THE PRESIDENT: They may be so inserted, keeping in mind, however, the prior rulings of the court.
MR. DENNEY: We turn then to page 77 of the English document book and page 57 of the German book, to NOKW 1047, which is offered as Exhibit 100 in evidence.
If the Secretary General will please pass the exhibit to the court, the photostatic copy which we have, the top part of the defendant Boehme's signature appears on it. It is submitted that it can be identified as such from prior signatures which the court has seen. The bottom part has been cut off, and there are reference which will connect this with prior events.
This is an order of the day for 20 October 1941 from the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia. It recites:
"Further successes gained recently by the units contribute to strengthening considerably the appearance of the German Wehrmacht in Serbia.
"The enemy was attacked in the Cor Mountain Range by the 342nd Infantry Division after cleaning up Macva. The insurgents lost about 1700 dead and 4500 prisoners. 2 guns, a number of machine guns, rifles and munitions were liberated. The 125th Inf. Regt. cleaned up the regions Ub and SW of Obrenonac. The losses of the enemy in those regions comprised about 300 dead.
"Some freedom of motion was created for the command post by parts of the 704th Inf. Div. through several pushes into the region of Valjevo.
"On 5 October, the attack of the insurgents on Kraljevo which had been prepared for days was beaten off by the unit in the locality with the cooperation of the 1st Battalion of the 737th Infantry Regiment returning there from Krusevac. The enemy lost at least 80 dead. 1755 hostages were shot in reprisal for our own losses.
In order to carry out a former reprisal measure, the 3rd Battalion of the 749th Infantry Regiment fought its way from Kragjevac to upper Milanova and back - in several scrimmages and in the face of numerous blockades.
133 hostages were brought in.
"I express my special recognition to all officers, non-commissioned officer, and men participating in these successful operations."
Onward to now deals! Pm (Sgd.) Boehme"
MR. DENNEY: And below that appears "onward to new deeds", signed by Boehme.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Denney, does your copy show "deeds" or "deads"?
MR. DENNEY: Mine says, Your Honor, "deads". I don't know what it says in the German. If I could see it, we could have the copy translated.
(Mr. Denney obtains German copy from Secretary General and takes it to the interpreter for a translation.)
THE PRESIDENT: The translator will give us a translation of the word.
MISS EVAND: Onward to new deeds, d-e-e-d-s.
MR. DENNEY: Now, the figure 1755 has been called to Your Honors' attention in Document NOKW-1363, which is in evidence as Prosecution's Exhibit Number 85, and it appears on page 23 of the English book and on page 20 of the German book, and there is the same figure of 1755. In addition, the next page, page 24 of the English and page 21 of the German, the 3rd Battalion of the 749th Infantry is cited in the corps order, that is in the Corps War Diary, as returning to Kragujevac with 133 hostages, the same number that appears here in the second last paragraph of the Boehme order of the day. The next document which appears on page 79 of the English and page 58 of the German is Document No. NOKW1046, which is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 101 in evidence, and it's an interrogation of two German officers, following their escape from Cetnik bands, those who were opposing the occupiers in this area. It's dated Belgrade, 22 October 1941, and the signature is that of a captain of cavalry, and the heading is "Commanding General Plenipotentiary in Serbia, Commander Serbia Section Ia/F Command Staff".
"On 22.10.41 Cavalry Captain Prinz zu Holstein, Chief of Section Ia/F interrogated two non-commissioned officers who had escaped from captivity by the Chetnik bands of Colonel Mihailovic.
"Franz Egger, 6th Company Landesschutzen Battalion 920 and "Franz Kleinod, 3rd Company Quartermaster Battalion 18.
"Both Unteroffiziere agreed in their statements that they had been surprised by ruses of the insurgent Chetniks. At the time they were taken prisoners, all they knew was that they were Chetniks loyal to the government. In both cases near Grn. Milanovac and near Stragari, the insurgents by maintaining that they wanted to support the unit against the Communists managed to get possession of the arms of the German troops In both cases the capture of entire units which up to the moment of their capture had suffered only minor losses can be explained by the fact that the troop leaders in question have negotiated with the Chetniks "In Grn.
Milanovac the case was as follows:
"Chetniks camouflaged as Communists executed a fire attack. After a combat lasting 2 l/2 hours, negotiators bearing a flag of truce were sent over asking surrender. The offer was rejected and the battle continued. After renewed negotiations, the troops withdrew honorably with all arms, allegedly under the protection of the Chetniks. Because of new threats the company commander, assured of unmolested passage, surrendered his arms to the Chetniks, who allegedly wanted to fight the Communists with them. After the arms were surrendered, the German soldiers were taken prisoners and the Chetniks sent them to a prison camp.
"According to the statements of the non-commissioned officers concerned the company commander has asked his people to surrender their arms in order to avoid bloodshed. Almost all the non-commissioned officers were against it, but they obeyed orders. The troops, partly of Slovenian origin and particularly from the older age groups, seemed to agree with this solution, since they did not count on the possibility of a dishonorable captivity when they delivered up their arms.
