the soviet partisan movement 1941-1944 by edgar m. howell

18 THE SOVIET PARTISAN MOVEMENT
of functions and a constant conflict of jurisdictions, which was to do
much harm to the occupation, and would have given the whole venture a
singleness of purpose that it was to need so badly later. But both Goering
39 and Himmler, however, insisted on complete independence. 40
The form the final political structure was to take is not completely
clear. As Rosenberg saw it, White Russia was to be developed into a
German protectorate with progressively closer ties to Germany; the Baltic
States were also to become a protectorate, transformed into a part
of the greater German Reich by Germanization of the racially acceptable
elements, the settling of Germans there, and the deportation of all those
racially undesirable; the Ukraine was to be set up as an independent
state in alliance with Germany; and the Caucasus with its contiguous
northern territories was to become a federation of Caucasian States with
a German plenipotentiary, German military and naval bases, and extraterritorial
military rights for the protection of the oil fields which would
be exploited by the Reich. 41
Hitler's views were much the same: generally, the Crimea was to become
Reich territory, evacuated by all foreigners and settled by Germans
only; the Baltic States and the Don-Volga area were to be absorbed into
a greater Germany; while the Caucasus was to become a military colony.
The future status of the Ukraine and White Russia remained vague,
however, and the forms of the structures were never drawn out in
detail. 42
Except for the operations of the economic administration and Himmler's
police functions (Himmler was given as much authority in Russia
as he exercised in Germany proper), Rosenberg was to have jurisdiction
of all territory west of the operations zone and was to be responsible for
the entire administration there. 43 From his Ministry for the Occupied
Eastern Territories at the top, control was to descend through the
Reichskommissare in their political-ethnic areas, to general, main, and
39 At the same time Himmler had been given his task of preparing for the political
occupation, Goering had been placed in charge of the economic exploitation of the
USSR. See: "Directive For Special Areas (Operation BARBAROSSA)," op. cit.
40
Aktenuermerk, Fuehrerhauptquartier 16. VII.41., memo for the record, notes on
the Fuehrer conf, 16 Jul 41,in I.M.T. op. cit., XXXVIII, pp. 86-94.
41
Instruktion fuer einen Reichskomrnissar im Kaukasien, 7.V.41. Doc. 1027-PS.
Files of Office of Chief of Counsel for War Crimes. DRB, TAG: Znstruktion fuer
einen Reichskommissar im der Ukraine, 7.V.41 in Z.M.T., op. cit., XXVI, pp. 567-73;
Instruktion fuer einen Reichskommissar im Ostland, 8.V.41 in ibid., pp. 573-76;
Allgemeine Instruktion fuer alle Reichskommissare in den besetzten Ostgebieten,
8.V.41 in ibid., pp. 576--80.
42
See: Aktenvermerk, Fuehrerhauptquartier, 16.VII.41. in Z.M.T., op. cit.
XXVIII. pp.86-94.
43
Abschriftzu Rk. 10714 B. Erlass des Fuehrers ueber die Verwaltung der neu
besetzten Ostgebiete, Vom 17.VII.41. in I.M.T. op. cit., XXIX, pp. 235-37.