Chapter LXVII: Section 2

This law is effective as of the time of the death of Reichspraesident von Hindenburg.

The Reich Chancellor
Adolf Hitler

The Reich Deputy Chancellor
von Papen

The Reich Minister of Foreign Affairs
Freiherr von Neurath

The Reich Minister of Interior
Frick

The Reich Minister of Finance
Graf Schwerin von Krosigk

The Reich Minister of Labor
Franz Seldte

The Reich Minister of Justice
Dr. Guertner

The Reich Minister for Defense
von Blomberg

The Reich Postal Minister and Transportation Minister
Freiherr von Eltz

The Reich Minister for Nutrition and Agriculture
R. Walther Darre

The Reich Minister for Enlightenment and Propaganda
Dr. Goebbels

The Reich Minister for Air Travel
Hermann Goering

The Reich Minister for Science, Training and Education
Bernhard Rust

The Reich Minister without Portfolio
Rudolf Hess

The Reich Minister without Portfolio
Hanns Kerrl

PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 2004-PS

1933 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 153

Preliminary Law for the Coordination of the Federal States under the
Reich, 31 March 1933.

Article 4

(1) The popular representation of the federal states (diets [Landtage], citizens’ assemblies [Burgerschuften]) is hereby dissolved with the exception of the Prussian diet [Preussischer Landtag] elected 5 March 1933, so far as this has not already happened according to the law of the state.

(2) They will be newly constituted according to the number of votes which in the election to the German Reichstag were given to the electoral lists within each federal state. In this connection, seats falling to the Communist Party will not be given out. The same will be true for electoral lists of electoral groups which are to be regarded as a substitute for the electoral lists of the Communist Party.

* * * * * * *

Berlin, 31 March 1933.

The Reich Chancellor
ADOLF HITLER

The Reich Minister of Interior
FRICK

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1933 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 173

Second Law Integrating the Laender with the Reich 7 April 1933

The Reich Government has enacted the following law which is hereby promulgated:

1

(1) In the German “Laender”, with the exception of Prussia, the Reich President, upon the proposal of the Reich Chancellor, shall appoint the Reich governor, the Reich governor shall require the observance of the general policy laid down by the Reich Chancellor. The following powers of “Land” authority belong to him:

1. Appointment and removal of the head of the “Land” Government, and
upon his proposal, the other members of the “Land” Government.

2. Dissolution of the legislature and designation of the new election
subject to the rule of section 8 of the Provisional Law of March
31, 1933, Integrating the German “Laender” with the Reich.

3. Preparations and publication of “Land” laws, including the laws
which are determined upon by the “Land” Government according to
section I of the Provisional Law of March 31, 1933, Integrating the
German “Laender” with the Reich. Article 70 of the Constitution of
August 11, 1919, applies accordingly.

4. Upon the proposal of the “Land” Government, appointment and
dismissal of the higher “Land” officials and judges, so far as this
formerly was accomplished by the highest “Land” officials.

5. The power of pardon.

(2) The Reich governor may preside over the meetings of the “Land” Government.

(3) Article 63 of the German Constitution of August 11, 1919 remains unaltered.

2

(1) A Reich governor may not simultaneously be a member of a “Land” Government. He shall belong to the “Land” whose sovereign powers he exercises. His official residence is at the seat of the “Land” Government.

(2) For several “Lands” in each of which there are less than 2 million inhabitants, a common “Lands” governor who must be a resident of one of these “Lands”, may be appointed. The Reich President shall designate the governor’s official residence.

3

(1) The Reich governor is appointed for the duration of a “Land” Legislative period. He can be recalled at any time by the Reich President on the proposal of the Reich Chancellor.

(2) The provisions of the Reich Ministry Law of March 27, 1930, find appropriate application to the office of Reich governor. His remuneration is borne by the Reich; the establishment of its size remains unsettled.

4

Votes of no confidence of the “Land” legislature against the head and the members of the “Land” Government are not permissible. * * *

The Reich Chancellor
Adolf Hitler

The Reich Minister of the Interior
Frick

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 2006-PS

1934 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 75

Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich 30 January 1934

The popular referendum and the Reichstag election of November 12, 1933 have proven that the German people have attained an indestructible internal unity superior to all internal subdivisions of political character.

Consequently, the Reichstag has enacted the following law which is hereby promulgated with the unanimous vote of the Reichstag after ascertaining that the requirements of the Reich Constitution have been met:

ARTICLE I

Popular assemblies [Volksvertretungen] of the “Laender” shall be abolished.

ARTICLE II

(1) The sovereign powers [Hoheitsrechte] of the “Laender” are transferred to the Reich.

(2) The “Laender” governments are placed under the Reich government.

ARTICLE III

The Reich governors are placed under the administrative supervision of the Reich Minister of Interior.

ARTICLE IV

The Reich Government may issue new constitutional laws.

ARTICLE V

The Reich Minister of Interior may administer the necessary legal and administrative regulations for the execution of the law.

ARTICLE VI

This law shall be effective on the day of its promulgation.

Berlin, 30 January 1934.

The Reich President
von Hindenburg

The Reich Chancellor
Adolf Hitler

The Reich Minister of the Interior
Frick

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1935 REICHSGESETZBLATT, PART I, PAGE 49

German Communal Ordinance 30 January 1935

The German Communal Ordinance [Deutsche Gemeindeordnung] aims at qualifying the communes for the highest achievements in close cooperation with Party and State, affording them full opportunities for helping to accomplish--in the true spirit of Baron von Stein, the creator of communal home rule--the purpose of the State: to restore the priority of the common weal over the individual in a united people permeated by one national will; to place the public interest before selfish ends and to bring about the true national community under the leadership of the best of the people, in which every willing fellow-citizen finds the feeling of mutual solidarity.

The German Communal Ordinance is a basic law of the National Socialist State. The reconstruction of the Reich will be completed on the foundations laid by the act.

The Reich Government has therefore enacted the following law which is hereby promulgated. * * *

Section 6

(1) The mayor [Burgermeister] is the head of the commune. He is represented by the executive officers [Beigeordnete].

(2) The mayor and the executive officers receive their appointments through the confidence of Party and State. In order to insure harmony between the communal administration and the Party, the delegate of the National Socialist Workers’ Party participates in certain matters. Continuous contacts between the communal administration and the citizens is guaranteed by the councillors [Gemeinderaete], who as meritorious and experienced men assist the mayor through their advice. * * *