Document No. 2270-PS

AUTHOR — International Military Tribunal

Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression Volume IV

Document No. 2270-PS

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 2270-PS

COORDINATION \[GLEICHSCHALTUNG\] OF COOPERATIVES

Issue 393, 16 May 1933, of "NSK" National Socialist Party Press Agency, \[NSK, Presedient der NSDAP, the official news agency of the NSDAP\]. Edited by Wilhelm Weiss. Responsible for communications of the Reich Press Office Dr. Otto Dietrich, Reich press Chief. Published by Franz Eher, Prossessor, Munich. \[Pages 1-2\].

NSK. The Executive Secretaries of the Reich League of German Cooperatives Reichsverband Deutscher Konsumvereine\] have issued the following statement:

The undersigned, legally competent executive secretaries of the Reich League of German Cooperatives, Cologne, and of the Gepag hereby submit themselves and all cooperatives affiliated to their League irrevocably and unconditionally to the command and administrative authority of the leader of the German Labor Front, Dr. Robert Ley, and of Party member Karl Mueller, the Commissioner for Cooperatives appointed by him.

Signed: Peter SCHLACK

Signed: Rob. SCHLOESSER

signed: Fritz KLEIN

The Executive Secretaries of the Wholesale Purchasing League of German Cooperatives have issued the following statement:

The undersigned, legally competent executive secretaries of the Wholesale Purchasing League of German Cooperatives, Inc., Hamburg, hereby submit themselves and all cooperatives affiliated to their League irrevocably and unconditionally to the command and administrative authority of the leader of the German Labor Front, Dr. Robert Ley, and of Party Member Karl Mueller, the Commissioner for Cooperatives appointed by him.

Signed: H. EVERLING

Signed: A. GRAHL

Pursuant to these statements the leader of the German Labor Front has issued the following order:

As previously announced by Party Member Bank Director Mueller on my behalf, the German Labor Front has today taken over the leadership of the cooperatives. The legally competent executive secretaries of the Wholesale Purchasing League of German Cooperatives, Inc., Hamburg, and of the Reich League of German Cooperatives, Cologne, have submitted unconditionally and unreservedly.

The Chief of the economic enterprises of the German Labor Front, Party Member Bank Director Mueller, also assumes the management of the co-operatives. This action is being taken for the benefit of the German worker, in order to safeguard the savings of the masses here also, and in order not to permit the decay of the assets which the cooperatives hold for the benefit of the people.

The action in itself is a winding-up action, which means that their further extension will not be tolerated, that everything that is rotten and burdensome must be gotten rid of now in the shortest possible time, that in agreement with the representative organizations of the middle class an equitable settlement is being initiated now already. Offices of the NSDAP are requested to shed their hostile attitude towards cooperatives, because they can rest assured that everything is being done by the leadership which profits the benefit of the people and the benefit of Germany.

Future organization of the cooperatives is as follows:

The two great Reich Leagues of cooperatives will become members of, and be merged into one Reich League. Great savings will thus be effected in administration.

As a matter of principle there will be no more voting in any organization, but the leader, Party Member Mueller, is appointed by me and he is authorized to appoint additional leaders of the individual regions and localities.

The Administrative Council, which is to help Party Member Mueller, will constitute the Executive Chamber \[Kleine Kammer\] in addition a Plenary Chamber will be formed, so as to definitely clarify the relationship between the new corporate structure and the cooperatives, and to shape the winding-up more decisively and organically.

The leader of the German Labor Front

Dr. R. Ley

Source:<br>Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression Volume IV<br>Office of the United States Chief Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality<br>Washington, DC : United States Government Printing Office, 1946