Trial of the Major War Criminals before International Military Tribunal ...

To quote a few instances only:
According to 5 2 of the Ordinance against Destructive Elements,
dated September 5th, 1939 (RGB1. I, p.1679) (Annex 8) not only
every felony but also every rnisdemeanour committed by abusing
the regulations necessary for protection against air raids, may be
punished by death. Minor thefts during the black-out are the
offences, which mostly caused this brutal threat to be put into
practice.
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No less excessive are the sentences which were passed pursuant
to the Ordinance concerning Special Regulations on Broadcasting,
dated September lst,1939 (RGB1.1, p.1683-V.Bl.R.Prot.p.129)
(Annex 9) in particular to 5 2 of the Ordinance: "Whoever deliber-
ately spreads news which is apt to endanger the' power of resistance
of the German people, will be punished with penal servitude-
in particular serious cases, with death". Here too the Special
Courts considered most of the cases brought before them, "partic-
ularly serious" ones, and passed the death sentence.
Perhaps the most excessive provision applied by the Special
Courts is contained in the Ordinance of the Reichsprotektor of
Bohemia and Moravia on the Defence against Support of Acts
Hostile to the Reich, dated July 3rd 1942 (V.Bl.R.Prot., p.182)
(Annex 10). Remarkably enough this Ordinance is so-called
"Gebiebonderrecht" that is to say it did not take effect in the
German Reich, but only in the "Protectorate". Pursuant to 5 1 (1)
of this Ordinance "anyone who gives lodgings or any other help
to a person whom he knows or according to the circumstances
can assume that he or she is engaged in an act hostile to the
Reich, or who omits to notify the authorities in time" is to be
punished by death. According to 5 1 (2) "circumstances in the
meaning of 5 1 (1) are given especially in case the perpetrator is
aware of the fact that the person concerned is not registered with
the police contrary to the existing regulation, or does not possess
a valid Identity Card".
It is, of course, quite comprehensible that the deliberate support
of a person who is "engaged in an act hostile to the Reich" is
severely punished. However, only in glancing through the Ordinance
dated July 3rd 1942 is one given the impression that it does
not intend anything else. In fact, lodging of a person who "is not
registered with the pulice contrary to the existing regulation, or
does not possess a valid Identity Card" is under certain circumstances,
already punishable with death.4olely from the
fact that a person is not duly registered with the police