SECRET
Berlin, 26 October 1943
Short report
regarding security measures by Main Division Ukraine [Hauptarbeitsgruppe Ukraine] during the withdrawal of the Armed Forces.
On 24 Sep 1943 a prohibited zone was created by a decree of the War Commander, in the city of Kiev—, which runs some 3 km west of the Dnjepr. The whole civil population in this area, including non-military officials, had to abandon this zone- as of 2100, 26 Sep 1943. The office of the Special Purposes Staff [Einsatzstabes] on Rowno Street #8 lies in the prohibited zone. The apartment house on Theaterstrasse #9 was evacuated and troops quartered within.
The removal of the materials on hand encountered extraordinary difficulties due to lack of loading space. However the transporting of the following was carried out:
24 Sep 43: Materials of the Museum of Art at Charkow.
Taken over by party member Pfeiffer from General Commissioner, Shitomir for shipping by trucks to Reichs Commissioner Ukraine [RKU] in Rowno.
96 Ukrainian paintings.
185 Western European paintings.
12 wood carvings and etchings.
25 carpets and tapestries.
The inventory and files of those objects are in the hand of the staff leaders. The Reich Commissioner kept a copy of the inventory.
26 Sep 43: Materials of HAG [Hauptarbeitsgruppe—Main Division]
The document-house library, utensils, office supplies and the administration were loaded in a freight car by 13 native workers for Truskawiec under the supervision of Special Purpose Staff Director FUCHS.
27 Sep 43: Materials of the Department of Seizuro [Abteilung Erfassung]
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Bolshevist pictures
This shipment went to Ratibor and contained 42 cases—10,186 books 7 cases-total catalog of the East Library
21 cases—selected publications 12 cases—art folios 11 packages of samples of magazines 9 crates and (
7 rolls )
22 crates Bolshevist films
Several cases of negatives and positives from the photoarchive, dispositives andi slides, materials of Special Purpose Commandant Dr. Huettig of the Special Purpose Staff "Science" 1 case of Bolshevist data in German and others.
1 Oct. 43: Materials of the Ukrainian Museum, in Kiev.
On the basis of the General evacuation orders of the city commissioner the following were sorted out by us and loaded for shipment to Krakow.
Textiles of all sorts
Collections of valuable embroidery patterns Collections of brocades Numerous items of wood, etc.
Moreover an essential part of the prehistoric museum was transported away.
Since already on the 20 Sep the head of the provincial administration of libraries, museums and archives, Dr. Winters, had requested his assignment to the Special Purposes Staff. Because of the evacuation of the civil administration, he left the city on 25 Sep on the basis of the general evacuation order. Dr. Winter turned over to the leader of the main division (HAG) a list of the articles under his protection in case the Special Purpose Staff remained longer in Kiev and would also take charge of these materials. Dr. Winter could only send 2 freight cars of material into the interior. Shortly before his departure Dr. Winter had turned over by a transfer document to the city commissioner the administration of the materials entrusted to him. The latter had charged Prof. Dr. Mansfeld with as complete an evacuation of these articles as possible. Since Prof. Dr. Mansfeld knew little about the articles, he requested support from the Special Purpose Staff of Reichsleiter Rosenberg. On 1 Oct. it was possible to load 2 freight cars with museum goods, but under great difficulty. Since labor was unobtainable all the members still in Kiev on the Special Purpose Staff of Reichsleiter Rosenberg undertook the loading themselves.
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The activity in Kiev became more difficult since the German artillery stands in the center of the city and from there fires its
salvoes toward the East bank.
Through the military measures the salvage work was carried out, under ever-increasing difficulties. At the request of Prof. Dr. Mansfeld 2-3 collaborators were assigned to him for the evacuation of the articles and institutes which up to now had been under the civil administration.
Since the remaining in Kiev of all members of the Chief Labor Group Ukraine was impossible the leader of the Chief Labor Group HAG had come to an agreement by the 2 Oct. with G-2 (Ic) on the following points concerning the division in that area.
1. The Special Purposes Staff of Reichsleiter Rosenberg's Chief Labor Group Ukraine will leave behind a detachment of 5 men for security and safety of the cultural articles in the off-limits zone of the city of Kiev.
2. The remaining detachment will at the request of the infantry division (ID) and at the command of the 7th Army Corps (7AK) work in close cooperation with the G-2 (Ic) of the infantry division (ID).
3. The infantry division (ID) is prepared to take care of the detachment and provide each member with corresponding identification papers and thereby guarantee the utmost protection possible in the prohibited zone.
4. At the request of G-2 (Ic) of the Infantry Division (ID) the particular detachments were to take over tasks which lay in the competence of the Armed Forces.
5. The Infantry Division (ID) places great value on further evacuation of precious articles, since this battle zone can in no case be protected sufficiently by the army. One may even count on artillery shells falling at any time. Army installations, means of transportation, etc., should be provided by the Infantry Division, if possible.
Of course it was the duty of the Chief Labor Group Ukraine (HAG) to hold out in Kiev as long as possible, until it was rendered impossible by the military situation.
All members of the Chief Labor Group [HAG] have worked in harmony and with strong interest to insure the safety and evacuation of the most precious cultural goods. At the loading they lent a hand in order to complete the loading work in the few hours remaining.
The remaining of the Chief Labor Group [HAG] and its work has greatly impressed G-2 and the Division. The intention that
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the remaining detachment would leave Kiev at the last possible moment met with strong approval. This last movement was defined by the Army as the one on which the remaining detachment would be "bombed out of office."
On 5 Oct 1943 the leader of the Chief Labor Group departed from Kiev with his staff except those selected for the remaining detachment in order to continue leading the work of the Chief Labor Group of Ukraine [HAG] from Truskavice.
