapproval of his overthrow propaganda;32. WTB-Meldung Nr. 194 vom 24. January 1923: Protection of the French envoy in Munich by the Bavarian government while refusing responsibility for his security; Renewed demand for Dard's dismissal;33. Reports by the German Embassy in Paris and Reichsvertreter in Munich, Telegramm Auswärtiges Amt, 26 January-03 February 1923: International law concerns of Ambassador Hoesch against the conduct of the Bavarian government and France's action in the case of Ambassador Dard; note by the Reich government regarding the renewed demand for Dard's recall and possible threat of delivery of the passports to Dard; statement by France and protest against the boycott of the French embassy personnel in Munich;34. Report by representatives of the Reich government in Munich, January 27, 1923: Concern Kahr about the mass march of the legal associations and presumed counter-demonstrations; ban on assembly and proclamation of the state of emergency; threats by Hitler; uncertainty about the conduct of the Reich Armed Forces; confession of Reich unity by Münchner Neuester Nachrichten and "Münchner-Augsburger Abendzeitung"; 35th note by the Foreign Office concerning the telegram [Haniel], January 05, 1923. February 1923: Rumors in Munich about alleged agreements between Bavaria and East Prussia against simultaneous defeat under Bavarian leadership; warning against "warlike tones" in planned Reich Chancellor speech;26th Report German Embassy Washington, 20. February 1923: Introduction of Count Lerchenfeld by President Harding; disapproval of the French occupation of the Ruhr by the US government; disappointment in the State Department at the low echo of the Hitler movement because of the possible development of Hitler into a "kind of Mussolini" and the elimination of socialism in Germany;37. Report by representatives of the Reich government in Munich, 13 April 1923: No confirmation of the rumours of an imminent coup by the national associations; slight danger due to disagreement between the associations and general mood; possible change of direction in the event of a left-wing Reich government or concessions in the Ruhr question;38. Haniel an Rosenberg, May 7, 1923: Statement of the Bavarian Prime Minister von Knilling on the possible entry of the Social Democrats into the Reich government; impossibility of the two-front struggle against Hitler and the Socialist government; dismissal of the Bavarian envoy in Berlin if Breitscheid is appointed Reich Foreign Minister;39. Note from the Federal Foreign Office, [06] June 1923: Mitteilungen [Iversen] aus Füssen concerning the occupation of the Ruhr, use of the Ruhr donation, forthcoming appointment of Kahr as president of Bavaria and Kahr's advance against the state court; 40th report from the German Embassy in Paris, 13 July 1923: passing on a Havas report on the high treason trial against Fuchs and Others, and the role of the French commander Richler; 41st report from the German Embassy in Paris, [06] June 1923: Iversen, [06] June 1923: Mitteilungen [06] June 1923: [06] June 1923: Iversen, [06] June 1923: Report from the German Embassy in Paris, [06] July 1923: Iversen, [06] June 1923: Iversen, [06] June 1923: Iversen, [06] June 1923: Iversen, [06] June 1923: Iversen, [06]. Report Representative of the Reich Government in Munich, July 16, 1923: Demarche of the French businessman Pozzi because of inscriptions on pubs concerning prohibition of access for French and Belgians; no legal means for the government to intervene; threats Pozzi with reprisals and other French complaints;42. Report by the German Embassy in Bern, 31 July 1923: Belgian royal couple approves the latest plan for the restoration of the Wittelsbach family; Brüske rejection by Poincaré; French-Belgian differences on the question of reparations;43. Exchange of Notes Bayerischer Gesandter Berlin, Reichskanzlei, 14-19 September 1923: Statement by Bavaria on Statements by the Reich Chancellor in the Foreign Affairs Committee; Warning of Negotiations on the Rhineland and Ruhr because of French Intentions; No Surrender of German Territories by the Reich Government; Proposals to France, England and Others concerning the Solution of the Ruhr Question; Determination of the Reich Government to Proceed Against Unconstitutional Currents;44. von Schubert to former Reichsminister Schiffe, 22 September 1923: Letter Vietinghoff of 12 September 1923 on German success in The Hague concerning the Polish colonist question and Bavaria's attitude in the event of the Reich's government yielding to the Allies;45. Records [Reich Foreign Ministry] of a meeting with French embassy on 27 September 1923 September 1923: The Reich government abandons passive resistance; no authorization from the Margerie to make statements about French compensations; demonstrations in Bavaria because of German "capitulation"; nationalist tendencies of the communists; intransigence of the French press;46. Report German Embassy Washington, September 29, 1923: "Washington Post" on the advantages of a Bavarian monarchy and the smashing of Germany (quotation, English);47th note from the Foreign Office on the intercession of Haniel from Munich on September 29, 1923: Instruction Kahr to public prosecutors and police to suspend the enforcement of the Republic Protection Act; consequences of the high treason proceedings against the executive committee of the Bavarian Federation of Transport Officials and prohibition of the "Ethnic Observer"; warning Haniel against a test of strength with Bavaria;48. Motion by Koenen and his comrades in the Reichstag, 02 October 1923: Immediate repeal of the so-called strike regulation in Bavaria because it favored a monarchist overthrow and Bavaria's separation from the Reich;49th report by the German Embassy in Rome, 04 October 1923: Tendentious reports by the Italian press and the Havas agency on the powerlessness of the Reich government against Bavaria; disloyalty to Kahr, proposals for better information from abroad;50th report by the German Embassy in Rome, 04 October 1923: Tendentious reports by the Italian press and the Havas agency on the powerlessness of the Reich government against Bavaria; disloyalty to Kahr, proposals for better information from abroad. Report German Embassy Paris, October 4, 1923: Meeting with French politician Rey; France's thoughts on the creation of an independent Rhine republic promoted by the strengthening of the separatist movement; Poincaré's presumed intention to delay the reparations problem until after the French elections; recognition of the British demands by France; including:Supplementary information on the site of the find:Albert (see above structure: III.3, 6649-6652), (III.42, 6793); Allizé (III.11, 6675-6688; 6693-6697); Aloisi (I.5), (I.17, 6169-6172); (II.1, 6267, (II.8, 6350-6379), (II.7), (II.20)Bensch (II.2); Blomberg (II.6, 6340-6342), (II.12); Borah (I.4, 6019-6020); Bothmer (III.3, 6649-6652); Bülow (I.17, 6169-6172), (II.8, 6350-6379), (II.14, 6446-6447)Cerruti (I.8, (6075-6082), (II.5, 6329-6339), (II.8, 6350-6379), (II.10, 6390, 6401-6402), (II.20), (II.22, 6611), (II.25, 6628-6632, 6644); Cuno (III.37, 6784-6785)Daladier (II.2), (II.24, 6623-6627); Dard (III.12, 6689-6692), (III.11, 6675-688, 6693-6697), (III.18, 6729-6730); Davis (I.3, 6017), (I.8, 60075-6082), (II.3, 6311-6313); Dollfuss (II.12)Ebert (III.17, 6725-6728); Escherich (III.3, 6649-6652), (III.13, 6701-6708), (III.11, 6675-6688, 6693-6697)Other provenances:National Archives Washington DC, Guide 0, S.26, T 120, roll 1605.
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Contains: Notes on the invasion of Bohemia, 1866 Protocol on the capitulation of Sedan, Sept. 1870 Also contains: Allerhöchster Erlass Wilhelms II. zur Aufstellung einer Schutztruppe in Deutsch-Ostafrika, March 22, 1891
History of the Inventory Designer: The Commissioner for the Four-Year Plan was appointed on 18 October.1936 appointed for the central control of all economic, especially war-economic measures and tasks resulting from the implementation of the (second) four-year plan announced in 1936 within the framework of the self-sufficiency efforts and preparations for war; the Prussian State Ministry under Hermann Göring (Office of the State Secretary Körner) acted as the central office; for the economic exploitation of the occupied and annexed territories, creation of a number of special institutions within the framework of the commissioner (e.g. the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.B. Haupttreuhandstelle Ost, General Plenipotentiary for the Economy in Serbia); from 1942 onwards, more and more powers were transferred to the Reich Minister for Armaments and Ammunition (later for Armaments and War Production). Immediately after Yugoslavia's capitulation (19 Apr 1941), the General Representative for the Economy in Serbia was appointed as one of the numerous organizational parts of the Commissioner (business groups, authorized representatives/general representatives, special representatives, etc.). Characterisation of the contents: The remains of the General Representative for the Economy in Serbia, who was appointed immediately after Yugoslavia's surrender (19.4.1941) and who entered the Federal Archives, contain documents on the confiscation and administration of hostile and Jewish property in the area of the military commander of Serbia as well as reports on metal ore mining in Serbia. Further documents can be found in Yugoslav archives. State of development: 6 volumes (copies from the American guides) (1974) Citation method: BArch, R 26-VI/...
History of the inventor: Since the middle of the 19th century, the findings of agricultural chemistry have increasingly led to the use of potash salts as an agricultural fertilizer. In 1859, the potash camps near Staßfurt were determined, and just two years later the first German potash factory was built there. Other very important deposits were mined in the rest of Central Germany and in the Upper Rhine area (Baden and Alsace). From 1871-1919, the German Reich almost had the world monopoly for potash. The voluntary association of the German potash industry in the potash syndicate has guaranteed the assertion of this outstanding position since 1888. It was seriously threatened from the inside when the syndicate broke up in 1909. It was only through the intervention of the Reich that orderly conditions could be restored. In accordance with the economic importance of the German potash industry, its organisation in a forced syndicate was given a completely new basis by the law on the sale of potash salts of 25 May 1910 (RGBl. I, p. 775 ff.), which at the same time represents the practical beginning of forced cartelisation in German economic history. Although the new 1910 Kalisyndikat (Kalisyndikat GmbH) was still organised as a private enterprise, its position as a compulsory cartel and sales monopoly organisation was much stronger than before as a result of the Imperial Law and was interspersed with elements of public law. It was subject to the supervision of the Reich, which was exercised by the Reich Chancellor in the absence of a Reich Office for Economic Affairs. The legal position of the potash syndicate was not explicitly determined, but it had a public character "by virtue of its nature". The most visible expression of these innovations was the distribution office for the potash industry in Berlin, which commenced operations at the end of 1910 on the basis of §§ 30 - 34 of the aforementioned Potash Act of 1910 at the expense of the Reich (§ 44). The distribution agency was responsible for the entire sales regulation in the long term. Preventive measures were to be taken to avert the dangers that had finally led to the end of the old potash syndicate in 1909, with sales stagnating and price wars resulting from overproduction. Appeals against the determinations and decisions of the distribution office were admissible, for which a special Appeals Commission for the Potash Industry was formed at the same time (loc. cit., Sections 31 - 33). The main work of the new organisation fell to the distribution office. Its modest name revealed only one side of its activity, the sales system. In order to fulfil this task, the agency needed precise knowledge of the entire German potash industry. The other side of the distribution agency's activity was therefore to obtain this knowledge of each individual potash mine and potash plant by means of the obligation to provide information imposed by law on the owners. In addition, the distribution agency had the right to inspect potash industry facilities and to access mines. Details of the Act of 25 May 1910 were amended or regulated in other amending acts and notices up to 1918. In the course of the First World War, economic problems intervened to an unprecedented extent in politics and warfare. Above all in Germany, which was almost completely closed off from the rest of the world, they led to the fact that more and more parts of the economy had to be seized and controlled by force. It spoke for the solid construction of the potash syndicate and the distribution office, which had already been created in peace, that their organization could be maintained until the end of the war. Even the efforts to socialise and democratise economic life in the republican empire since the end of 1918 did not change the core of the institutions established in 1910 (see, for example, the Ordinance of 27 December 1918 on the Participation of Plant Employees in Decisions of the Distribution Office for the Potash Industry - RGBl. I/1919, p. 20 et seq. The guiding principles of a new regulation of the German potash industry were laid down before the completion of the Weimar Constitution by the Law on the Regulation of the Potash Industry of 24 April 1919 (RGBl. I, p. 413 et seq., see also loc. cit., p. 661 et seq.). The basic provisions of this law were comprehensively expanded by the regulations issued by the Reich Ministry (= Reich Government) on its implementation of 18 July 1919 (RGBl. I, p. 663 ff.). Finally, these provisions were decisive in the version of the ordinance of 22 October 1921 (RGBl. I, p. 1312 ff.), which could now be based on Article 156 of the Weimar Reichsverfassung. The law of 19 July 1919 (RGBl. I, p. 661 f.) repealed the old potash law of 1910 and replaced it with the new regulations of 18 July 1919. The organisation of the potash industry was thus extended beyond the potash syndicate to become a single association regulating the market. Although the German Reich had lost considerable deposits of potash in Alsace through the Treaty of Versailles, thereby losing its world monopoly, it was still at the forefront of world potash production and left all other producing countries far behind. The potash industry continued to occupy an outstanding position in the German economy. After the loss of large agricultural surplus areas in eastern Germany, the regulated supply of potash to German agriculture was now almost a vital issue. The new organisation of 1919 was based on this knowledge. The potash industry remained united in the German Kalisyndikat GmbH. The Reichskalirat was established as a self-governing body of the potash industry (regulations on implementation, etc. of 18 July 1919, §§ 2 - 15); it was subject to the supreme supervision of the Reich, which was exercised by the Reich Economic Ministry. In addition to or under the Reichskalirat there were a number of so-called potash offices for individual tasks of the potash industry: 1. potash testing office (loc.cit.) §§ 17 - 25) 2nd Caliber Appellate Body (§§ 26 - 29) Continuation of the former Appeals Commission, responsible for appeals against measures of the Potash Examination Body) 3rd Potash Wages Examination Body of the First Instance (§ 30) 4th Potash Wages Examination Body of the Second Instance (§§ 31 - 34) Responsible for appeals against decisions of the Kalilohnprüfungsstelle erster Instanz) 5. Landwirtschaftlich-technische Kalistelle (§§ 35 - 37. Stelle zur Förderung des Domestic Kaliabsabsatz, Beratungsstelle für Kalidüngung etc.). The seat of the Kalisyndikat, the Reichskalirat and its five Kalistellen was Berlin. Of the potash sites, the most important is the potash testing site, whose activities began on 1 January 1920. It was the legitimate straightforward continuation of the distribution centre for the potash industry that was dissolved on 31 December 1919. Its tasks and powers vis-à-vis the potash industry were greatly expanded and it embodied the executive organ of the Reichskalirat. As the potash testing body also acted as a potash wage testing body of the first instance, it was also closely associated with socio-political issues of the potash industry. The economic depressions of the first post-war years and the competition of France on the world potash market resulting from the loss of the Alsatian potash plants forced the potash testing body to take drastic mining measures for the first time in the early 1920s and to close down a number of potash mines, special factories and sinking shafts by 1933 and to suspend the development of new deposits. Only in this way was it possible to regulate the production and sale of potash over the long term and to overcome the crisis years. The National Socialist state, which also promised to raise agriculture in the sense of its efforts to become self-sufficient, immediately turned to the potash industry in 1933. In their organization he eliminated in his first measures by the law about change of the potash economic regulations from 21 April 1933 (RGBl. I, S. 205) everything which contradicted his leadership terms and which looked to him all too much like Weimar democracy. As a result, all potash inspection posts were largely redeployed and the two potash wage inspection posts were dissolved. This transitional regulation was already abolished on 18 December 1933 by the new Potash Economy Act (RGBl. II, p. 1027 ff.) with effect from 1 January 1934; details of implementation were determined by the Ordinance of 29 June 1934 (RGBl. II, p. 363). These regulations finally eliminated all elements of potash legislation since 1919 that were regarded as democratic and therefore became unpopular and, under the closest ties to the Reich Ministry of Economics, only allowed the following institutions to exist: 1. potash syndicate (as a distribution association) (Potash Economic Act §§ 3 - 15) 2. potash testing body (loc. cit, §§ 16 - 36) and the corresponding Appeals Commission (§§ 37 - 38) 3. Landwirtschaftlich-technische Kalistelle (§§ 39 - 43. With the participation of the Reich Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Reichsnährstand). The Reichskalirat thus completely disappeared as of 1 January 1934, following the two wage audit offices. The responsibilities of the three institutions mentioned, which were retained, remained unchanged. The apparatus of the forced potash economic cartel and the Potash Examination Office, which had been working well together since 1910 and was active in production and sales planning, certainly appealed to the National Socialist rulers, since it was largely compatible with their views of state economic control, which, by the way, had grown out of a different view and in many cases went even further, and which they were just now (1934) beginning to put into practice on a large scale. As in 1919, the Reich's supreme supervision was exercised by the Reich Ministry of Economics, but its powers extended considerably further than before; for in all cases where the Reichskalirat was involved as mediator between the Reich and the economy in accordance with the regulations of 1919, the Reich Minister of Economics could now make his own immediate decision. The establishment of the Reichsstelle für Kali und Salz in Berlin by decree of the Reich Minister of Economics of 9 September 1939 (Reichsanzeiger No. 211 of 11 Sept. 1939, p. 2, as well as the simultaneous announcement of the competence of this Reichsstelle) did not affect the existing institutions. For the activities of the Reich Office only covered the monitoring of the trade in potash and salt on the basis of the regulations on the trade in goods in the version of 18 August 1939 (RGBl. I, p. 1430 et seq.). In particular, foreign trade in potash (control of foreign sales) required monitoring by the Reich Office because of the foreign exchange regulations. The German military collapse on almost all fronts since August 1944 made the activities of this Reich office appear superfluous, so that in February 1945 its dissolution in the Reich Ministry of Economics was considered. On the other hand, the continued existence of the Potash Testing Body was also approved at that time; its tasks were determined by the Potash Economic Act and the dissolution of the body would have been associated with considerable difficulties. The surrender of 8 May 1945 brought about the end of all potash facilities. From 1943 onwards, the Potash Testing Centre and the Reich Agency for Potash and Salt had been relocated from Berlin to Eisleben. There the settlement office of the Reich Office was already dissolved in June 1945, that of the Kaliprüfungsstelle in April 1946 by the Soviet occupying power. Inventory description: Inventory history The inventory R 10 V Kalisyndikat belongs to the holdings of the Federal Archives which were handed down separately as a result of the Second World War. Due to the separate tradition in East and West Germany, two partial collections were created: 80 Ka 1 in the Zentralarchiv Potsdam and R 10 V in the Bundesarchiv Koblenz. As finding aids, a card index was produced in the Zentralarchiv Potsdam and a finding aid book in the Bundesarchiv Koblenz. The files of the Deutsche Kalisyndikat GmbH were moved to Eisleben and Bad Salzungen at the end of the 2nd World War, if not destroyed. In April 1945, the files that had been moved to Bad Salzungen fell into the hands of American troops and, together with other files, were brought to the American collection center of captured German files (Ministerial Collecting Center) in Hessisch-Lichtenau and Fürstenhagen. In 1952, they were transferred to the Federal Archives via the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. These files formed the basis of the partial stock R 10 V in the Federal Archives. There Archivrat Dr. F. Facius initially edited the R 10 V holdings, which comprised 13 volumes until 1954 and 15 volumes after arranging and indexing. Further documents (in particular those of the potash testing agency and the Deutsche Kalisyndikat GmbH) were purchased by the Berlin company I. Velten in 1969 in the course of the "land consolidation" with the Secret State Archive Berlin-Dahlem. After this addition of 1.5 subjects of printed and written material, the partial stock comprised 115 volumes of files according to order, evaluation and cassation. Those files that were relocated to Eisleben (later GDR) were first kept in the United Archive of the Potash Industry of the GDR in Sondershausen and were transferred to the Central State Archive Potsdam in 1985 when this archive was dissolved, where they formed the holdings 80 Ka 1. As a result of reunification and the merging of the holdings of the Federal Archive and the Central State Archive of the GDR, the total holdings received the tectonic number R 10 V, the files of the partial holdings 80 Ka 1 were accordingly re-signed (new: R 10 V/ 201-556). Characterisation of content: In addition to general administrative matters, documents on the activities of the Syndicate as a whole and on potash legislation, there are also documents on issues of trade, sales and consumption of potash and potash products, in particular on the Paris (Potash) Agreement of 1926 and on financial issues. A further part of the documents relates to individual syndicate plants, syndicate accessions and participation quotas as well as other facilities of the potash industry such as the potash industry distribution office, the potash testing body and the potash industry appeals commission. In addition, processing documents up to 1960 are assigned to the inventory. State of development: Online-Findbuch (2006) Citation method: BArch, R 10-V/...
