7153 - Julius Streicher Document Signed, Denying Participation in the Theft of Jewish Real Estate

Julius Streicher Document Signed, Denying Participation in the Theft of Jewish Real Estate Partly-printed DS, one page, 8 x 12, November 25, 1945. Document headed, "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Streicher and his defense lawyer request testimony from "Gau Treasurer Hoellrich," citing his knowledge that Streicher "did not participate in the forcible transfer of Jewish real estate to Gentile ownership, which took place toward the end of 1938 or the beginning of 1939; that these 'forcible transfers to gentile ownership' were undertaken without my knowledge by deputy Gau Leader Holz and that I refused to shield Holz before the Fuehrer afterwards, thus drawing his enmity upon myself." Signed at the conclusion in pencil by Julius Streicher, and countersigned by his defense attorney. In fine condition. Streicher’s defense here sought to distance him from the forced transfer of Jewish property in Franconia by placing responsibility on his deputy, Karl Holz, and claiming that the seizures had been carried out without his knowledge. The argument was a narrow one: as Gauleiter, Streicher exercised sweeping political authority in the region, while Höllrich, the Gau treasurer named as a witness, was positioned chiefly to address financial and administrative matters. Ultimately, the tribunal rejected Streicher’s broader effort to minimize his responsibility. His conviction rested above all on his relentless antisemitic propaganda and incitement to persecution and murder through Der Stürmer, and he was sentenced to death and hanged on October 16, 1946.