"It is the opinion of the Unteroffizier that if the battle had been resumed before surrendering arms even though our people would have suffered many losses, it would have contributed to heavy enemy losses and perhaps to the rescue of the remainder of the company. Similar methods were applied by the enemy in Stragari. On 4.10. unex pected attack of fire by the enemy.
The unit in no way experienced, in combat - they were two detachments of the quartermaster battalions 1 and 18 about 20 men strong - let itself be deceived by the enemy. Here too the Chetniks alleged that they wanted to fight against the Communists but they could do so only if the German unit withdrew. Assured of free passage, the Chetniks penetrated the villages as friends and surrounded the unit. Suddenly they demanded the surrender of arms and thus surprised the troops. Resistance was impossible. Here the guilt doubtless fell on the leading Feldwebel of the Quartermaster Battalion 1, who instead of fighting his way through with 40 men, who had sufficient ammunition with them anyway, entered into negotiations with the insurgents. Even though the Feldwebel of a quartermaster battalion is not trained for combat, it must be clear to every German soldier that the enemy cannot be our friend if at first he shoots at us and then suddenly he wants to negotiate in a friendly manner. In both cases the reputation of the German Wehrmacht has suffered enormously due to hesitation and unreflected action.
"The statements of both non-commissioned officers confirmed the rumors that the entire population participated in the insurrection, since all of them from the child to the man were armed and supported the roving bands. Band leaders were mostly Yugoslav officers. These were for the most part wearing old Yugoslav uniforms.
"It is reported for the first time that the German soldiers were not deprived of their uniforms. The soldiers were also left in possession of their property. Colonel Mihailovic had been pointed out personally as the leader of the units in this area to the two non-commissioned officers. He was surrounded by many uniformed officers. The insurgents in this territory designated themselves as the National Free Serbian Army, whose sole and only aim was to drive the Germans from the country. They considered themselves soldiers and consequently recognized as valid the laws of war, hence probably the strikingly good treatment of prisoners.
"During combat action and later in the area of the prison camp, nothing was recognized as Communistic elements by the two non-commissioned officers.
"(signature illegible) "Captain Cav."
And the signature, it is believed, is that of Captain zu Holstein. Then, on page 60 of the German and page 83 of the English, appears Document NOKW-562, which is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 102 in evidence. This is a signed order of General Boehme and refers again to his order, which by now I believe the Court is familiar with, Exhibit No. 88, which was the 2848/41 Order, dated 10 October 1941. The subject of this communication is the "Suppression of Insurgent Movements in Serbia", and the reference is "Commanding General Plenipotentiary in Serbia, III/Chief Military Administration, Qu No. 3208/41 secret", a number which has already been referred to. There is an enclosure.
"Observations and reports show that the units have taken the measures required for the suppression of insurgent movements to a large extent in an exemplary manner and with the desired severity.
"However, in individual cases the pertinent order - a directive applicable for the entire territory of Serbia which is to be executed according to the local situation with divisional and regimental commanders bearing the responsibility - has not been interpreted correctly.
"In order that the taking and shooting to death of hostages is coordinated according to plan, attention is directed to the following points:
"1) Arbitrary arrests and shootings to death of Serbs are driving to the insurrectionists circles of the population which up to now did not participate in the insurrection. They strengthen the power of resistance of communism. They diminish chances for speedy suppression and they are harmful to the political goal of the commitment.
The shooting to death of confidential agents, Croats and entire personnel of German armament factories constitute irreparable errors. In case of doubt, the decision of the superior authority is to be requested prior to executions.
2.) Evidence for the taking of hostages, according to para. 2 of the pertinent order, is in the first instance to be procured through the Administrative Subarea Hqs. and the district Hqs. The pertinent order was issued to the administrative offices by the commander Serbia administrative staff under No. 4224/41 V dated 10.10.41.
Beyond and above, the units are to take hostages by well planned operations in the insurgent districts. These hostages are to be chosen according to the directive above and in required numbers from such villages as are known to be focal points of the insurgent movements. Here it must be avoided that such parts of the population be taken and executed as hostages who, being non-participants in the insurrection, did not flee before a German penal expedition.
In such cases, the family members of those who fled (including women) are to be taken as hostages in the first place. The houses of those who fled are to be burned down.
3.) Women, who actively participated in the flight - with or without arms - are to be treated like the male insurrectionists.
Women who are suspected of having supported the flight are to come before court martial.
Women who are taken as hostages only may not be shot.
4.) Persons already involved in court martial procedure are not permitted to be shot to death before the conclusion of the procedure and not within the framework of reprisal measures. Their sentence is of a demonstrative character and is to be executed according to this point of view.
5.) Generally, those insurgents probably killed in combat are credited to the number of those to be shot to death in reprisal.
6. ) You are reminded to include in the daily report a notation as to whether and to what extent reprisal measures have been executed, or when and how much later those will be executed. (Paragraph 3 of the pertinent directive.) If an insufficient number of hostages is not available or cannot be procured the commanding general - plenipotentiary is to be informed and he will order an adjustment.
