Files on the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationalism have been preserved in the Federal Archives. The most important facts about fonds R 49 are summarised here.
| Designation: | Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationality |
| Stock signature: | R 49 |
| Term: | 1934-1945 |
| Scope: | 11,861 units (as of 2009) |
What does RKF mean?
The abbreviation RKF or RKFV stands for "Reichskommissar für die Festigung Deutschen Volkstums". This is an office that was established on 07.10.1939. The office holder was Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945). Together with the Immigration Central Office and the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle, the RKF organised resettlement. This included the resettlement of German minorities from abroad as well as their settlement in the occupied territories. Regional party or state functionaries were appointed as RKF representatives to carry out these tasks. For example, higher SS and police leaders and Gauleiters were responsible for resettlement, as were chief presidents and heads of civil administrations. From August 1944 onwards, the activities were considerably restricted.
What does the file on the Reich Commissioner for the Consolidation of German Nationalism say?
The almost 12,000 files in fonds R 49 contain both personal documents and subject files. Just as in the fonds R 69 to the Immigrant Central Office and R 59 to the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle In fonds R 49, lists of names are sometimes preserved. However, most of the files are administrative processes, for example reports, orders, documentation on the relocation or general correspondence.
Which areas are covered by the R 49 stock?
The R 49 collection comprises the following areas of origin:
➢ Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
➢ Bessarabia, Buchenland (Bukovina), Dobruja
➢ Generalgouvernement, Galicia, Volhynia, Narew region
➢ Soviet Union
➢ Bosnia, Dalamatia, Gottschee, Ljubljana
➢ France, Alsace, Lorraine, Luxembourg
➢ South Tyrol
What other files are there?
In terms of content, Bestamd R 49 has a great deal of overlap with the above-mentioned holdings of the Immigration Centre and the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle. In addition, the NS 19 Personal Staff of the Reichsführer-SS contains documents that document the work of the RKF. These are, on the one hand, decisions on individual cases and, on the other hand, correspondence between Himmler and the representatives of the RKF at the regional level.
