The reasons for all measures of reprisal are immediately to be made know publicly.
The extent of a reprisal measure is to be ordered clearly, its execution must be supervised in order to prevent excesses of our own troops.
In all reprisal measures sufficient troops are to be employed in order to guarantee complete success. A withdrawal of our forces in cases of failures will be interpreted as weakness and will only have a stimulating effect on the population.
The careful seizure of rations for the troops, in case the supply roads should be blocked belongs to the preparations for the fight which is to be expected against an enemy which has landed and against a hostile population. The necessary reconnaissance must be made well in advance. Becomes to such civilian stocks is however permissible only in case of open combat actions or in dire needs. ***ry superior must see to it that such measures do not lead to plundering. A lack of supervision herein can quickly spoil the troops.
(Signature) Loehr (Initials illeg.)
MR. RAPP: And there is also this document initialed, we submit, by the Defendant Foertsch.
DR. HINDEMITH: Your Honors, Hindemith for the Defendant Foertsch. Regarding what the Prosecutor has just said about the last document. I would like to state the following: I object to the prosecution's statement that this document the initial "F" on it and that indicates the Defendant Foertsch. The German document does not show this. It only shows the initial is illegible. What the Prosecutor has just said is not factual, but he was arguing just now. Since in the German document the initial is not shown I move that the remarks of the Prosecutor concerning this should be stricken from the record.
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is true that the argumentation is made; it will take further evidence to show that they are, in fact, the initials of the Defendant Foertsch. I think, however, the Prosecution may call the attention of the Tribunal to any marks made on any exhibit.
MR. RAPP; Very well, Your Honor.
DR. HINDEMITH: From what your Honor has just said, I take that the Defense has the right to make objections to the argumentation of the Prosecution at a later date.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I think that is correct.
DR. HINDEMITH: Thank you.
MR. RAPP: If Your Honors turn now to page 40 of the English Document Book, page 36 of the German, I continue with the same document--that is, Document No. NOKW-1079. It will not be necessary to read these two pages into the record; and this will close up the Document No. NOKW-1079which is Prosecution's Exhibit No. 291. If the Tribunal please, we submit now NOKW-718 which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 292. We turn to page 43 of the English Document Book of the same document, page 37 of the German Book, and under paragraph 3, which is page 38 of the German Document Book, now we find.
3.) Counter Intelligence Office Grn. Milanovac reports: 1200 D.M. men under the command of Lt. Colonel Simic marching in two groups from Tresjnvica (about 12 South Southwest Arandjulovac) in a Southerly direction. A group is marching in direction of Strajari under the command of Captain Kalabic (400 men); the second group is marching in direction of Rudnik under the Command of Lt. Col. Simic. The band has 80 to 100 light machine guns and is wearing mostly uniforms of the former Yugoslav Army.
4.) In Kamenica the SD burns down 7 houses at 1700 hours because the village held a festive reception for D. M. and its buildings have served for some time as refuges for English men and D.M. bands.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors, on the next page, Page 44 we find under Roman Numeral II:
"Daily Report: Today: Total:
1. Captured: 8 180 2. Shot to death 3 8 (women) 3. Houses burned down 1 19
MR. RAPP: And then below for the 18th of July 1943, we find "Daily Report:
Today: Total:
Shot to death: 3 11 (women) Houses burned down:
2 21
MR. RAPP: This is all for NOKW-718, Prosecution's Exhibit No. 292. Your Honor we have now NOKW-893 to offer, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit No. 293. These are again some of these teletype reports. This one is dated the 22nd of July, and it is to the Commander of German Troops in Croatia.
"Brigadier General von Chamier Fliegerfuehrer in Croatia:
It is my duty to call the attention to the fact that especially lately the use of bombers in the Coratian Civil War has become a very problematic means of combat. Either villages are bombed in which bandits never stayed, or such villages in which the bandits stayed temporarily without the agreement of the population and have long since departed. A week ago several villages were bombed in Zagoria (north of Zagreb). They were completely free of insurgents and the pure Catholic inhabitants had, as was proven, up to now nothing to do with the disorders. There were dead and wounded and much damage was caused. All this was suffered by citizens and peasants whose brothers and sons served with us as Legionnaires or as Coratian soldiers and who are supposed to fight courageously on our side. All this in an area whose economic well being is in the interests of our conduct of war. The extraordinary national and political complexity of the country in which we are fighting demands that a means of combat such as air raids, which elsewhere may be used to combat Partisans without hesitation, be used rarely and carefully.
