9 November 1945
AFFIDAVIT. J
August Eigruber, being first duly sworn, on oath deposes and says that he was a member of the Nazi Party in Austria before the Anschluss with Germany on 15 March 1938, having joined this organization in 1928; that the Nazi Party was an illegal or- . ganization in Austria until 12 March 1938; and that he remained a member of the Nazi Party from 1928 until its dissolution after the surrender of Germany, 8 May 1945.
Affiant further states that prior to 12 March 1938 there were two groups of Nazis in Austria, one of which was led by Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart and the other by a Captain Leopold, a more radical National Socialist in Austria; that on the evening of the 11 March 1938, at between 8:00 and 9:00 o'clock p.m., he received two telegrams, one of which came from Dr. Seyss-Inquart as Bundes Chancellor of Austria, and the other from one Dr. Rainer; that the telegram from Dr. Seyss-Inquart appointed the affiant as temporary Landeshauptmann in Upper Austria; and that the telegram from Dr. Rainer appointed the affiant temporary leader of the National Socialist Party in Upper Austria.
Affiant further states that on 12 March 1938, about 5:00 o'clock
a.m., he received a telephone call from a member of his organization stating that the German Army had crossed the frontier of Austria immediately before and was then marching toward Linz. He was informed by the same man over the telephone that Hitler had crossed the Austrian border at about 2:00 or 3:00 o'clock p.m., of the same day. About the same time Heinrich Himmler, Dr. Seyss-Inquart, Glaise-Horstenau and Dr. Huebner arrived in Linz in order to receive Hitler there.
On the 12 of March 1938, a conference took place between Seyss-Inquart and Hitler in the Hotel Linzerhof. Hitler did not speak at this conference about Anschluss, rather addressed Seyss-Inquart as Bundes Chancellor. It was only on the 13 of March in connection with Mussolini's telegram that Seyss-Inquart had to return to Linz. There he was given a document by Hitler containing these two points: One, Austria is a part of the German Reich. Two, legislation will be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. The draft was made by State Secretary Stuckart. There on the 13th the Anschluss was effected and Austria incorporated in the German Reich.
Affiant further states that later in the year 1938 he was made Landeshauptmann under Dr. Seyss-Inquart, and then made tern-
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porary Gauleiter for Upper Austria under Reichskommissar Buerckel.
Affiant further states that the confiscation of Jewish property, the removal of Jews in accordance with the Nürnberg laws emanated from Dr. Frick, Minister of Interior, and were executed in Austria by Dr. Seyss-Inquart as Reichsstatthalter of Austria. Reichskommissar Buerckel exercised an important influence upon the execution of these laws.
Affiant further states that he visited the concentration camp at Mauthausen on several occasions, but on most of these occasions went only to the headquarters of the Camp Commandant. That on two occasions he visited the concentration camp at Mauthausen with Heinrich Himmler, and certainly on one occasion with Himmler and Kaltenbrunner.
Further affiant eaith not. AUGUST EIGRUBER
Affidavit concerning Seyss-Inquart's role in the German takeover of Austria in March 1938 and subsequent anti-Jewish actions
Authors
August Eigruber (Austrian Nazi Party member (1928-45))
August Eigruber
Austrian Nazi politician, Gauleiter of Oberdonau and Landeshauptmann of Upper Austria (1907-1947)
- Born: 1907-04-16 (Steyr)
- Died: 1947-05-28 (Landsberg Prison)
- Country of citizenship: Austria
- Occupation: politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Member of: Sturmabteilung
- Military rank: Obergruppenführer
- Position held: Gauleiter; member of the Reichstag of Nazi Germany
Date: 09 November 1945
Literal Title: Affidavit.
Defendant: Arthur Seyss-Inquart
Total Pages: 1
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-2909
HLSL Item No.: 453244
Notes:This document was apparently not entered as evidence.
Document Summary
PS-2909: Sworn affidavit by August Eigruber, Nazi leader in Austria