Documentation of the Special Court (Sondergericht) in Munich The Special Court (Sondergericht) in Munich was one of the regional courts of law established in Germany to try charges of crimes against the Nazi regime and Nazi ideology. The collection includes files of trials and investigation proceedings against Jewish and non-Jewish Germans who were charged with crimes, such as expressing criticism of the Reich and its leaders and the Reich's attitude toward the Jews, and "race defilement" crimes. The Special Courts (Sondergerichte) were established in the spring of 1933. At first, 25 courts of this sort were established in accordance with the division of the areas of jurisdiction of the Superior Courts (Oberlandesgericht). The number of courts grew in time, however; by 1942, there were more than 70 Special Courts. The State Attorney (Staatsanwaltschaft) was responsible for the transfer of files for treatment to the Special Courts and only the Public Prosecutor was permitted to appeal the rulings of the Special Courts. The importance of these Special Courts took precedence over the regular courts and starting from 1940, the judgment of criminal offenses was transferred to their jurisdiction. From September 1942, the treatment of criminal offenses against Jews, Gypsies and forced laborers from Eastern Europe was transferred to the SS, and the jurisdiction of the Special Courts was limited to political crimes and criminal offenses committed by citizens of the Reich and citizens of the occupied countries of Western Europe. Bibliography: Andreas Heusler, "Ausbeutung und Disziplinierung. Zur Rolle des Münchner Sondergerichts und der Stapoleitstelle München im Kontext der nationalsozialistischen Fremdarbeiterpolitik" www.rewi.hu-berlin.de/online/fhi/articles/9801heusler.htm