The targets are only to be bombed when it is established without a doubt that they are occupied by the enemy and the bombing of villages of villages is to be avoided as far as possible." "Since additional forces adversaries "(into the woods)" it does not help to pacify the country but is detrimental and shakes the confidence in the German soldier of those parts of the population which are of good will. I beg you to take these ideas into consideration in view of the extreme subtlety of our adversary and of the combats which certainly demand ruthlessness and severity."
NOKW-965 will be offered next. That is page 48 of the English and 42 of the German document book, and it becomes Prosecution Exhibit No. 294. This is a teletype message sent by the Commander of German Troops in Croatia to all of the divisions enumerated here: SS Division 369, 373, 187th and so forth, and it goes on to say:
Recently the air force was repeatedly used against completely peaceful villages. Such attacks do not help us, but rather harm us, as they only strike against the harmless civilian population. Attacks upon villages have to be reserved for special cases, when, furthermore, it is certain that these villages are completely communist.
Genuine successes of the air force can only be expected where a known enemy is being engaged.
Commander of German Troops in Croatia The initials are illegible.
Your Honors, now NOKW-1439, page 49 of your document book, page 43 of the defense counsel's document book, becomes 295 Prosecution Exhibit. This is a rather lengthy document and we have only made certain excerpts of this document, the rest pertaining to tactical matters. "Commander of German Troops in Croatia, Branch Ic" -that is the intelligence branch.
Enclosure - 1 Headquarters 5 July 1943 E n e m y S i t u a t i o n i n S l a v o n i a In Slavonia, East of the line Virovitica-Ban Jaruga units of the II Croatian (Slavonic) Corps were stationed up until the end of June.
The total strength of the Corps amounted to approximately 5,500 men without the units assigned to the territory alter the dissolution of the III Operation Zone. This figure includes 650 women.
Organization: Staff (40) Batterie (32), 1st Division (1900 including 300 women), 4th Division (3,300, including 350 women).
Then it gives the weapons starting out with 3500 rifles, etc.
Each Division has three Brigades consisting in the main of four Battalions.
On the next page, Your Honor, page 50, you will find the breakdown of the order of battle or battle strength of these various units. It starts out with the first Division which also is called the Tenth. It talks of XVII Slav Brigade; it talks of the XXI Brigade; and it talks of a Slavonian Division, which is subdivided into the XII and XVI Brigades.
And on page 51, Your Honors, you will find "lately a 12th Division has been mentioned which includes three Brigades one of which is designated as the XIV. This is probably a new setup from compulsory recruitments or segregated elements of the units assigned to the area."
That is, by the way, page 44 and 45 of the German document.
Then:
The XIV Brigade of the 12th Division is cabled "Zagreb Youth Brigade JOZA SLAVONIC" because it is composed 50% of Croates.
Three units assigned to the area operate in the same territory. One of them operates in the Papuk (400 men) one around VOCIN (600 men) and the third changes constantly between the BSUNJ and the DILJ Mountains (300 men).
These units (the so-called Slavonic Order) assigned to the area are not to be mistaken for the so-called military forces of the rear area. They are guards which are subordinate to area headquarters and to town-headquarters. Like the gendarmerie, they are organized by districts. They do not wear the usual rank insignia of red cloth directly on their sleeve, but they wear the Soviet Star and insignia superimposed on green cloth background.
Your Honors, if you turn now please to page 54 of your document book, which is page 47 of the German, we find a little note about combat methods of the communists, and it says:
Combat methods of the Communists Prisoners are never to be shot to death without being interrogated concerning unit, commanding officer, strength and the intentions of their unit.
Intelligent people who wish to make statements, all commanding officers and commissars are to be sent to the division, all radio technicians and telephone men to be sent to the Commander for thorough interrogation.
And then this document is signed for the Commander of the German Troops in Croatia, the Chief of General Staff and in draft signed Major Berger of the General Staff Guard.
Then we have another teletype here, page 55, Your Honors, page 47 and 48 of the German document book, and it is dated July 5, 1943.
I. All Communists are to be shot to death. Suspects are to be arrested.
The following are considered bandits:
a.) Any person having participated in combat or encountered bearing arms.
b.) Any person convicted of Communist activities.
II. The following are considered suspects:
a.) Any persons roving about away from settlements without compulsory reason.
b.) Any non-resident unable to prove that his presence is necessary.
