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The Legal Status of Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2017

Kurt V. Laun
Kurt V. Laun*
Affiliation:
Rechtsanwalt, Hamburg, Germany
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Extract

Hitler had been recognized by all foreign governments. Also during the last war the recognition was not withdrawn. One has therefore to assume that, from the point of view of international law, Hitler was the lawful government and representative of Germany. For the purposes of this article we need not deal with the question whether, according to German public law, he came to power, for instance, by means of a coup d'état or a perjury.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Journal of International Law , Volume 45 , Issue 2 , April 1951 , pp. 267 - 285
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 1951

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References

1 Arndt, Süddeutsche Juristen Zeitung (SJZ), 1948, p. 4; and Rudolf Laun, Allge- meine Staatslehre (7th ed., Hamburg, 1948), p. 57.

2 Klein, Neues Deutsches Verfassungsrecht (Frankfurt/Main, 1949), p. 14.

3 Geiler, Die gegeniwärtige völkerrechtliche Lage Deutschlands (Bremen, 1947), p. 13; Kaufmann, Deutschlands Rechtslage unter der Besetzung (Stuttgart, 1948), p. 12; Sauser-Hall, Schweizerisches Jahrbuch für internationales Recht (Zürich, 1946), p. 22; but see Kraske in Juristische Rundschau, 1949, p. 271, in whose opinion Dönitz was Hitler's lawful legal representative.

4 Report of the Bundesrat, Schweiserisches Jahrbuch, 1946, p. 202.

5 Compare Kraske, loc. cit., and Klein, op. oit., p. 14.

6 Oppenheim-Lauterpacht, International Law (6th ed.), Vol. I, p. 518, and Vol II, p. 466; in the same sense Schätzel, Wörterbuch des Völkerrechts (Berlin and Leipzig, 1924-1929), Vol. I, p. 367, and Stödter, Deutschlands Rechtslage (Hamburg, 1948), pp. 57-58, with further references.

7 i Official Gazette of the Control Council for Germany (Off.Gaz.CCG), Supp. 1, p. 7.

8 Military Government Gazette, Germany, British Zone of Control (Military Gazette), No. 5, pp. 26, 27; Jahrbuch für Internationales und Ausländisches Oeffentliches Recht (Jahrbuch) (Hamburg), Vol. I, 1948, p. 188.

9 Quoted by Schwelb, this JOURNAL, Vol. 40 (1946), p. 812.

10 See Dross, Deutsche Rechtszeitung (DRZ), 1948, p. 457; for further examples see Laun, Reden und Aufsätze zum Vötkerrecht und Staatsrecht (Hamburg, 1947) (Reden), p. 19, and Stödter, op. cit., pp. 95 and 117.

11 Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 6; further references in Stödter, op. cit., p. 60, and Oberlandesgericht (OLG), Tübingen, in Rechtsprechung zum Wiedergutmachungsrecht (RzW), 1949-50, p. 32; Oesterreiehisches Bundesgericht, Juristische Blätter, 1946, p. 142, and 1947, p. 421; U. S. ex.rel. Kessler v. Watkins, 163 Fed. (2d) 140, Jahrbuch,1949, p. 821; Obergericht, Zurich, Schweizerisches Jahrbuch, 1946, p. 208; report of the Schweizer Bundesrat, ibid., p. 202; Schindler, ibid., p. 210; Sauser-Hall; ibid., p. 25; Czapski (Holland), Neve Justie, 1948, p. 108; Mann (Great Britain), SJZ, 1947, p. 465; Rheinstein, in Michigan Law Review, 1948, p. 25; British Foreign Office in Rex v.Bottrill ex parte Küchenmeister, [1946] 2 All Eng. L. R. 434, quoted by Schwelb, loc. cit., p. 812; but see Kelsen, this JOURNAL, Vol. 38 (1944), p. 689.

12 In this sense the prevailing opinion since Laun, “Die Zeit,” March 13, 1947, reprinted in Reden, p. 16; Stödter, op. cit., p. 74; Schlochauer, Archiv für Völkerrecht (Archiv), 1948, p. 196; Dölle-Zweigert, Kommentar zum Gesetz 52 (Stuttgart, 1947),p. 8; Geiler, op. cit., p. 10; Zinn, SJZ, 1947, p. 10; Menzel, Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 75; but see Kelsen, loc. cit., p. 692, and ibid., Vol. 39 (1945), p. 518; Quincy Wright, this JOURNAL, Vol. 41 (1947), p. 50; Lewald, Neue Juristische Wochenschrift (NJW), 1948, p. 381; OLG, Tübingen, RzW, 1949. The expression “condominium” is employed in the strict sense of the continental theory (see Menzel, Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 74).

