English Translation

The entry of thousands of young German people into the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS, in particular from the South-East European states, has led to a delicate weakening of the German ethnic groups at home; this is only tolerable if the volunteers of the war came to their homes after the war had ended. This is not to be expected, however, if they acquired German nationality, since they would then regularly seek their further advancement in Germany. Only a few departments have spoken out for the award of German nationality to all free-lance persons, but they consistently stress that the question for their own area is not practical. A further follow-up of this thought is therefore not considered until further notice. The Reichsführer-Ss, Reichskommis- sar for the consolidation of German ethnicity, has generally expressed in this context the view that only those groups of foreigners whose nationality should be granted should be nationals of which: They are not only German-speaking or belonging to a Germanic people, but have also expressed their attachment to Germanism in a German organization (Wehrmacht,Waffen-SS,RAD., German services in the occupied territories, etc.) vis-à-vis the outside world. German nationality in question: Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Flemish, Luxembourg, Lorraine and Alsace:in the Wehrmacht, the Waffen-SS and the RAD, as well as Norwegians and the Netherlands in the service of the authorities of the Reichskommissare. The Alsatians and the Lorraines are now leaving these groups because their nationality is specifically regulated (cf. my letter of 5 July 1942 - I e 5226 IV-VI/42-5ooo West). Moreover, both the Reichskommissar for the occupied Dutch territories as well as the military commander in Belgium and northern France opposed a 53941 general rule.