Asset theft by decree

The Expatriation Act

Gesetz über den Widerruf von Einbürgerungen und die Aberkennung der deutschen Staatsangehörigkeit of 14 July 1933

This law made it possible to revoke naturalisations that had taken place between 1918 and 1933. In addition, Germans living abroad could have their German citizenship revoked “sofern sie durch ein Verhalten, das gegen Pflicht und Treue zum Reich und Volk verstößt, die deutschen Belange geschädigt haben“ (if they had damaged German interests through behaviour that violated their duty and loyalty to the Reich and the people). What this meant was determined by the National Socialist officials in charge at the time. If a person was expatriated, their assets remaining in Germany could be confiscatedBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More and subsequently declared “verfallenIn the context of the Reich’s financial administration, “Verfall” (forfeiture) and “Einziehung” (seizure) referred to the retention of confiscated items for the benefit of the state. More” (forfeited) to the Reich. Until the beginning of 1942, the Finanzamt Moabit-West was entrusted with the “Verwertung“Verwertung” (liquidation) refers to all measures taken by the Reich financial administration to transfer stolen assets to the state treasury and, if necessary, convert material goods into cash. More” (liquidation) of these assets.

Transcript of the expatriation application submitted by the Gestapo(EN) Politische Polizei in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, die politische Gegner*innen sowie Jüdinnen*Juden überwachte und verfolgte. headquarters in Potsdam for Jakob Goldschmidt, 18 July 1939. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) no. 12990, fol. 3v

Transcript of the expatriation application submitted by the Potsdam Gestapo(EN) Politische Polizei in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, die politische Gegner*innen sowie Jüdinnen*Juden überwachte und verfolgte. headquarters for Jakob Goldschmidt, 18 July 1939. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) no. 12990, fol. 3a

Confiscation laws

Gesetz über die Einziehung kommunistischen Vermögens of 26 Mai 1933 / Gesetz über die Einziehung volk- und staatsfeindlichen Vermögens of 14 July 1933

The Gesetz über die EinziehungIn the context of the Reich’s financial administration, “Verfall” (forfeiture) and “Einziehung” (seizure) referred to the retention of confiscated items for the benefit of the state. More kommunistischen Vermögens (Law on the ConfiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More of Communist Assets) allowed for the confiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More of assets belonging to the Communist Party of Germany and its members. The scope of application was extended by the Gesetz über die EinziehungIn the context of the Reich’s financial administration, “Verfall” (forfeiture) and “Einziehung” (seizure) referred to the retention of confiscated items for the benefit of the state. More volks- und staatsfeindlichen(enemies of the Reich/enemies of the people/enemies of the state) "Reichsfeind" was the National Socialist term for persons whose religion, origin, or political convictions did not conform to the regime’s guidelines. More Vermögens (Law on the ConfiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More of Assets Hostile to the People and the State) to include all assets that were “volks- und staatsfeindlicher Bestrebungen gebraucht oder bestimmt sind“ (used or intended for purposes hostile to the people and the state). Until 1942, these assets were confiscatedBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More by the federal states with the help of the Gestapo(EN) Politische Polizei in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, die politische Gegner*innen sowie Jüdinnen*Juden überwachte und verfolgte.. From April 1942 onwards, the Reich financial administration took over this task. Both laws were also applied to the theft of the last possessions of deported Jews: the state collectively declared them to be “Volks- und Staatsfeinde” (enemies of the people(enemies of the Reich/enemies of the people/enemies of the state) "Reichsfeind" was the National Socialist term for persons whose religion, origin, or political convictions did not conform to the regime’s guidelines. More and the state).

ConfiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More order Recha Storck, 1 February 1943. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) no. 37426, fol. 10

“Zustellungsurkunde“ for Recha Stork delivered by the chief bailiff, 7 September 1943. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) no. 37426, fol. 10v

Deportation Decree issued by the Reich Minister of Finance on 4 November 1941

The Deportationserlass des Reichsfinanzministers (deportationForced removal of people by state authorities from their place of residence or origin to another state territory or to remote regions where they are detained. More decree issued by the Reich Minister of Finance) on 4 November 1941, outlined the procedure for plundering deported Jews by local Oberfinanzpräsidenten(Senior Finance President) Until 1937, Landesfinanzämter (regional finance offices). OFPs were the highest regional authorities responsible for the Reich’s financial administration. From the end of 1941, they were tasked with planning and carrying out the theft of property from deported Jews. More (Senior Finance Presidents). The legal basis for the confiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More of property was provided by the confiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More laws of 1933. These laws also stipulated that, in accordance with bureaucratic procedure, each deportee had to be served with an order of confiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More of their property. In addition, this decree regulated how the stolen items were to be “verwertet“Verwertung” (liquidation) refers to all measures taken by the Reich financial administration to transfer stolen assets to the state treasury and, if necessary, convert material goods into cash. More” (utilised).

Page 4 of the transcript of the decree of 4 November 1941, with instructions for organizing the theft of property in the Reich financial administration. BArch R 2-ANH./7, fol. 78v

Page 5 of the transcript of the decree of 4 November 1941, containing instructions regarding art and cultural property. BArch R 2-ANH./7, fol. 79

Elfte Verordnung zum Reichsbürgergesetz of 25 November 1941

The Elfte Verordnung zum Reichsbürgergesetz (Eleventh Decree to the Reich Citizenship Law) was intended to simplify the administrative procedure for seizing the assets of emigrants and deportees. Jews who were permanently residing abroad were stripped of their citizenship and their assets automatically forfeited to the Reich. This was intended to avoid confiscationBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More orders for deportees and time-consuming individual expatriations. In practice, however, this regulation could not be applied to foreign nationals or to Jews who were not deported abroad but to locations under German administration, such as TheresienstadtThe Theresienstadt “Altersghetto” (ghetto for the elderly) was established in the old garrison town in what is today Terezín (Czech Republic) as the largest concentration camp (KZ) in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. More. Here, the provisions of the Deportationserlass of November 1941 continued to apply.