POLICE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING POLICY AGAINST SINTI AND ROMA
Berlin,
October 17, 1939
Schnellbrief (an urgent letter)
To the State Criminal Police – Criminal Police Office Attention of the Director … [o.V.i.a]… in Karlsruhe
Re: Seizure of Gypsies
Secret!
As ordered by the Reichsfueher SS and Chief of the German Police (Heinrich Himmler, ed.), the Gypsy question will be resolved shortly in all regions of the Reich at state level. For this purpose, I ask that the following measures be implemented immediately:
Local police authorities and the gendarmerie are forthwith to be instructed to order all Gypsies and mixed Gypsies in their regions not to leave their present residence from now on until further notice. In cases of violation of this order, one is to threaten with imprisonment in concentration camps….
The seizure and census of Gypsies and mixed Gypsies will be held on October 25, 26 and 27, 1939. These measures are to be implemented by the local police and gendarmerie.
The confined Gypsies and mixed Gypsies, including children, are to be listed according to the following example.
The local police and gendarmerie are to submit the lists to the pertinent Criminal police authorities….
The execution of this decree is to be undertaken immediately by all concerned authorities and offices, with other matters coming as second priority. It is to be treated as urgent and is to be completed shortly. The Reich Criminal Police Bureau together with the Reich Health Authority will examine the collected information and order the detention for every individual case. A special wanted list will be compiled by the Reich Criminal Police for those Gypsies or mixed Gypsies who will have left their present residence, despite the restriction.
Signed
Source: Reich Security Main Office TGB No. RKPA. 149/39 g.
Source: Yad Vashem
Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library
