English Translation

Minlstera 11th AUG. 1944 NATIONAL SOCIALISTIAN GERMAN WORKER PARTY PARTY-CANZLEI The head of the party chancellery Führer Hauptquartier, August 6, 1944. Circular 171/44 My partymates! I repeat what I emphasized some time ago on behalf of the leader: Never was the popular connection of the leading men more necessary than now! All leading men must truly exemplify our people, each individual must be a shining example of devotion, of extreme diligence, of exemplary attitude in every respect. No one makes any reservations or claims exceptional and special position for himself. The best political leader is not the one who governs and commands, but the truly people-affiliated leader, to whom the hearts of the people entrusted to him belong! The attack of July 20, 1944 was directed at the German People's State! This must come to the consciousness of all the people in these weeks and months more than ever. But let us be admonished by this attack: with the slogan "Community profit from self-interest" we won the hearts of our people in the wartime! Let us remember this and throw overboard everything that must harm this reputation! Only those who simply, who live modestly, are recognized as the leaders of the people, while each of them acts differently, harm the reputation of the National Socialist state. Our attitude to life must not offer the least areas of attack. Therefore, after July 20th, 1944, we must also check our relations and that of our wives. It must of course be that we only deal with National Socialists and National Socialists. Dignified re-activists and skewers are not dealing with underleaders of the NSDAP. Furthermore, simplification measures that we enforce in the wake of the total war require the dismantling of many employees in the Party, the Wehrmacht and the state administration. As in all other personnel situations, the assessment of employees must not be influenced by relationships or other unreasonable considerations, and even earlier merits must not cause us to keep incapacitated employees. Anyone who has failed in terms of technical and performance must resign, for his failure is of benefit to the enemy!