This English text of the original German Wannsee
Protocol is based on the official U.S. government translation prepared
for evidence in the Nuremberg trials. Revisions
to the Nuremberg text were made for clarification and correction. The
revisions were made by Dan Rogers of the University of South Alabama.
This document is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.
* * * * * *Stamp: Top Secret 30 copies16th copy Minutes
of discussion.
I. The following persons took part in the discussion about
the final solution of the Jewish question which took place in
Berlin, am Grossen Wannsee No. 56/58 on 20 January 1942.
Gauleiter Dr. Meyer Reich Ministry for the Occupied
and Reichsamtleiter Eastern territories
Dr. Leibbrandt
Secretary of State Dr. Stuckart Reich Ministry for the Interior
Secretary of State Neumann Plenipotentiary for the
Four Year Plan
Secretary of State Dr. Freisler Reich Ministry of Justice
Secretary of State Dr. Bühler Office of the Government
General
Under Secretary of State Foreign Office
Dr. Luther
SSOberführer Klopfer Party Chancellery
Ministerialdirektor Kritzinger Reich Chancellery
SSGruppenführer Hofmann Race and Settlement Main
Office
SSGruppenführer Müller Reich Main Security Office
SSObersturmbannführer Eichmann
SSOberführer Dr. Schöngarth Security Police
and SD
Commander of the Security Police
and the SD in the
Government General
SSSturmbannführer Dr. Lange Security Police and SD
Commander of the Security Police
and the SD for the GeneralDistrict
Latvia, as deputy of the Commander
of the Security Police and the SD
for the Reich Commissariat "Eastland."
II.
At the beginning of the discussion Chief of the Security Police
and of the SD, SS-Obergruppenführer Heydrich, reported
that the Reich Marshal had appointed him delegate for the preparations
for the final solution of the Jewish question in Europe and pointed
out that this discussion had been called for the purpose of clarifying
fundamental questions. The wish of the Reich Marshal to have a
draft sent to him concerning organizational, factual and material
interests in relation to the final solution of the Jewish question
in Europe makes necessary an initial common action of all central
offices immediately concerned with these questions in order to
bring their general activities into line. The Reichsführer-SS
and the Chief of the German Police (Chief of the Security Police
and the SD) was entrusted with the official central handling of
the final solution of the Jewish question without regard to geographic
borders. The Chief of the Security Police and the SD then gave
a short report of the struggle which has been carried on thus
far against this enemy, the essential points being the following:
a) the expulsion of the Jews from every sphere of life of the
German people,
b) the expulsion of the Jews from the living space of the German
people.
In carrying out these efforts, an increased and planned acceleration
of the emigration of the Jews from Reich territory was started,
as the only possible present solution.
By order of the Reich Marshal, a Reich Central Office for Jewish
Emigration was set up in January 1939 and the Chief of the Security
Police and SD was entrusted with the management. Its most important
tasks were
a) to make all necessary arrangements for the preparation for
an increased emigration of the Jews,
b) to direct the flow of emigration,
c) to speed the procedure of emigration in each individual case.
The aim of all this was to cleanse German living space of Jews
in a legal manner.
All the offices realized the drawbacks of such enforced accelerated
emigration. For the time being they had, however, tolerated it
on account of the lack of other possible solutions of the problem.
The work concerned with emigration was, later on, not only a German
problem, but also a problem with which the authorities of the
countries to which the flow of emigrants was being directed would
have to deal. Financial difficulties, such as the demand by various
foreign governments for increasing sums of money to be presented
at the time of the landing, the lack of shipping space, increasing
restriction of entry permits, or the cancelling of such, increased
extraordinarily the difficulties of emigration. In spite of these
difficulties, 537,000 Jews were sent out of the country between
the takeover of power and the deadline of 31 October 1941. Of
these
- approximately 360,000 were in Germany proper on 30 January
1933
- approximately 147,000 were in Austria (Ostmark) on 15 March
1939
- approximately 30,000 were in the Protectorate of Bohemia and
Moravia on 15 March 1939.