Women and young people are also to be taken. The entire population of all villages within the areas to be mopped up are to be screened. A few persons who seem trustworthy, belonging to different religious and national groups, are to be selected and to be interrogated individually concerning non-residents and Communists. The interrogation is to be carried out in such a manner that the people concerned do not have to fear any acts of vengeance.
The troops carrying out the arrest are to send along a short report giving reasons and place of the arrest and personal data when the arrestees are sent to the collection camp.
III. Deserters.
Deserters who voluntarily report to the unit are to be sent to a collection camp for labor employment. They are to be given brief identification papers designating them as deserters. Before they are transported to collecting camps, they are to be offered to the SD.
IV. All villages which are entirely Communists are to be destroyed. The population, in as far as it is not being treated as Communists is to be evacuated to collection camps.
In addition, villages serving entire bands as a permanent refuge with the consent of the population are to be considered Communist villages.
V. Houses in which weapons and ammunition are found and which are not reported promptly and voluntarily, are to be destroyed.
The shooting to death of Communists (bandits) the arrest of suspects, destruction of villages and the number of deserters is to be included in the daily report.
And the Distribution:
Troop units North of thee Save (down to companies) The next page, Your Honor, page 57, or page 49 and 50, respectively of the German document book, I still continue, paragraph I:All Communists (bandits) are to be shot to death.
Suspects are to be arrested.
The following are considered bandits:
a.) Any person having participated in combat or encountered bearing arms.
b.) Any person convicted of Communist activities.
c.) Any persons roving about away from settlements without compulsory reason.
Women and young people are also to be taken. In doubtful cases, persons concerned are to be arrested.
II. Persons arrested who are suspected of having actively or passively supported acts of sabotage, are to be used as hostages, for the execution of reprisal measures.
They are to be reported to the Commander of the German Troops in Croatia Ic giving reason and place of arrest as well as personal data and to be transferred with the identical report to the Prisoner-of-War Camp Zenica.
Subject: Order concerning counter-intelligence and reprisal measures against the enemy population.
In addition to the reprisal measures ordered, hostages are to be arrested from the area concerned in the event of sabotage.
When hostages are seized it must be considered that innocent people are mostly arrested while the guilty persons have fled to the woods.
Hostages may carry on correspondence under censorship.
The seizure of hostages is effective only when the hostages are taken as a reprisal measure from the immediate locality of the incident. The population is to be informed by means of posters and leaflets, giving the names and threatening that the hostages will be hanged or shot on the occasion of the next attack. The carrying out of the reprisal measures by hanging or shooting of hostages as ordered by the Commanding Officer also is to be published.
This is dated the 31st of July, 1943.
1. The sabotage activity which is increased of late, compels strict adherence to the order mentioned in the reference.
2. The Divisions are ordered to seize immediately as hostages from those areas and villages from which traffic and supply roads have been threatened and above all where attacks have already taken place and without regard to nationality.
a) the family of band members
b) Persons guilty of aiding and abetting bands
c) Suspected persons.
by special detachments in closest cooperation with the SD and the Ordnungs Polizei.
A detachment with the 114th Jaeger Division has achieved great success by surprise operations.
These special detachments are to be of a sufficient strength and well equipped, suitable for their task. Forces of the Secret Field Police of the SD Field Gendarmerie and if at all possible of the Croatian Police or Gendarmerie are also to be employed. The Special Detachment is responsible for the Military area of the operation. House searches and interrogations are to be executed under the direction of executive organs of the Secret Field Police, of the SD or of the Ordnungs Polizei.
3. The arrested hostages are to be delivered to the Corps Prisoner Camp Zenica or Prijedor. Those divisions who are too far removed by rail from Prijedor or Zenica will install temporary hostage camps in agreement with the SD. It is intended to install hostage camps in Sisak and Mitrovica. The minutes of the interrogation together with personal data and the domiciles of the hostages are to be turned over to the camp Headquarters together with the hostages delivered.
4. Arrests and shootings of hostages is to be included in the daily report to the Commander.
5. Pursuant to the reference above, the seizure of hostages as well as reprisal measures carried out are to be made known to the population by means of posters and leaflets in cooperation with the Croatian propaganda staff, in Zagreb or its branch offices in Banja Luka, and Sarajevo.
The propaganda staff or its branch office will have the leaflets dropped over the territory where the attack has taken place and from where the hostages originate, as well as over the adjoining bandit territories.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: We will recess until one-thirty.