1st Biographical Information on Wolfgang Kapp Wolfgang Kapp was born in New York on July 24, 1858, the son of the lawyer Friedrich Kapp, who had played an important role in the bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1848 and had to emigrate to the United States because of his participation in the Baden uprising. Wolfgang Kapp's mother was Louise Engels and was the daughter of the Major General and Commander of Cologne Engels. The family was originally called d'Ange and immigrated from France to Germany in 1687 after the Edict of Nantes. In 1870 Friedrich Kapp returned to Germany with his family; he lived in Berlin and was a national liberal, later a liberal member of the Reichstag from 1872-1877 and 1881-1884; he also worked as a renowned historian. Friedrich Kapp died in 1884, his son Wolfgang studied in Tübingen and Göttingen. He completed his studies in 1880 with a doctorate. Probably in 1881 Wolfgang Kapp married Margarete Rosenow, the daughter of a landowner in Dülzen (district Preußisch Eylau). After his marriage Kapp seems to have familiarized himself with the administration of a large agricultural business on his father-in-law's estate, because it was not until 1885 that he began his actual professional career as a trainee with the government in Minden. In 1886 he joined the Ministry of Finance, Department II, Administration of Direct Taxes, as a government assistant. From 1890 to 1899 he was district administrator in Guben. In 1890, at the beginning of his time as district administrator, Kapp bought the Rittergut Pilzen estate near the Rosenov estate and thus entered the circle of the East Prussian Great Agrarians. Out of his interest for the interests of agriculture a work of agricultural policy content arose in Guben, which attracted a great deal of attention in the Ministry of Agriculture, so that an appointment as a government council followed in 1900. Kapp was appointed to the I. Dept. Administration of Agricultural and Stud Affairs, Department of Agricultural Workers' Affairs, but during the era of Reich Chancellor von Bülow as Commissioner of the Prussian Ministry of Agriculture he was primarily active in the preparation of the customs tariff of 1902 and in the initiation of the new trade agreements of 1904-1906. Kapp gained his first foreign policy experience in negotiations with representatives of foreign countries. Kapp soon gained a closer relationship with the then Reich Chancellor von Bülow, with whom he shared similar political views. During his time at the Ministry of Agriculture, Kapp seems to have had ambitious plans for his future professional and political career and at least aspired to the position of district president. That his plans went even further can be seen from the recording of a conversation between Kaiser Wilhelm II and the General Field Marshal von der Goltz, in which the possibility of Kapp's successor in the Reich Chancellery was considered. However, this conversation, whose date lies between 1909 and 1911, took place at a time when Kapp had already left the Prussian civil service. The reason for his resignation from the Ministry of Agriculture seems to have been his annoyance at not taking his person into account when appointing district presidents. On 5 April 1906, the East Prussian countryside elected the owner of the Pilzen manor as general landscape director. It is very characteristic of Kapp's personality under what circumstances he became known in East Prussia through a trial he conducted against the landscape. The landscapes of the Prussian provinces were self-governing bodies and as such primarily representations of landowners. But the landscape also served as a representative body for state fiscal policy. Its real task, of course, lay outside the political sphere in granting credit to cooperatives. However, the credit policy has had a decisive influence on the distribution of property and the social structure of the provinces and has thus had political repercussions. Through the incorporation of agricultural banks and fire societies in the 19th century, the landscapes had become efficient organisations at provincial level. Kapp took on the new tasks with his own vehemence. He continued the landscape in the specified direction, primarily by developing the branch network of the Landschaftsbank, by merging the landscape with the East Prussian Feuersozietät, by granting more loans, particularly for small property, and by increasing the landscape funds. His policy was aimed at freeing agriculture, which was in a serious crisis at the beginning of the 20th century, from its dependence on state aid and enabling it to help itself by means of credit policy measures. In the course of these efforts, Kapp tackled three major tasks. First and foremost the question of agricultural debt relief, which the Prussian state initiated in 1906 with the law on the debt limit. Kapp was the first to try to make this framework law effective from the initiative of the parties themselves without further state aid by showing different ways of debt relief. The inclusion of life insurance as a means of reducing debt proved particularly effective. Instead of debt repayment, the premium payment was made to an agricultural life insurance company. This ensured that a certain amount of capital was available for debt reduction in the event of death. The second task resulted from the former. The desire to combine public-law life insurance with debt relief necessitated the creation of a number of public-law life insurance institutions, which were merged into an association chaired by Kapp. These facilities were especially designed to prevent the outflow of premium money from the countryside to the large cities, where it had been used especially for the construction of tenements. However, the outflow of capital was only one danger, the other was the rural exodus that began in the 19th century. He tried to strengthen small agricultural holdings with a colonization and agricultural workers' bill, which was accepted by the General Landtag in 1908. This measure was based on the recognition of the untenability of the institution of instants and deputants, who were in the closest dependence on the lord of the manor and who emigrated from this situation in masses to the large cities, where they strengthened the ranks of the industrial proletariat. The organ for settlement policy should be a landscaped settlement bank. The third task that Kapp set himself was the creation of a public-law national insurance scheme following the public-law life insurance scheme. This measure was primarily directed against the Volksversicherungsanstalt "Volksfürsorge", created by the Social Democrats, and was intended to secure capital for agricultural workers to buy their own farms by means of abbreviated insurance. These plans did not lead to the hoped-for success, but ended in a bitter feud with the private insurance companies, especially the Deutsche Volksversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft. In addition to his functions within the East Prussian landscape, Kapp was also active in various other bodies. In December 1906 he was appointed to the Stock Exchange Committee of the Reichsamt des Innern and in 1912 to the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bank. The First World War gave Kapp's life and work a whole new direction. Kapp's biography is too little researched to judge how far he had buried his ambitious plans, which apparently pushed him to the top of the Reich government, or postponed them only for a better opportunity. Although Kapp had been a member of the German Conservative Party since at least 1906, he did not take the path of an existing party to make a political career. This path probably did not correspond to his personality, described as authoritarian, ambitious and independent. He made the great leap into high politics through his sensational conflict with Reich Chancellor von Bethmann Hollweg. In his memo of 26 May 1916 "Die nationalen Kreise und der Reichs-Kanzler", which he sent to 300 public figures, including Bethmann Hollweg himself, he sharply criticised what he considered to be the weak policy of the Reich Chancellor, to whom he v. a. accused him of his alleged pacting with social democracy, his reluctance to America and his rejection of the unrestricted submarine war demanded by extremely militaristic circles, but also of a false war economic policy. The sharp reaction of Bethmann Hollweg, who spoke in a Reichstag session of "pirates of public opinion", among others, who abused "with the flag of the national parties", Kapp perceived as a personal affront to which he reacted with a demand for a duel. On the contrary, Kapp had to take an official reprimand and his re-election as General Landscape Director, which had taken place in March 1916 on a rotational basis, was refused confirmation by the Prussian State Ministry. Since his friends held on to Kapp in the East Prussian landscape, he was re-elected in 1917. This time - since Bethmann Hollweg had been overthrown in the meantime - he was able to take up his post as general landscape director again. At first, the events of 1916 led him even more into politics. Here he expressed solidarity with a circle of extremely reactionary and aggressive military forces around General Ludendorff and Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, who pursued a ruthless internal perseverance policy that tightened up all the forces of the people and a policy of unrestrained annexation and total warfare towards the outside world. Emperor Wilhelm II, who in principle sympathized with this extreme direction, had to refrain from supporting this group out of various considerations of public opinion and the negative attitude of the party majorities in the Reichstag. Kapp and his comrades-in-arms assumed in their political ambitions the complete certainty of the German final victory. They closed their eyes to the already looming possibility of defeat for Germany, especially after America entered the war. The war and peace goals they represented, especially the annexation plans at the expense of Russia and Poland, which were later only surpassed by Hitler, were marked by uncontrolled wishful thinking that in no way corresponded to objective reality. His extreme attitude drove Kapp into a blind hatred against any social and democratic movement; his fierce opposition against social democracy was mainly based on the legend of the dagger thrust against the imperialist Germany struggling to win. This military and National Socialist sharpening, for which Kapp found moral and financial support in certain circles of military leadership, but also among a number of university professors, writers, local politicians, agriculturalists, industrialists and bankers, culminated in the founding of the German National Party, which took place on 2 September 1917 (the "Sedan Day") in the Yorksaal of the East Prussian landscape. Although Kapp was clearly the spiritus rector of this "collection party", two other persons were pushed into the foreground, intended for the eyes of the public: These were the Grand Admiral von Tirpitz as 1st chairman and Duke Johann Albrecht von Mecklenburg as honorary chairman of this party. The German Fatherland Party did not seek seats in the Reichstag, but saw itself as a pool of national forces to bring about Germany's final victory. The statute provided for the immediate dissolution of the party once its purpose had been achieved. In addition to mobilising all forces to achieve military victory, Kapp's founding of the party also had another purpose that was not made so public. Tirpitz, then 68 years old, was to be launched as a "strong man" to replace the "weak" chancellors Bethmann Hollweg and Michaelis. It was obvious that in this case Kapp would join the leadership of the imperial government as advisor to the politically ultimately inexperienced Grand Admiral. The November Revolution of 1918 and the immediate surrender of Germany put an abrupt end to these lofty plans. But Kapp and his friends did not admit defeat. Although the German Fatherland Party was dissolved in December 1918, it was immediately replaced by a new party, the German National People's Party, which developed into a bourgeois mass party during the Weimar Republic, but no longer under Kapp's leadership. After the fall of the Hohenzollern monarchy, Kapp immediately opposed the revolution and the Weimar Republic. He could not or did not want to accept the social and political conditions that had arisen in the meantime; his goal was clearly the restoration of pre-war conditions. The sources, which were only incomplete at that time, do not show when the idea of a coup d'état was born and how the conspiracy developed in all its branches. A close associate of Kapp's, Reichswehrhauptmann Pabst, had already attempted a failed coup in July 1919. Together with Kapp, Pabst created the "National Unification" as a pool of all counter-revolutionary forces and associations. This Reich organisation was to coordinate the preparations for the coup in Prussia and Bavaria, while Kapp was to develop East Prussia into the decisive base of counterrevolution. From here, with the help of the Freikorps operating in the Baltic States, the Reichswehr and the East Prussian Heimatbund, whose chairman was Kapp, the survey was to be carried to Berlin with the immediate aim of preventing the signing of the Versailles Treaty. The approval of the Versailles Treaty by the parliamentary majority has created a new situation. Now Ludendorff, one of the co-conspirators, proposed to carry out the coup directly in Berlin, whereby the Baltic people, who were disguised as work detachments on the large Eastern Elbe goods, were to take over the military support. Meanwhile, the conspirators, headed by Kapp and Reichswehr General Lüttwitz, tried to gain the mass base absolutely necessary for the execution of the coup d'état through a broad-based nationalist smear campaign. The company was already at risk before it could even begin. Kapp had demanded that his military allies inform him at least 14 days before the strike so that he could make the necessary political preparations. That the coup d'état had just begun on 13 March 1920 depended not so much on carefully considered planning, but on coincidences that were not predictable. One of the reasons for the premature strike was the dissolution of the Freikorps, especially the Ehrhardt Brigade, decided by the Reich government. This revealed the fact that, in the absence of a party of their own, the conspirators were unable to avoid relying on the loose organization of the resident defence forces, which to a certain extent were also influenced by social democracy. The whole weakness of the company was evident in the question on which forces the new government should actually be based. While the military saw an arrangement with the strongest party, social democracy, as unavoidable, Kapp categorically rejected pacting with social democracy. He wanted to put the Social Democrat-led government as a whole into protective custody. But now the government was warned; for its part, it issued protective arrest warrants against the heads of the conspirators and left Berlin on March 12. In the early morning of March 13, the Navy Brigade Ehrhardt marched into Berlin without encountering armed resistance, as would have been the duty of the Reichswehr. Kapp proclaimed himself Chancellor of the Reich and began with the reorganisation of the government. The order of the new rulers to arrest the escaped imperial government and to remove the state government if they did not stand on the side of the putschists was only partially executed by the local commanders. The proclamation of the general strike on 13 March and the reports arriving from the most important cities and industrial centres about joint actions of the working class prompted the indirect supporters of Kapp, the large industrialists and the Reichswehr generals, to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Kapp had to see the hopelessness of his company. Eyewitnesses reported that Kapp had spent almost 3 days of his time as Chancellor of the Reich "with gossip". On March 15, the "adventure" was over. Kapp apparently stayed hidden with friends near Berlin for some time after the failed coup and then flew to Sweden in a provided plane. Here he initially lived under different false names in different places, at last in a pension in Robäck, but was soon recognized and temporarily taken into custody. The Swedish government granted asylum to the refugee, but he had to commit himself to refrain from all political activities. When the high treason trial against the heads of the March company in Leipzig began, Kapp was moved by the question of his position in court. At first, he justified his non-appearance with the incompetence of the Ebert government and with the constitution, which in his opinion did not exist. Kapp said that there was no high treason in the legal sense against the "high treason" of social democracy. When in December 1921 one of the co-conspirators, the former district president of Jagow, was sentenced to a fortress sentence by the Imperial Court, Kapp changed his mind. Still in Sweden he worked out a justification for the process ahead of him, in which he denied any guilt in both an objective and a subjective sense. On the contrary, he intended to appear before the court with a charge against the then government. It didn't come to that anymore. Kapp had already fallen ill in Sweden. At the beginning of 1922 he returned to Germany and was remanded in custody. On 24 April 1922, he underwent surgery in Leipzig to remove a malignant tumour from the left eye. Kapp died on 12 June 1922; he was buried on 22 June at the village churchyard in Klein Dexen near his estate Pilzen. 2. inventory history The inventory, which had been formed in its essential parts by Kapp himself, was transferred by the family to the Prussian Secret State Archives as a deposit in 1935. Here the archivist Dr. Weise started already in the year of submission with the archival processing, which could not be completed, however. In the course of the repatriation of the holdings of the Secret State Archives, which had been removed during the Second World War, the Kapp estate was transferred to the Central State Archives, Merseburg Office. In 1951, Irmela Weiland, a trainee, classified and listed the stock here. As a result of the processing a find-book was created, which was until the new processing in the year 1984 the kurrente find-auxiliary. 1984 the stock was to be prepared for the backup filming. It turned out that the processing carried out in 1951 did not meet today's archival requirements, so that a general revision was considered necessary. The graduate archivists Renate Endler and Dr. Elisabeth Schwarze rearranged and simply listed the holdings according to the principles of order and indexing for the state archives of the German Democratic Republic, Potsdam 1964. The found file units were essentially retained, in individual cases they were dissolved and new indexing units were formed. In addition, 0.50 m of unprocessed documents were incorporated into the estate. The old regulatory scheme, which was essentially broken down chronologically, was replaced by a new regulatory scheme based on Kapp's areas of activity. In the course of the revision, the portfolio was re-signed. The relationship between the old and the new signatures was established through a concordance. The new find book replaces the previously valid find book from 1951. The stock is to be quoted: GStA PK, VI. HA Family Archives and Bequests, Nl Wolfgang Kapp, No... 3) Some remarks on the content of the holdings The Kapp estate contains 7.50 running metres of archival material from the period from 1885 to 1922, including some earlier and later individual pieces. The holdings mainly contain documents from Kapp's official and political activities, to a lesser extent also correspondence within the family and documents from the administration of the Knights' Manor Pilzen. The density of transmission to the individual sections of Kapp's professional and political development is quite different. While his activities with the Minden government, in the Prussian Ministry of Finance and as district administrator in Guben are relatively poorly documented, there is a rather dense tradition about his activities as director of the general landscape and as chairman of the German Fatherland Party. The documentation on the preparation and implementation of the coup shows gaps which can be explained, among other things, by the fact that important agreements were only reached orally at the stage of preparing the coup. Moreover, Kapp, who had to flee hastily to Sweden after the coup d'état failed, was no longer able to give this part of his estate the same care as the former one. Overall, however, it is a legacy of great political importance and significance. Merseburg, 2. 10.1984 signed Dr. Elisabeth Schwarze Diplomarchivar Compiled and slightly shortened: Berlin, April 1997 (Ute Dietsch) The clean copy of the find book was made by Britta Baumgarten. Note After the reunification of the two German states, the Merseburg office was closed, the archival records and thus also the Kapp estate were returned to the Secret State Archives in Berlin (1993). From the inventory maps, this reference book was created after maps that no longer existed were replaced (post-distortion of files). XIII Bibliography (selection) Bauer, Max : March 13, 1920 Berlin 1920 Bernstein, Richard : Der Kapp-Putsch und seine Lehren. Berlin 1920 Brammer, Karl : Five days of military dictatorship. Berlin 1920 Documents on the Counterrevolution using official material: The same: Constitutional Foundations and High Treason. According to stenographic reports and official documents of the Jagow trial. Berlin 1922 Erger, Johannes : The Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch. Düsseldorf 1967 Falkenhausen, Fri. from : Wolfgang Kapp. In: Conservative Monthly July/August 1922 Kern, Fritz : Das Kappsche Abenteuer. Impressions and findings. Leipzig/Berlin 1920 Könnemann, Erwin : Residents' Weirs and Time Volunteer Associations. Berlin 1971 Noske, Gustav : From Kiel to Kapp. Berlin 1920 Rothfels, Hans : Article "Wolfgang Kapp" in: Deutsches biogra- phisches Jahrbuch Bd 4 (1922) Berlin/Leipzig 1929, correspondence. 132-143 (Here also a drawing of the works Kapps) Schemann, Ludwig : Wolfgang Kapp and the March company. A word of atonement. Munich/Berlin 1937 Taube, Max : Causes and course of the coup of 13 March 1920 and his teachings for the working class and the middle classes. Munich 1920 Wauer, W. : Behind the scenes of the Kapp government. Berlin 1920 Wortmann, K. Geschichte der Deutschen Vaterlandspartei In: Hallische Forschungen zur neueren Geschichte. Volume 3, Hall 1926 Contents I. Introduction Page II 1 Biographical Information on Wolfgang Kapp Page II 2 History of the Collection Page X 3 Some Remarks on the Content of the Collection Page XI 4 Literature in Selection Page XIII II Structure of the Collection Page XIV III Collection Page XVII (Order Numbers, Title, Duration Page 1-106)) XVII III. holdings (order numbers, file title, duration) Description of holdings: Lebenssdaten: 1858 - 1921 Finds: database; find book, 1 vol.
