Perwersyjne funkcje niemieckiego „prawa” w Generalnym Gubernatorstwie (1939—1945)

The concept of the function of law means the effects of the application of law in various areas of social, economic, political or cultural life. These are in particular the following functions: orderly (regulatory, stabilising), pacifying (peace-creating), and value-creating, also called culture-creating. The aim of the article is to show the function of German law which was in force in the General Government in 1939—1945. It was a quasi-state subordinated to the Third German Reich, formed from the remnants of the Polish lands which remained after the division of the territory of Poland between Germany and Soviet Russia, and then the annexation by the Third Reich of the lands of Wielkopolska, Upper Silesia, Cieszyn Silesia and Pomerania. The country was founded by the decree of the Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler of 12 October 1939. It was completely subjected to the sovereignty of the Third Reich and administered by civil authorities established by the government in Berlin. The capital of the General Government was the city of Cracow. The general governor of Hitler’s will was Hans Frank, president of the German Academy of Law. He was directly subordinated to the Führer of the Reich. The scope of his authority covered “all areas of administration,” including law-making by way of regulations and orders. The functions of the General Government’s law were the result of the political objectives that the Third Reich authorities associated with the occupied territory and the population living there. These were the functions of public terror (mega-repressive), segregation of the population through the application of racist laws, legitimacy of the authorities based solely on the violence and will of Adolf Hitler. The elimination function of many categories of people considered racially inferior (Untermenschen) with simultaneous privileging of German nationality as “masters” was particularly significant. The most discriminated category of people were Jews. A number of legal acts performed exploitation, expropriation and extermination functions by collective murders ordered by the authorities as part of a series of actions, such as Generalplan Ost or “The Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” In conclusion it is stated that German law in the General Government was a shameful law, and its functions were grossly perverse.