SOBIBÓR - Holocaust Handbooks

212 J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR
Therefore, the complete expulsion or elimination of the millions
of Jews present in the European economic sphere is an imperative
task in the fight to guarantee the existence of the German people.
Starting in the Reich itself and then extending into the other European
countries made part of the final solution, the Jews will be
moved into large camps in the East, some already in existence, others
yet to be set up, where they will be used directly as labor or
moved on further east. Elderly Jews, as well as those with high military
decorations (EK I [Iron Cross], Golden medal for bravery etc.)
will be moved successively to Theresienstadt, a town in the Protectorate
of Bohemia and Moravia.
It is in the nature of this task that some of these very difficult
problems can, in the interest of the survival of our people, be solved
only by the utmost severity.”
On 23 November 1942, Himmler spoke at Bad Tölz, saying: 616
“There has also been a complete change in the Jewish question
in Europe. The Führer once said before the Reichstag [the Reich
parliament]: If Jewry were to instigate a war, for example to eradicate
the Aryan peoples, it will not be the Aryan peoples that will be
eradicated, but Jewry. The Jew has been removed from Germany; he
now lives in the East and works on our roads, railways etc. This
measure has been carried out thoroughly, but without any cruelty.
We will not torture anyone, but we know that we are fighting for the
existence and the survival of our Nordic blood.”
In a report written on 14 December 1942 by Walter Maedel, a German
ministerial department head, and entitled “Financing the measures
for the solution of the Jewish question,” the National-Socialist policy
towards the Jews is summarized as follows: 617
“Some time ago, the Reichsmarschall ordered the Reichsführer-
SS and Chief of the German Police to prepare the measures serving
the final solution of the Jewish question. The Reichsführer-SS has
entrusted the Chief of the Security Police and SD with the execution
of this task. The latter initially promoted the legal emigration of
Jews overseas by special measures. When emigration overseas had
become impossible after the outbreak of the war, he implemented the
gradual cleansing of Jews from the Reich by their deportation to the
616 Bradley F. Smith, Agnes F. Peterson (eds.), Heinrich Himmler. Geheimreden 1933 bis
1945 und andere Ansprachen, Propyläen Verlag, Frankfurt/Main 1974, p. 200.
617 NG-4583.