History of the Inventory Designer: Before the Second World War, four Kriegsmarinedienststellen (KMD) with headquarters in Hamburg, Bremen, Stettin and Königsberg were responsible for the provision of relief ships and personnel and the execution of troop and supply transports. During the war they were assigned branches on the German coast and in occupied foreign countries. In addition, special maritime transport services have been set up, each with its own head of maritime transport for the Aegean Sea, Norway, Italy and the Black Sea. These maritime transport services were each assigned a number of subordinate maritime transport points. There were other sea transport points in Finland, France and on the eastern Baltic Sea. Inventory description: In 1920, so-called offices of the navy management were formed in Königsberg, Stettin, Lübeck, Hamburg and Bremen, which were directly subordinated to the head of the sea transport department in the navy management. Tasks were the supervision of the coastal intelligence in cooperation with the command offices, as well as connection and switching to local places of the merchant shipping and organizations of the merchant navy. Through these services, the naval leadership was able to make camouflaged preparations for mobilization and influence all nautical issues concerning naval warfare and coastal defense. The tasks of the Lübeck office were taken over by the Hamburg office in 1928. In 1931 the offices were renamed Reichswehrdienststelle Hamburg (subordinated to Wehrkreis II) and Reichsmarinedienststellen Königsberg, Stettin and Bremen. On 4 July 1935 the Reichswehrdienststelle Hamburg and Reichsmarinedienststellen in Königsberg, Stettin and Bremen were renamed Kriegsmarinedienststellen (KMD). At the top of every KMD was a sea officer, in Hamburg in the rank of an admiral, in Bremen, Stettin and Königsberg in the rank of a captain at sea. The Kriegsmarinedienststellen were directly responsible to the Ob.d.M. for all technical and special tasks and in the personal affairs of the officials belonging to their area of command. In the other questions they were subordinated to the station commands of the North Sea (Hamburg and Bremen) and the Baltic Sea (Stettin and Königsberg). The second admirals could give instructions to the KMD for mob work. When the war began in September/October 1939, numerous branch offices were set up at the existing KMD, but they were all closed again by mid-1943. In March 1940 a new KMD was set up in Gdansk and the Navy Plenipotentiary in Gdansk was appointed Admiral of the KMD Gdansk. At the same time, KMD Königsberg was dissolved and converted into a branch of KMD Gdansk. The importance of the KMD Gdansk continued to decline from mid-1944, and from July 1944 the office was no longer headed by a flag officer. Gdansk was taken by the Soviet army on 30.3.1945. The outpost boat group under Oberlt. zur See Thorn controlled the lagoon transports calling at Schwarzort and also carried out the loading and unloading. After the surrender, the KMD Hamburg was renamed "Marinedienstgruppe Hamburg" in 1945. Characterisation of the contents: War diaries and files of larger volumes have survived from the war naval stations in Hamburg, Bremen and Stettin as well as the branches in Ostend and Rotterdam. The documents of the Kriegsmarinedienststellen in the occupied territories are in stock RM 45 Dienst- und Kommandostellen der Kriegsmarine with regional and local competence. State of preservation: Archivalienverzeichnis Scope, Explanation: Stock without increment 2.9 lfm 146 AE Citation method: BArch, RM 108/...
Description of the existing army: It was gradually enlarged by the allocation of further departments and official groups, further expanded in terms of organisation and personnel at the outbreak of war, and finally placed under the command of the Chief of Armament and Commander of the Reserve Army. The Army Office (AHA) worked on supplementing and arming the army in personnel, material and financial terms. The supplementary personnel department managed it according to the instructions of the OKW for the entire Wehrmacht. During the war it distributed the personnel replacement of the army among the replacement units and provided the replacement for the field army. In addition, the AHA had to work on the training regulations for the individual weapons categories and for the reserve army. The following annexes/links provide a detailed insight into the structure of the Office and the areas of responsibility of the individual organisational units: 1. overall structure AHA, 1939 (cf. RHD 18/35 and 36) 2. overall structure AHA, 1940 (from RH 15/92) 2.1. structure of the staff 2.2. areas of responsibility of the staff 2.3. structure of the Office Group Replacement and Armed Forces 2.4. areas of responsibility of the Office Group Replacement and Armed Forces 2.5. Structure and fields of work of the infantry department (In 2) 2.6. Structure and fields of work of the riding and driving department (In 3) 2.7. Structure and fields of work of the artillery department (In 4) 2.8. Structure and Fields of Activity of the Pioneer Department (In 5) 2.9. Structure of the Office Group K [Dept. Fast Troops (In 6), Dept. Motorization (In 8), Dept. Motorization (M)] 2.10. Fields of Activity of the Office Group K [Dept. Fast Troops (In 6), Dept. Motorization (In 8), Dept. Motorisation (M)] 2.11. Structure and fields of activity of the intelligence division (In 7) 2.12. Structure and fields of activity of the fog troops and gas defence division (In 9) 2.13. Structure and fields of activity of the railway pioneering division (In 10) 2.14. breakdown and fields of work of the Army Medical Inspectorate (S In) 2.15. breakdown and fields of work of the Veterinary Inspectorate (V In) 2.16. breakdown and fields of work of the Field Stuff Inspectorate (Fz In) 2. breakdown and fields of work of the Army Medical Inspectorate (S In) 2. breakdown and fields of work of the Veterinary Inspectorate (V In) 2.16. breakdown and fields of work of the Military Stuff Inspectorate (Fz In) 2. breakdown and fields of work of the Veterinary Inspectorate (V In) 2.16. breakdown and fields of work of the Military Stuff Inspectorate (Fz In) 2. breakdown and fields of work of the Veterinary Inspectorate (V In)17. structure and areas of work of the troop engineer inspection (In T) 2.18. structure and areas of work of the fortress inspection (In Fest) 2.19. structure and areas of work of the army clothing department (Dept. Bkl) 2. structure and areas of work of the army clothing department (Dept. Bkl) 2. structure and areas of work of the army engineering inspection (In T) 2.18. structure and areas of work of the fortress inspection (In Fest) 2.19. structure and areas of work of the army clothing department (Dept. Bkl) 2. structure and areas of work of the army clothing department (Dept. Bkl)20. division and fields of activity of the Army Law Department (HR) 3. overall division AHA, October 1944 (from RH 15/199) Vorprovenienz: In 1927 the Chief of Staff of the Army Office was renamed Chief of the Army Office. The General Army Office (AHA) emerged from his authority at the beginning of February 1934. Characterisation of the contents: The written material (450 vols.) was created or filed in the following offices of the office headed by General Friedrich Olbricht under the Commander of the Reserve Army until 20 July 1944: Group I a a (40 AE): mobilization plans and orders (from 1936); files on the establishment, reorganization, and dissolution of agencies, command authorities, and units (Army Structure and Implementing Regulations 1935-1939, Demobilization Measures 1940); personnel and material equipment of the Army, as well as field Army Replacements (1939-1945); field reports with information on the organization, structure, deployment, and equipment of individual branches of the armed forces and the Armed Forces Commissions (13 vol., 1940-1941). Group I(b): Armament measures, demand calculations and allocation of raw materials, iron and steel (1936-1940, 6 vols.); weapons, ammunition, apparatus and equipment and production planning for the army (1935-1942, 9 vols.). Group I c: Reorganization, reclassification, dissolution of offices, associations and units (1944-1945, 8 vols.); family boards of various offices (1941-1944, 12 vols.) Group I d/II a (30 AE): general and concrete personnel (partly also organizational and accommodation) matters (e.g. staffing of the AHA, reduction of personnel 1944/1945); documents on discipline and order; award of war awards. Central Department (65 AE): Budget documents (Army budgets and long-term budget programs from 1930-1936); Reich Defence Council (1934-1936); information on the structure, financing, equipment and training of the Reich Army (including transfer of the Provincial Police to the Reich Army). Replacement and Armed Forces Group (150 AU): Replacement Section: Collection of decrees on the registration, patterning and acceptance of conscripts and volunteers (21 vol., 1935-1945) and special documents on the compulsory military service of foreign minorities and in Austria and other integrated territories; files on the organisation and activities of military service posts; organisation, training and material equipment of individual categories of weapons (1928-1938); dissolution of units after surrender in Stalingrad and Tunis. Army Department: Documents on the organisation and business distribution of central services of the Wehrmacht and the Army, on General Army Affairs, competence issues, on the structure and mobilization, on the condition and personnel situation of the troops; collection of service instructions and leaflets in mobilization matters (39 vol.,1938-1943); information on the service law, the period of service, salaries and pensions of soldiers and Wehrmacht officials, as well as some files on foreign policy matters, the annexation of Austria, the occupation and annexation of Sudeten German territory and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Pastoral group (ca. 15 vols., 1930-1945) Files on the organisation in the military districts, recruitment, use, equipment and remuneration of full-time and part-time site pastors; general guidelines and implementation of military pastoral care as well as the situation of the church and the relationship to the state and the NSDAP. Processing staffs (110 vol.): Documents on the processing of affairs of shattered command authorities (including the 6th Army in Stalingrad, the Central, Northern and Southern Ukraine Army Groups and the Commander-in-Chief West) as well as battle and experience reports of subordinate units, also experience reports of returnees, surveys of prisoners of war and missing persons, subsequent promotions and awards (with individual cases). The Wehrkreiskommando VII (RH 53-7) is also to be regarded as a replacement delivery. The documents of the AHA also document the activities of the two last chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel i. G. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg and Colonel i. G. Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, who were significantly involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler on July 20, 1944, and who were shot dead after the failure of the attack in the AHA's office in the Bendlerblock in Berlin. The activities of the Office are also documented by the extensive series of Army Regulations (H.Dv.), leaflets, peace and war strength and equipment records, the "Jahrbuch des deutschen Heeres" (1936-1942), the "Zeitschrift für die Heeresverwaltung" (1936-1944) and the "Heerestechnische Verordnungsblatt" (from 1943). State of development: Online-Findbuch Scope, Explanation: 462 AE Citation method: BArch, RH 15/...