The Jews themselves, or their Jewish political organizations,
financed the emigration. In order to avoid impoverished Jews'
remaining behind, the principle was followed that wealthy Jews
have to finance the emigration of poor Jews; this was arranged
by imposing a suitable tax, i.e., an emigration tax, which was
used for financial arrangements in connection with the emigration
of poor Jews and was imposed according to income.
Apart from the necessary Reichsmark exchange, foreign currency
had to presented at the time of landing. In order to save foreign
exchange held by Germany, the foreign Jewish financial organizations
were with the help of Jewish organizations in Germany
made responsible for arranging an adequate amount of foreign currency.
Up to 30 October 1941, these foreign Jews donated a total of around
9,500,000 dollars.
In the meantime the ReichsführerSS and Chief of the
German Police had prohibited emigration of Jews due to the dangers
of an emigration in wartime and due to the possibilities of the
East.
III.
Another possible solution of the problem has now taken the place
of emigration, i.e. the evacuation of the Jews to the East, provided
that the Führer gives the appropriate approval in advance.
These actions are, however, only to be considered provisional,
but practical experience is already being collected which is of
the greatest importance in relation to the future final solution
of the Jewish question.
Approximately 11 million Jews will be involved in the final solution
of the European Jewish question, distributed as follows among
the individual countries:
Country Number
A. Germany proper
131,800
Austria
43,700
Eastern territories
420,000
General Government
2,284,000
Bialystok
400,000
Protectorate Bohemia
and Moravia 74,200
Estonia
free of Jews
Latvia
3,500
Lithuania
34,000
Belgium
43,000
Denmark
5,600
France / occupied territory
165,000
unoccupied
territory 700,000
Greece
69,600
Netherlands
160,800
Norway 1,300
B. Bulgaria
48,000
England
330,000
Finland
2,300
Ireland
4,000
Italy including Sardinia
58,000
Albania
200
Croatia
40,000
Portugal
3,000
Rumania including Bessarabia
342,000
Sweden
8,000
Switzerland
18,000
Serbia
10,000
Slovakia
88,000
Spain
6,000
Turkey (European portion)
55,500
Hungary
742,800
USSR
5,000,000
Ukraine
2,994,684
White Russia
excluding Bialystok
446,484
Total over 11,000,000
The number of Jews given here for foreign countries
includes, however, only those Jews who still adhere to the Jewish faith,
since some countries still do not have a definition of the term "Jew"
according to racial principles.
The handling of the problem in the individual countries will meet
with difficulties due to the attitude and outlook of the people
there, especially in Hungary and Rumania. Thus, for example, even
today the Jew can buy documents in Rumania that will officially
prove his foreign citizenship.
The influence of the Jews in all walks of life in the USSR is
well known. Approximately five million Jews live in the European
part of the USSR, in the Asian part scarcely 1/4 million.
The breakdown of Jews residing in the European part of the USSR
according to trades was approximately as follows:
Agriculture 9.1%
Urban workers 14.8%
In trade 20.0%
Employed by the state 23.4%
In private occupations such as
medical profession, press, theater, etc. 32. 7%
Under proper guidance, in the course of the final
solution the Jews are to be allocated for appropriate labor in the East.
Ablebodied Jews, separated according to sex, will be taken in large
work columns to these areas for work on roads, in the course of which
action doubtless a large portion will be eliminated by natural causes.
The possible final remnant will, since it will undoubtedly consist
of the most resistant portion, have to be treated accordingly,
because it is the product of natural selection and would, if released,
act as the seed of a new Jewish revival (see the experience of
history.)
In the course of the practical execution of the final solution,
Europe will be combed through from west to east. Germany proper,
including the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, will have to
be handled first due to the housing problem and additional social
and political necessities.
The evacuated Jews will first be sent, group by group, to socalled
transit ghettos, from which they will be transported to the East.