13 Verordnungsblatt für die britische Zone (VOBl.br.Z.), 1949, pp. 399, 473 and 502.

14 Accord: OLG, Frankfurt/Main, SJZ, 1950, 347; Dernedde, Justiz vmd Verwaltung (JuV), 1950, p. 27.

15 VOBl.br.Z., 1949, p. 406.

16 Hamburger Bafen Nachrichten, May 1, 1949, p. 4; also Norway considers herself to be in a state of war with Germany (Fairplay, 1949, p. 426).

17 VOBl.br.Z., 1949, p. 176.

18 Ibid., p. 419.

19 Beilage sum Bundesanzeiger No. 127 of 1950.

20 Dienststrafhof, Deutsche Verwaltung (DV), 1949, p. 497; Grewe, DRZ, 1949, p. 315.

21 Gesetsblatt der Deutschen Demolcratischen Republik, 1949, p. 6.

22 Grotewohl, Deutscher Volkrat—Informationsdienst (DVR), 2nd year, No. 1, p. 8.

23 Accord: Oberster Gerichtshof für die britische Zone in Koln (OGH, Koln), DRZ,1950, pp. 14 and 258; Kammergericht, Berlin, DRZ, 1949, p. 543; Landesverwaltungsgericht, Hannover, DV, 1949, p. 70; Oberlandesgerichte, Hamburg, SJZ, 1949, p. 785; Frankfurt/Main, ibid., 1950, p. 347; Nürnberg, ibid., p. 426;Rietzler, ibid., 1949, p. 786; Ostertag, RzW, 1950, p. 254; Dönhoff Betriebsberater, 1950, p. 414; probably also Landgericht, Leipzig, ibid., p. 419; but see Kluge, SJZ, 1950, p. 426; Landgericht, Stuttgart, Betriebsberater, 1950, p. 409.

24 Mosler, SJZ, 1947, p. 362; Klein, op. cit., p. 35; OLG, Tübingen, RzW, 1949/50, p. 34; compare Ostertag, BzW, 1949/50, p. 254; further references in Stödter, op. cit., p. 86.

25 Compare Oppenheim, Vol. I, p. 525 and Scheuner, Die Friedenswarte, 1949, p. 85.

26 Schätzel, Archiv, 1949, p. 20; Grewe, Bin Besatzungsatatut für Deutschland (Stuttgart, 1948), pp. 51-52; Maurach, Ostwärts der Oder und Neisse (Hannover, 1949), p. 102; Sauser-Hall, Schwevserisches Jahrbuch, 1946, p. 27; Hold-Ferneck, Jahrbuch des Völkerrechts (Leipzig, 1932), Vol. II, p. 109; Budde, Gibt es noch eine deutsche Aussenpolitik (Hamburg, 1947), p. 85; Resolutions of the German University Teachers of International Law at their annual meetings in Hamburg (Resolutions), 1950, No. 2, Justin und Verwaltung, 1950, p. 234.

27 Resolutions, 1948, Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 7; Laun, Hamburger Freie Presse (HFP), April 5, 1949, p. 2. Self-determination is considered to be a dominating principle, but not to be actual law, by Scheuner, Die Friedenswarte, 1949, p. 92; compare Grewe, op. cit., p. 53, and Grotewohl, DVR, 2nd year, No. 1, p. 7.

28 Compare Laun, Die Welt, Dec. 18, 1948, and Vie Lehren des Westfälischen Friedens (Hamburg, 1949).

29 Maurach, op. cit., p. 119; Laun, loc.cit., note 27, above, p. 2; Resolutions, No. 5, 1947, and No. 4, 1950, Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 8, and Justis und Verwaltung, 1950, p. 134.

30 Laun, Die Lehren des Westfälischen Friedens, p. 44.

31 Details in Laun, Wörterbuch, Vol. II, p. 82, at p. 100.

32 Reprinted in Die Friedensverträge (Heidelberg, 1947).

33 According to Hertz, Die Friedenswarte, 1948, p. 45.

34 Resolutions, No. 3, 1947, Jahrbuch, Vol. 1,1948, p. 6; Laun, Hamburger Freie Presse, April 5, 1949; Schlochauer, Archiv, 1948, p. 203; Stödter, op. cit., pp. 171 and 228; for both see, however, note 71; Budde, op. cit., p. 84; Armstrong as quoted in Hamburger Freie Presse, Oct. 8, 1947; Kammergericht in Juristische Rundschau, 1949, p. 48, probably also OLG, Tübingen, RzW, 1949/50, p. 33; Klein, op, cit., p. 35. For an analogous application see Heinemann, Die Welt, Nov. 15, 1947; but cf. Kaufmann, p. 16, and the official British view: Duncan Wilson, Die Welt, Nov. 22, 1947; General Robertson, aa quoted by Heinemann, ibid., Nov. 15, 1947; Jennings, Monatsschrift für Deutsches Secht,1948 p. 6. For further British opinions see Stödter, op. cit., pp. 153-154; compare Rheinstein, Michigan Law Review, 1948, p. 27.