Geschichte des Bestandsbildners: Das Allgemeine Truppenamt (TA) wurde 1919 errichtet. Aus ihm ging 1935 der Generalstab des Heeres (GenStdH) hervor. Dieser gliederte sich wie folgt: Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres (ChefdGenStdH), zuvor Chef des Truppen amtes (ChefTA); Zentralabteilung des Generalstabes des Heeres (GZ), zuvor Zentralgruppe (TZ); Operationsabteilung (1. Abt.GenStdH), zuvor Heeres abteilung (T 1); Organisationsabteilung (2. Abt.GenStdH), zuvor Heeres organisationsabteilung (T 2); Abteilung Fremde Heere (3. Abt.GenStdH), zuvor Abteilung Fremde Heere (T 3); Heeresausbildungsabteilung (4. Abt GenStdH), zuvor Heeresausbildungsabteilung (T 4); Transportabteilung (5. Abt.GenStdH), zuvor Transportabteilung (T 5). Verselbständigte sich zu Beginn des Zweiten Weltkrieges als "Chef des Transportwesens"; Quartiermeisterabteilung (6. Abt.GenStdH), zuvor Gruppe V der Heeres abteilung (T 1 V). Zu Kriegsbeginn verselbständigt als "Generalquartier meister"; Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung (7. Abt.GenStdH), zuvor Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung (TK), 1942 verselbständigt; Attach bteilung, entstanden 1940 durch Erweiterung der 1934 eingerichteten Attach-Gruppe. Dem Truppenamt angegliedert war die Heeresfriedenskommission, die bis 1927 bestand. Ab 1935 wurden zur Entlastung des Chefs des Generalstabes des Heeres sukzessive die Oberquartiermeister I bis V eingerichtet und unter ihrer Führung einzelne Abteilungen des Generalstabes zusammengefaßt, bis 1942 dann aber wieder aufgelöst. Ebenso wurden die 8. Abt. GenStdH (Technische Abt.), die 9. Abt. GenStdH (Heeresvermessungswesen und Militärgeographie), sie 10. Abt. GenStdH (Landesbefestigungsabteilung), die 11. Abt. GenStdH (Offizierausbildungsabteilung) und die 12. Abt.GenStd (Abteilung Fremde Heere Ost) neu geschaffen. Die 8., 10. und 11. Abteilung wurden zu Beginn des Krieges aufgelöst, die 9. Abteilung verselbständigte sich 1941 als Chef des Kriegskarten- und Vermessungswesens. Bestandsbeschreibung: Das Allgemeine Truppenamt wurde 1919 im Reichswehrministerium als Nachfolgeorganisation des "Großen Generalstabes" des Kaiserreiches errichtet, nachdem Deutschland durch den Versailler Vertrag ein Generalstab oder ähnliche Institutionen verboten worden war. Nach Wiedererrichtung der Wehrhoheit wurde das Allgemeine Truppenamt im Jahre 1935 in Generalstab des Heeres umbenannt. Das Truppenamt bestand zunächst aus folgenden Abteilungen: T 1 (Heeresabteilung): Innere und äußere militärische Lage, Grenzschutz, Landesbefestigung, Truppenverwendung und -gliederung, Militärtransportwesen, Militärvermessungs- und Kartenwesen. T 2 (Organisationsabteilung): Allgemeine Heeresangelegenheiten, Organisation des Übergangs- und künftigen Heeres. T 3 (Statistische Abteilung): Sammlung und Bearbeitung von Informationsmaterialien über fremde Armeen. T 4 (Lehrabteilung): Militärische Ausbildung (auch der Offiziere), Truppenübungen, Sammlung von Erfahrungen. T 5 (Wehrabteilung): Allgemeine Angelegenheiten der Offiziere und Unteroffiziere, Vorgesetzten- und Rangverhältnisse, innerdienstliche Angelegenheiten wie Garnisons- und Wachdienst, Ehrenbezeugungen, Flaggen, Anzugsordnung und Armeemusik, Wehrgesetze nebst Ausführungsbestimmungen, Führung der Personalpapiere. T 6 (Abteilung für Erziehungs- und Bildungswesen): Allgemeine Erziehungs- und Bildungsfragen, Erziehung und Unterrichtung der Offiziersanwärter, Unteroffiziere- und Mannschaften, militärpolitische Ausbildung. T 7 (Transportabteilung): Heerestransportangelegenheiten, insb. Eisenbahntransporte und Schifffahrtsangelegenheiten. H-Friko (Heeresfriedenskommission): Dem Truppenamt angegliedert. Zuständig für die Vertretung des Reichswehrministers in allen die Heeresleitung berührenden Friedensfragen gegenüber anderen Ministerien und der Ententekommission sowie für die Mitprüfung der zur Durchführung der Friedens- und Waffenstillstandsbedingungen von den zuständigen Stellen der Heeresleitung zu treffenden Maßnahmen (1927 aufgelöst). Der zweite Entwurf der "Geschäftsverteilung des Reichswehrministeriums" vom Juni 1921 sah eine Reduzierung des Truppenamtes auf die Abteilungen T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4 und T 7 und die H-Friko vor. Im Rahmen der getarnten Aufrüstung nach 1933 wurde das Truppenamt um die Transportabteilung, die Inspektion der Festungen, die Zentralgruppe und die Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung erweitert. Der Generalstab des Heeres wurde durch Verfügung vom 26. Juni 1935 geschaffen. Er gliederte sich zunächst wie folgt: (siehe dazu: "Friedensgliederung des OKH mit Generalstab, 1938-1939", in: Ueberschär: Generaloberst Franz Halder, S. 104): Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres: Er stand an der Spitze des Generalstabes des Heeres, war dem Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres unterstellt und dessen erster Berater und ständiger Vertreter. Sein Arbeitsgebiet umfasste sämtliche mit der Vorbereitung und Führung eines Krieges zusammenhängenden Fragen. Zentralabteilung des Generalstabes: Die Zentralabteilung war zuständig für die Organisation der Dienststelle "Generalstab des Heeres" einschließlich der ihr nachgeordneten Behörden sowie für die Personalangelegenheiten der Generalstabsoffiziere. Dem Chef der Zentralabteilung war außerdem die Verwaltung der dem Chef des Generalstabes zur Verfügung stehenden Fonds und Stiftungen übertragen. 1. Abteilung des GenStdH - Operationsabteilung: Die Operationsabteilung hatte die Aufmarschvorbereitungen für den Kriegsfall zu bearbeiten. Daneben bereitete sie militärische Übungsreisen und operative Aufgaben zur Ausbildung der Generalstabsoffiziere vor. 2. Abteilung des GenStdH - Organisationsabteilung: Die Organisationsabteilung befasste sich mit dem Aufbau und der Gliederung des Friedens- und des Kriegsheeres; die Durchführungsanordnungen hierzu erließ das Allgemeine Heeresamt. Ferner bearbeitete sie die jährlich neu erscheinenden "Besonderen Anlagen zum Mobilmachungsplan (Heer)" und die Forderungen hinsichtlich der materiellen Rüstung (außer Munition und Betriebsstoff). 3. Abteilung des GenStdH - Abteilung Fremde Heere: Der Abteilung Fremde Heere oblag das Studium fremder Heere und militärpolitischer Probleme des Auslands durch die Auswertung der Berichte der Militärattachés und der zu ausländischen Heeren abkommandierten Offizieren. Ihr gehörte auch die Attaché-Gruppe des Generalstabes des Heeres an. 4. Abteilung des GenStdH - Heeresausbildungsabteilung: Die Heeresausbildungsabteilung erließ Verfügungen für die Truppenausbildung einschließlich der Truppenübungsplätze, für Herbst- und Sonderübungen sowie für die Ausbildung von Reserve- und Landwehrverbänden. Weiterhin hatte sie die von den Waffeninspektionen bearbeiteten Ausbildungsvorschriften vor der Ausgabe an die Truppe zu prüfen. 5. Abteilung des GenStdH - Transportabteilung: Die Transportabteilung bereitete die jährlichen Mobilmachungs- und Aufmarschtransporte vor. Im Bereich des Transportwesens war sie federführend für die ganze Wehrmacht, doch beschränkte sich ihr Arbeitsgebiet auf die Eisenbahn und auf die Binnenschifffahrt. Aus der friedensmäßigen 5. Abteilung ging zu Beginn des Zweiten Weltkrieges die OKH-Dienststelle "Chef des Transportwesens" hervor. Ihr jeweiliger Leiter war in Personalunion "Der Chef des Transportwesens der Wehrmacht" (letzterer ist ohne eigenständige Überlieferung; das Archivgut beider Dienststellen, einschließlich der Vorprovenienzen, ist im Bestand RH 4 zusammengefasst). 6. Abteilung des GenStdH - Quartiermeisterabteilung: Die Quartiermeisterabteilung hatte die Versorgung des Heeres mit allen Nachschubgütern vorzubereiten. Aus ihr entwickelte sich zu Beginn des Zweiten Weltkrieges die Dienststelle "OKH/Generalquartiermeister"(siehe Bestand RH 3). 7. Abteilung des GenStdH - Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung: Aufgabe der Kriegswissenschaftlichen Abteilung war die Auswertung der Kriegserfahrungen sowie die Bearbeitung, Prüfung und Herausgabe kriegswissenschaftlicher Veröffentlichungen, ferner das Studium kriegs- und heeresgeschichtlicher Probleme. Mitte 1942 wurde die 7. Abteilung geteilt in eine "Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung des Heeres" (siehe Bestand RH 60) und eine "Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung des Generalstabs des Heeres" (bereits Ende 1942 aufgelöst). Inspektion der Festungen (InFest): Der Inspekteur der Festungen hatte Vorschläge zur Ausnutzung und zum Aufbau der Landesbefestigungen zu erarbeiten. Am 24. November 1938 wurde die InFest im Rahmen der vom Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres befohlenen Organisationsänderungen der Waffeninspektionen dem Allgemeinen Heeresamt unterstellt (siehe Bestand RH 12-20). Vertragsgruppe: Sie wurde 1934 aus der Völkerbundabteilung gebildet. In der Folgezeit (ab 1935) war eine wichtige Erweiterung des Generalstabes die Bildung der Oberquartiermeister I bis V, die mehrere Abteilungen leiteten; ferner wurde die 8. (Technische Abteilung), 9. (Heeresvermessungswesen und Militärgeographie), 10. (mit zuständig für Fragen der Landesverteidigung) und 11. Abteilung (Ausbildung der Offiziere und Fortbildung der Generalstabsoffiziere) eingerichtet. Der Oberquartiermeister I war Stellvertretender Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres. Ein Teil der neu eingerichteten Abteilungen wurden nach und nach wieder aufgelöst oder ihre Aufgaben anderen Abteilungen zugeteilt (z.B. 1939 Auflösung des Oberquartiermeisters II; 1942 Auflösung des Oberquartiermeisters I und IV ¿ die Aufgaben gingen an die Operationsabteilung und Länderabteilung über; die Aufgaben der für die Generalstabsoffiziere zuständigen Personalabteilung in der Zentralabteilung wurden dem Personalamt des Heeres übertragen). Im Rahmen der Mobilmachung für den Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde der Generalstab des Heeres September 1939 in zwei Staffeln aufgegliedert: (siehe dazu: "Kriegsgliederung des OKH mit Generalstab 1939-1942", in: Ueberschär, Generaloberst Franz Halder, S. 105): Die 1. Staffel wurde als "Hauptquartier OKH" zusammengefasst. Seine Angehörigen waren dem Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres disziplinarisch unterstellt. Dieser stand an der Spitze des dem Oberbefehlshabers des Heeres zur Verfügung stehenden Führungsstabes und leitete die Operationen des Heeres in dessen Auftrag. Grundlegende Operationsbefehle wurden jedoch vom Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres unterzeichnet. Die für die Führung des Feldheeres nicht unmittelbar benötigten Teile des Generalstabes verblieben als 2. Staffel des Generalstabes des Heeres unter Führung des Oberquartiermeisters V in ihren Friedensunterkünften (Berlin), blieben dabei aber dem Chef des Generalstabes des Heeres unterstellt. Zur 2. Staffel des Generalstabes des Heeres gehörten die Zentralabteilung (GZ), die Abteilung Fremde Heeres Ost und West sowie die Ausbildungsabteilung (Ausbildungsfilmwesen), ferner die Attachéabteilung, die Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung und die Abteilung für Heeresvermessungswesen und Militärgeographie. Im Verlauf des Krieges veränderte sich die Organisation und Stellung des Generalstabes des Heeres. Die Führung des Polenfeldzuges lag noch in den Händen des Oberkommandos des Heeres, doch schon die Besetzung Dänemarks und Norwegens im Frühjahr 1940 (Unternehmen "Weserübung") lief unter Leitung des Chefs des Wehrmachtführungsamtes ab und wurde damit zum ersten Kriegsschauplatz des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht. Während der Westfeldzug im Mai/Juni 1940 trat die Einflussnahme Hitlers auf die Befehlsführung erstmals in den Vordergrund. Als Organ einheitlicher Befehlsgebung diente ihm das Wehrmachtführungsamt (am 8. August 1940 in "Wehrmachtführungsstab" umbenannt), das er dazu benutzte, um in die vom Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres geführten Operationen einzugreifen. Die Planung und Durchführung des Balkanfeldzuges im Frühjahr 1941 sowie die Vorarbeiten zum Krieg gegen die UdSSR lagen wiederum im wesentlichen in den Händen des Generalstabes des Heeres. Die Tätigkeit des Wehrmachtführungsstabes beschränkte sich hier auf die Bearbeitung der Weisungen Hitlers. Im Dezember 1941 wurde der Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres, Generalfeldmarschall von Brauchitsch, abgelöst, und Hitler übernahm den Oberbefehl über das Heer selbst. Bei seinen Entscheidungen über die Operationsführung des Heeres zog er immer mehr den Wehrmachführungsstab heran. In dieser Zeit begann die eigentliche Trennung nach OKH- und OKW-Kriegsschauplätzen. Während der Generalstab des Heeres die Ostfront übernahm, lag die Zuständigkeit für alle anderen Kriegsschauplätze beim Wehrmachtführungsstab. 1945 wurde der Generalstab mit dem Wehrmachtführungsstab zusammengelegt. Vorprovenienz: Großer Generalstab Erschließungszustand: Online-Findbuch Vorarchivische Ordnung: In RH 2 ist die Überlieferung aller Abteilungen des Allgemeinen Truppenamtes bzw. des Generalstabes des Heeres zusammengefasst mit Ausnahme jener Organisationseinheiten, die seit 1938 selbständig wurden (5., 6., 7. und 9. Abteilung des Generalstabes des Heeres sowie die Inspektionen der Festungen) und demzufolge im Militärarchiv eigene Bestände bilden (siehe Punkt 2.2. und 3.2). Eine Ausnahme bildet die Attachéabteilung, bei deren Zuordnung und Verbleib beim Bestand RH 2 die im Juli 1944 befohlene Unterstellung unter den Wehrmachtführungsstab/Amtsgruppe Ausland außer acht gelassen wurde. Dies konnte erfolgen, da die Überlieferung der Attachéabteilung mit den Anlagen zum Kriegstagebuch nur bis Ende Oktober 1944 reicht und dann abbricht. Insgesamt gesehen bildet der Bestand RH 2 mit seinen mehr als 3000 Nummern ein relativ abgerundetes Bild von der Tätigkeit des Allgemeinen Truppenamtes und des Generalstabes des Heeres. Das Schriftgut sowohl des Truppenamtes - hier besonders der zwanziger und dreißger - als auch des Generalstabes des Heeres wurde, sobald es nicht mehr für den laufenden Geschäftsbetrieb benötigt wurde, aus den jeweiligen Registraturen ausgesondert und an das Heeresarchiv in Potsdam bzw. an die Außenstelle des Heeresarchivs in Liegnitz abgegeben. Das Magazingebäude des Heeresarchivs Potsdam und alle in ihm lagernde Unterlagen ¿ auch die Außenstelle Liegnitz war am 7. Dezember 1944 mit allen Archivalien dorthin zurückverlegt worden - verbrannten bei dem alliierten Luftangriff am 14. April 1945. Einzelne Bestände des Heeresarchivs waren zuvor allerdings nach Bad Reichenhall ausgelagert worden. Dort jedoch wurden sie beim Näherrücken der alliierten Truppen auf Befehl von General Scherff (Beauftragter des Führers für militärische Geschichtsschreibung) teilweise verbrannt. Verhältnismäßig dicht ist die Überlieferung aus der Zeit des Zweiten Weltkrieges, doch haben viele Kriegsereignisse auch hier schmerzliche Lücken gerissen (z.B. fehlt ein Teil der Kriegstagebücher - samt Anlagen - der Operations- und Organisationsabteilung). Soweit Archivgut aber die Kriegsereignisse überdauerte und den Amerikanern in die Hände fiel, wurde es in die USA verbracht. Dies gilt auch für das seinerzeit laufende Registraturgut des Generalstabes, das nach der deutschen Kapitulation von amerikanischen Truppen in Flensburg beschlagnahmt wurde. In den 60-er Jahren erfolgte die Rückführung der Unterlagen. Eine grundlegende Überarbeitung des Bestandes erfolgte zu Beginn der 80-er Jahre, wobei die Organisation des Truppenamtes/Generalstabes als Grundlage für die Bestandsordnung diente. 3.1. Überlieferung und ggf. archivische Bewertung 3.2. Sonstige Bestände, Hinweise RH 3 OKH/Generalquartiermeister RH 4 Chef des Transportwesens RH 7 Heerespersonalamt RH 12-20 Inspektion der Festungen RH 15 Allgemeines Heeresamt RH 60 Kriegswissenschaftliche Abteilung des Heeres Kart. RH 2 (Generalstabskarten) RW 4 Wehrmachtführungsstab N 28 Beck, Ludwig (Chef GenStdH) N 63 Zeitzler, Kurt (Chef GenStdH) N 220 Halder, Franz (Chef GenStdH) N 738 Adam, Wilhelm (Chef des Truppenamtes) Umfang, Erläuterung: 3282 AE Zitierweise: BArch, RH 2/...
Portrait of Piet Nieuwenhuizen, who was Lettow Vorbeck's closest confidant until his surrender in D e u t s c h -O s t a f r i k a / Photographer: Scherl
History of the Inventor: Establishment of an office on 12 February 1919 for the processing of the duties assigned to the Reich President by the Constitution as head of state, at the same time official liaison office between the Reich President and the Reich and state authorities; transfer of the powers of the Reich President to the "Reich Chancellor and Führer" Adolf Hitler by the law on the head of state of 1 August 1934; retention of the office of the Reich President and renaming of the office to Präsidialkanzlei by ordinance of 4 September 1934. Inventory description: Inventory history In the 1930s, the office of the Reich President regularly handed over so-called "Weglegesachen" to the Reich Archives, for example in April 1932 and March/April 1935. However, the registry, which was still ready for handing over in 1944, with processes up to 1934, no longer reached the Reich Archives. In 1944, the archives already kept in the Reichsarchiv Potsdam were transferred to the galleries of Staßfurt and Schönebeck a.d.Elbe. The office of the presidential chancellery and the current registry were maintained at the end of the war in Kleßheim Castle near Salzburg. In 1942/1943 Schloss Kleßheim had been lavishly refurbished as the guest house of the presidential chancellery and the Führer for special purposes. After the capitulation of the German Reich and the occupation by the Allies, the archive holdings fell into their hands. For the files of the presidential chancellery, this meant, in accordance with the territorial division of the occupation zones, that the documents from the tunnels in Staßfurt and Schönebeck a.d.Elbe were largely transported to the USSR, and that the service records at Schloss Kleßheim were under American administration. During the Berlin blockade of 1948/49, the ministerial holdings subsequently brought together in the western sectors of Berlin were transferred to Whaddon Hall in Buckinghamshire and jointly administered by the Foreign Office of the United Kingdom and the American State Department. File returns from the Soviet Union to the GDR began in the mid-1950s. As part of the most extensive restitution campaign, the files of the Presidential Chancellery were transferred to the German Central Archive Potsdam (DZA) in 1959 and stored here under the signature 06.01. The holdings were supplemented in 1963 by further additions that had previously been assigned to the Reich Chancellery. At the same time, the files from American and English administration were transferred from the archive in Whaddon Hall to the Federal Archives in Koblenz. The inventory signature was R 54. After the unification of the two German states and the takeover of the Central State Archives of the GDR (ZStA) by the Federal Archives, the partial inventories were merged and are now stored in Berlin with the inventory signature R 601. 2,536 transactions from the NS archive of the MfS were incorporated during the current processing, the third comprehensive addition. After the repatriation of the files from the Soviet Union in the second half of the 1950s, the MfS also took over documents in order to expand and build up a personal collection for "operative" purposes. As a consequence, the concentration on individual persons, i.e. the person-related filing, meant the destruction of the historical context in which the tradition originated, as files and processes were torn apart or reformed. In autumn 1989 the archive came under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior of the GDR (MdI) and thus of the Central State Archive of the GDR. After its transfer to the Federal Archives and its provisional use in the 1990s, comprehensive IT-supported indexing began in 2001. At the Centre for the Preservation of Historical Documentary Collections, formerly the Central State Archives Special Archive Moscow, there are still 53 file units from the period 1921-1944 as Fund 1413 in the Centre for the Preservation of Historical Documentary Collections. These are "...above all files on the awarding of the Ostmark Medal (12 volumes, 1938 - 1943), Police Service Award (3 volumes, 1938 - 1943), and the.., 1942) and other awards (4 vols.), among others to railway workers in the Eastern territories, furthermore individual political reports (2 vols., 1935 - 1937) and documents on the representation at the London Disarmament Conference (1933), the discontinuation of proceedings for maltreatment of prisoners (1935 - 1936), racial and population policy (1935 - 1936) as well as a list of employees (1942 - 1943)". In the course of processing, the inventory was supplemented by files that had been proposed for cassation at an earlier date, but were returned to the inventory due to requests for use. These are files from Department B (Domestic Policy), Title XV, support given by the Reich President of Hindenburg to corporations and individuals, but above all for the purpose of assuming honorary sponsorships - inventory adjustments between the holdings R 43 Reich Chancellery, R 1501 Reich Ministry of the Interior and with the Central Party Archives of the SED The volumes with the previous signatures 1499 to 1502 were the provenance adjutant of the Wehrmacht to the Führer and Reich Chancellor. It was handed over to the Department of Military Archives in Freiburg/ Breisgau and assigned to the holdings RW 8. R 2 Reich Ministry of Finance R 43 Reich Chancellery R 2301 Court of Audit of the German Reich N 429 Paul von Hindenburg Estate NS 3 Economic and Administrative Main Office NS 6 Party Chancellery of the NSDAP Foundation Reichpräsident-Friedrich-Ebert Memorial, Heidelberg Archive of Social Democracy of the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation, Bonn Zentrum für die Aufbewahrung historisch-dokumentarischer Sammlungen (formerly Zentrales Staatsarchiv Sonderarchiv Moskau) Fonds 1413 Archivische Bewertung und Bearbeitung A first finding aid book on the files of the presidential chancellery was produced in the German Central Archive Potsdam in 1960. The 1,213 volumes of files were broken down by administrative structure and provisionally recorded. In 1967 the provisional indexing took place in the Federal Archives in Koblenz and in 1981 the submission of a finding aid book to the 241 volumes under the stock signature R 54. After the consolidation of the partial stocks from Potsdam and Koblenz a complete finding aid book was submitted in 1998. At the end of 2008, the database-supported revision of the finding aid book and the incorporation of 2538 files with the provenance Presidential Chancellery from the NS archive of the MfS began. The present archival records are composed of files in their original order of origin, partly with the original file covers and in the predominant number of individual folders comprising only a few sheets. The stock grew from 1,581 files by 933 signatures to a total of 2,547 files. The majority of these are personal transactions such as appointments and dismissals of civil servants and awards of orders. However, it was possible to supplement the volume series with two fact files from the years 1926 and 1927 both chronologically and verifiably on the basis of the diary numbers with volumes 8 and 9. The five-volume series in connection with Paul von Hindenburg's honorary membership is a complete complement. The current processing, including classification, was based on the registry order already used in the previous finding aid: Department A (Internal Affairs) Department B (Internal Policy) Department C (Foreign Policy) Department D (Military Policy) Department E (Not documented) Department O (Chancellery of the Order) Citation BArch R 601/1... Content characterization: Internal affairs of the presidential chancellery 1919-1945 (56): Correspondence with other authorities, rules of procedure of the Reich government, of Ministe‧rien and of the Reich Representation of the NSDAP 1924-1943 (8); organization, personnel, cash and budget matters of the presidential chancellery, private correspondence of Staatsmini‧ster Dr. Otto Meissner 1919-1945 (48); domestic policy 1919-1945 (939): Constitution 1919-1936 (19), Reich President 1919-1939 (190), Reich Government 1919-1936 (23), Legislation 1919-1936 (24), Civil Service 1919-1943 (109), Departments of the Reich Ministry of Labor 1919-1943 (46), Peripheral Areas of the Reich (Saar, Eastern Provinces), including Eastern Aid, Revolutionary Movements, Press, Police and Technical Emergency Aid, Disputes between Princes, Holidays and constitutional celebrations 1919-1945 (42), ministries of the Reich Ministry of Finance 1919-1944 (40), ministries of the Reich Ministry of Justice 1919-1942 (35), church, cultural and health services 1919-1944 (20), Economic and financial policy 1919-1944 (21), economic policy 1919-1944 (40), transport 1919-1943 (26), Disposi‧tionsfonds and donations 1919-1940 (292), Prussia 1919-1937 (5), Bavaria 1919-1936 (15); Foreign Policy 1919-1945 (143): Treaty of Versailles and its implementation 1919-1940 (39), international organizations and treaties 1919-1944 (26), Foreign Office 1921-1945 (2), intergovernmental agreements 1919-1944 (64), cultural relations with foreign countries 1920-1944 (4), foreign policy situation, weekly reports of the Foreign Office 1920-1933 (8); military policy 1919-1939 (48): Military Legislation and Policy 1919-1934 (39), Submitted Writings and Books 1928-1932 (1), Adjutant of the Wehrmacht to the Führer and Reich Chancellor 1934-1939 (4), Prisen‧ordnung 1939-1941 (1), Civil Air Defence 1927-1938 (2), Reich Labour Service 1935-1941 (1); Order Chancellery 1935-1945 (237): Management of orders and decorations 1935-1944 (3), service awards 1937-1945 (102), decorations 1939-1945 (43), decorations on certain occasions 1937-1944 (43), acceptance of foreign titles, orders and decorations by Germans 1941-1944 (6), war awards 1939-1944 (34), trade with orders and decorations 1941-1944 (6); Miscellaneous (congratulations) 1935-1944 (65); Letter diaries 1942 (1) State of development: Findbuch 2011 Citation method: BArch, R 601/...
