§ 20. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Reinhard Bluhm, born on 31st July, 1920, near Danzig and taken prisoner by the American Army after being de-Nazified at Darmstadt, given the benefit of the Youth Amnesty and placed in Category 5, has now been re-classified in Category 3 without a trial; whether he is aware that this decision was promulgated over the signature of a British officer at 117 Mil. Gov., Hildesheim, with orders that he was not to be employed by any British unit; and that the British unit with whom this man was working was satisfied with his work and is anxious to re-employ him.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Bevin)Bluhm was an officer in the S.S. for seven years and a non-commissioned officer in the Hitler Youth for four years. When the United States authorities became aware of his long Nazi record they quashed his exoneration under the Youth Amnesty. The German Denazification Panel in the British zone, which considered his case, decided, after consulting the denazification authorities in the United States zone, to place him in Category 3 on the grounds that he was politically exceptionally dangerous. Bluhm was given the opportunity of appearing before the Panel but did not do so. The Panel's decision was confirmed by the British authorities. It is clearly undesirable on security grounds that Germans whose political record is unsatisfactory should be retained in Military Government employment.
§ Mr. StokesCan my right hon. Friend give the date on which the Americans quashed the release under the Youth Amnesty?
§ Mr. StokesIf I put a Question down, will the right hon. Gentleman give that information?