35 For the two first examples see Hamburger Allgemeine Zeitung, Sept. 12, 1947; for the third and other examples see Stödter, op. cit., p. 178.

36 In the Kurier, No. 119, 1948, as quoted by Grewe, op. cit., p. 59; see also this JOURNAL, Vol. 38 (1944), p. 518.

37 Ordinance No. 1, Art. I, par. 20, Military Gazette No. 2, p. 2.

38 Laun, Reden, p. 49.

39 Laun, Haager Landkriegsordnung (5th ed., Hannover, 1950), p. 85; but see Jennings, loc. cit., 1948, p. 6.

40 Laun, loc. cit.; Jellinek, Deutsches Handwerkcsblatt, 1949, Heft 1.

41 Accord: Laun, Haager Landkriegsordnung, p. 85; Jellinek, loc. cit.; Budde, op. cit., p. 84; probably also Schlochauer,DRZ, 1947, pp. 119-120; Luther, NJW, 1950, p. 441; Ross as quoted by Schätzel, Archiv, 1949, p. 127; compare Grewe, op. cit., p. 83.

42 Strupp, Zeitschrift für Völkerrecht, Vol. XI, p. 265.

43 O. T. Roed as quoted by Botholz, Archiv, 1948, p. 141.

44 Laun, Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 18; Menzel, ibid., p. 66; Schlochauer, Archiv, 1948, p. 203; Stödter, op. cit., pp. 163, 168, 170, 175; compare Schick, this JOURNAL, Vol. 41 (1947), p. 780.

45 Reprinted in this JOURNAL, Supp., Vol. 43 (1949), p. 127; also in Die Friedenswarte,

46 Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 6; see also Laun, Die Menschenrechte (Hamburg, 1948), pp. 16-17.

47 Stillschweig, Die Friedenswarte, 1949, p. 7.

48 Laun, Europäisohe Zukunft, 1949, p. 10; Donnedieu de Vabres in his opinion on the French Law on War Criminals of Sept. 15, 1948; see also Stillsehweig, loc. cit., pp. 9-10.

49 Nüirtiberger Urteil (Schwann Verlag, Düsseldorf, 1946), p. 59; see, in particular, Stödter, op. cit., p. 162; Laun, Eaager Landkriegsordnung, pp. 21, 22; Geiler, op. cit., p. 14; Grewe, op. cit., p. 109; Jellinek, Deutsches Bandwerkcsblatt, Heft 1, 1949; Dyölle Zweigert, Gesetz 52, p. 6; OGH, Köln, NJW, 1950, p. 26.

50 Laun, op. cit., p. 85, Grewe, op. cit., p. Ill, and the prevailing opinion; but see references in Stödter, op. cit., p. 108.

51 Compare Stödter, op. cit., p. 109; Oppenheim, Yol. II, p. 448; Laun, op. cit., pp. 50 ff., 113, 114; Liszt, Das Völlcerrecht (Berlin, 1925), p. 441.

52 Strupp, Wörterbuch, Vol. II, p. 350; see also Grewe, op. cit., p. 112; according to Stödter, reprisals aim at compensation for damage.

53 Stödter, op. cit., p. Ill; Grewe, op. cit., p. 112.

54 E.g., Pitman B. Potter, this JOURNAL, Vol. 43 (1949), p. 324, who says, however, that the actions taken by the occupants “had no place in accepted law” and were “strictly forbidden.”

55 Jahrbuch, Vols. II/III, 1948, pp. 428 and 415 resp.; see also Stödter, op. eit., p. 32.

56 Off. Gaz. CCG, Supp. No. 1, and Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, pp. 185-186.

57 Verdross, op. cit., pp. 81, 104; Stödter, op. cit., p. 28; Sauser-Hall, op. cit., p. 54; Schlochauer, Archiv, 1948, p. 192; OLG, Tübingen, RzW, 1949/50, p. 33; Laun, op. eit., p. 119.