History of the Inventory Designer: 1. On the history of the Deutsche Reichspost Prehistory up to 1867 In Germany, a uniform postal system had not been able to develop due to the territorial fragmentation of the Reich. Still in the first half of the 19th century, 17 independent state postal regions existed alongside the "Reichs-Post" of the Princes of Thurn and Taxis, which had already been commissioned by the Emperor in the 16th century to carry out the postal shelf and which had since then operated primarily in the smaller and smallest German territories. The conclusion of agreements between individual Länder of the German Confederation, including the establishment of the German-Austrian Postal Association in 1850, did indeed lead to unity in postal traffic; however, in 1866 there were still 9 postal regions in Germany. The post office in the Kingdom of Prussia had developed into the most important national post office at the national level. From the North German Confederation to the Foundation of the Reich (1867-1871) The constitution of the North German Confederation of 24 June 1867 declared the postal and telegraph system to be a federal matter. In the structure of the North German postal administration, the upper postal directorates existing in Prussia since 1849 were taken over as central authorities. The Prussian postal system was thus transferred to the Federation and the North German postal administrations were merged into it, so that the Norddeutsche Bundespost (1868-1871) under the leadership of Prussia was the first unified state postal service on German soil. The Federal Chancellery was in charge of its upper management, and the former Prussian General Post Office was integrated into it as Department I. In addition, the Directorate-General for Telegraphs was renamed Division II. The Post Office in the German Reich from 1871 to 1919 The foundation stone of the Deutsche Reichspost is the Reich Constitution of 16 April 1871. The only area of transport in which the Reich was able to directly promote its state and transport policy purposes was the postal and telegraph system. The Reichspost, which was set up as a direct Reich administration, extended its effectiveness to the entire territory of the Reich with the exception of the states of Bavaria and Württemberg, which had the so-called Postreservat granted to them for their internal postal relations. The postal service and the telegraph system, which were still independent at that time, were therefore a matter for the Reich. On 1 January 1876, both administrations merged organizationally with the creation of the "Reichspost- und Telegraphenverwaltung" (Reich Post and Telegraph Administration) as the highest authority, which consisted of the General Post Office and the General Directorate of Telegraphs. Both were subject to the postmaster general and formed first the I. and II. Department of the Reich Chancellery. The connection between post and telegraph created in this way was no longer solved afterwards. In addition, the postmaster general was removed from the Reich Chancellery and made independent. The Imperial Decree of 23 February 1880 also consolidated the General Post Office and the General Telegraph Office organisationally. The now established Reichspostamt was thus on an equal footing with the other supreme Reich authorities. He was directed by the Prussian Postmaster General Heinrich von Stephan (1831-1897), who had already become the head of the General Post Office in 1870. The new design of the imperial postal system undoubtedly meant progress for traffic development. Economic advancement, the increasing importance of German foreign trade, the acquisition of colonies and the opening up of the oceans, and thus the global political and economic importance of Germany, posed special challenges for the postal service and telegraphy. Under Heinrich von Stephan's leadership, the Universal Postal Union was created in 1874. Foreign and colonial post offices took up their work. During the 1st World War the field post, which had existed in Prussia since the 18th century during the war, was reactivated. It was subordinate to the Field Chief Postmaster in the Great Headquarters and was subdivided into Army Post Offices, Field Post Inspections, Offices and Stations. In the occupied territories, the Deutsche Reichspost eliminated the state postal administrations there and created its own postal facilities in Belgium, Poland and Romania. The German Post and Telegraph Administration operating in the Baltic States in the postal area of the Commander-in-Chief East (November 1915 to December 1918; since August 1918: Military Post Office of the Commander-in-Chief East) was a military office and attached to the Oberost staff. Weimar Republic (1919-1933) The Reich Constitution of 1919 brought significant progress by unifying the postal and telecommunications systems in the hands of the Reich. In connection with the creation of Reich Ministers with parliamentary responsibility by the Law on the Provisional Imperial Authority of 10 February 1919, the decree of the Reich President of 21 March 1919 laid down the new names of the supreme Reich authorities. The Reichspostamt was also renamed the Reichspostministerium. A further consequence of the state revolution of 1918/19 were the state treaties of 29 and 31 March 1920, which also transferred the postal administrations of Württemberg and Bavaria to the Reich. However, they still retained a certain special position. The Oberpostdirektion Stuttgart was responsible for all internal affairs of the traffic area assigned to it, the Land of Württemberg, insofar as they were not generally reserved for the Reich Ministry of Posts, and for Bavaria even a separate Department VII (since 1924 Department VI) was created with its seat in Munich, a State Secretary at the head and the same extensive competence as in the Oberpostdirektion in Stuttgart. The character of the Reichspost was decisively influenced by the Reichspostfinanzgesetz, which came into force on 1 April 1924. The most important point was the separation of the post office from the rest of the Reich's budget. This made the Deutsche Reichspost economically independent as a special fund of the Reich. The Reichspostfinanzgesetz created the administrative board of the Deutsche Reichspost under the chairmanship of the Reichspost Minister. The Board of Directors had to decide on all significant business, financial and personnel matters. The implementation of the decisions of the Board of Administration was the responsibility of the Minister or the responsible structural parts of the Reich Ministry of Posts. National Socialism (1933-1945) From the outset, the authority left no doubt as to its attitude to National Socialism: "For the Deutsche Reichspost it was a matter of course to put National Socialist ideas into practice with all its might wherever it was possible, and to serve the Führer with all its being and doing". The formal repeal of the Reichspostfinanzgesetz by the Gesetz zur Vereinfachung und Verbilligung der Verwaltung of 27 February 1934 did not change anything about the special asset status of the Deutsche Reichspost, but it brought some fundamental changes. For example, the Administrative Board was dissolved and replaced by an Advisory Board, which had no decisive powers but only an advisory function. The law eliminated both Division VI in Munich and the special position of the Oberpostdirektion Stuttgart, after Hitler had rejected as premature an attempt by the Reichspost and Reich Traffic Minister, Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach, to repeal it, which he had already made in May 1933. From 1 April 1934, the last special agreements of the Reichspost with the states of Bavaria and Württemberg expired, so that it was only from this point on that the "complete uniformity of the postal and telecommunications system in law and administration for the entire territory of the Reich" was established. On 1 October 1934, the Oberpostdirektionen received the designation "Reichspostdirektionen". The offices and offices were subordinated to them. By "Führererlass" of 2 February 1937, the personal union between the Reich Transport Minister and the Reich Post Minister, which had existed since 1932, was abolished and Wilhelm Ohnesorge (1872 to 1962) was again appointed Reich Post Minister. The occasion was the subordination of the Reichsbahn to Reich sovereignty. The unconditional capitulation of Germany at the end of the Second World War also meant the end of the German Reichspost. His written fixation of this fact was found in Articles 5 and 9 of a declaration of the Allied Control Council of June 5, 1945, according to which "all facilities and objects of the ... intelligence ... to hold at the disposal of the Allies' representatives" and "until the establishment of supervision over all means of communication" any broadcasting operation was prohibited. The postal and telecommunications services and the operation of their facilities were finally restarted at different times and separately by the respective Commanders-in-Chief according to the four occupation zones of Germany. 2 The tasks of the Deutsche Reichspost (German Imperial Postal Service) in the fields of social and technical progress as well as the effects of important inventions inevitably necessitated both the quantitative expansion of communication relations and their continuous improvement up to the introduction and application of new services in the postal and telegraph sectors. One of the main tasks of the Deutsche Reichspost, the carriage of news items, did not initially extend to all postal items. In the beginning, only closed letters and political newspapers that did not remain in the sender's town were affected by the so-called post compulsion. All open items (especially postcards and printed matter) for a place other than the place of dispatch and letters, parcels etc. for recipients in the place of dispatch could also be collected, transported and distributed by so-called private transport companies. Such "private posts" settled above all in large cities and increasingly opposed the German Reichspost as fierce competitors, for example through lower fee rates. The Reichspost had to get rid of this competition, especially since it was obliged to maintain expensive and sometimes even unprofitable delivery facilities even in the remotest areas of the Reich. The Postal Act Amendment of 20 Dec. 1899 therefore prohibited all commercially operated private post offices in the German Reich from 1 April 1900 and extended the postal obligation to sealed letters within the place of dispatch. The carriage of passengers From time immemorial, Swiss Post also dealt with the carriage of passengers. Before the advent of the railways, passenger transport by stagecoach was the most important means of public transport and, as such, was also part of the postal monopoly in many countries. The expansion of the railway network initially limited this traffic activity of the post office, but after the invention and further perfection of the automobile it gained importance again. Thus, since 1906/07, bus routes have been established ("Postkraftwagen-Überlandverkehr", often also called "Kraftposten" for short). They were expanded mainly in the years 1924 to 1929, so that on 1 April 1929 the Deutsche Reichspost operated almost 2000 Kraftpost lines with an operating length of more than 37,000 km and by that time had already carried 68 million passengers. The enormous economic and technical upswing in Germany after the foundation of the German Empire also meant that the Imperial Post and Telegraph Administration had to make use of its cash register facilities for the ever more flowing payment transactions. In addition to the banks, Swiss Post took over the regulation of cashless payment transactions: on 1 January 1909, the postal transfer and postal cheque service was opened in Germany (13 Postscheckkämter). Both the number of accounts and the amount of assets increased steadily in the following decades, with the exception of the two world wars. The banking activities of the Deutsche Reichspost, 'which serve to fulfil state activities and not to compete with the private sector', were divided into five main branches: postal order service, cash on delivery service, postal order service, postal transfer service, cheque service and postal savings bank service. The latter was introduced only after the annexation of Austria (a post office savings bank had existed here since 1883) on 1 January 1939. Telegraphs and radio telegraphy Although telegraphs were administered by an independent authority equivalent to the general post office before the Reichspost was founded, they had been closely related to the post office since 1854. In that year, the telegraph service in small communities in Prussia was transferred to the respective post office. Own telegraph stations usually existed only in cities and larger municipalities, where the operation was profitable. In 1871 there were a total of 3,535 telegraph stations in the German Reich (including Bavaria and Württemberg) with 107,485 km of telegraph lines and an annual output of over 10 million telegrams. By the beginning of the First World War, this figure had been six times higher. In contrast to the USA, where the population quickly made use of telephone traffic, the German public apparently did not initially want to make friends with the new telephone system. As early as 1877, General Postmaster Stephan had the first telephone line set up between the General Post Office in Leipzig and the General Telegraph Office in Französische Straße, and soon thereafter arranged for attempts to be made at longer distances. As late as 1880, however, Stephans' call for participation in a city telephone system in Berlin met with little approval, so that the first local traffic exchange began operations here in January 1881 with only 8 subscribers. However, the advantages of telephone traffic were soon recognised and the spread of the telephone increased rapidly. The 24-hour telephone service was first introduced in Munich in 1884, and Berlin opened its 10,000th telephone station in May 1889. As early as 1896 there were 130,000 "telephone stations" in Germany; in 1920 there were about 1.8 million, in 1930 over 3 million and in 1940 almost 5 million connections. Since the practical testing of Hertzian electromagnetic waves, i.e. since 1895, Swiss Post has paid great attention to the development and expansion of wireless telegraphy. From the very beginning, there was no doubt that the Reichspost was responsible for radio communications (as a type of communication). After the first radio telegraphy devices had been produced in Germany by Siemens and AEG and the first public radio stations had been put into operation in 1890, a regulated radio service began in the German Reich. In the following decades, the Reichspost retained the exclusive right to install and operate radio equipment. However, it was not in a position to carry out all the associated services itself and therefore delegated some of this right to other companies. Thus there were finally 3 groups of radio services: - the radio service operated by the Reichspost with its own radio stations (maritime radio, aeronautical radio), - the radio service operated by companies. The "Transradio AG für drahtlose Überseeverkehr" carried out the entire overseas radio traffic in the years 1921-1932 on behalf of the Deutsche Reichspost. Deep sea radio, train radio and police radio have been granted rights in their fields in a similar manner, - the radio services of public transport carriers such as Reichsbahn, Reichsautobahnen and waterways. Radio and television The exclusive competence for radio broadcasting also extended to radio broadcasting, which was established after the First World War. Legal and organisational issues had to be resolved for this new area of activity of Swiss Post more than for other areas. There are two phases to the relationship between the postal service and broadcasting: a) From 1923 to 1933, the Deutsche Reichspost was responsible for all legislative matters, the issuing of user regulations, the granting of licenses, the fixing and collection of fees, the setting up of transmitters, the technical operation and monitoring of economic management. The Reich Ministry of the Interior, together with the Länder governments, was responsible for the fundamental regulation of the political and cultural issues arising in the course of programme planning. The Reichspost left the broadcasting operations themselves to companies to which it granted a licence. The Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft, founded in 1923, acted as the umbrella organization, in which the Deutsche Reichspost held a major share through a majority of capital and votes and was headed by the Broadcasting Commissioner of the Deutsche Reichspost. b) In 1933, the newly created Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda assumed responsibility for all organizational and managerial issues relating to broadcasting; the Deutsche Reichspost remained only responsible for the cable network and transmitters, for licenses, fee collection and accounting. As a result of the Reichskulturkammergesetz of 22 September 1933, the Reichsrundfunkkammer was at the forefront of broadcasting, in which the Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft and several other associations were represented. This marked the beginning of the absolute subordination of broadcasting to the National Socialist dictatorship. The first attempts at television were made in the 1920s, also under the direction of the Deutsche Reichspost. Swiss Post continued to play a major role in the scientific and technical development of television in the following years. After an improved Braun tube had been shown at the Funkausstellung Berlin in 1932, the 1933 annual report of the Deutsche Reichspost described trial television broadcasts in a large urban area as practically feasible. In March 1935, the Deutsche Reichspost set up the world's first public television station at the Reichspostmuseum in Berlin, where the public could follow the reception of the programmes free of charge. The Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda and the Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft (RRG) shared the programming. The Reichspost Ministry subsidiary "Reichspost-Fernseh-GmbH" (since 1939) and the Reichsministerium für Luftfahrt (Reich Ministry of Aviation) were responsible for the transmitters "in view of their special significance for air traffic control and national air protection". 3. the organization and structure of the Deutsche Reichspost Of all the branches of the Reich administration, Die Post possessed the most extensive and clearly structured official substructure. It was taken over by the Prussian postal service in 1871 and was divided into the following 3 stages until the destruction of the German Reich in 1945: Since 1880, the new supreme Reich authority had been divided into three departments: Post (I), Telegraph (and soon Telephone) (II) and Personnel, Budget, Accounting and Construction (III). A short time later Stephan was appointed Secretary of State and was thus placed on an equal footing with the heads of the other Imperial Offices established in the meantime. Division III was divided in 1896. General administrative matters were assigned to the new Division III, while Division IV was now responsible for personnel, cash management and accounting. Later, cash and accounting were transferred back to Division III and Division IV retained only personnel matters. From 1919, now as the Reich Post Ministry, a fifth department for radio communications and a sixth for social affairs expanded the organizational structure. Section VI, however, fell away again after inflation in 1924, and at the same time sections III and V exchanged their designations, so that in this section the household, cash register and building trade, in that the telegraph and radio trade were dealt with, while section II was responsible for the telephone trade, initially still united with the telegraph building trade. On 1 June 1926 another department for economic and organisational questions was added, which was formed from the previous economic department. Since 1926 there have been eight departments: Abt. I Postwesen Abt. II Telegraphen- und Fernsprechtechnik und Fernsprachbetrieb Abt. III Telegraphenbetrieb und Funkwesen Abt. IV Personalwesen Abt. V Haushalts-, Kassen, Postscheck- und Bauwesen Abt. VI in Munich, for Bavaria, dissolved in 1934 Abt. VII for Württemberg, dissolved in 1934 Abt. VIII Wirtschaftsabteilung. From 1934 Abt. VI, later referred to as Abt. für Kraftfahrwesen, Maschinentechnik und Beschaffungswesen. From 30.11. 