"Non-Germans" Under the Third Reich (187 page)

26.
Decree on Schools dated September 22, 1939 (
VOBl. Militärbefehlshaber Danzig–Westpreußen
, 25), and directives by the head of the Civil Administration Danzig–West Prussia (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-107).

27.
It was intended to extend the practice to Upper Silesia, but this was opposed by the district president of Kattowitz: see his note of November 23, 1943 (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-38).

28.
Decree of September 20, 1939, by the head of the civil administration, Posen (
VOBl. Posen
, 1939, 9 V, 63 f.), which permitted dismissal without notice if “no need” existed. That there was no such need was of course confirmed in the circular by the district president of Posen (February 28, 1940) (Łuczak,
Dyskryminacja Polaków
, 335 f.).

29.
At table on the evening of June 8, 1942, Hitler agreed with Bormann’s remark that it had been necessary to cut teaching in the Warthegau even more than in Austria. Hitler felt that primary school teachers should not be “made stupid by … excessive training.” Those among the Warthegau teachers who felt called to higher things, “who took continuing education upon themselves, who showed that they were suited to grade school and secondary school, would be promoted, with or without studies” (quoted by Picker,
Hitlers Tischgespräche
, 188 ff.). This remark apparently referred to teaching at German schools; how much more was it true for the teaching of “alien” children! See also note 32.

30.
Letter dated July 22, 1940, from the district president of Posen to the Reich governor of Posen (Łuczak,
Dyskryminacja Polaków
, 331 f.).

31.
According to the report of the Inter-Allied Information Committee, London, already quoted, Nuremberg doc. L-36 (hardly two hours of classes daily, destruction of books, which it was forbidden to replace, no heating in classrooms, frequent requisition of schools for the military, etc.).

32.
Circular of March 26, 1940 (Łuczak,
Dyskryminacja Polaków
, 333 ff.), and decree of June 27, 1942, by the district president of Hohensalza (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-1213) (“education in cleanliness and orderliness, decent behavior and obedience to Germans”).

33.
Circular of March 26, 1940, and decree of June 27, 1942, by the district president of Posen (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-1213).

34.
Decree dated September 20, 1939, by the head of the civil administration of Posen on the introduction of the German language in all schools (
VOBl. Posen
, p. 9; in
Doc. Occ
. 5:62 f.).

35.
“… and so that brief printed or written instructions on work processes, operation of machines, etc. can be read. Teaching of German should be limited to the simple ability to make oneself understood. No effort should be wasted … in attempting to teach error-free German”; education project of December 16, 1943, issued by the district president of Hohensalza (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-12).

36.
Teaching schedule dated December 16, 1943 (ibid.); such collections (therapeutic plants) were common in Upper Silesia too (note of November 23, 1943, from the district president of Kattowitz, Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-38).

37.
Circular dated March 26, 1940, from the district president of Posen (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-1213).

38.
Letter of July 22, 1940, from the district president of Posen to the Reich governor of Wartheland (Łuczak,
Dyskryminacja Polaków
, 331 ff.); see too the comment of the same date by the district president of Posen on the decree of July 16, 1940, issued by the Reich Ministry for Science and Education (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-2). Decree of June 27, 1942, issued by the district president of Hohensalza (doc. I-1213), sec. 4: “It is not acceptable to have Polish children in a school building where German children are taught, unless the classrooms, playgrounds, and toilets can be so completely separated that the Polish children in no way come into contact with the German children.”

39.
In the administrative district of Posen, schooling of Polish children began in 1940 (circular of March 26, 1940, by the district president of Posen), and in the administrative district of Hohensalza probably not until 1942 (decree of June 27, 1942, by the district president of Hohensalza): “… gives rise to the need for Polish children in general to go to school” (Institute for Western Studies, Pozna
, doc. I-1213).

40.
Report for October 1940 by the district president of Hohensalza, p. 32 (children already at school were sent voluntarily; no pressure was exerted on the parents), and that of October 20, 1941, pp. 4–5: “The neglect of Polish children is increasing.” More schools needed to be built, but care should be taken that “the Poles could not become competitors to Germans.” The report claimed that there were five schools for Poles, with 7,700 children and 30 German volunteer staff; only children who went voluntarily were still taught. The effect of schooling was said to be unmistakable: the children were “hard-working and attentive,” more polite, etc.

41.
Note dated November 1, 1940, from the industrial department of the Wartheland Chamber of Commerce, no. 6 (Łuczak,
Dyskryminacja Polaków
, 336 ff.).