58 Laun, Reden, p. 88.

59 OLG, Tübingen, BzW, 1949/50, p. 33; Grewe, op. cit., p. 20; see also Menzel, JEuropa Archiv, 1947, p. 1014; Stödter, op. cit., p. 30; Kraske, Juristische Rundschau, 1949, p. 102; Klein, op. cit., p. 18.

60 See Schlochauer, Archiv, 1948, p. 192, quoting Eden in the same sense; for the background of the demand for unconditional surrender see Stödter, op. cit., p. 33.

61 But in this sense Zinn, SJZ, 1947, p. 6; Geiler, op. cit., p. 12; further references in Stödter, op. cit., p. 133; Stödter arrives at a similar conclusion as he points out on pp. 231 and 237, after having declared that the Hague Regulations were applicable to Germany, that the right of the occupants to realize their (military and political) war aims by means of the occupation is an essential characteristic of the powers of the occupant which has only been hinted at in Art. 43 of the Hague Regulations. Schlochauer, Archiv, 1948, p. 204, attributes the same effect to the “Besatzungszweck” (aim of the occupation); see also v.d.Decken, Jahrbuch, Vol. I, 1948, p. 25.

62 E.g., Hold-Ferneck, op. cit., Vol. II, p. 215; Rühland, Archiv, 1949, p. 124; see also Hershey, Essentials of International Public Law (New York, 1912), note 18, p. 153; further references in Schlochauer, Archiv, 1948, p. 198, and Stödter, op. cit., p. 137.

63 Stödter, op. cit., p. 136; Liszt, op. cit., p. 442.

64 Wilson, Die Welt, Nov. 22, 1947, p. 2; General Bobertson and U. S. War Department as quoted by Stödter, op. cit., p. 154-157.

65 E.g., Grewe, op. cit., p. 135-136.

66 E.g., Menzel, Jahrbuch, 1948, Vol. I, p. 81; Rechtsgutachten des Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institutes, Jahrbuch II/III, 1948, p. 369, at p. 373; see also Stödter, op. cit., p. 144, and Mann, SJZ, 1947, p. 465.

67 Schlochauer, loc. cit., p. 199; Stödter, op. cit., p. 139; Laun, Haager Landkriegsorinung, p. 130.

68 Schlochauer, loc. cit.

69 Die Welt, Aug. 5, 1949, p. 7.

70 For this and the following two arguments see Laun, op. cit., pp. 54 ff.

71 Quoted by Zinn, Süddeutsche Juristen Zeitung, 1947, p. 7.

72 According to Kaufmann, op. cit ., p. 77; accord: Eesolutions, No. 8, 1947, Jahrbuch,Vol. I, 1948, p. 6.

73 Geiler, op. cit ., p. 17.

74 Verdross, op. cit ., p. 100; see also Liszt, op. cit ., p. 183.

75 Off. Oaz. CCG, Supp. 1, pp. 14 and 10; see also the Statement on Consultation with the Governments of other United Nations, ibid ., p. 12.

76 Grewe, op. cit ., p. 82; Rheinstein, Michigan Law Review, 1948, p. 27; Kaufmann,pp. 20, 28; von Mangoldt, op. tit., p. 9; compare Bndde, Hamburger Allgemeine Zeitung,Oct. 7, 1947; further references in Stödter, op. cit ., pp. 187, 189.

77 E.g., OLG, Koblenx, NJW, 1949, p. 108; Koch, ibid.; Schack, SJZ, 1949, p. 697;OLG, Frankfurt/Main, SJZ, 1949, p. 759; Schätzel, NJW, 1948, p. 452. For further references see my remarks in Deutsche verwaltung, 1949, p. 531, and Stödter, op. cit .,p. 214; see also Röhrecke, DRZ, 1950, p. 35, and Dehler, SJZ, 1949, p. 212.

78 Laws Nos. 13 and 28, and amendments of the Allied High Commission, Official Gazette, Allied High Commission, 1949/1950, pp. 54, 168, and 391.

79 General Robertson and General Clay, Neue Juristische Wochenschrift, 1947, p. 204; critical: Zinn, ibid ., p. 9.

80 Nos. 8 and 11 of the Agreement; Art. 1, par. 2, of the Charter of the Allied High Commission; preamble of the Occupation Statute ( VOBl.brit.Z ., 1949, pp. 414, 406 and 400).

81 See Protest of the Bundestag, HFP , June 13, 1950; Grotewohl, loc. cit ., p. 8, and DVR , 2nd year, No. 2, p. 28.

82 Rheinstein, loc. cit ., p. 25; Czapaki calls her a protectorate (Neue Justiz , 1948, p. 108).