02.11.2013 Views

Sobibor - Holocaust Propaganda And Reality - Unity of Nobility ...

Sobibor - Holocaust Propaganda And Reality - Unity of Nobility ...

Sobibor - Holocaust Propaganda And Reality - Unity of Nobility ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR 201<br />

and material requirements for the implementation <strong>of</strong> the final solution<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Jewish question so envisaged.”<br />

This document is in complete agreement with the Madagascar plan.<br />

The instructions given by Göring to Heydrich “in addition” to those already<br />

contained in the decree <strong>of</strong> 24 January 1939 were for all intents<br />

and purposes the implementation <strong>of</strong> the solution <strong>of</strong> the Jewish question<br />

“by emigration or evacuation” 587 <strong>of</strong> the Jews in the Reich exclusively,<br />

while simultaneously aiming for a territorial “final solution” by resettlement<br />

in Madagascar <strong>of</strong> all Jews in the European countries occupied by<br />

Germany. For the very reason that it was to include all Jews <strong>of</strong> the occupied<br />

European states, this solution was labeled a “comprehensive solution”<br />

[Gesamtlösung], a designation which echoes the “problem as a<br />

whole” [Gesamtproblem], the term used in Heydrich’s note <strong>of</strong> 24 June<br />

1940 (cf. above).<br />

Heydrich clearly alluded to the task entrusted to him by the decree <strong>of</strong><br />

24 January 1939 when, on 6 November 1941, he wrote that, years earlier,<br />

he had been given the order to prepare an “Endlösung” in Europe. 588<br />

He himself identified the “Endlösung” with the solution “by emigration<br />

or evacuation” targeted in Göring’s note <strong>of</strong> 31 st July 1941. This is also<br />

the context <strong>of</strong> the order conveyed to the foreign ministry by Adolf<br />

Eichmann on 28 August 1941, which prohibited “an emigration <strong>of</strong> Jews<br />

from the territories occupied by us in view <strong>of</strong> the impending final solution<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Jewish question in Europe now being prepared.” 589<br />

7.3. From Madagascar Plan to Deportation to the East<br />

Over the months to follow, with the vision <strong>of</strong> large territorial gains<br />

appearing on the horizon since the beginning <strong>of</strong> the Russian campaign,<br />

new perspectives opened up, leading to a significant change <strong>of</strong> course in<br />

the NS policy in respect <strong>of</strong> the Jews. The “Endlösung” by deportation to<br />

Madagascar was now replaced by a “territorial final solution” involving<br />

the deportation <strong>of</strong> the European Jews into the eastern territories occupied<br />

by the Germans.<br />

587<br />

588<br />

589<br />

Legal emigration to other countries or deportation to the East (Poland: October 1939<br />

through March 1940) and/or to the West (unoccupied France: October 1940).<br />

PS-1624.<br />

PA, Inland II A/B, AZ 83-85 Sdh. 4, vol. 59/3.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!