The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - ELTE BTK Történelem Szakos Portál

preoccupation with theory. The transition into an operational mode was
already evidenced in Berlin, but most of it took place under Eichmann in
Vienna. From the point of view of the officials in Berlin, Eichmann was the
Vienna representative of II 112, and his principal tasks had not changed:
surveillance of Jewish organizations, study of the enemy, and training other
Nazi bodies in the correct understanding of the Jews. […] While the SD was
looking for channels of operational activity, Eichmann found one, or perhaps,
took advantage of the situation and created one. In the framework of a given
direction of policy set by his superiors, he acted not as drab bureaucrat
carrying out orders, but rather as a very diligent, very violent bureaucrat who
was very successfully taking advantage of a fortuitous moment. His personal
initiative was on such a scale that, even months later, his erstwhile colleagues
in Berlin still did not understand how much he had changed. The importance of
this point for our discussion cannot be exaggerated: what put Eichmann at
center stage, and won him rapid promotion, was precisely his ability to
perform on a plane higher than that of a drab bureaucrat.” 53
Adoption of the „Vienna model”
On 12th of November 1938, Göring invited to a conference into the Reich’s
Aviation Museum. On this occasion Heydrich wanted to push through two of
his claims: The establishment of a central office of Jewish emigration in Berlin
(„Zentralstelle für jüdische Auswanderung in Berlin”) and the takeover of the
„Jewish policy” of the SD under his leadership. The „Vienna model” was
recommended at that meeting in a number of points as a model for the entire
Empire. Heydrich demands were met willingly, after the appalling functionality
of the „Vienna model” has been introduced. 54 The central office was approved
as the „Reichszentrale für jüdische Auswanderung” led by Heydrich and was
underpinned by a legal decision of Göring on the 24 th of January 1939. In
October 1939 Eichmann was appointed Head. 55
The creation of the „Reich” won Heydrich and the SS, as planned, a senior
position in relation to other instances of the state and the party. For that, they
had an absolute right of say- and decision-making concerning the „Jewish
policy”. In the policy towards Jews was thus the transition from a state of
standards to a state of measures finally completed. 56 But with the nationwide
53
LOZOWICK, Yaacon: Hitler’s Bureaucrats. The Nazi security police and the banality
of evil. Leicester, 2002. 38. Lozowick attempted here to demonstrate the initiatives of
Eichmann clearly.
54
At the meeting, Heydrich presented the number of 50.000 Austrian Jews „edited” by the
„Zentralstelle”, compared to 19.000 displaced German Jews from the Altreich.
SMELSER/SYRING. 139.
55
HACHMEISTER, Lutz: Der Gegnerforscher. Die Karriere des SS-Führers Franz Alfred
Six. München, 1998. 188.
56
SAFRIAN, Hans: Eichmann’s Men. 37.
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