20.7.43, v. Vietinghoff-Scheel: Especially suitable for command position in training.
v. Rundstedt: Agreed.
1.3.44) Fromm, Chief of Ordnance and Commander of the Replacement Army: Good character, virorous, energetic and very versatile. In the short time in which he has been under me he has devoted himself to training with the greatest zeal and has made it a big contribution although, in view of its employment in battle special difficulties lay in the way of the training of his division. Good average. Commanding General of an Infantry Corps at the front.
17.3.44, Rendulic, C-in-C 2 Pz. Army: Under whom defendant Dehner was serving as Commander of the LXIX Special Reserve Corps, a person of high operational capabilities, he has accomplished a great deal with the few troops he had in relation to the area to be conquered. Takes great care of his men on whom he makes high, but always justified demands. Had no opportunity to collect more experience in the leadership of a corps in battle. Experience in training. Average. Commanding General of a Reserve Corps.
1.3.44, Rendulic, C-in-C 2 Pz Army: Yearly report as for 17, 3. 44.
Baron v. Weichs, C-in-C South-East: Under whom the defendant served, agreed. As his main strength lies in the sphere of training it is recommended that he be further employed accordingly.
9.11.44, Wiese, Acting Commander of the 19th Army: Very energetic, tactical leader and outstanding officer. Extraordinarily active and far-seeing. Distinguished himself in the face of the enemy. Proved himself again during the heavy defensive fighting at Besancon by his personal bravery. Still lacks the necessary calm, balance and tactical perception for leadership of a full corps."
There follows then the chronological career of the defendant Dehner through the German army.
We turn now to the first big event that occurred following the reorganization of the Southeast Command, the collapse of the Italian army, the surrender to the Allies, on the 8th of September, 1943, with the provisions in the Armistice to return to the Italian mainland as quickly as possible.
On page 27 of the English and page 18 of the German, Document NOKW-898, which is offered as prosecution Exhibit 317, this is an order from Field Marshal Keitel dated the 9th of September, 1943, relating to the taking of Italian prisoners of war. The distribution list is given on the first page and your Honors will note under "2" the copy which was sent to the Commander-in-Chief Southeast, the defendant Weichs.
"Subject: Further treatment of Italian Soldiers under German jurisdiction. Italian soldiers who do not wish to continue fighting on the German side are to be disarmed and considered prisoners of war. They are to be taken over at first by the OKW Chief of Prisoners of War affairs. In Cooperation with the Plenipotentiary General for the Employment of Labor, the skilled workers among the Prisoners of war taken over are to be selected for the armament economy and are to be put at the disposal of the Plenipotentiary General for the Employment of Labor. Further, in cooperation with the Reichfuehrer SS, the Fascists still among the prisoners of war are to be selected and handed over to the above. All other prisoners of war are to be at the disposal of the General Staff of the Army, General Quartier Meister and of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, General Quartermaster in the proportion of 7 to 1 as workers for the construction of the East Wall.
The selection ordered has to be carried out as soon as the prisoners of war are taken over, so that the camps are free for new prisoners of war as quickly as possible.
The Chief of the Prisoner of War Affairs will report the total number and their distribution to me every fifth day from 15 Sept. on.
Should the guards at the disposal of the OKW Chief of Prisoners of War Affairs be insufficient for the task, the Chief of Army Armament and Commander of the Replacement Army is to help out on guarding with persons who have recovered from their wounds or sicknesses, etc.
The transfer of English and American prisoners of war from Italy is to precede the transfer of Italian prisoners of war.
And the order is (signed) Keitel" Turning next to page 30 of the English and page 20 of the German, Document NOKW-813, which becomes prosecution Exhibit 318, this is a teletype from the XXI Mountain Corps to the II Panser Army which your Honors will recall was commanded at this time by the defendant Rendulic.
For information V SS Mountain Corps. It is the daily report for the 26th of November, 1943. Under the 297th Infantry Division, the report states:
"During "Edelweiss" fighting much impeded by rain and terrain, supply by inundation.
Area Northwest of Debar: 16 communists shot to death, 30 Italians captured. Reprisal measures carried out against 8 Italian officers. Intention: continuation of mopping up area of Debar-Poshkopija.
