Copy of Order from Keitel to Chief Army High Command Occupied France
Concerning Ownership Tranfers of Libraries and Possessions

COPY

The Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces
Berlin W 35, Tirpitzufer 72-76, 17 Sept 1940
Tel: 21 81 91

2 f 28.1.4 W. Z. No. 3812/ 40 g
To the Chief of Army High Command for the Military Administration in Occupied France.

In supplement to the order of the Fuehrer transmitted at the time to Reichsleiter Rosenberg to search lodges, libraries and archives in the occupied territories of the west for material valuable to Germany, and to safeguard the latter through the Gestapo, the Fuehrer has decided:

The ownership status before the war in France, prior to the declaration of war on 1 September 1939, shall be the criterion.

Ownership transfers to the French state or similar transfers completed after this date are irrelevant and legally invalid (for example, Polish and Slovak libraries in Paris, possessions of the Palais Rothschild or other ownerless Jewish possessions). Reservations regarding search, seizure and transportation to Germany on the basis of the above reasons will not be recognized.

Reichsleiter Rosenberg and/ or his deputy Reichshauptsellenleiter Ebert has received clear instructions from the Fuehrer personally governing the right of seizure; he is entitled to trans-port to Germany cultural goods which appear valuable to him and to safeguard them there. The Fuehrer has reserved for himself the decision as to their use.

It is requested that the services in question be informed correspondingly.

Signed : KEITEL

For information :
Attention : Reichsleiter Rosenberg

certified true copy
Berlin 15 December 43
(Dr. Zeiss)

[Rosenberg special purpose staff seal]