SSObergruppenführer Heydrich went on to say that an
important prerequisite for the evacuation as such is the exact
definition of the persons involved.
It is not intended to evacuate Jews over 65 years old, but to
send them to an oldage ghetto Theresienstadt is being
considered for this purpose.
In addition to these age groups of the approximately 280,000
Jews in Germany proper and Austria on 31 October 1941, approximately
30% are over 65 years old severely wounded veterans and
Jews with war decorations (Iron Cross I) will be accepted in the
oldage ghettos. With this expedient solution, in one fell
swoop many interventions will be prevented.
The beginning of the individual larger evacuation actions will
largely depend on military developments. Regarding the handling
of the final solution in those European countries occupied and
influenced by us, it was proposed that the appropriate expert
of the Foreign Office discuss the matter with the responsible
official of the Security Police and SD.
In Slovakia and Croatia the matter is no longer so difficult,
since the most substantial problems in this respect have already
been brought near a solution. In Rumania the government has in
the meantime also appointed a commissioner for Jewish affairs.
In order to settle the question in Hungary, it will soon be necessary
to force an adviser for Jewish questions onto the Hungarian government.
With regard to taking up preparations for dealing with the problem
in Italy, SS-Obergruppenführer Heydrich considers it
opportune to contact the chief of police with a view to these
problems.
In occupied and unoccupied France, the registration of Jews for
evacuation will in all probability proceed without great difficulty.
Under Secretary of State Luther calls attention in this matter
to the fact that in some countries, such as the Scandinavian states,
difficulties will arise if this problem is dealt with thoroughly
and that it will therefore be advisable to defer actions in these
countries. Besides, in view of the small numbers of Jews affected,
this deferral will not cause any substantial limitation.
The Foreign Office sees no great difficulties for southeast and
western Europe.
SS-Gruppenführer Hofmann plans to send an expert to
Hungary from the Race and Settlement Main Office for general orientation
at the time when the Chief of the Security Police and SD takes
up the matter there. It was decided to assign this expert from
the Race and Settlement Main Office, who will not work actively,
as an assistant to the police attaché.
IV.
In the course of the final solution plans, the Nuremberg Laws
should provide a certain foundation, in which a prerequisite for
the absolute solution of the problem is also the solution to the
problem of mixed marriages and persons of mixed blood.
The Chief of the Security Police and the SD discusses the following
points, at first theoretically, in regard to a letter from the
chief of the Reich chancellery:
1) Treatment of Persons of Mixed Blood of the First Degree
Persons of mixed blood of the first degree will, as regards the
final solution of the Jewish question, be treated as Jews.
From this treatment the following exceptions will be made:
a) Persons of mixed blood of the first degree married to persons
of German blood if their marriage has resulted in children (persons
of mixed blood of the second degree). These persons of mixed blood
of the second degree are to be treated essentially as Germans.
b) Persons of mixed blood of the first degree, for whom the highest
offices of the Party and State have already issued exemption permits
in any sphere of life. Each individual case must be examined,
and it is not ruled out that the decision may be made to the detriment
of the person of mixed blood.
The prerequisite for any exemption must always be the personal
merit of the person of mixed blood. (Not the merit of the parent
or spouse of German blood.)
Persons of mixed blood of the first degree who are exempted from
evacuation will be sterilized in order to prevent any offspring
and to eliminate the problem of persons of mixed blood once and
for all. Such sterilization will be voluntary. But it is required
to remain in the Reich. The sterilized "person of mixed blood"
is thereafter free of all restrictions to which he was previously
subjected.
2) Treatment of Persons of Mixed Blood of the Second Degree
Persons of mixed blood of the second degree will be treated fundamentally
as persons of German blood, with the exception of the following
cases, in which the persons of mixed blood of the second degree
will be considered as Jews:
a) The person of mixed blood of the second degree was born of
a marriage in which both parents are persons of mixed blood.
b) The person of mixed blood of the second degree has a racially
especially undesirable appearance that marks him outwardly as
a Jew.
c) The person of mixed blood of the second degree has a particularly
bad police and political record that shows that he feels and behaves
like a Jew.