Under the 100th Jaeger Division: Enemy before 1/54 moved far towards South. Nationalist forces have reached Vijose S. Greshice that is the reason for movement of 1/54 back to Patos. During road reconnaissance, 7 Italians shot while trying to escape. Two trucks and three passenger cars captured East of O Lushnje. 8 Italians and 1 civilian shot while trying to escape.
And the report is signed Corps Hqs., XXIst Mountain Corps by the Ia or Operations Officer" On the same page in both the English and the German is an order of the day of the XXI Mountain Corps which was commanded at that time by General Fehn who was subordinate to General Rendulic and in turn the defendant Weichs.
The order is dated Corps Headquarters 28 November 1943, and it is a commendation to the 297th Infantry Division for the carrying out of the action which we have just heard about in the preceding report.
"I wish to express my appreciation to those units of the 100th Jaeger Division and 297th Infantry Division as well as to II/2 Regiment Brandenburg which have carried out the pacification of the area Debar-Peshkopija under the orders of the 297th Infantry Division."
Not withstanding the most difficult terrain and weather situation, in part almost tropical cloud bursts, they succeeded in the surprise thrusts into the Communist band center which so far has not been entered by any German unit.
My particular recognition is expressed to the Anti Aircraft 297 which forced an enemy combat group to fight by attacking them roughly and in doing so put 3 Englishmen out of action.
Our own losses being negligible, the enemy suffered 130 counted dead and 300 prisoners. Considerable amount of arms, ammunition and other equipment including 5 guns were captured and destroyed.
My appreciation is to be made known to the troops.
Signed The Commanding General 21st Mountain Corps FEHN General of Panzer Troops.
On page 31 of the English and page 21 of the German is another report from the 21st Mountain Corps to the Second Panzer Army See Daily Report of 21.11.43 .......297 Infantry Division:
During continuation of operation "Edelweiss" Sllovo and Velleshe (15 km. North Peshkopija) taken by A.A. 297 on 19.11 after hard fighting.
Enemy losses: up to now, 48 dead among them 3 English officers. 4 heavy machine guns, 3 light machine guns, 1 English bazooka, 2 heavy machine guns, some light machine guns and many rounds of ammunition destroyed.
Losses of our own: 5 dead, 7 wounded.
During large scale raid in Grossrazzio and Shijak, arrests of 300 communists and 50 Italian soldiers, up to now. Arms depot and communist printing press raided.
Intention: Execution raid in Kavaja.
.........................
Signed Corps Hqs., XXIst Mountain Corps I believe this does not appear on the German but if defense counsel wishes to examine the exact document they may do so, signed XXIst Headquarters, XXIst Mountain Corps by the Operation Officer, November 21, 1943.
Turning now to page 33 of the English and page 23 of the German, Document NOKW 1403 which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 319. These are a series of orders of the XV Mountain Corps which at this time was commanded by General Lueters in Croatia, who was subordinate to General Rendulic, who was in turn subordinate to Field Marshal Weichs. It is a teletype to the SS Division and the 114th Jaeger Division and, "For information to the 373rd (Croatian)Infantry Division.
No shipping space available for evacuation of Italians and supply via sea route."
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honors, I object to what the Prosecutor is saying regarding arguments. For instance he has just said this Corps was subordinated to General Rendulic and he again was subordinate to General Field Marshal von Weichs. This is not true for the period to which to documents now refer. For this reason I repeatedly ask that the Prosecution desist in arguments unless they are sentences and comments of a connecting nature.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: No argumentation your Honor.(Film unintelligible)
PRESIDING JUDGE WENNERSTURM: I think counsel for the prosecution should exercise care in connection with any comments concerning the evidence other than that which is self-explanatory.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Continuing on page 33 of the English, 23 of the German with the order of the XV Mountain Corps to the SS Division and the 114th Jaeger Division:
No shipping space available for evacuation of Italians and supply via sea route. The Italian units in the area Split-Zara are to be ordered to Bihac via land route immediately under the responsible leadership of their Commanders and their Headquarters authorities pursuant to Corps Headquarters Ia/Qu. No. 769/43 Top Secret of 11 September Severest compulsory measures as well as reprisal measures are to be applied in the event of refusal (shooting to death)........114th Jaeger Division and SS-Division are requested to report immediately intention with time table and security precautions (for instance employment of Panzers). The order is signed XV Mountain Corps For the Operations Officer 12 September 1943 Next on page 34 of the English and page 23 of the German, here is another communication of the XV Mountain Corps dated September 11, 1943.
