English Translation

64a 118 The Minister of the Reich of the Jnnern Ie 5425/39 Berlin, August 3, 1939 5003e Quick letter to the head of the state of Tyrol, e.g. Mr. Gauleiter Hofer — or representative in office — in Jnnsbruck Naturalization of People's Germans from Italy Applications by people from Jtalia, based on the German-Italian discussions held in Berlin on 23 August 1939. For the reasons discussed at the meeting in Jnnsbruck on 24 July, a short and simplified procedure must be completed within a maximum period of 2 to 3 weeks in individual cases. Therefore, I order that all naturalisation applications submitted by people's Germans in the course of this action should be dealt with in a uniform manner by the regional head team of Tyrol in Jnnsbruk (nationalization office S) without any need for their respective residence or place of residence or their future place of establishment in the Jnlande. 85 — In such cases, the vote required for naturalisation shall in principle be deemed to have been given unless, when examining the applications, there are serious doubts as to the dignity and suitability of the proposers to be admitted to the German State Association. In such exceptional cases, my decision must be sought before the naturalisation is completed. I have asked the Federal Foreign Office, in accordance with Article 13 of the RuStAG of 22 July 1913, to express its fundamental commitment to the implementation of the naturalisations in cases where the applicants have their residence in Jtalien. I will make further information about the resolution of the Foreign Office. I note in detail the following: 1. Persons entitled to apply: 1. Applications for naturalisation may be made by former Austrian citizens of German ethnicity who, on the basis of the peace dictates, have or have had their residence in the Italian provinces of Bolzano and Trento or other areas of Jtalien, or who have become stateless in the country of succession other than Austria, and who, in the course of the special action, apply for their emigration to the Reich. There are no objections to the extension to ethnic Germans from the area already resident in the Jnlande, in order to allow them to participate in the benefit of the liberation from the Italian military relationship, if necessary.