Berlin, W.8., Wilhelm Street 79, 30 January 37
My Fuehrer:
I thank you for the confidence which you have placed into me during the four years of your leadership and for the honour you do me in offering to admit me to the party. My conscience forbids
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1534—PS
me however to accept this offer. I believe in the principles of positive Christianity and must remain faithful to my Lord and to myself. Party membership however would mean that I should have to face without contradiction the steadily aggravating attacks by party offices on the Christian confessions and those who want to remain faithful to their religious convictions.
This decision has been infinitely difficult for me. For never in my life I have performed my duty with greater joy and satisfaction than under your wise state leadership.
I ask to be permitted to resign.
With German Greetings!
Your very obedient, (signed) Baron v. Eltz.
Letter to Hitler on Hitler's invitation to join the party, his decision not to do so because of the party's increasing hostility to the Christian churches, and requesting permission to resign as minister
Authors
Paul Eltz-Ruhenach, von (freiherr, postal and communications minister)
Paul von Eltz-Ruebenach*
German politician (1875-1943)
- Born: 1875-02-09 (Wahn)
- Died: 1943-08-25 (Linz am Rhein)
- Country of citizenship: German Reich
- Occupation: politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Employer: Prussian state railways
- Educated at: RWTH Aachen University; Technical University of Berlin
- VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/59991886
Date: 30 January 1937
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-1534
Citation: IMT (page 1715)
HLSL Item No.: 451328
Notes:In the transcript the exhibit number is mis-stated as 412; 402 is correct.
Document Summary
PS-1534: Letter from Minister Eltzz-Ruebenach to HITLER, declining acceptance of Party Membership
PS-1534: Letter from Reich Minister Baron von Eltz to Hitler, 30 January 1937, containing his refusal to join the party and requesting dismissal from his post
PS-1534: Letter of resignation from Baron V. Eltz to Hitler.