Central (C): Germany (CG). Judiciary in FRG and GDR

A file of correspondence and reports concerning legal developments in the two Germanies. The documents discuss a rumour that the East German government may shortly look to liberalise the East German justice system by dismissing Hilde Benjamin, the Minister of Justice; and a protest from the Soviet government regarding the Western Allies' passing of the "Berlin Judges Law", which implemented the West German legal system in West Berlin. The documents also contain a report produced by the East German government regarding the introduction of a new draft penal code in West Germany, declaring that the code contains "no provisions for the preservation of peace", and stating that "the contents of the draft correspond with the spirit of its authors", who are described as "prominent Hitlerite hanging judges and Nazi professors". Other documents cover the East German government's introduction of several new laws regarding the administration of justice in East Germany.