Also in these cases exemptions should not be made if the person
of mixed blood of the second degree has married a person of German
blood.
3) Marriages between Full Jews and Persons of German Blood.
Here it must be decided from case to case whether the Jewish partner
will be evacuated or whether, with regard to the effects of such
a step on the German relatives, [this mixed marriage] should be
sent to an oldage ghetto.
4) Marriages between Persons of Mixed Blood of the First
Degree and Persons of German Blood.
a) Without Children.
If no children have resulted from the marriage, the person of
mixed blood of the first degree will be evacuated or sent to an
oldage ghetto (same treatment as in the case of marriages
between full Jews and persons of German blood, point 3.)
b) With Children.
If children have resulted from the marriage (persons of mixed
blood of the second degree), they will, if they are to be treated
as Jews, be evacuated or sent to a ghetto along with the parent
of mixed blood of the first degree. If these children are to be
treated as Germans (regular cases), they are exempted from evacuation
as is therefore the parent of mixed blood of the first degree.
5) Marriages between Persons of Mixed Blood of the First
Degree and Persons of Mixed Blood of the First Degree or Jews.
In these marriages (including the children) all members of the
family will be treated as Jews and therefore be evacuated or sent
to an oldage ghetto.
6) Marriages between Persons of Mixed Blood of the First Degree
and Persons of Mixed Blood of the Second Degree.
In these marriages both partners will be evacuated or sent to
an old-age ghetto without consideration of whether the marriage
has produced children, since possible children will as a rule
have stronger Jewish blood than the Jewish person of mixed blood
of the second degree.
SS-Gruppenführer Hofmann advocates the opinion that
sterilization will have to be widely used, since the person of
mixed blood who is given the choice whether he will be evacuated
or sterilized would rather undergo sterilization.
State Secretary Dr. Stuckart maintains that carrying out in practice
of the just mentioned possibilities for solving the problem of
mixed marriages and persons of mixed blood will create endless
administrative work. In the second place, as the biological facts
cannot be disregarded in any case, State Secretary Dr. Stuckart
proposed proceeding to forced sterilization.
Furthermore, to simplify the problem of mixed marriages possibilities
must be considered with the goal of the legislator saying something
like: "These marriages have been dissolved."
With regard to the issue of the effect of the evacuation of Jews
on the economy, State Secretary Neumann stated that Jews who are
working in industries vital to the war effort, provided that no
replacements are available, cannot be evacuated.
SS-Obergruppenführer Heydrich indicated that these Jews
would not be evacuated according to the rules he had approved
for carrying out the evacuations then underway.
State Secretary Dr. Bühler stated that the General Government
would welcome it if the final solution of this problem could be
begun in the General Government, since on the one hand transportation
does not play such a large role here nor would problems of labor
supply hamper this action. Jews must be removed from the territory
of the General Government as quickly as possible, since it is
especially here that the Jew as an epidemic carrier represents
an extreme danger and on the other hand he is causing permanent
chaos in the economic structure of the country through continued
black market dealings. Moreover, of the approximately 2 ½
million Jews concerned, the majority is unfit for work.
State Secretary Dr. Bühler stated further that the solution
to the Jewish question in the General Government is the responsibility
of the Chief of the Security Police and the SD and that his efforts
would be supported by the officials of the General Government.
He had only one request, to solve the Jewish question in this
area as quickly as possible.
In conclusion the different types of possible solutions were discussed,
during which discussion both Gauleiter Dr. Meyer and State Secretary
Dr. Bühler took the position that certain preparatory activities
for the final solution should be carried out immediately in the
territories in question, in which process alarming the populace
must be avoided.
The meeting was closed with the request of the Chief of the Security
Police and the SD to the participants that they afford him appropriate
support during the carrying out of the tasks involved in the solution.