1942 Abt. VII: Independence of all radio and television affairs from Abt. III (since 1940 already under the direct control of State Secretary Flanze [at the same time President of the Reichspostzentralamt] as the "Special Department Fl") Under National Socialist rule in 1938, the Ministry was expanded by a Central Department (Min-Z) for political tasks and questions of personnel management. During the war, a foreign policy department, a colonial department and an eastern department were added. A special division F 1 for broadcasting affairs was also set up temporarily. During the Second World War, the organization of the postal system in the annexed and occupied territories was determined by the nature and intensity of its integration into the National Socialist sphere of power. In the annexed areas, the postal administration was completely taken over by the Deutsche Reichspost. In most occupied territories, on the other hand, the postal services of the respective countries remained unchanged. Next to them, the field post continued to work. A German service post was created in various administrative areas to supply the German occupation authorities, such as the "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia" (1939-1945), the Netherlands (1940-1945), Norway (1942-1945), the Adriatic and Alpine regions (both 1943-1945), the East and the Ukraine (both 1941-1944). The German service posts "Ostland" and "Ukraine", each under a general postal commissioner, simultaneously provided the business of the "Deutsche Post Ostland" and "Deutsche Post Ukraine", which were fictitious as Landespost. The attempts made by the Reich Ministry of Posts to establish a central management of the intelligence system of all annexed and invaded territories failed because of the principle of the unity of the administration in the respective territory. The Reich Ministry of Posts had a number of specialist offices for the handling of special subjects, such as the field post office, the motor vehicle office, the building administration office and the cheque office. The following departments were directly affiliated or subordinated to the Reich Ministry of Posts: - the General Post Office as the body responsible for the entire administration of the post office and telegraph system - the Postal Money Order Office. From 1 April 1912 it was placed under the control of the Postal Newspaper Office, from 1 January 1918 also under the control of the Berlin Postal Directorate; - the Postal Insurance Commission for Accident and Other Matters, which was transferred to the newly founded Versorgungsanstalt der Deutschen Reichspost on 1 August 1926. With this public corporation, the previously differently regulated supplementary provision for postal staff was standardised: two thirds of the contributions were paid by the Deutsche Reichspost and one third by the insured themselves. - the Reichsamt Telegraph Technical Office, founded in 1920. In 1928, it took over other tasks from the Reich Post Ministry area, such as railway postal issues, postal statistics, training and educational matters, cash and accounting and procurement, and was renamed the Reich Post Central Office - the Reich Post Museum, created in 1872; - the Reich Post Building Inspectorate, formed in 1937 to realize the postal service needs in the structural redesign of Berlin. - the Postal Savings Bank Office in Vienna, which was taken over after the annexation of Austria in March 1938. In direct subordination to the Reich Ministry of Posts, it was responsible for the central account management of the Postal Savings Bank Service after it had been extended to the Old Empire. The "Postschutz", a paramilitary association under the umbrella of the Postal Ministry, had a special position. In June 1935, the Reich leadership of the SS and the Supreme SA leadership agreed on binding regulations regarding the affiliation of postal workers to the SA or SS. The postal service and thus also the postal security service were given priority over 'any use by the SA and SS. The claim for purposes of the SA and SS outside the postal service must not be to the detriment of the proper operation of the postal service', it said. Postal security was uniformed and uniformly armed. The research institute of the Deutsche Reichspost, founded on 1 January 1937, investigated special problems in television technology. The Reichspostforschungsanstalt was responsible for the coordination of all television armaments projects and orders to industry. It dealt with the further development of the research areas for military purposes. The scope of tasks is outlined in a document signed by Ohnesorge: "1. television; 2. general physics, in particular atomic physics, optics, acoustics, electronics; 3. chemistry; 4. special tasks for the four-year plan". The Reichsdruckerei was not integrated into the structure of the Reichspost, but was associated with its top management in personal union. On 1 Apr. 1879 it was placed under the control of the Reichspost- und Telegraphenverwaltung as an independent imperial enterprise. Through its products it maintained very close relations with the Reichspost, since, for example, postage stamps, postal cheques, the Reichskursbuch, etc. were produced for the account of the post office cashier. The Oberpostdirektionen/Reichspostdirektionen The Oberpostdirektionen (OPD) as intermediate authorities between the Berlin headquarters and the post offices were established as early as 1850 in Prussia. After their transfer to the Reichspost, they were among the higher Reich authorities. The Ministry of Postal Affairs has delegated more and more responsibilities to the OPDen, so that their freedom of action grew steadily and they gradually became the focus of the postal administration. 1928 saw the establishment of Managing Directorates of Higher Postal Services, which together assumed responsibility for certain tasks for a district group (= several OPD districts) (e.g. training and education, procurement and utilities). 1934-1945 as Reichspostdirektionen (RPD), they were subject to many changes in their area and in their number. In 1943 there were 51 RPD. The post office cheque offices (established in 1909), the telegraph building offices and the telegraph tool offices (established in 1920) were responsible for several OPD/RPDs and thus also to be regarded as intermediate authorities. The Post Offices The Post Offices, referred to in the area of the Deutsche Reichspost as Verkehrsämter and Amtsstellen, formed the local offices of the lowest level; they were subordinate to the OPD/RPD closest to each other. The local offices included not only the post offices, which were divided into three classes until 1924 (only since 1924 did they have a uniform designation as post offices), but also the post agencies, postal assistance offices, railway post offices, telegraph and telephone offices as well as public pay telephones in the municipalities which were subordinate to them. In 1942 there were about 70,000 such offices and offices in the German Reich. Inventory description: Introduction The history of the Deutsche Reichspost Prehistory up to 1867 Due to the territorial fragmentation of the Reich, a uniform postal system had not been able to develop in Germany. Still in the first half of the 19th century, 17 independent state postal regions existed alongside the "Reichs-Post" of the Princes of Thurn and Taxis, which had already been commissioned by the Emperor in the 16th century to carry out the postal shelf and which had since then operated primarily in the smaller and smallest German territories. The conclusion of treaties between individual Länder of the German Confederation, including the establishment of the German-Austrian Postal Association in 1850, did indeed lead to the unification of postal traffic; however, in 1866 there were still 9 land despatch areas in Germany. The post office in the Kingdom of Prussia had developed into the most important national post office at the national level. The Prussian postal area included the duchy of Anhalt, the principalities of Waldeck-Pyrmont and Oldenburg-Birkenfeld, parts of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Sondershausen, parts of Saxony-Weimar, as well as post offices in Hamburg and Bremen. From 1866 the Duchy of Lauenburg and the Province of Hanover, from 1867 Schleswig-Holstein and the Oldenburg Principality of Lübeck as well as former Bavarian areas in the Rhön, Spessart, the exclave Caulsdorf and from 1 July 1867 the states in Thuringia and Southern Germany which had previously been united in the Thurn und Taxischer Postverein were added. From the North German Confederation to the Foundation of the Reich (1867-1871) The constitution of the North German Confederation of 24 June 1867 declared the postal and telegraph system to be a federal matter. In the structure of the North German postal administration, the upper postal directorates existing in Prussia since 1849 were taken over as central authorities. The Prussian postal system was thus transferred to the Federation and the North German postal administrations were merged into it, so that the Norddeutsche Bundespost (1868-1871) under the leadership of Prussia was the first unified state postal service on German soil. The Federal Chancellery was in charge of its upper management, and the former Prussian General Post Office was integrated into it as Department I. In addition, the Directorate-General for Telegraphs was renamed Division II. The Post Office in the German Reich from 1871 to 1919 The cornerstone of the Deutsche Reichspost was the Reich Constitution of 16 April 1871. The only area of transport in which the Reich was able to directly promote its state and transport policy purposes was the postal and telegraph system. The Reichspost, which was set up as a direct Reich administration, extended its effectiveness to the entire territory of the Reich with the exception of the states of Bavaria and Württemberg, which had the so-called Postreservat granted to them for their internal postal relations. The postal system and the telegraph system, which were still independent at that time, were therefore a matter for the Reich. On 1 January 1876, both administrations merged organizationally with the creation of the "Reichspost- und Telegrafenverwaltung" as the highest authority, consisting of the Generalpostamt and the Generaldirektion der Telegrafen. Both were subject to the postmaster general and formed first the I. and II. Department of the Reich Chancellery. The connection between the postal and telegraph systems created in this way was no longer resolved afterwards. In addition, the postmaster general was removed from the Reich Chancellery and made independent. The Imperial Decree of 23 February 1880 also combined the General Post Office and the General Telegraph Office organisationally. The now established Reichspostamt was thus on an equal footing with the other supreme Reich authorities. He was directed by the Prussian Postmaster General Heinrich von Stephan (1831-1897), who had already become the head of the General Post Office in 1870. The new design of the imperial postal system undoubtedly meant progress for traffic development. Economic advancement, the increasing importance of German foreign trade, the acquisition of colonies and the opening up of the oceans, and thus the global political and economic importance of Germany, posed special challenges for the postal service and telegraphy. Under Heinrich von Stephan's leadership, the Universal Postal Union was created in 1874; foreign and colonial post offices began their work. During the 1st World War the field post, which had existed in Prussia since the 18th century during the war, was reactivated. It was subordinate to the Field Chief Postmaster in the Great Headquarters and was subdivided into Army Post Offices, Field Post Inspections, Offices and Stations. In the occupied territories, the Deutsche Reichspost eliminated the state postal administrations there and created its own postal facilities in Belgium, Poland and Romania. The German Post and Telegraph Administration operating in the Baltic States in the postal area of the Supreme Commander East (November 1915 to December 1918; since August 1918: Military Post Office of the Supreme Commander East) was a military office and attached to the Oberost Staff. Weimar Republic (1919-1933) The Reich Constitution of 1919 brought significant progress by unifying the postal and telecommunications systems in the hands of the Reich. In connection with the creation of Reich Ministers with parliamentary responsibility by the law on the provisional power of the Reich of 10 February 1919, the decree of the Reich President of 21 March 1919 laid down the new names of the supreme Reich authorities. The Reichspostamt was also renamed the Reichspostministerium. A further consequence of the state revolution of 1918/19 were the state treaties of 29 and 31 March 1920, which also transferred the postal administrations of Württemberg and Bavaria to the Reich. However, they still retained a certain special position. The Oberpostdirektion Stuttgart was responsible for all internal affairs of the traffic area assigned to it, the State of Württemberg, insofar as they were not generally reserved for the Reich Ministry of Posts, and for Bavaria even a separate Department VII (since 1924 Department VI) was created with its seat in Munich, a State Secretary at the head and the same extensive competence as in the Oberpostdirektion in Stuttgart. The character of the Reichspost was decisively influenced by the Reichs-postfinanzgesetz, which came into force on 1 April 1924. The most important point was the separation of the post office from the rest of the Reich's budget. This made the Deutsche Reichspost economically independent as a special fund of the Reich. The Reichspostfinanzgesetz created the administrative board of the Deutsche Reichspost under the chairmanship of the Reichspost Minister. The Board of Directors had to decide on all significant business, financial and personnel matters. The implementation of the decisions of the Board of Administration was the responsibility of the Minister or the responsible structural parts of the Reich Ministry of Posts. National Socialism (1933-1945) From the outset, the authority left no doubt as to its attitude to National Socialism: "For the Deutsche Reichspost it was a matter of course to put National Socialist ideas into practice with all its might wherever it was possible, and to serve the Führer with all its being and doing". The formal repeal of the Reichspostfinanzgesetz by the Gesetz zur Vereinfachung und Verbilligung der Verwaltung of 27 February 1934 did not change anything about the special asset status of the Deutsche Reichspost, but it brought some fundamental changes. For example, the Administrative Board was dissolved and replaced by an Advisory Board, which had no decisive powers but only an advisory function. The law eliminated both Division VI in Munich and the special position of the Oberpostdirektion Stuttgart, after Hitler had rejected as premature an attempt by the Reichspost and Reich Traffic Minister, Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach, to repeal it, which he had already made in May 1933. From 1 April 1934, the last special agreements of the Reichspost with the states of Bavaria and Württemberg expired, so that it was only from this point on that the "complete uniformity of the postal and telecommunications system in law and administration for the entire territory of the Reich" was established. On 1 October 1934, the Oberpostdirektionen received the designation "Reichspostdirektionen". The offices and offices were subordinated to them. By "Führererlass" of 2 February 1937, the personal union between the Reich Transport Minister and the Reich Post Minister, which had existed since 1932, was abolished and Wilhelm Ohnesorge (1872 to 1962) was again appointed Reich Post Minister. The occasion was the subordination of the Reichsbahn to Reich sovereignty. The unconditional capitulation of Germany at the end of the Second World War also meant the end of the German Reichspost. His written fixation of this fact was found in Articles 5 and 9 of a declaration of the Allied Control Council of June 5, 1945, according to which "all facilities and objects of the ... intelligence ... to hold at the disposal of the Allies' representatives" and "until the establishment of supervision over all means of communication" any broadcasting operation was prohibited. The postal and telecommunications services and the operation of their facilities were finally restarted at different times and separately by the respective Commanders-in-Chief according to the four occupation zones of Germany. The tasks of the Deutsche Reichspost (German Imperial Postal Service) were social and technical progress, as well as the effects of important inventions, which inevitably led to both the quantitative expansion of communication relations and their continuous improvement, right up to the introduction and application of new services in the postal, telegraph and radio sectors. One of the main tasks of the Deutsche Reichspost, the carriage of news items, did not initially extend to all postal items. In the beginning, only closed letters and political newspapers that did not remain in the sender's town were affected by the so-called post compulsion. All open items (especially postcards and printed matter) for a place other than the place of dispatch and letters, parcels etc. for recipients in the place of dispatch could also be collected, transported and distributed by so-called private transport companies. Such "private posts" settled above all in large cities and increasingly opposed the German Reichspost as fierce competitors, for example through lower fee rates. The Reichspost had to get rid of this competition, especially since it was obliged to maintain expensive and sometimes even unprofitable delivery facilities even in the remotest areas of the Reich. The Postal Act Amendment of 20 Dec. 1899 therefore prohibited all commercially operated private post offices in the German Reich from 1 April 1900 and extended the postal obligation to sealed letters within the place of dispatch. The carriage of passengers From time immemorial, Swiss Post also dealt with the carriage of passengers. Before the advent of the railways, passenger transport by stagecoach was the most important means of public transport and, as such, was also part of the postal monopoly in many countries. The expansion of the railway network initially limited this traffic activity of the post office, but after the invention and further perfection of the automobile it gained importance again. Thus, since 1906/07, bus routes have been established ("Postkraftwagen-Überlandverkehr", often also called "Kraftposten" for short). They were expanded mainly in the years 1924 to 1929, so that on 1 April 1929 the Deutsche Reichspost operated almost 2000 Kraftpost lines with an operating length of more than 37,000 km and by that time had already carried 68 million passengers. The enormous economic and technical upswing in Germany after the foundation of the German Empire also meant that the Imperial Post Office and Telegraph Administration had to make use of their cash register facilities for the ever-increasing flow of payment transactions. In addition to the banks, Swiss Post took over the regulation of cashless payment transactions: on 1 January 1909, the postal transfer and postal cheque service was opened in Germany (13 Postscheckkämter). Both the number of accounts and the amount of assets increased steadily in the following decades, with the exception of the two world wars. The banking activity of the Deutsche Reichspost, 'which serves the fulfilment of state activities, not competition with the private sector', was divided into five main branches: postal order service, postal COD service, postal order service, postal transfer and cheque service, postal savings bank service. The latter was introduced only after the annexation of Austria (a post office savings bank had existed here since 1883) on 1 January 1939. Telegraphy and radio telegraphy Although telegraphy was administered by an independent authority equivalent to the general post office before the Reichspost was founded, it had been closely related to the post office since 1854. In that year, in Prussia, the telegraph service in small communities was transferred to the respective postal service. Own telegraph stations usually existed only in cities and larger municipalities, where the operation was profitable. In 1871 there were a total of 3,535 telegraph stations in the German Reich (including Bavaria and Württemberg) with 107,485 km of telegraph lines and an annual output of over 10 million telegrams. By the beginning of the First World War, this figure had been six times higher. In contrast to the USA, where the population quickly made use of telephone traffic, the German public apparently did not initially want to make friends with the new telephone system. As early as 1877, General Postmaster Stephan had the first telephone line set up between the General Post Office in Leipzig and the General Telegraph Office in Französische Straße, and soon thereafter arranged for attempts to be made at longer distances. As late as 1880, however, Stephans' call for participation in a city telephone system in Berlin met with little approval, so that the first local traffic exchange began operations here in January 1881 with only 8 subscribers. However, the advantages of telephone traffic were soon recognised and the spread of the telephone increased rapidly. The 24-hour telephone service was first introduced in Munich in 1884, and Berlin opened its 10,000th telephone station in May 1889. As early as 1896 there were 130,000 "telephone stations" in Germany; in 1920 there were about 1.8 million, in 1930 over 3 million and in 1940 almost 5 million connections. Since the practical testing of Hertzian electromagnetic