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This is a very historic informational copy (copy machines as we know them were non-existent) of correspondence about additional newly adopted requirements for Jews who wished to emigrate to the United States, as well as additions to the secret 24 August 1938 Nazi decree that dealt with certificates of good conduct for Jews who wished to emigrate. The two-sided typed letter originated at the office of the Head of Police at Schottenring 11 in Wien (Vienna, the second largest city of Greater Germany), and was sent to the offices of both Reichsstatthalter Baldur von Schirach on Ballhausplatz 2 in Wien and an identical copy to Reichsführer-SS und Chef der deutschen Polizei Heinrich Himmler at his Ordnungspolizei office on Unter den Linden 74 in Berlin.

The letter is dated 4 October 1940 and references the secret police Erlass or decree dated 24 August 1938 (Pol 0 - VuR Str Allg. 105/38) which dealt with certificates of good conduct that were allowed to be issued ONLY to Jews who wished to leave Nazi Germany. 

The police official who wrote this letter had recently learned that the American Consulate in Vienna now required that Jews who wished to emigrate to the USA supply two notarized declarations stating that they did not have a criminal record, on top of all the other requirements already needed. The letter mentions this addition to a form that Jews had to fill out in order to get a visa for the United States, and that more inquiries from American authorities should be expected about Jews with possible criminal records, as there might be mistrust about German authorities deliberately concealing criminal offenses by Jews who wished to emigrate.

This 8-¼ x 11-¾ inch letter has stamps showing it was received at the office of Reichsstatthalter von Schirach on Ballhausplatz 2 in Vienna on 8 October 1940. As you can see, many notes and additions were made on it by officials who read it, before it finally was filed in the archive on 10 October 1940 (red bordered stamp at the top - see photo right). The signature below that red stamp is of Regierungsrat Dr. Alfons Felber, a high-level assistant of Reichsstatthalter Baldur von Schirach, who among other things dealt with foreign matters.

The reference photo left shows the Vienna Police headquarters on Schottenring 11, where this letter originated in October 1940.  The reference photo below shows the office of Reichsstatthalter von Schirach on Ballhausplatz 2 in Vienna which today is still the office of the Austrian Chancellor.

This high-level police correspondence is another example of the complex bureaucratic nature of the government of Nazi Germany! It provides great insight into the rules and regulations for Jews, even if they were trying to leave Nazi Germany!

Very rare, condition exactly as shown. Please read the text below explaining the origins of this rare historical document.