MR. RAPP: Very well, Your Honor.
(A recess was taken until 113- hours.)
AFTERNOON SESSION (The hearing reconvened at 1330 hours, 29 July 1947.)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors will recall that prior to the noon recess we were concerning ourselves with NOKW--
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: Just a moment, please. We will have to wait a few minutes. There are some repairs in the other room.
MR. RAPP: Very well, Your Honor.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: We were wondering about Document Book 13; 12 seems to be the last we have. Has 13 been served?
MR. RAPP: 13 has been served at about 1800 hours last night and it has been served as far as I know. If Your Honor desires, we can get you right now a copy of Document Book 13, if you haven't received it in your chambers as yet.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: If they haven't been served, we are not particular as we want to keep things moving along.
MR. RAPP: I will have some brought up right now.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: You may proceed.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors will recall that prior to the noon recess we concerned ourselves with NOKW-1439, which became Prosecution Exhibit 295. We talked about this document on page 61 of the English Document Book and pages 52 and 53 respectively of the German document book. We now commence with paragraph 6 of this particular document:
"The leaflets concerning the seizure of hostages are to include: first and last name, age, and domicile of the hostages. Furthermore they are to include the threat that the hostages will be shot to death in the event of another attack.
"7. The reprisal measures ordered herewith are to be regulated by the competent division commanders. Excesses by subordinate authorities or by individual soldiers must be avoided.
"8. The division commanders decide whether the reprisal measure will be carried out at the locality of the incident or in the hostage camp.
"9. By order of the Ministry of the Interior the execution of the shooting to death is to be left as far as possible to the Croatian police, in the presence of Executive Organs of the Secret Field Police, the Field Gendarmerie, or of the SD.
"10. In the future every plot, attack, or act of sabotage must be met with a suitable reprisal.
"(signed) Lueters" Your Honors, turning to the next page we find an entry under the 25th of July 1943 which was received on the 28th of July 1943.
Commander of German Troops in Croatia. It states:
"During the month covered by this report cooperation with German military and police authorities was good. Cooperation with the SD was further extended and incidents concerning the SD were transferred to it."
At the end of the page:
"It also seems that the Croatian police do not apply severe enough measures. It is remarkable that the Croatian courts do not pronounce severe sentences."
Page 64, under the heading of Combatting of Bands:
"In the course of an operation carried out in the area southwest of Okucani, 50 kilometers north of Fanja Luka, on 9 June 1943 the following Croatian nationals who were suspected of belonging to bands were arrested by the Branch Office Banja Luka and sent to the jail 'Black House'."
At the bottom of the page:
"All 8 persons were charged with band membership; in addition they were charged with having acted as messengers for the bands and having driven cattle to them and having procured young men and women for them."
On page 65, paragraph 2, the middle of the page:
"When S. was supposed to join the bands on 9 July 1943, Bahtic and another band courier named Milan Prerad, born on 15 February 1911 in Pocitilj, resident in Brod, were arrested. The investigation which was continued immediately resulted in the arrest of additional persons who were accused of having recruited members for the bands.
Three of the persons arrested have been convicted and have confessed. The affair is not concluded as yet since investigations indicate the guilt of other persons whose arrest is impending. A subsequent report will follow after conclusion of the affair.
"3) The Branch Office in Semlin became familiar with the personal data of 42 band members in Boljevci, 20 kilometers southeast of Semlin, from interrogation of band members. This office found out that the Bolshevist band intended to set fire to the Ferek estate situated near Boljevci on 4 July 1943. That is why an operation with the purpose of arresting the band members was carried out in cooperation with the Commanding Officer of the Luftwaffe station of Semlin. Two combat planes participated in the operation. Bandits had set fire to the estate. Thirty-four of the 42 band members known by name were arrested. An unknown inhabitant of the village was shot to death while trying to escape.
"In the course of the interrogations which have taken place up until now, 10 accused persons have been convicted and have confessed to having supported the bands with money and foodstuffs and to have taken an active part as bandits. In addition, names of other bandits have become known to us. Investigations continue. A subsequent report will follow after conclusion of the affair.
"4) The Secret Field Police detachment with the 369th Infantry Division received from Branch Ic of the Division the Croation national Dusan Grbic, born 17 June 1914 in Brck, Miladin Vrznjan, born 1926 in Buija, and Savo Pecanac, born 1925. Petrovac on 5 July 1943 for interrogation because of suspected band membership. The interrogation resulted in valuable material for giving information about the bands.
