TOP SECRET
[Stamped] [illegible pencil mark]
Supreme command of the Armed Forces
Armed forces Fuehrer Staff (WFST) /department L number 33 264/4C top secret, for general officers only.
[stamped]
Fuehrer headquarters, September 6, 1940.
73 [in pencil] [illegible pencil mark]
7 copies 4th copy [in pencil]
SUBJECT: Material for the intelligence service
SUBJECT: Counter intelligence (Abw.) Ill number 398/4-0 top secret of August 26 1940. OKH General Staff of the Army (Gen. St.d.H.) operational department la number 150231/40 top secret of September 2, 1940.
TO: Counter intelligence service abroad (Ausl./Abw.)
The Eastern territory will be manned stronger in the weeks to come. By the end of October the Status shown on the enclosed map is supposed to be reached.
These regroupings must not create the impression in Russia that we are preparing an offensive in the East. On the other hand, Russia will realise that strong and highly trained German troops are stationed in the Gouvernement, in the Eastern provinces, and in the Protektorat; she should draw the conclusion that we can at any time protect our interests—espec. on the Balkan— with strong forces against Russian seizure.
For the work of our own intelligence service as well as for the answer to questions of the Russian intelligence service, the following directives apply:
1. The respective total strength of the German troops in the East is to be veiled as far as possible by giving news about a frequent change of the army units there. This change is to be explained by movements into training camps, regroupings.
2. The impression is to be created that the center of the massing of troops is in the Southern part of the Gouvernement, in the Protektorat and in Austria, and that the massing in the North is relatively unimportant.
3. When it comes to the equipment situation of the units, espec. of the armored divisions, things are to be exaggerated, if necessary.
4. By suitable news the impression is to be created that .the antiaircraft protection in the East has been increased consider-
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ably after the end of the campaign in the West and that it continues to be increased with captured French material on all important targets.
5. Concerning improvements on railroads, roads, airdromes etc. it is to be stated that the work is kept within normal limits, is needed for the improvement of the newly won Eastern territories, and serves primarily economical traffic.
The supreme command of the Army [OKH] decides to what extent correct details, i. e., numbers of regiments, manning of garrisons etc. will be made available to the defense for purposes of counter espionage.
The chief of the supreme command of the armed forces
by order of Signed: JODL A certified copy F. M. [in pencil] Captain
Distribution:
Counter intelligence service abroad 1st copy (with map) Supreme command of the Army (Operational department) 2nd copy
Supreme command of the Airforce (Fuehrer department) 3rd copy
Supreme command of the armed forces Armed forces Fuehrer staff [WFST] 4th copy Department L, Ref, IH, IL 5th-7th copies
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Instructions to the intelligence service on the coming military build-up in the East, which should be "veiled" to suggest German strength but not a military offensive
Authors
Alfred Jodl (chief of wehrmacht operations staff)
Alfred Jodl
German general and convicted war criminal (1890-1946)
- Born: 1890-05-10 (Würzburg)
- Died: 1946-10-16 (Nuremberg)
- Country of citizenship: German Reich; Kingdom of Bavaria; Weimar Republic
- Occupation: military personnel; politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Participant in: International Military Tribunal (role: defendant)
- Military rank: Generaloberst
- Military branch: artillery
Date: 06 September 1940
Literal Title: Subject: Material for the intelligence service
Defendant: Alfred Jodl
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-1229
Citation: IMT (page 1164)
HLSL Item No.: 450923
Trial Issues
Conspiracy (and Common plan, in IMT) (IMT, NMT 1, 3, 4) IMT count 1: common plan or conspiracy (IMT) IMT count 2: crimes against peace (wars of aggression) (IMT) Wars of aggression