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RARE URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL AUGUST 1941 REINHARD HEYDRICH DIRECTIVE REGARDING TRANSIT PAPERWORK NEEDED FOR RESTRICTED TRAVEL TO AND FROM REICHSKOMMISSARIAT OSTLAND

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This very rare and important, time-sensitive Directive dated 8 August 1941 originated at the office of Obergruppenführer-SS Reinhard Heydrich at the Nazi Ministry of the Interior on Prinz Albrechtstraße in Berlin, where the offices of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the Sicherheitsdienst and Police were located. As clearly stated at the top of the red bordered first page, it was not allowed for public release!

The four pages contain instructions regarding technical passport regulations for travel to and from the newly established Reichskommissariat Ostland, the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the western part of what is now Belarus. This area became an administrative entity of the Nazi Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories after the Wehrmacht invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

This 80+ year old Nazi Directive also provides details about the Durchlaßschein or transit pass for Reichskommissariat Ostland (sample A88 produced by the Nazi State Printing Office in Berlin) such as the color of the cover, ink colors to be used, rubber stamps, dating, as well as how they should be filled out properly.

The last paragraph points out that District Police officials had to carefully study all the requirements of paperwork needed for travel to and from Reichskommissariat Ostland stated in this important official Directive, and that they were responsible for observing all regulations absolutely correctly.

Copies of this directive were was sent to all Kreispolizeibehörden (District Police Authorities) in Greater Germany and this example was sent to police officials in Wien (Vienna), Germany now Austria. The first sentence says that the content of the Directive was agreed upon by the Reichsminister für die besetzten Ostgebiete, Alfred Rosenberg, effective 15 August 1941.

The four A4 size (8-1/4 x 11-5/8 inch) pages clearly state the detailed regulations for very limited traffic in and out of the Reichskommissariat Ostland. Only when it was absolutely Notwendig or essential (for government or economic business, for example) would the necessary travel papers be issued.
Details cover special permission and visas needed, which official entity was allowed to issue them (District Police after checking checking the applicant’s background with the local Gestapo and Sipo office), which persons qualified (Jews did not - see image below), what kind of paperwork and proof applicants had to provide, different rules for one-time use and multiple use, etc.

The Heydrich signature at the bottom of page 4 is not a pen and ink signature, but a rubber stamp. The stamp was applied below the words In Vertretung which translates as “By Proxy”. With punch holes and a slight tear along the bottom edge of page 1.

Very rare correspondence rescued years ago from the original city archives of Vienna. See picture below for additional provenance.