Subject: Carrying out disarmament of Italians As a matter of principle the Italians are to be requested to turn over immediately all their heavy weapons.
If attempts are made to delay ruthless measures are to be applied with employment of dive bombers. If the occasion warrants the Italians may retain theur small weapons temporarily as protection against bands.
........
Basic principle: Any open or attempted resistance is to be broken by applying severe methods. Disciplined leadership of return march by Italians themselves according to directives of the Division is the prerequisite for regular provisions, otherwise there is danger that they may starve to death.
..........
This communication is signed Lueters, and its distribution appears on page 35 of the English, page 4 of the German; 2 copies for each Division subordinate to the XV Mountain Corps.
Turning now to page 36 of the English, page 25 of the German, Document NOKW 037, offered as Prosecution Exhibit 320. This document contains 2 reports of the Second Panzer Army.
The first dated 13 September 1943, Daily Report, and under the unit subordinate to the Second Panzer Army which was commanded at this time by the defendant Rendulic there appears XXI Mountain Corps and subordinate to the 100 Jaeger Division:
In Argirocastro (70 km southeast Valona) communists attacked our own forces as well as disarmed Italian soldiers.
.........
118 Jaeger Division: .... Arrest and eventual execution of the Commanding General of the Italian XIVth Army Corps, General Boncalia, is intended in case of further insubordination ..... and under III. (Germanic) SS-Panzer Corps: .... Coal mines were burned out by bandits north of Agram .....
The sender of the report appears on the bottom of the page, page 36 of the English, 2 of the German as the Second Panzer Army.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honors, I believe that the word "Widersetzlichkeit" is not translated strongly enough. I have heard that "Widersetzlichkeit" has been translated by "insubordination".
PRESIDING JUDGE WENNERSTURM: Pardon me, Dr. Laternser, will you refer to the German document and also to the English Document. It will be helpful to the Tribunal.
DR. LATERNSER: On page 36 of the English Document Book and the middle of the page there is the word "insubordination" on the daily report of the 118 Jaeger Division. This word is supposed to be a translation of the word "Widersetzlichkeit" which is a more active element which is not contained, as regards my feeling for language, in the English word "insubordination".
PRESIDING JUDGE WENNERSRUM: May I suggest that you refer to the interpreter for their decision.
DR. LATERNSER: Yes. I ask for a new translation if this word "Widersetzlichkeit".
(Interpreter: The sentence reads: "Arrest and eventual execution of a commanding general of the Italian XIV Army Corps, General Boncalia is intended in case of further" 'refractoriness' you may say, but 'insubordination' is not definitely wrong.)
PRESIDING JUDGE WENNERSTRUM: You may proceed.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor I must make a brief statement because I assume that it is decent to do so. I made an objection sometime ago to what the Prosecutor said. I said something about a period in which General Rendulic was not subordinate to Marshal von Weichs. I made a mistake in regard to the date. In the period of time quoted by the Prosecutor General Rendulic was subordinate to Marshal von Weichs.
PRESIDING JUDGE WENNERSTRUM: Very well.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Continuing now on page 37 of the English, page 26 of the German, still part of NOKW 037 which is Exhibit 320, we have a report from the Second Panzer Army, dated 13 September 1943, teletype report to the Commander in Chief Southeast, High Command Army Group F, which at this time was the defendant Weichs.
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honors will recall that prior to the recess we were considering Document NOKW-034, Exhibit 320. We are looking at page 27 of the English and page 26 of the German. This is a report from the 2nd Panzer Army, commanded at this time by the defendant Rendulic -a report to the Commander in Chief Southeast (High Command Army Group F) at this time commanded by tho defendant Weichs.
A. Copy of the report of the 2nd Panzer Army was sent for informational purposes to the "German Commanding General -- Plenipotentiary in" -and here your Honors' document books should be changed to "Croatia" instead of "Serbia" -- "For information: German Commanding General Plenipotentiary in Croatia", who at this time was Glaise-Horstenau; and another copy for informational purposes to the "Military Commander Southeast", who at this time was General Felber, whose Chief of Staff, your Honors will recall, was the defendant Geitner.
