German Security Police Administrative Documents, 1937-38 (Irving File 8B)

This file is a collection of administrative correspondence, directives, and memos from the German security police (Geheime Staatspolizei – Gestapo) and related offices, primarily spanning the years 1937 to 1938. It appears to be a type of record compilation or registry used for bureaucratic tracking and communication within the Nazi police and SS apparatus.

The documents predominantly record the transfer, acknowledgment, and registration of political case files, including:

• Lists of suspected KPD (Communist Party of Germany) members, SPD (Social Democratic Party) materials, and other politically targeted groups.
• Surveillance reports on trade union members, anti-Nazi activists, and foreign nationals (including Austrians and exiles).
• Notices of confiscation or analysis of propaganda materials, newsletters, and publications (e.g. “Arbeiterturn”).
• Transmittals of dossiers involving individuals under suspicion, such as Alfred Strobel, Dr. Theodor Heydt, Josef Donderer, and others, typically annotated by case numbers and birth data.
• Communications referencing the procedural filing under directives such as Erlass C.d.S. B.Nr. 4957/37 vom 1.7.37.

Each entry generally includes:

• Reference to an internal case or file number (e.g., II 121-Abg.Nr.),
• Indication of which office received or processed the matter,
• Short remarks about contents (often limited to “wurde unter obiger Buchnummer hier übernommen” — i.e., registered under the above book number).

Disclaimer

This document is a historical record originating from Nazi Germany during the years 1937–1938.
It contains administrative correspondence and police files produced by the Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo) and related security offices. These records reflect the policies and practices of a totalitarian regime responsible for widespread persecution, human rights violations, and crimes against humanity.

Context and Use

• The contents of this file include official Nazi-era documents that reference individuals, political organizations, and targeted groups. They may contain language, ideologies, and administrative practices rooted in discrimination, anti-Semitism, anti-communism, and other forms of political repression.
• These materials are preserved and made accessible exclusively for purposes of historical research, documentation, and education, including the study of authoritarian regimes and the mechanisms of state surveillance.

Ethical Note

• This file does not endorse or legitimize the views, terminology, or policies expressed within these documents.
• Users are advised to approach this material with due care and critical historical awareness.

Condition Note

• Age & Authenticity: The documents date from 1937–1938 and appear to be original carbon copies or typewritten official communications. Given their age (nearly 90 years), they are in remarkably stable condition, but signs of aging are visible.

• Wear & Tear:

  • Margins: Some torn or frayed edges are evident on select pages, such as on page 20 and page 41, where handwritten cover sheets or inserts have minor edge degradation.

  • Binding and Pagination: Page numbers are mostly preserved and legible, often handwritten in the upper right corners. However, the sequence may suggest these were later compiled rather than originally bound.

• Paper Quality: The background shows grainy textures and tonal inconsistencies, indicating the use of thin, likely acidic paper typical of the period, susceptible to brittleness and oxidation.

• Text Clarity:

  • Typewritten text is largely legible, though some characters show fading (e.g., pages 1–2 and page 14)—likely due to ribbon wear on mechanical typewriters.

  • Carbon copy artifacts and ink bleeding are minor but present in several pages.

• Handwritten Notations:

  • Various pages (e.g., pages 3, 6, 24, 31) include handwritten routing notes, initials, or dates in pen or pencil. These are often scribbled in the margins or bottom areas and occasionally difficult to decipher due to faded ink or cursive style.

The document is in fair to good archival condition for its age:

• Structurally complete, with no large-scale damage or missing pages detected.

• Legible throughout, though aging, ink fading, and rough edges appear intermittently.

• Annotations and stamps add to its historical authenticity, though some make full visual clarity more challenging in spots.