waves, i.e. since 1895, Swiss Post has paid great attention to the development and expansion of wireless telegraphy. From the very beginning, there was no doubt that the Reichspost was responsible for radio communications (as a type of communication). After the first radio telegraphy devices had been produced in Germany by Siemens and AEG and the first public radio stations had been put into operation in 1890, a regulated radio service began in the German Reich. In the following decades, the Reichspost retained the exclusive right to install and operate radio equipment. However, it was not in a position to carry out all the associated services itself and therefore delegated some of this right to other companies. Thus there were finally 3 groups of radio services: - the radio service operated by the Reichspost with its own radio stations (maritime radio, aeronautical radio), - the radio service operated by companies. The "Transradio AG für drahtlose Überseeverkehr" carried out the entire overseas radio traffic in the years 1921-1932 on behalf of the Deutsche Reichspost. Deep sea radio, train radio and police radio have been granted rights in their fields in a similar manner, - the radio services of public transport carriers such as Reichsbahn, Reichsautobahnen and waterways. Radio and television The exclusive competence for radio broadcasting also extended to radio broadcasting, which was established after the First World War. Legal and organisational issues had to be resolved for this new area of activity of Swiss Post more than for other areas. There are two phases to the relationship between the postal service and broadcasting: a) From 1923 to 1933, the Deutsche Reichspost was responsible for all legislative matters, the issuing of user regulations, the granting of licenses, the fixing and collection of fees, the setting up of transmitters, the technical operation and monitoring of economic management. The Reich Ministry of the Interior, together with the Länder governments, was responsible for the fundamental regulation of the political and cultural issues arising in the course of programme planning. The Reichspost left the broadcasting operations themselves to companies to which it granted a licence. The Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft, founded in 1923, acted as the umbrella organization, in which the Deutsche Reichspost held a major share through a majority of capital and votes and was headed by the Broadcasting Commissioner of the Deutsche Reichspost. b) In 1933, the newly created Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda assumed responsibility for all organizational and managerial issues relating to broadcasting; the Deutsche Reichspost remained only responsible for the cable network and transmitters, for licenses, fee collection and accounting. As a result of the Reichskulturkammergesetz of 22 September 1933, the Reichsrundfunkkammer was at the forefront of broadcasting, in which the Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft and several other associations were represented. This marked the beginning of the absolute subordination of broadcasting to the National Socialist dictatorship. The first attempts at television were made in the 1920s, also under the direction of the Deutsche Reichspost. Swiss Post continued to play a major role in the scientific and technical development of television in the following years. After an improved Braun tube had been shown at the Funkausstellung Berlin in 1932, the 1933 annual report of the Deutsche Reichspost described trial television broadcasts in a large urban area as practically feasible. In March 1935, the Deutsche Reichspost set up the world's first public television station at the Reichspostmuseum in Berlin, where the public could follow the reception of the programmes free of charge. The Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda and the Reichsrundfunkgesellschaft (RRG) shared the programming. The Reichspost Ministry subsidiary "Reichspost-Fernseh-GmbH" (since 1939) and the Reichsministerium für Luftfahrt (Reich Ministry of Aviation) were responsible for the transmitters "in view of their special significance for air traffic control and national air protection". The organisation and structure of the Deutsche Reichspost Of all the branches of the Reich administration, Die Post possessed the most extensive and clearly structured official substructure. It was taken over by the Prussian postal service in 1871 and was divided into the following 3 stages until the destruction of the German Reich in 1945: The Reichspostamt / Reichspostministerium Since 1880, the supreme Reichsbehörde has been divided into three departments: Post (I), Telegraph (and soon Telephone) (II) and Personnel, Budget, Accounting and Construction (III). A short time later Stephan was appointed Secretary of State and was thus placed on an equal footing with the heads of the other Imperial Offices established in the meantime. Division III was divided in 1896. General administrative matters were assigned to the new Division III, while Division IV was now responsible for personnel, cash management and accounting. Later, cash and accounting were transferred back to Division III and Division IV retained only personnel matters. From 1919, now as the Reich Post Ministry, a fifth department for radio communications and a sixth for social affairs expanded the organizational structure. Section VI, however, was discontinued after inflation in 1924, and at the same time Sections III and V exchanged their designations, so that in this Section the household, cash register and building trade, in that Section the telegraph and radio trade were dealt with, while Section II was responsible for the telephone trade, initially still combined with the telegraph building trade. On 1 June 1926 another department for economic and organisational questions was added, which was formed from the previous economic department. Since 1926 there have been eight departments: Abt. I Postwesen Abt. II Telegrafen- und Fernsprechtechnik und Fernsprachbetrieb Abt. III Telegrafenbetrieb und Funkwesen Abt. IV Personalwesen Abt. V Haushalts-, Kassen, Postscheck- und Bauwesen Abt. VI in Munich, for Bavaria, dissolved in 1934 Abt. VII for Württemberg, dissolved in 1934 Abt. VIII Wirtschaftsabteilung. From 1934 Abt. VI, later referred to as Abt. für Kraftfahrwesen, Maschinentechnik und Beschaffungswesen. From 30.11. 1942 Abt. VII: Independence of all radio and television affairs from Abt. III (since 1940 already under the direct control of State Secretary Flanze [at the same time President of the Reichspostzentralamt] as the "Special Department Fl") Under National Socialist rule in 1938, the Ministry was expanded by a Central Department (Min-Z) for political tasks and questions of personnel management. During the war, a foreign policy department, a colonial department and an eastern department were added. A special division F 1 for broadcasting affairs was also set up temporarily. During the Second World War, the organization of the postal system in the annexed and occupied territories was determined by the nature and intensity of its integration into the National Socialist sphere of power. In the annexed areas, the postal administration was completely taken over by the Deutsche Reichspost. In most occupied territories, on the other hand, the postal services of the respective countries remained unchanged. Next to them, the field post continued to work. A German service post was created in various administrative areas to supply the German occupation authorities, such as the "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia" (1939-1945), the Netherlands (1940-1945), Norway (1942-1945), the Adriatic and Alpine regions (both 1943-1945), the East and the Ukraine (both 1941-1944). The German service posts "Ostland" and "Ukraine", each under a general postal commissioner, simultaneously provided the business of the "Deutsche Post Ostland" and "Deutsche Post Ukraine", which were fictitious as Landespost. The attempts made by the Reich Ministry of Posts to establish a central management of the intelligence system of all annexed and invaded territories failed because of the principle of the unity of the administration in the respective territory. The Reich Ministry of Posts had a number of specialist offices for the handling of special subjects, such as the field post office, the motor vehicle office, the building administration office and the cheque office. The following departments were directly affiliated or subordinated to the Reich Ministry of Posts: - the General Post Office as the body responsible for the entire administration of the post office and telegraph system, - the Postal Money Order Office. From 1 April 1912 it was subordinated to the Oberpostdirektion Berlin as the postal accounting office from 1 April 1912, - the Postzeitungsamt, from 1 January 1918 also subordinated to the Oberpostdirektion Berlin, - the Postversicherungskommission für Angelegenheiten der Unfall- u.a. -fürsorge, which was transferred to the newly founded Versorgungsanstalt der Deutschen Reichspost on 1 August 1926. With this public corporation, the previously differently regulated supplementary provision for postal staff was unified: two thirds of the contributions were paid by the Deutsche Reichspost and one third by the insured themselves, - the Telegrafentechnische Reichsamt, founded in 1920. In 1928, it assumed further tasks from the Reich Post Ministry, such as railway postal issues, postal statistics, training and teaching matters, cash and accounting and procurement, and was renamed the Reich Post Central Office, - the Reich Post Museum, created in 1872, - the Reich Post Building Inspectorate, formed in 1937 to meet the postal service's needs in the structural redesign of Berlin, - the Postal Savings Bank Office in Vienna, which was taken over after the annexation of Austria in March 1938. In direct subordination to the Reich Ministry of Posts, it was responsible for the central account management of the Postal Savings Bank Service after it had been extended to the Old Empire. The "Postschutz", a paramilitary association under the umbrella of the Postal Ministry, had a special position. In June 1935, the Reich leadership of the SS and the Supreme SA leadership agreed on binding regulations regarding the affiliation of postal workers to the SA or SS. The postal service and thus also the postal security service were given priority over 'any use by the SA and SS. The claim for purposes of the SA and SS outside the postal service must not be to the detriment of the proper operation of the postal service', it said. Postal security was uniformed and uniformly armed. The research institute of the Deutsche Reichspost, founded on 1 January 1937, investigated special problems in television technology. The Reichspostforschungsanstalt was responsible for the coordination of all television armaments projects and orders to industry. It dealt with the further development of research areas for military purposes. The tasks are outlined in a document signed by Ohnesorge: "1. television; 2. general physics, in particular nuclear physics, optics, acoustics, electronics; 3. chemistry; 4. special tasks for the four-year plan". The Reichsdruckerei was not integrated into the structure of the Reichspost, but was associated with its top management in personal union. On 1 April 1879 it was placed under the control of the Reich Post and Telegraph Administration as an independent Reich enterprise. Through its products it maintained very close relations with the Reichspost, since, for example, postage stamps, postal cheques, the Reichskursbuch, etc. were produced for the account of the post office cashier. The Oberpostdirektionen/Reichspostdirektionen The Oberpostdirektionen (OPD) as intermediate authorities between the Berlin headquarters and the post offices were established as early as 1850 in Prussia. After their transfer to the Reichspost, they were among the higher Reich authorities. The Ministry of Postal Affairs has delegated more and more responsibilities to the OPDen, so that their freedom of action grew steadily and they gradually became the focus of the postal administration. 1928 saw the establishment of managing higher postal directorates, which together took over the leadership of a district group (several OPD districts) for certain tasks (e.g. training and education as well as procurement and supply). 1934 to 1945 as Reichspostdirektionen (RPD), they were subject to many changes in their area and in their number. In 1943 there were 51 RPD. The post office cheque offices (formed in 1909), the telegraph construction offices and the telegraph tool offices (set up in 1920) were responsible for several OPD/RPDs and thus also to be regarded as intermediate authorities. The Post Offices The Post Offices, referred to in the area of the Deutsche Reichspost as Verkehrsämter and Amtsstellen, formed the local offices of the lowest level; they were subordinate to the OPD/RPD closest to each other. The local offices included not only the post offices, which were divided into three classes until 1924 (only since 1924 did they have a uniform designation as post offices), but also the post agencies, postal assistance offices, railway post offices, telegraph and telephone offices as well as public pay telephones in the municipalities which were subordinate to them. In 1942 there were about 70,000 such offices and offices in the German Reich. The division into "secret archive" and "secret registry" was characteristic of the registry relations in the RPM until 1928. The general files and most important special files from the "Secret Registry" were transferred to the "Secret Archive", as were historically valuable files from the dissolved postal administrations of the German Länder, so that the "Secret Archive" developed more and more into a selection archive. In contrast, the "secret registry" was the actual general registry of the RPM. It consisted of a frequently changing number of registries. In the mid-twenties there were seventeen of them. The number of registries was greatly reduced by the formation of so-called specialist parties for individual fields of activity, such as Bp (Postbankverkehr) or Zp (Postal Newspapers). On January 1, 1928, a file plan was put into effect in the RPM and a little later in the entire area of the Deutsche Reichspost, the main features of which were still valid in the Deutsche Bundespost and in the Deutsche Post of the GDR until their end. It consisted of eight main groups, which essentially correspond to the present classification of the file stock, here on the basis of the file plan from the year 1938 under consideration of structural conditions of the inventory creator. In the period from 1933 to 1941, the Reich Ministry of Posts had handed over about 2,200 historically valuable file units, which were no longer needed in the service, to the Reich Archives. Towards the end of the war, most of the files, together with other holdings, were moved to the potash shafts near Staßfurt and Schönebeck. They survived the war there without any significant casualties. The files that had not been removed from the Reichsarchiv, above all the partial holdings of the Reichsdruckerei, were burnt during the air raid on Potsdam in April 1945. Losses were also recorded in the files remaining in the various departments of the RPM, in particular in a total of 15 alternative offices in the countryside, where the documents had been successively transferred since 1943, but also in the RPM building itself, which had been severely damaged by several bomb hits in the years 1943 to 1945. The total file loss of the RPM after 1945 was estimated at 2,417 files. The existing files formed the basis for the later named component R 4701 I, which until 1990 was located in the Central State Archives in Potsdam (ZStA) and was transferred to the Federal Archives with German unity. The holdings in the Federal Archives at the time of the retroconversion of the finding aids in 2009 For the period from 1945 onwards, the RPM file holdings must be viewed in a differentiated way, because its four parts have reached the Federal Archives in very different ways and accordingly had received not only their own history of tradition, but also their own finding aids, their own signatures, etc. For example, the letters B, D, GA, and P were used as signature additions, which sometimes proved to be quite impractical, not only in archival practice. For a long time it had been planned to record all parts in a common finding aid book. Since around 1990, the following distinguishing features have been used, but these have hardly had any effect on everyday archival life. Part R 4701 I, formerly R 47.01 - Potsdam until 1990 This is the bulk of the collection stored in the Central State Archives in Potsdam. As a rule, the designation R 4701 I was not used, but only R 4701 with the following signature, formerly R 47.01. This also contained the above-mentioned files with the additional identification letters. This part of the collection, which was outsourced by the Reichsarchiv, was transferred to the then Deutsche Zentralarchiv Potsdam in 1950. The DZA Potsdam received the majority of the files in 1957, 1960 and 1966 from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the GDR, but initially only the old files with a term until 1928 were handed over. The files since the introduction of the file plan in 1928 still remained in the GDR Ministry and were only handed over to the ZStA Potsdam in 1983, but by far not completely (cf. remarks on R 4701 II). In addition, RPM files from former storage sites in Potsdam had also been transferred to the DZA Potsdam in 1961. Also at the beginning of the 1960s, all files that were stored in
a.o: List of the chiefs and number of their people in Bata; Feb. 20, 1916; also contains: "Decree of the Governor of Cameroon; Karl Ebermaier; on the crossing of the border of German officials and employees to Rio Muni on official business"; remark; file was created during the relocation of the Yaoundé district to Bata (Rio Muni, Spanish property) due to the war;
Contains among other things: - Settlement of bills by the envoy to Amsterdam, Philipp Anton von Erberfeld, 1764 - differences between France and Spain in colonial policy, 1764 - mass desertion from the French army, 1764 - capitulations of Swiss cantons to French troops, 1764 - death of Madame de Pompadour, 1764.
Letters to Peter Schorn (1833-1913), director of the Kreuzgasse-Gymnasium in Cologne, and to his wife Maria née Niedieck (1842-1915) concerning thanksgiving, congratulations on the 80th birthday of P. Sch., Condolences on his death, award of the medal; Kommers 1905, decoration of the auditorium of the grammar school; letters from Clara Wegge, Maria König, Karl Auer, wing adjutant of the Sultan, Louis Lehman, Alexander Schnütgen, Karl Trimborn, Änni Wallraf, Konrad Adenauer, Cologne; letters from son Julius Schorn (1866-1953) to his parents; condolences on the death of his mother, anda. by Anna Pauli, Änni Wallraf, Clara Wegge, Maria von Böninghausen; congratulations on the silver wedding; letters from acquaintances, etc. Oskar Jäger, Carl Rademacher, Erwin Garvens; chronicle of family, time and political events (ca. 1870- 1953) concerning children and youth memories, cathedral construction festival 1880, expansion of Cologne, school and studies, Bismarck, Carl Peters, Wilhelm II. in the Rhineland, student life and fraternity, travelling, world and colonial politics, Count Zeppelin, technology and art, 1st World War, occupation, separatism, Ruhr struggle, inflation, world economic crisis, Hitler, Rhineland occupation, Hitler Youth, occupation of the Sudetenland, 2nd World War World War II, capitulation, denazification, Nuremberg Trials, currency reform, Berlin blockade, GDR, Golden Marriage of Julius Schorn and Elisabeth née Schellen (*1882); Memories of Peter Sch.Documentation on family and contemporary history: travels and stays abroad (1891-1900), correspondence on family history, expert opinions on racial research, Aryan descent of Josa-Maria Schaller, German student association Germania Lausanne; menu cards, invitations to the opening of the Rheinbahn Cologne-Mainz, wedding of Frh. Joseph von Geyr and Countess Sophie von Fürstenberg, Chief Reich Attorney Oscar Hamm, songs for the feast of the German Jurists' Day in the Zoological Garden, farewell party Julius Raschdorff, winter festival of the Architects' and Engineers' Association (1859-1912); Poems to celebrate the arrival of our victorious troops (1871), May Day 1896; programme of the Philharmonic Concert in the Volksgarten 1907; individual numbers of Cologne newspapers (1826-1832, 1848); extra pages of the Kölnische Zeitung on the war 1870-1871, on the death of Wilhelm II., Empress Augusta; Assignate of the French Republic (1790-1796); newspaper article on air sports and aviation, among others. Flight week in Cologne (1909), Schaufliegen in Cologne (1911), Deutscher Rundflug 1911 Etappe Köln, Deutsche Luftsport-Werbewoche (1928); Graf Zeppelin; newspaper article on technology (Mülheimer Brücke (1928), Dombau- Fest 1880, Kaiserbesuche in Cologne, Tornado 1898, First World War, Fibel zur Kriegserziehung; photographs, illustrations: 25th anniversary of the Abiturientia 1887 (1912), Deutscher Studentenverein Germania Lausanne; city and building views of Cologne.
