Document classification

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

tomcat
luftwaffe g.r.k.s.
Sun Dec 30 13:49:37 2001


hello,

have a question on "geheime reichs kommando sache" or common "gereikosa" - maybe its translateable as "top secret command project of the reich".

anybody an idea, how many of these (mostly technical?) projects were specified with this "highest grade of being secret" - some dozen, hundreds or thousands ?

additional question is, to whom (person or organisation structure) these (specially luftwaffe) projects were subordinated. (someone working or travelling for a "gereikosa" was "taken off" from any normal military order - but under whom's control or command were these persons placed ? for sure not under hermann meier...)
was there any "reichs-amt" competence for this projects ?

regards, and best wishes for 2002,

tomcat

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Larry deZeng
3d Reich Document Classifications
Sun Dec 30 17:46:46 2001


Over the years I've trawled my way through hundreds of thousands of microfilmed German documents from the period of Das dritten Reich and I've never seen the one you referred to. The two highest classifications were:
Geheime Reichsache: (Secret State Matters) which was used at ministerial level (Auswärtigesamt, Inland, RSHA, etc.) for classified documents other than military documents, and,
Geheime Kommandosache: (Top Secret) which was used as the highest military classification. This classification also carried the added impression, "Nur durch Offizier!" (to be couriered by officer only), for the very most secret material such as war plans, future strategy, etc.
HTH
(Larry)

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Radiomonitor
German Classifications
Mon Dec 31 08:05:07 2001


01.12.31-0742z-The German classifications were during the WW2: (aaa)NFD=Nur für den Dienstgebrauch=Only to be used in service-(bbb)GEHEIM=Secret(in telegraphic messages also "rot"=red)-(ccc)gKDos=Geheime Kommando Sache(in telegraphic messages also "grün"=green)-(ddd)Geheime Reichssache=Secret States Matter. - The different grades of classification specified, up to which military graduation the messages were to be made available. A more rigid evaluation of (aaa)NFD, had the attached notification "Nur fur Offizier" - "only for officer".

NFD matters were normally printed matter with general instructions or information down to smallest military units, f.inst. Company or Platoon level. GEHEIM was usually instructions to f.inst. Batallion level. gKDos was used in general research matters, limited planification matters, and similarr stuff. Geheime Reichsache was limited to real high grade staff commando officers, and concerning high level planification or administration matters. In coded radio communications FFR=für den Führer, gave priority to all and any other traffic matter. In NFD matters the so called Rasterschlüssel could be used, an easy-to-handle and quick way of codification for messages of few hours' validity. In all other matters the "Schlüsselmachine" was used for coding and decoding.-vy 73- KAL+