The report is dated 13 September 1943 and contains language very similar to the report on the preceding page which we have just seen. I call your Honors attention only to the portion dealing with the 118th Jaeger Division which at this time was subordinate to the 21st Mountain Corps:
"Arrest and eventual execution of the Commanding General of the Italian XIV Corps, General Roncalia, is intended in case of further insubordination."
And the report is signed: "2nd" -- it should read on the bottom, if your Honors please, the "2nd Panzer Army", rather than "2nd Army Panzer Corps". The report is signed by the Operations Officer.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honors, the translation of the word "Widersetzlichkeit" as "insubordination" -- I will have to point out again -- just at the moment -- the prosecutor mentioned the word "insubordination" again and I believe the interpreters will have to consider will whether this word really has the right sense.
"Widersetzlichkeit" is active whereas "insubordination" does not have to be active and I believe in this case, for the evaluation of this particular case, it has a special meaning. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to suggest another translation but I would like to ask the interpreters again to think it over.
THE PRESIDENT: The matter will be submitted to the interpreters for their decision.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: This is on page 27 of the Englich and page 26 of the German under 1.8 SD.
THE INTERPRETER: I might suggest another word, "resistance", but in my mind "insubordination" could also be active. In other words, if someone does not subordinate he does something active. It is rather difficult to make a distinction there. From my own knowledge of the languages, I would say "insubordination" could well be used as read. "Resistance" would be a little too strong, but I can suggest it.
THE PRESIDENT: Judge Carter has suggested the word, "non-cooperative."
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, I believe that the word as mentioned now, "resistance" would fit best because at that time the Italian Army had already fallen off, did not belong to the German any more. If they use the word, "insubordination", that means that the person in question is under an obligation to obey. However, that was not the case any more and on activity -
THE PRESIDENT: May I suggest that we take the translation as suggested now by the translator and with that I believe there will be no necessity for any further comments on that particular matter.
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, which word do you suggest is to be used now?
THE PRESIDENT: "Resistance."
DR. LATERNSER: I agree to that and I therefore ask for an order, on page 37 as well as page 36 of the English document book, to correct these pages correspondingly.
That is page 36 and 37.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If Your Honors please, at this time we should like to discontinue the presentation of documents in Document Book XIII and put on a prosecution witness.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well.
MR. DENNEY: May it please your Honors, we would request that the Court direct the Marshal to summon the witness, Zivojin Iovanovitch. That is spelled Z i v o j i n I o v a n o v i t c h.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Marshal, you will present the interpreter and the witness to the Court.
MR. DENNEY: Your Honors, please, the witness does not speak any English and the interpreter is Mr. Targoni, who is thoroughly familiar with both the Serbian language and the English language; and the procedure which will be followed is that which has been followed in other cases where we have a third language, two basic languages here being German and English. The questions will be put in English. The questions will be interpreted by the regular interpreters into German for the benefit of the Defendants and their counsel. The question will be interpreted into Serbian from the English by Mr. Targoni. The witness will make his reply into the microphone in Serbian. He will make pauses as he replies. Mr. Targoni will take note and then Mr. Targoni will speak into the same microphone in English, and the regular interpreters can make a simultaneous translation from the English into the German for the benefit of the defendants and their counsel and such other people, including the German court reporters and those listening on the German channel in the court room.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Targoni, if you will raise your right hand and be sworn?
I, Vasilijek Targoni, do solemnly swear that I will perform my duties as interpreter to this Tribunal to the best of my ability and skill.
(The interpreter repeated the oath.)
THE PRESIDENT: The witness will raise his right hand and be sworn.
I swear that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.
(The witness repeated the oath.)
THE PRESIDENT: You may be seated.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. DENNEY:
Q. What is your name?
A. My name is Zivosin Iovanovitch.
MR. DENNEY: Perhaps I might spell it in order that there may be no confusion in the record. It's Z i v o j i n, and the second name:
Item-Oboe-Victor-Able-Nan-Oboe-Viktor-Item-Tear-Charlie-How.
BY MR. DENNEY:
Q. Where were you born?
A. I was born in Vranje.
MR. DENNEY: That is spelled: Victor-Roger-Able-Nan-Jig-Easy.