Signed: UTIKAL
The Staff Directorate [Stabsfuehrung]
Referee East
Berlin 21 Oct. 1943 II b/Dr. Z./Z/
[hand-written notation]
Miss Girschberg for final copy to Reich Directorate, Staff Director, Subordinate Leaders, etc.
Memorandum for the Reichs Leader
Subject: Evacuation of the Office at Kiev.
As you all know the Chief Labor Office Group Ukraine (HAG) of the Special Purposes Staff had to, for the time being shift its offices [Dienstsitz] to Truskaviec near Drobobycz 90 km South of Lomberg. This shifting was accomplished without any friction. A remaining detachment was left behind in the prohibited zone in Kiev. This remaining detachment still protects the cultural goods which lie in the battle zone insofar as their salvage has not been carried out. Numerous cultural goods were saved in the last hour by the Special Purposes Staff before the destruction through enemy action, aided by the strenuous work of the staff members as a whole. The following items were shipped:
1. 2Jj Sept. Materials from the Charkow Art Museum. Taken over by party member (Pg.) Pfeiffer from General Commissioner Shitomir to be transported by trucks (LKW) to Reich Commissioner Ukraine in Rowno.
96 Ukrainian paintings 183 Western European paintings 12 wood carvings and etchings 25 carpets and tapestry
The files and inventory of these objects are in the hands of the
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staff leaders [Stabsfuehrung]. The Reich Commissioner kept a copy of the inventory.
2. 26 Sept, 43: Materials of the Main Divisions [HAG]
The documents, house library, utensils, office supplies, private luggage, and the supplies of the administration were loaded in a freight car by 13 native workers for Truskaviec under the supervision of Special Purposes Staff Director FUCHS.
3. 27 Sept. 4.3: Materials of the Department of Seizure [Abt. Erfassung.]
This shipment went to Ratibor and contained:
42 chests—10,186 books, East library (OBR)
7 chests—Total catalog of the East library (OBR)
1 chest—books for the higher school
21 chests—selected publications
12 [?] chests—art folios
11 packages of model samples of magazines 9 crates
7 rolls (Bolshevist pictures)
22 frames [Vorschlaege] Bolshevist films
Several chests of negatives and positives from the photoarchives, dispositives and slides, material of Special Purpose Commandant, Dr. Huettig of the Special Purpose Staff "Science."
1 chest of Bolshevist data in Germany and others.
4. 27 Sept 43: Material of the Prehistoric Museum. Independently from the work of the Special Purposes, Staff of
Prehistoric History had packed and shipped to Krakau the most important items of the Prehistoric Museum.
5. 1 Oct 43: Materials of the Ukrainian Museum in Kiev.
On the basis of the general evacuation orders of the city commissioner the following were sorted out by us and loaded for shipment to Krakau:
Textiles of all kinds (clothes, blouses, shirts, coats, overcoats, etc.)
Collection of valuable embroidery patterns Collections of brocades Collection of Ukrainian easter eggs Numerous items of wood, etc.
6. 1 Oct 43: Materials of the Prehistoric Museum.
In a second inspection party member (Pg.) Prof. Dr. Stamp-fuss with the help of several collaborators gathered another collection of prehistoric articles and also shipped it to Krakau. When the civil administration left Kiev the head of the pro-
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vincial administration for archives, libraries, and museums, Dr. Winter and his helper Dr. Benzing, again joined the Special Purposes Staff on 20 ,Sep. However these two gentlemen also left Kiev on 25 Sep. The Special Purpose Staff did then undertake again its original task of protecting the cultural articles and goods. Though the personnel has been decreased materially in the course of the development of the situation, it was then arranged that right up to the last minute one group of workers capable of action remained in Kiev for the carrying out of the final tasks. The Special Purpose Staff is the last German office which remains in the dead zone of Kiev. Its remaining and its assistance to the G-2 (Ic) of the combat division involved has made a strong impression on the army. We were permitted to remain in the fighting zone up until the point when we would be bombed out of the office.
This successful work was in the main due to the devotion to duty and to personal inspiration of the Chief of the Special Purposes Staff Anton, but also due to the unselfish performance of duty of his other co-workers.
Signed: Dr. ZEISS Chief of the Special Purposes Staff.
Report on the removal of property from Kiev during an evacuation, including paintings, carvings, tapestries, and books
Authors
Gerhard Utikal (chief of Rosenberg einsatz staff; prisoner at Nuremberg 1947)
Gerhard Utikal
German university professor and psychiatrist
- Born: 1912-04-15 (Grodziec, Gmina Ozimek)
- Died: 1982-11-05 (Remscheid)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Member of: Sturmabteilung
- VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/8394814
- ISNI: https://isni.org/isni/0000000066801370
- WorldCat Identities ID: https://worldcat.org/identities/viaf-8394814
Zeiss (Dr., chief of special purposes staff (Rosenberg) (1943))
Hans Zeiss
German archaeologist and historian
- Born: 1895-02-21 (Straubing)
- Died: 1944-08-30
- Country of citizenship: German Reich
- Occupation: medieval archaeologist; prehistorian; university teacher
- Member of political party: Nazi Party (NSDAP membership number (1925–1945): 5017322)
- Member of: Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities; Sturmabteilung
- Employer: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/118943594
Date: 26 October 1943
Literal Title: Short report regarding security measures of Chief Labor Group Ukraine (Hauptarbeitsgruppe Ukraine) during the withdrawal of the Armed Forces.
Defendant: Alfred Rosenberg
Total Pages: 6
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-035
HLSL Item No.: 451232
Notes:This document was apparently not entered as an exhibit.
Document Summary
PS-35: Report on Utikel to Rosenberg re deportation of civilians and seizure of art objects