"After the interrogations were concluded, the three bandits were transferred, together with the files of the affair, to the Ic of the 369th Infantry Division with a request for his decision. Ic ordered the shooting to death of the three bandits, which was carried out by a detachment made available by the unit." (There is also a question mark on the margin of this paper.)
"5) The German 187 brought 122 inhabitants, all Croatian nationals, of the village of Lucinci, about 20 kilometers northeast Brod, on 11 July 1943 into the transit camp of the Field Gendarmerie in Brod after a combat action with the bands. The office in Brod screened these persons on the basis of the available material. After conclusion of the screenings, 9 persons were arrested on suspicion of band membership and 20 additional persons on suspicion of aiding and abetting bands. Ninetythree persons who could not be proved of having committed any punishable deed were released after a conference with the Ic of the Commander of German Troops in Croatia. Investigations are continued against the 29 accused persons.
"6) The Secret Field Police detachment with the 373 Infantry Division in Prijedor cracked down an organization in Brezincani, 6 kilometers northwest of Brijedor, which was accused of supporting the band members hiding in the nearby woods. In cooperation with the division, an operation was carried out on 21 July 1943 to surround the village and to arrest the accused. During the course of it, a total, of 10 residents of Brezicani were arrested who were already know to the detachment as persons aiding and abetting bands. Additional arrests are impending on the basis of investigations previously carried out. A detailed report will follow after completion of the affair."
Your Honors, on page 68, which is 58 and 59 respectively of the German document book, we will find a statistical breakdown of punishable offenses by the population and we find out that:
"General felonies and crimes: 1 person "Offenses against the security of the troops:
"Unauthorized possession of arms: 1 "Band membership:
158 "Theft of arms:
2 "Misguidance of the German Wehrmacht:
1" etc., etc.
Your Honors, on page 68, which is 59 and 60 respectively of the German document book, we will find a statistical breakdown of "punishable offenses by the population" and we find out that is:
"General felonies and crimes: One person "Offenses against the security of the troops:
"Unauthorized possession of arms............1 "Band membership.
....................158 "Theft of arms.
.............................2 "Misguidance of the German Wehrmacht.
.......1" and so forth.
If Your Honors will now turn to page 70, please, which is page 62 of the German document book, we find a report of the Group Secret Field Police No. 9 which is labeled as "Enclosure 3" in the German document. It has a "secret" stamp and is "Local Headquarters 25 July 1943".
"To Activity Report for the Month of July 1943.
"Court martial sentences in counter intelligence cases.
"1) In accordance with the judgment of the court martial of the 114th---"
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: Let's have the exhibit number.
MR. RAPP: The exhibit number, Your Honor, is still Exhibit No. 295. It is still NOKW-1439.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: I am sorry.
JUDGE BURKE: I don't have the page from which you are reading.
MR. RAPP: You do not have the page, Your Honor?
JUDGE BURKE: I do not have it immediately available. What is the number?
MR. RAPP: The number, Your Honor, is page 70. Is that page missing from your document book, Your Honor?
JUDGE BURKE: No, it is here.
MR. RAPP: Paragraph 1:
"In accordance with the judgment of the court martial of the 114th Jaeger Division, the following persons were sentence to compulsory labor in Germany on account of recruitment of persons for bands on 25 June 1943:
Steve Bojanic, born 1908 in Maglajani, District of Banja Luka.
"2) The court martial of the 114th Jaeger Division pronounced the following sentences on the persons below for band membership, courier services and recruitment of persons for bands on 30 June 1943:
"Sentenced to death:
"Duro Smiljanic, born 1917 in Grodjuani, District of Nova Gradiska.
"Milan, Jaglicii, born 1913 in Gredjani, District of Nova Gradiska.
"The sentence was carried out on 6 July 1943.
"2. Sentenced to compulsory labor in Germany:
"Svo, Gerovic, born 1924 in Gradjani, District of Nova Gradiska.
"Milan, Resanovic, born on 7 April 1920 in Vrbovljani, District Nova Gradiska."
We turn to the next page, Your Honors, page 71, and we find an additional individual, two additional individuals, on the top of the page who were also sentenced to forced labor in Germany. One individual is Peter Vukomanovic and the other one is Ljoposava Bosjodic.
