1940 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 778
20 May 1940 Nr 87
Decree of the Fuehrer of 18 May 1940 on the Execution of Power by the Government in the Lowlands
In order to secure public order and public life in the Dutch territories taken under the protection of German troops, I decree :
Paragraph 1
The occupied Dutch territories will be subordinated to the "Reichs Commissioner for the Occupied Dutch territories." His seat will be The Hague. The Reichs Commissioner is protector of the interests of the Reich and will represent the supreme power of the government within the civil sphere. He will be directly subordinated to me and will receive directives and orders from me.
Paragraph 2
The General military commander in the Netherlands will exercise military sovereign rights, his demands within the civilian sphere will be carried out by the Reichs Commissioner. He has the right to order the measures which are necessary for the exe-
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Î37è-P$
cution of his military mission and for military security. The same right belongs to the supreme commanders of the branches of the armed forces.
Paragraph S
The Reich Commissioner may use German Police forces to carry out his orders. The German Police forces are at the disposal of the German military commander insofar as the military necessities require this and if the missions of the Reichs Commissioner permit it.
Paragraph 4
For the execution of his orders and the functioning of the administration the Reichs Commissioner may make use of the Dutch authorities.
Paragraph 5
1. The law which was formerly valid remains in force, in as much as it is compatible with the occupation.
2. The Reichs Commissioner may enforce law by decree. The ordinances will be proclaimed in the "Ordinance for the occupied Dutch territories."
Paragraph 6
I appoint Reichs Minister Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart to be Reich Commissioner for the occupied Dutch territories.
Paragraph 7
Regulations for the execution and completion of this decree will be issued according to my directives for the civilian sphere by the Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellory and for the military sphere by the Chief of the supreme command of the armed forces.
Paragraph 8
This decree will be enforced as soon as and insofar as I shall cancel the order given to the Supreme Commander of the Army for the exercise of the complete power.
Fuehrer's Hqs. 18 May 1940
The Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler
The President of the Cabinet Counsel for the defense of the Reich, Goering, Field Marshal
The Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery, Dr. Lammers
The Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces, Keitel
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, von Ribbentrop The Reich Minister of the Interior, Frick.
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TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT I37&-PS
Date: Date Unknown
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-I37&
HLSL Item No.: Unknown