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Volume III · Page 485
| 5. on the same day I made arrangements with
all senior police officers (the Higher SS and Police Leaders, heads of the
criminal police, of the Secret State Police, and of the SD) to the effect that
every complaint about juridical measures taken by judges was to be referred to
me before the police would take action (especially regarding execution of
sentence). 6. I made similar arrangements with all representatives of the Hamburg Press. The press was to refer to me before subjecting a verdict to any form of criticism. I cannot agree with the objection to these measures on the grounds that with other Gauleiter such procedure would not have been possible. In 1933, the Gauleiter was anything but favorably disposed toward the judges. I am of the opinion that every political minded National Socialist leader can be convinced of the necessity of an orderly legal system, provided the system is National Socialist in character. Not even the continued changes of political leaders in Hamburg, especially among senior police officers, which have occurred since 1933, ever disturbed our smooth cooperation. |
| III |
| In view of the present situation I am intensifying the internal direction and steering of the administration of justice which I have considered to be my main task since 1933. For that purpose, I have issued the instructions which are set out in enclosures 1, 2 and 3. |
| IV |
| The meeting of the chief presidents in the Reich Ministry of Justice on 5 May this year did not satisfy me. It was my impression that most of the chief presidents were very much depressed. I do not believe that their inner confidence was restored in the course of the meeting. |
| V |
| I suggest that the chief presidents should be confidentially informed of judgments passed in the Reich which have caused special criticism in the Reich Ministry of Justice, so that the judges may get some idea of the Fuehrer's will regarding the various spheres of the administration of justice. |
| [Signed] ROTHENBERGER |
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