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Administrative history/biographical information: University Judge 1810 - 1945 1810-1819 Syndicate from 1819 University Judge from 1923 University Council from 1935 University Legal Council from 1943 University Council Foreword: According to the statutes of the University of Berlin of 1816, which were replaced by a new statute in 1930, the so-called "academic jurisdiction" was exercised by the Rector and Senate. The legal basis of this provision was the "Regulations of 28.12.1810 concerning the Establishment of Academic Jurisdiction at Universities". This instruction abolished the jurisdiction previously extended to all members of the university under the provisions of General Land Law. With regard to the place of jurisdiction of university members, the following provision has been made: The members of the faculty, including the rector, the syndic and the secretaries, should have the jurisdiction of the royal civil servants. Other members of the university, such as court masters and servants of the students, were subject to the courts to which other citizens of the same class were assigned. A special place of jurisdiction has been created for students. For them, the respective Higher Regional Court was planned, in Berlin the Court of Appeal. In addition to exercising disciplinary and police authority in cases of violation of order and discipline within the university, the university authorities could also be punished: Students' injurious causes among themselves, light duels and all offences that threatened no more than 4 weeks in prison. In all other respects, the judiciary's function remained the same for civil claims. For the legal advice of the rector and the senate, the function of in-house counsel was created with the rank of full professor. In all disciplinary cases, the power to decide was vested in the rector and the syndic jointly or in the senate, with the competence being regulated in such a way that minor offences were decided by the rector alone or jointly with the syndic, while for major offences the senate was responsible (e.g. duels, realinjuries, disturbance of peace in public places, insulting an authority, insulting a teacher, inciting incitement and gang up among students). The syndicus had to lecture the senate on the cases to be tried. A further task of the syndic was to take up debt contracts of the students and to carry out judicial certifications for foreigners. The admissible disciplinary penalties were: Rector's reprimand; public reprimand before the Senate; detention; threat of "Consilium abeundi"; "Consilium abeundi"; relegation. These statutory provisions were supported by the reformers' desire to grant extensive rights to the university's governing bodies in the field of disciplinary law. Only the efforts of the reaction to suppress all movements at the universities that somehow appeared free or democratic put an end to this development. At the same time as the "Instruction für die außerordentlichen Regierungsbevollmächtigen bei den Universitäten" of 18 November 1819, a "Reglement für die zukünftige Verwaltung der akademischen Disziplin- und Polizeigewalt bei den Universitäten" was issued on the same day by King Friedrich-Wilhelm III and State Chancellor Hardenberg. After that, a university judge was appointed at all universities in Prussia to replace the previous in-house lawyer, who was given the task of enforcing academic discipline and police force. The reason given for issuing this instruction was that the rectors and senators of the universities had not maintained the necessary cooperation with the police authorities and that the change of rectors and senators had prevented the constant exercise of disciplinary authority. In reality, the individual provisions of this decree bear witness to the attempt to increasingly restrict the rights once granted to the university in the spirit of the reformers, in order to combat by all means the progressive movements developing among students in the universities. Thus the rector was able to deal with all minor offences, which resulted in warnings and reprimands, himself, but had to inform the university judge. For all offences that were likely to result in a prison sentence of more than 14 days, the university judge had to conduct the investigation himself, with the rector or a representative being called in for the negotiations. As major offences, the decree states: "Duels among students in which no significant wounding or mutilation has occurred; real juries; disturbance of silence in public places; insulting an authority; insulting a teacher; incitement; gangsterism among students; discrediting or making a discrediting statement; participation in secret or unauthorized connections. The decision in the case of an offence should be made by the university judge himself, if the university has not recognized the offence on relegation. The Senate had to be heard, but the decision on the Senate's objection was made by the Government Plenipotentiary, to whom the University Judge was subordinate. In the event of exclusion from university, Senate members should have a casting vote, and the majority of votes should be decisive. In this case, too, the university judge could appeal to the government representative in case of disagreement. The university judge was appointed by the Minister of Spiritual Affairs, Education and Medicine in agreement with the Minister of Justice, had to have the qualifications of a judge and was not allowed to be a university teacher. He had the rank of a full professor. While the syndic only took part in the "judicial affairs of the Senate", the university judge became an equal member of the Senate as a so-called legal advisor to the university. He had a duty to ensure that the Senate's decisions complied with existing laws. The differences of opinion on the legality of Senate decisions were decided by the Government Plenipotentiary. Even after the abolition of the office of Government Plenipotentiary in 1848, the University Judge retained the right of the provisional veto against decisions of the Senate which, in his opinion, were illegal or unconstitutional. The Senate protested in vain against this right, which the university judge Lehnert practised in 1864. The above remarks showed that the function of the university judge was closely connected with that of the government representative, indeed the university judge became the auxiliary organ of the government representative. The struggle of Government Plenipotentiary Schultz to consolidate his position at the University was expressed in his efforts to exert a direct and lasting influence on the appointment of the university magistrate in order to employ persons for this function who fully corresponded to the ideas of the Government Plenipotentiary. The previous syndic, Kammergerichtsrat Scheffer, took over the function of university judge in January 1820, but resigned it as early as March 1820, because there had been disputes between him and the government-appointed Schultz, which led to a prolonged illness of Scheffer. Scheffer applied for his dismissal, which he justified with his illness. After the efforts of the government Plenipotentiary to appoint an articled clerk as university judge had failed due to the resistance of the Senate and the Minister of Culture Altenstein, a successor was found in the person of the Kammergerichtsrat Brassert, who on Altenstein's personal order was commissioned to investigate the students Karl Ulrich and Karl von Wangenheim. But Brassert asked already after the session of the senate on 12 April 1820, at which he was introduced, to be released from his office, after he negated the political offenses in his expert opinion against Ulrich and von Wangenheim. However, the Senate decided to suspend the decision until the accused had been recognized as members of the fraternity. After a few days, Brassert withdrew his application and agreed to continue acting provisionally. His final appointment took place in November 1820, but already in March 1821 Brassert was persuaded by the rebukes and reprimands of Schultz, the government official, to give up his function for good. This request was granted by the Ministry. The decrees of 18 Nov. 1819 had led to an extremely tense situation at the university and provoked disputes that were detrimental to all sides. Brassert worked until December, when he was supported by an unskilled worker. The successor - a candidate of the government-appointed Schultz - was the subject of disputes that went far beyond the scope of the university and were finally resolved at the highest level. Despite the negative attitude of Minister Altenstein, the Assessor of the Court of Appeal Krause was appointed university judge in December 1821 by a cabinet order of King Friedrich Wilhelm III. Schultz had turned directly to the king and pointed out that the liberal conditions prevailing at the university would create the danger of revolutionary and state-threatening activities. If his request were not complied with, he would be obliged to resign. The Director of the Ministry's Education Department, von Ladenberg, was entrusted with the temporary administration of this office and with the additional function of curator. The reason given for this measure was that the previous form of deputies could no longer be justified vis-à-vis the Federal Government. As Max Lenz rightly notes in his 1910 History of the University, this was just an excuse from Eichhorn, who sought to regulate university life as he pleased. This measure had been taken without prior consultation of the Senate, so that Eichhorn's Rector and Senate were outraged by this intervention. A protest letter that Boeckh had drafted and that had been signed by 31 Ordinaries was rejected by the Ministry. Thus the function of the university judge Krause as deputy extraordinary government representative was also extinguished. The Instruction of 2 May 1841, which Lenz mentions but does not deal with further, is of interest for these explanations only in so far as it deals with the tasks of the Government Plenipotentiary in the implementation of academic jurisdiction. There has been no fundamental change other than the removal of some formal norms due to Ladenberg's position as Director of the Ministry's Education Department. If the government representative was prevented from attending, the rector and university judge again acted as representatives. Krause left the university on 1 September 1842. On October 1, 1842, the Kammergerichts-Assessor Lehnert was appointed as his successor, administering the position as university judge until April 1848. As his successor, the Higher Regional Court Assessor von Ladenberg was appointed by the Ministry. After the institution of the extraordinary government representative was abolished as a result of the March Revolution in July 1848, Ladenberg's activities were limited to curatorial business, which was almost exclusively carried out by the Ministry's Education Department. After von Ladenberg had been entrusted with the management of the Ministry of Culture in November 1848, he resigned his function at the university and, by decree of 16 November 1848, entrusted the then Rector and the University Judge with the administration of the curatorial business, which essentially consisted of handling scholarship matters. This regulation came into force on 5 December 1848 and remained in force until 1923, when an administrative director was appointed to the university as part of the university reform and the responsibilities of the administrative director and the rector were reorganised. Symptomatic, however, is that the above-mentioned decree of 1848 already provided for a reformation of this office. These reform intentions of some liberal officials, seen as the first reaction to the revolutionary events of March 1848 but never realized because of the capitulation of the liberal bourgeoisie to the feudalabsolutist regime, only came to fruition after the November Revolution. On April 1, 1875, Lehnert was retired at his request and appointed as his successor to the syndic of the Mittelmärkische Ritterschaftsdirektion, Schultz. Schultz died on 16 April 1885. In the meantime, the introduction of the so-called "Reichsjustizgesetze" necessitated a reorganization of academic jurisdiction. In this "Law concerning the Legal Relations of Students and Discipline at the State Universities, the Academy of Münster and the Lyceum Hosianum of Braunsberg" of 29 May 1879, disciplinary authority was exercised by the Rector, the University Judge and the Senate. The following penalties were foreseen: Reference; fine up to 20,-M; detention up to 2 weeks; non-crediting of the current semester to the prescribed period of study; threat of removal from the university (signature of "Consilium abeundi"); removal from the university ("Consilium abeundi"); exclusion from university studies (relegation). The university judge had to conduct the investigation in all cases. The powers of punishment were defined as follows: Rector: reprimands and prison sentences up to 24 hours; Rector and judge: fines and prison sentences up to 3 days; Senate: All higher penalties. In the Ministry's instruction of 1 October 1879, it was pointed out that the term "university court" could no longer be used due to the "change in circumstances". This purely formal act, of course, did not change the way disciplinary authority was exercised, but the rector and the senate were now directly involved in the exercise of disciplinary authority, while the university judge could only pronounce punishments in association with the rector. The successor to Schultz, Paul Daudé (1885-1913), a former public prosecutor, used this power to take action, in close cooperation with the Berlin police president, against progressive efforts within the student body and Polish and Russian students. Daudé was repeatedly commissioned by the Minister himself to provide expert opinions. He is also the author of the infamous "Lex Arons". Since 1901, the university judge also acted as treasurer of the State Library and the Meteorological Institute. He was also a member of the Matriculation Commission, the Honorarium Postponement Commission, the Support Fund and the General Nursing Association for Students. The regulations for students at the state universities of 1879 were renewed in 1905 and 1914, without any change in the regulations governing the position of university judges. Daudé's successor was Ernst Wollenberg, who served as university judge until his appointment as administrative director of the university in 1923 and was also a part-time in-house lawyer of the Technical University. Already in 1919 reform efforts began, which in 1923 led to the enactment of new statutes for the universities by the Prussian Ministry of Education, but which did not change the character of the higher education policy of the Weimar Republic. The discussion about the position of the university judge was also held at Berlin University. The commission set up to consider the matter concluded that the removal of the function of university judge was justified, but called for the appointment of an administrative director who, without being a member of the Senate, would have the task of managing the administrative affairs of the university and its institutes, as well as providing legal advice and preparing disciplinary matters. The appointment was to be made by the government, with the Senate having the right to make proposals. The new statutes, which were then issued by decision of the Prussian State Ministry of March 20, 1923, eliminated the institution of the university judge and introduced the function of the "university council". The University Council then had the task of providing legal advice to the Administrative Director, the Rector and the other institutions of the University. In addition, he was responsible for carrying out the academic discipline in accordance with the disciplinary rules, which were still applied in accordance with the aforementioned law of 1879. The Prussian Minister's close collaborator, Erich Wende, already pointed out at that time that a reform of these outdated regulations was inevitable. The fact that the University Council involved prosecutors and investigating magistrates as well as the rector as the judge in the disciplinary proceedings resulted in a situation that was already contrary to the procedural rules of general criminal law. The position of university councillor was usually filled part-time by a judge who was not a member of the Senate, but who could be called in to advise the Senate on Senate sessions. The participation in the matriculation committee remained. With effect from November 1, 1923, Hermann Marcard, Councillor of the Local Court, was appointed University Councillor at Berlin University, and in January 1924 he was also appointed Legal Counsel of the State Library. At the end of January 1933 the NS-Studentenbund publicly staged a large-scale slander campaign against Marcard for his actions against National Socialist thugs, which ended with Marcard's replacement as a university councillor in April 1933. Mardcard's successor was Wilhelm Püschel, the director of the regional court, who was appointed to the post of university councillor by the ministry in May 1933. However, Püschel retired in October 1935, as the position of university council was to be converted into a full-time legal council position on April 1, 1936. The Leitmeyer Public Prosecutor's Office Council was appointed to the University Law Council. In addition to providing legal advice to the Rector, the Administrative Director and the other academic authorities of the University, Leitmeyer was also commissioned to provide legal advice to the Administrative Director of the Charité Hospital, the Rector and the academic authorities of the Technical University of Berlin, as well as to the Director General of the State Library. Leitmeyer had already been active since October 1935 on a commission basis as a university law council. In the meantime, by decree of the Reich Minister for Science, Education and Popular Education of 1 April 1935, a "Penal Code for Students, Listeners and Student Associations at Universities" had been announced. This new disciplinary order, which corresponded to the NS leader principle, provided for the following penalties: 1. oral warning; 2. written reprimand; 3. non-compliance with the current semester; 4. distance from the university, combined with non-compliance with the semester; 5. permanent exclusion from studies at all German universities. The Legal Council had to conduct the investigation. Warnings and reprimands were issued by the Rector, while non-compliance, removal and expulsion were imposed by the Rector following a prior decision of the so-called Tripartite Committee, to which the Rector and the heads of the faculty and student body belonged. The Legal Council had the function of an accuser, i.e. it had to submit the accusation and represent it. Appointment at the Reich Ministry of Science was possible. The old disciplinary regulations of 1879 and 1914 probably remained in force until the enactment of the penal code on April 1, 1935, with the abolition of the provisions that had become obsolete as a result of the development. Wende already pointed out that fines and detention were outdated and should be abolished. In the period from November 1936 to March 1937, the Legal Council was entrusted with the performance of the University Trustee's duties. Leitmeyer was delegated to the university administration of the so-called "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia" in 1939 and appointed curator of the Brno Technical University in 1940. As a replacement, the Regional Court Councillor Bernhard Rosenhagen was appointed provisionally from September 1939 and definitively by the Ministry from September 1, 1940. His responsibilities included providing legal advice to the Rector, the University Curator and the academic authorities of the University, the Administrative Director of the Charité Hospital, the General Director of the State Library and the State Materials Testing Office. When Rosenhagen was appointed Administrative Director of the Charité Hospital in 1943, he only performed his duties as a legal councillor at the university part-time with the official title "University Councillor". His activities ended on 8 May 1945. In summary, the university judge had to carry out his duties as an executive and supervisory body at the universities. This applies not only to the time of the reaction after the enactment of the Karlovy Vary decisions in 1819, but also to the later years. The university judge Daudé (1885-1913) is a particularly vivid example of whose commission and for what interests the university judge had to work. III. archival processing Although the individual disciplinary processes were used, the entire holdings had to be processed in accordance with the principles of order and registration. The order and distortion took place in the months of December 1967 to March 1968 by the then archive manager Kossack. The transfer of the index or find book entries into the electronic form did not mean any changes to the order of the holdings. Only the spelling and the punctuation were normalized. The signatures and titles have been retained. Citation style: HU UA, University Judge.01, No. XXX. HU UA, UR.01, No. XXX.
Contains among other things: Expenditure in the field of food and grain management; establishment and tasks of the "Reichsnährstand"; enterprises involved in the Reich: Mundus GmbH and its subsidiaries, Überseeische Gesellschaft/Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft, Isteg Steel, Luxembourg, Isteg Stahl, Vienna, Nordag, Oslo, Förlagsaktiebolaget Illustra AG, Stockholm, Optische Werke, C.A. Steinheil Söhne, Munich, Societé Maritime Universelle, Paris, Slovak-Deutsche Handelskanzlei, Preßburg, Vereinigte Industrieunternehmungen AG - Viag, Berlin, Reichskreditgesellschaft, Borussia-Beteiligungs GmbH, Bank der deutschen Luftfahrt, Aero Bank, Paris; official and private war grave welfare; foreign exchange protection commands (organisation); foreign teacher (permanent positions, civil service security); German Labour Front (Financial Foundations); Deposit money at Berlin banks before surrender; Military expenditure in the accounting year 1938; The German monetary system; Reich participation in economic enterprises in Baden; Foreign workers in the German Reich 1942-1944; Tax revenues 1933-1944; Budget revenues and expenditures 1940-1944; Customs duties and excise taxes in Austria since 1945 (as of 1945): Jan. 1949); buildings for the "Führer and Reich Chancellor"; real property of the German Reich in Paris; objects of war loot of the Prince of Monaco and the Rothschild family; registration of foreign securities; principles for drawing up the Reich budget plans before and after 1933; value and specific duties