Defendants.
WHEREAS an indictment has been lodged with this Tribunal against the above named defendants:
AND WHEREAS such indictment shows that the Chief Prosecutors intend to ask this Tribunal:
(1) to find that certain of the defendants were members of DIE REICHSREGIERUNG (REICH CABINET); DAS KORPS DER POLITISCHEN LEITER DER NATIONALSOZIALISTISCHEN DEUTSCHEN ARBEITERPARTEI (LEADERSHIP CORPS OF THE NAZI PARTY); DIE SCHUTZSTAFFELN DER NATIONAL SOZIALISTISCHEN DEUTSCHEN ARBEITERPARTEI (commonly known as the "SS"), and including DER SICHERHEITSDIENST (commonly known as the "SD"); DIE GEHEIME STAATSPOLIZEI (SECRET STATE POLICE, commonly known as the "GESTAPO"); DIE STURMABTEILUNGEN DER NSDAP (commonly known as the "SA"); and the GENERAL STAFF and the HIGH COMMAND of the GERMAN ARMED FORCES, and
(2) to declare that said groups and organizations were criminal organizations
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that notice shall be given to the members of such groups and organizations in the following form and manner:
Defendants.
Notice is hereby given to all members of the following groups and organizations:
1. Die Reichsregierung, consisting of persons who were:
a) Members of the ordinary cabinet after 30 January 1933. The term "ordinary cabinet" as used herein means the Reich Ministers; i. e., heads of departments of the central government; Reich Ministers without portfolio; State ministers acting as Reich Ministers; and other officials entitled to take part in meetings of this cabinet.
b) Members of Der Ministerrat fur die Reichsverteidigung.
c) Members of Der Geheime Kabinettsrat.
2. Das Korps der Politischen Leiter der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei, consisting of persons who were at any time, according to common Nazi terminology, Politische Leiter of any grade or rank.
3. Die Schutzstaffeln der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei (commonly known as the SS) and consisting of the entire corps of the SS and all offices, departments, services, agencies, branches, formations, organizations and groups of which it was at any time comprised or which at any time integrated in it, including but not limited to, the Allgemeine SS, the Waffen SS, the SS Totenkopf Verbande, SS Polizei Regimenter and the Sicherheitsdienst des ReichsFuehrers-SS (commonly known as the SD).
4. Die Geheime Staatspolizei (commonly known as the Gestapo) consisting of the headquarters, departments, offices, branches, and all the forces and personnel of the Geheime Staatspolizei of Prussia and equivalent secret or political police forces of the Reich and the components thereof.
5. Die Sturmabteilungen der Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei (commonly known as the SA).
6. The General Staff and High Command of the German Armed Forces, consisting of those individuals who between February 1938 and May 1945 were the highest commanders of the Wehrmacht, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Forces. The individuals comprising this group are the persons who held the following appointments:
Oberbefohlshaber der Kriegsmarine (Commander-in-Chief of the Navy)
Chef (and, formerly, Chef des Stabes) der Seekriegsleitung (Chief of Naval War Staff)
Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres (Commander-in-Chief of the Army)
Chef des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe (Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force)
Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe (Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force)
Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht (Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces)
Chef des Fuhrungsstabes des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht (Chief of the Operations Staff of the High Command of the Armed Forces)
Commanders-in-Chief in the field, with the status of Oberbefehlshaber of the Wehrmacht, Navy, Army, Air Force.
THAT such groups and organizations are accused by the Chief Prosecutors for the prosecution of major war criminals of being criminal organizations and this Tribunal has been asked by the Chief Prosecutors to declare said groups and organizations criminal.
THAT if any of such groups and organizations are found by this Tribunal to have been criminal in character members will be subject to trial and punishment on account of their membership in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of this Tribunal and upon any such trial the criminal character of the group or organization shall be considered proved and shall not be questioned.
THAT the issue of the criminal character of these groups and organizations will be tried commencing the 20th day of November
1945 at the Palace of Justice, Nuremberg, Germany.
THAT any person who acknowledges membership in any of the said groups or organizations may be entitled to apply to the Tribunal for leave to be heard by the Tribunal upon the question of the criminal character of the group or organization. Such application shall be made without delay, in writing, and addressed to the General Secretary, International Military Tribunal, Nuremberg, Germany.
THAT in the case of members of any of the said groups or organizations who
(i) may be in the custody of the prosecuting powers, such applications shall be handed to the Commanding Officer of the place where the said members are detained;
(ii) may not be in custody, such applications shall be handed to the nearest military unit.
THAT the Tribunal has power to allow or reject any such application. If the application is allowed, the Tribunal will direct in what manner the applicant shall be represented and heard.
THAT nothing contained in this notice shall be construed to confer immunity of any kind upon such applicants.
For the International Military Tribunal (no signature)
General Secretary
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED:
THAT publication in the German language be made throughout the zones of occupation in Germany over the radio, in newspapers and, if practicable, by the form of postings ordinarily employed by the military authorities in conveying information to the civilian population. Such radio and newspaper publications shall be made once a week for four weeks and over a sufficient number of radio stations, in a sufficient number of newspapers or by posting in a sufficient number of places to give the widest possible dissemination throughout the occupied territory of the notice set forth in paragraph (a) above.
THAT publication in the German language be made wherever practicable in the prisoner of war camps in which Germans are imprisoned, in such manner as the officers commanding such camps may decide.
The appropriate occupation authorities are requested to cooperate with the General Secretary of the International Military Tribunal in making this publication and the General Secretary shall make written report to the Tribunal of the action taken.