BY MR. DENNEY:
Q. And where is Vranje?
A. Vranje is a Federal Republic of Serbia.
Q. When were you born?
A. I was born on the 4th of September, 1902.
Q. How much schooling did you have?
A. Two courses of elementary school.
Q. Where have you lived?
MR. DENNEY: Withdrawn.
Q. When did you move to Kragujevac?
A. I moved to Kragujevac in 1911.
Q. And have you lived there since?
A. I always lived in Kragujevac, since 1911 up until now.
Q. What was your employment prior to 1941, April?
A. I was graduated in the Military-Technical Military Plant in Kragujevac.
Q. And did you continue to work in the Technical Military Armament Plant at Kragujevac after the German occupation?
A. After the occupation I continued my work as a clerk in the Military Technical Plant in Kragujevac.
Q. Were you given some instructions subject to April of 1941?
A. I was sent to a training center, - German Training Center known as "Goering-Werke", and I was certified there as a bookkeeper.
Q. After this training as a bookkeeper where did you go?
A. The training center was in the Military Technical Plant in Kragujevac. I remained on duty until I finished this course.
Q. How large a town is Kragujevac?
A. Kragujevac is about 35,000 inhabitants.
Q. In what direction is it from Belgrade?
A. Southwest direction.
Q. About how far?
A. 30 kilometers.
Q. And, if Your Honors please, it is submitted that that is approximately 78 miles, more or less.
Are you married?
A. I am married.
Q. Do you have any children?
A. I have a daughter.
Q. How old is your daughter?
A. She is over 17 years old now.
Q. Directing your attention now to the period of September, 1941, will you tell the Tribunal what happened to you at that time?
A. I will tell.
Q. You may proceed, if you will please.
A. On the 17th of September, 1941, I was working in my office in the Military Technical Plant in Kragujevac. On that day I got a telephone call to go to some other office in the Military Technical Plant, and this office was away from the building I was usually working. When I arrived at the office I found there three armed German soldiers and the chief of this office told me, "You will follow these men."
Q. May I interrupt there? Were these, -- what kind of uniforms did these men have on?
A. In the usual German Amy uniforms, with the insignia GFB.
Q. Please continue.
A. We entered into a car and they took me to the building where they were stationed. In the room they took me in, there was a captain and a Lt, an interpreter and a typist. They started with questioning me, imputing me that I was a member of the illegal underground organization. I denied this, because I was not a member in any of the underground organizations.
MR. DENNEY: Let me interrupt there for a moment, did you over do anything to help, either before 17 September, 1941 or after September, 1941 - did you ever do anything to help the partisans or chetniks?
A. No, I never have helped anybody because I am a poor men. I got my family and I have to take care about them.
Q. In fact, you had been working for the German occupation forces from the time of their occupation in April until 17 September, 1941?
A. I was working for the German occupation of Kragujevac, as a bookkeeper in the Military Technical Plant in Kragujevac
Q. Please continue.
A. Because I denied being a member of the illegal organization, they started to beat me; they beat me for about one hour and some more, maybe. The Lieutenant beat me, and the interpreter always was telling me, "You have to admit; you have to admit."
After about two hours, and a quarter of an hour, they stopped to beat me, because they broke the lamp. The first thing I didn't tell, because I could not tell that I was a member of the illegal organization. I always denied that. After that they told me, "You still have time to think this matter over in jail."
They took me into a car and took me into a Serbian jail, and told the men in charge of the Serbian jail to put me into a cell. I stayed there in a cell in the Serbian jail up to the 20th of October 1941.
Q. This jail was manned by Serbian Guards?
A. Yes, this jail was subordinated to Serbian authorities.
DR. LATERNSER: I object to this question. It is a leading question and not admissible.
MR. DENNEY: If your Honors please, I am trying to help the witness and the court. He was testifying he was taken to a Serbian jail.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: The objection is overruled. By the tone of his voice it was given as a question.
MR. DENNEY: I shall be very careful not to lead the witness. Perhaps we may see some more of it later, however.
Q. How big was the cell in which you were?
A. The cell was long, - about two meters, - and wide about 70 centimeters, without any windows.
Q. Did you ever get served with any papers, or were you ever interrogated; did anyone every tell you why you were in there?