Then in paragraph 3 on the same page we find:
"In accordance with the judgment of the court martial of the 114th Jaeger Division of 30 June 1943, the following persons were sentenced for proved aiding and abetting of bands:
"For compulsory labor to Germany:" and we find there again two names on the bottom of page 71.
If Your Honors please will turn to page 72, which is 63 and 64 of the German document book, we will find in paragraph 4 that one individual by the name of "Stana Siljak, nee Jasica, born in 1896 in Bjelajci, District of Bosn Dubica" was sentenced to a concentration camp for "aiding and abetting of and cooperation with bands".
Paragraph 5: "In accordance with the judgment of the court martial of the 114th Jaeger Division of 7 July 1943, the following sentence was pronounced:
"For compulsory labor in Germany:" -- there again we have an individual and finally, in paragraph 6, we have another person, and that concludes page 72 and Document 1439, which was prosecution Exhibit 295.
Your Honors, the next document the prosecution offers is Document NOKW-1109, which will become Prosecution's Exhibit 296. With Your Honors' permission I would like to hand this document to the bench as it shows from a German captured report a uniform description in photographic form of the uniforms worn at that time by the partisans.
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, the photograph shows a man in uniform but the further claim of the prosecution - namely, that this uniform was worn by all partisans - this claim will have to be proven.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: It will be received in evidence for what it's worth.
MR. RAPP: If the Tribunal pleases, we are submitting now NOKW1523, which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 297. This, Your Honors, is a so-called Fuehrer Order, a directive from Hitler's headquarters, and pertains to the "Command and Defense of the Southeast Area" and it is called "Directive 48", dated 26 July 1943. There were eight copies made of this document. It is "top secret". Each copy was registered and this copy happened to be the fourth copy that was put out. It was carried by officer courier only. It states:
"Directive 48 for the Command and Defense of the Southeast Area.
"I. The measures taken by the enemy in the eastern Mediterranean in connection with the attack on Sicily lead to the expectation of impending landing operations against the defensive front of the Aegean along the line Peloponnesus - Crete - Rhodes and against the Greek west coast including the Ionic Islands before it.
"In the event of enemy operations reaching over from Sicily to the south Italian mainland, one must also count on an advance against the eastern coast of the Adriatic, north of the Straits of Otranto.
"In addition, the enemy command bases its plans on the band movements in the interior of the Southeast Area which it has increasingly directed according to plan.
"At this time the neutral attitude of Turkey is beyond question. However, it continues to require the necessary attention."
Paragraph II:
"On the basis of this situation, the Command in the Southeast Area will be reorganized in agreement with allied Italy according to the policies below:
"A. Army:
"1) Effective 27 July 1943, 0000 hours, Commander-in-Chief Southeast takes over the command of the 11th Italian Army.
"2) German units who are at this time in the territory of this army and those intended for it will be tactically subordinated to the Italian Army and to the command authorities designated by it. This measure provides that the unified command of all German and Italian troops on the Peleponnesus will be exercised by Headquarters of the German LXVII Corps and that the Headquarters of the Italian VIII Corps will be transferred to the area north of the Straits of Corinth.
"The German units employed directly for coastal security are under the command of the commanding Italian divisions in these sectors.
"3) German troops committed temporarily in Albania, Montenegro, and the Croatian areas near the coast, occupied by Italian troops, are to be subordinated tactically to the Italian Army Group East and/or the Second Italian Army."
On page 77 we find:
"B. Navy and Luftwaffe:
"Directives issued up to now concerning the influence on our allies exercised by Navy and Luftwaffe remain in effect. Commanding Admiral Aegean will ensure the putting in effect of German principles in the coastal sectors of the 11th Army where problems of coastal defense within the authority of the Navy are concerned.
"III. The primary task of the Commander-in-Chief Southeast is the preparation of the defense of the Greek coasts on the islands and on the mainland.
It is a prerequisite for this task to free the supply roads by fighting, particularly the main railroad line, by annihilating the bands in Greece, Serbia, and Croatia, and to secure the required freedom of the rear area.
"For coastal defense, only the German principles for occupation and development of the coast are applicable. This applies also as far as Italian units are concerned.
"On primarily endangered coastal sectors German fortress battalions and - if these are insufficient - elements of the German divisions intended for reserves are to be employed on or near the coast for the support of the Italians. It is also required that important coastal batteries or other key positions are to be reinforced by German cadres."
It continues on the next page.