7174 - Arthur Seyss-Inquart Document Signed at Nuremberg, Claiming He "did everything in order to master the nutrition crisis of the Netherlands"

Arthur Seyss-Inquart Document Signed at Nuremberg, Claiming He "did everything in order to master the nutrition crisis of the Netherlands" Partly-printed DS, in German, signed “Seyss-Inquart,” one page, 8 x 12.5, December 6, 1945. Document headed (translated), "The International Military Tribunal, Defendant's Application for Summons for Witness," made while preparing his defense for the Nuremberg trials. Seyss-Inquart and his defense lawyer request testimony from "Ministerial Counsellor von der Wense," citing his knowledge of these facts: "1. The accused has always resisted the claims for the delivery of food-stuff directed to the Netherlands by the Reich. 2. The accused maintained the nutrition apparatus of the Netherlands, in spite of the protests of the Police and the Reich and in spite of the fact that he knew that it contained elements hostile to the occupation forces. 3. The accused had 230,000 hectares of meadows and pasture-land put to the plow for the nutrition economy of the Dutch population. 4. The accused prohibited the export of food-stuff during travels, in the interest of the Dutch nutrition. 5. The accused had all the taverns of low repute (Schlemmerlokale) closed. 6. The accused used all his influence particularly for the executions of the Red Cross actions from abroad. 7. The accused went immediately to the place of disaster, on the occasion of the catastrophe on the Island of Walcheren, in order to organize relief action. 8. On the occasion of the acute nutrition peril of Holland in the autumn of 1944 the accused founded the central shipping office (Zentralshederii) which brought Holland 200,000 tons of food-stuff." Seyss-Inquart states that this testimony will serve as proof "that the accused did everything in order to master the nutrition crisis of the Netherlands." Signed at the conclusion in pencil by Seyss-Inquart, and countersigned by his defense counsel. Backed by lightweight cardstock and in fine condition. Von der Wense, a senior Reich Ministry of the Interior official, was meant to portray Seyss-Inquart as a constrained legal administrator bound by decrees from Berlin rather than an architect of Nazi policy in the Netherlands. The Tribunal was not persuaded. The judges held that Seyss-Inquart actively shaped policy, exceeded mere bureaucratic implementation, and cooperated voluntarily with the SS, SD, and Wehrmacht, concluding that administrative legality and even genuine relief efforts did not excuse his participation in deportations, forced labor, and repression. Seyss-Inquart was convicted on all four counts and hanged October 16, 1946.