A. No, I was never interrogated in the Serbian jail. I was interrogated only in the building of GFB, before I was in jail.
Then I was told that I would be arrested because I was a member of the illegal organization.
Q. During the period which you were in jail, you never received any official charge sheet indicating why you were being held, and no one ever came to see you to tell you the reason for your detention?
A. At that time "between the 17 September and 20 October in the Serbian jail, nobody came to tell me why I was arrested and nobody gave me any papers, any documents; Nobody interrogated me.
Q. Tell the Court what happened on the 20th of October.
MR. DENNEY: All right, tell the Court what happened on the 20th of October.
A On the 20th of October German armed soldiers arrived at the jail and ordered me to get out of my cell and go to the courtyard. We went to the courtyard, and we met there a Serbian who counted us. After he finished counting he said fifty-three.
Q These other people who were in the courtyard with you, of what nationalities were they?
A They were all Serbians but one who was a Jew.
Q Did you recognize any of the people?
A When we entered into the courtyard I recognized several of them. I used to know one of them who was an attorney and another man, but several of them I knew from seeing them in Kragujevac.
Q And then what happened?
A The German armed soldiers in the courtyard put us into a marching column and we started our march through the city. We were marching along the main street surrounded by German armed soldiers and then I could see other groups of German soldiers going into the houses in other small streets leading to the main streets. These German soldiers collected people from the houses and took them to the main street.
Q How far was it from the jail to the first place that you stopped?
A It took about half an hour.
Q And how many soldiers were around you during that march--that is, around your group?
A There were about twenty-five German soldiers.
Q Were they armed?
A They were armed.
Q What kind of weapons did they have?
A They were armed with machine guns, sub-machine guns, and automatic weapons.
Q Now, where did these soldiers take you?
A They took us to the courtyard of the Artillery barracks, in the city of Kragujevac.
Q And what did you see when you got there?
A When we entered into the courtyard of the artillery barracks I could see three big hangars filled with prisoner Serbians. I saw that they were at the windows and the doors because the Germans tried to push some more people inside, but they couldn't; they were filled up.
Q How many people were in the courtyard itself, excluding the barracks?
AAt that time there were about 1,000 people in the courtyard, at the moment of our arrival.
Q And did they maintain our group separately, or did they mix them up with the other people?
A No, our group was kept separately. We got an order to sit down and not to talk to anybody; otherwise we would be killed. They repeated that we have to stay still--not to talk to anybody, otherwise they must kill all of us.
Q What happened while you were sitting there?
A I have seen some additional groups of population taken by Germans into the courtyard from the city, and I saw some mistreatment. For instance, if somebody couldn't walk fast, these people were kicked by the Germans.
Q And for how long did they continue to bring people into the courtyard?
A They were bringing people in up to about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Q Did you have anything to eat while you were there?
A No, we didn't receive anything to eat.
Q Anything to drink?
A Neither.
Q Then what happened?
A I remember very well one group of students of the first class of high school, about fourteen years old, taken along by Germans with their teachers. They arrived in the courtyard with school books. They were taken from the school.
Q Did you see anybody else come in that you were able to recognize?
A There was another group which struck me. There were about five priests--five or six priests, and then some other people. I remember very well one of them--one of these priests.
Q What was his name?
A He was a priest named Cvetic.
Q That is spelled C V E T I C.
Have you ever seen him since?
A I have never seen him since.
Q And he was a priest from Kragujevac?
A Yes, he was a priest from Kragujevac.
Q Now, there came a time when you left the courtyard at the artillery barracks. Will you please tell the Court what preceded that and where you went.
AAbout 11 o'clock came a German officer--a tall German officer-into the courtyard surrounded with some other people. He was giving some orders. I couldn't hear them, but he showed some directions and explained something. After that I realized that he was indicating places where the shooting should take place on the following day.
Q About what time was it that this officer came?
A It was about 11 o'clock.
Q 11 o'clock in the morning?
A Yes.
Q This was shortly after you arrived there?
A Yes, it was shortly after our arrival.
Q And how long did you stay after that until you left?
AAbout 5 o'clock and maybe some later.
Q 5 o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th?
A Yes, 5 o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th of October.
Q And then you did leave, and then what happened?
AAt that time arrived another group of German soldiers armed in the same way as the previous one.