Libraries-Archiv - »Besitzen Sie Gemälde,...?«

Zentralbibliothek of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Central Library of the Reich Security Main Office)

In August 1942, Abteilung VII Weltanschauliche Forschung (Section VII: Ideological Research) within the Reichssicherheitshauptamt(Reich Security Main Office) Central police authority in Nazi Germany, founded in September 1939. The RSHA combined the state security police and the SS security service. More (Reich Security Main Office(Reich Security Main Office) Central police authority in Nazi Germany, founded in September 1939. The RSHA combined the state security police and the SS security service. More, RSHA(Reich Security Main Office) Central police authority in Nazi Germany, founded in September 1939. The RSHA combined the state security police and the SS security service. More) secured access to the looted libraries of deported and displaced persons. The books were transferred to the Zentralbibliothek (Central Library), which was then being established.

In this process, the RSHA(Reich Security Main Office) Central police authority in Nazi Germany, founded in September 1939. The RSHA combined the state security police and the SS security service. More was granted priority over other state and Party agencies: it could select books even before the Vermögensverwertungsstelle took over the seized items for administration from the Gestapo(EN) Politische Polizei in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, die politische Gegner*innen sowie Jüdinnen*Juden überwachte und verfolgte..

Typed document: transcript. — Decree of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt(Reich Security Main Office) Central police authority in Nazi Germany, founded in September 1939. The RSHA combined the state security police and the SS security service. More concerning “Jüdische Privatbibliotheken” (Jewish private libraries), 12 August 1942. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) no. 55202, fol. 74

Dolmetscher-Lehr-Abteilung (Interpreter Training Department)

The Dolmetscher-Lehr-Abteilung (Interpreter Training Department) was a unit within the Chef der Heeresausrüstung und Befehlshaber des Ersatzheeres (Chief of Army Equipment and Commander of the Replacement Army). Translators were trained in this department. In 1942, the Oberfinanzpräsidenten (Senior Finance Presidents) were instructed to provide the Dolmetscher-Lehr-Abteilung with foreign-language literature, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, lexicons, and specialist literature free of charge.

Typewritten document; handwritten note in pencil in the upper right corner. — Decree by the Reichminister der Finanzen on the free transfer of foreign-language books, 1 July 1942. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) no. 55202, fol. 59

Reichstauschstelle im Reichsministerium für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung (Reich Exchange Office in the Reich Ministry of Science, Education, and Culture)

The main purpose of the Reichstauschstelle, established in 1926, was to supply libraries with books.

During World War II, the Reichstauschsstelle rebuilt libraries that had been destroyed by the war. It was heavily involved in the looting of books and their distribution to public libraries.

Of particular interest for the Reichstauschstelle in the Reichsministerium für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung (Reich Exchange Office in the Reich Ministry of Science, Education, and Culture) interest were German classics and German-language and foreign literature. The Reichstauschstelle acquired some of the books free of charge from the assets of deportees and refugees administered by the Vermögensverwertungsstelle.

Typed document — Request by the Reichstauschstelle for the transfer of confiscated German classics and book collections from the assets of deportees and expatriates, 21 May 1942. Berlin State Archive, A Rep. 093-03 no. 54683, fol. 39