English Translation

- 5 - the above-mentioned conditions and which in the present war have been distinguished by special probation (which in individual cases must be demonstrated by a certificate of the military superior), are regarded as fully Germanized and are recognized as German nationals without restriction. If persons of the type referred to under I, who are already recognized as citizens of Viderruf, are distinguished by their special commitment during the war, I intend, in agreement with the Reichsführer SS, Reichskommissar für die Festigung deutschen Volkstums, to refrain from the application of the revocation in their case. The Poles were formerly German nationals, who had been opting for Poland at the time (the so-called "Residence Poles" were entitled to option, see Article 9l (3) and (4) of the Treaty of Versailles, Articles 25(1) and (4) and Article 27 of the Geneva Convention, Articles 6, 9 et seq. and 17 of the Vienna Convention) or the loss of German nationality, for example. by acquiring Polish nationality by means of entry or other means (cf. Art. 7 § 3 para.l sentence 2 and § 4 of the Vienna Convention as well as Art. 26 § 3 Para. 3 of the Geneva Convention) regularly do not fulfil the condition for admission to the German People's List and the recognition ai German nationals, since in this act a commitment to the Polish people is to be seen. In a formal option for Polish nationality, too, a commitment to Poland must be seen, which today excludes recognition as a German national. If, for special reasons, the recognition as a German national is to be considered in the case of optants who have to be regarded as full German, then the proceedings must be submitted to me for a decision. II. The German nationals who, pursuant to Art. 9l para. 4 of the Treaty of Versailles before the Polish consular authorities in Essen, Wroclaw, Allenstein, Marienwerder, Cologne, Königsberg and Hamburg, are in the circular of the Minister of the Interior of 22 January I925, concerning the registration of Polish optants - O II 75 - (Min. Bl.i.V. 65) and of 12 June 1925 -0 II 840 (MBliV, p.683); however, this list does not include the optantes who have previously been employed in Poland.