It is submitted that this should read "If an insufficient number of hostages is available or cannot be procured," or that it should read "If a sufficient number of hostages is not available or cannot be procured.
7. ) The reprisal measures which have been ordered charge the unit commanders with a heavy responsibility and they are to be executed in accordance with military customs. For detailed directives see enclosure. (Signed) Boehme, General of Infantry."
And the enclosure which is recited there and also on the first page, prior to the first paragraph of the directive "Detailed directives for the execution of shootings:
a) The execution detachments are to be headed by officers.
b) Execution is to be performed by rifle aimed simultaneously on head and heart at a distance of from 8 to 10 meters.
c) In order to avoid touching the corpses unnecessarily, those to be shot to death are to stand immediately at the edge of the grave. If mass executions take place it is practical to have the hostages kneel facing the grave.
d) A unit physician is to be attached to the execution detachment. He will order the delivery of "coups de grace".
e) In no case is it permitted to use clothing (or shoes) for the good of the population. They are to be delivered against receipts to the local competent office of the Military Administration.
The next document is on page 64 of the German text and page 87 of the English text. It is Document No. NOKW-907 and is offered as prosecution's exhibit 103 in evidence. This is another copy of what we have just seen but, whereas the copy which we had before merely went to his own immediate circle, we now see that this copy has various stamps on it which indicate that the order has been passed down.
The stamp in the upper right-hand corner, the 704th Infantry Division and the stamp down below the 704th, 31 October 1941. This is dated 25 October 1941, the same date that the other communication had and it again recites the handwritten enclosure which we have read with reference to the details. The numbers 764th Infantry Division which appear on this are in error. They should be 704th and the three stamps throughout are those of the 704th and not as two of them appear to be-the 764th.
If Your Honors will bear with me for just a moment, the distribution list here says "Distribution as reference instructions." In that appears the reference instructions referring back to Order No. 2848/41 which is secret to October 1941 and the document number is NOKW-557. It is Exhibit 88 in evidence and, of course, they turn back to this in order that the distribution will be the same as that of the original order because this is a supplement to it, and the distribution list on that, as the Court will recall, includes the 65th Corps, the separate division, the separate Infantry Regiment, various other offices and staffs, and then information copies to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, the German General in Zagreb, and two copies in reserve. That appears on pages 35 and 36 of the English document book III and the distribution list is completely on page 29 in the German document book.
There is no need to read this document again. It has just been read. The contents are the same down to the instructions which the Court can see at their leisure. On page 68 of the German and page 91 of the English, Document 561 which is a report on the number and category of persons in the concentration camp at Sabac, this is dated 25 October 1941, Belgrade, and is addressed to the commander of Serbia, Administrative Staff for the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia and it is sent by the Chief of the Administrative Staff to the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, and says "I transmit in the appendix a tabulation concerning the state of the camp in Sabac for the time from 18th to 24th October 1941."
There is a receipt stamp of the 18th Corps which the Court will remember is commanded by the same man who is the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, dated 26 October 1941, and on page two of the original, the camp in Sabac during the period mentioned 18 to 24 October, there were on 17 October, 15,724 inmates; one week later there were 16,445; an increase of 721. Then it shows that 891 had been examined, 727 discharged, 90 had been shot and the total shot up to now is a thousand.
Major Hatfield, would you please tell me whether or not I gave that last document an Exhibit number?
THE SECRETARY GENERAL: 104.
MR. DENNEY: 104--thank you.
We may pass the next document and we come now to NOKW-802 which is on page 71 of the German text and page 96 of the English text. This is offered as prosecution's Exhibit 105 in evidence. This is a directive of 26 October 1941 from General Boehme through his chief of staff Turner to all administrative subareas and all district headquarters.
DR. LATERNSER: I must protest against the introduction of this document. The whole document is again a document merely covered typing. It starts with the word "copy". That is the copy of a document, copying of a document. I would like to draw the attention of the Tribunal that what follows next is top secret. A top secret document can never be allowed to be copied. On the document there is no certification. This certification is also only typewritten and the name is also typewritten. Since there is nothing written with handwriting on the document except that which the prosecution has written itself, this is not a document but just a piece of paper covered with typing.
Since this piece of paper lacks documentary character it has to be rejected as a document.
MR. DENNEY: The answer to the objection is the same as before. This is a captured document. The document is certainly submitted as being just what it purports to be, a typewritten copy which is unsigned, but it bears in type writing also at the bottom, signed Turner, and it is offered for such probative value as the court deems fit to give it in conjuction with all of these other documents which we have seen, many of which are signed, and some of which are unsigned.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal is of the opinion that inasmuch as this purports to be a captured document that even though it does not bear a written signature, it will be accepted for such value as the court feels should be given to it and that is in line with the other exhibits.
MR. DENNEY: It is dated Belgrade 26 October 1941, 20 copies, 16th copy.
To: All Administrative Sub-Areas and all District Headquarters.
In that connection, in the way Serbia was organized, this goes to all Administrative sub-areas and all District Headquarters so it is certainly conceivable a good many copies had been made. It is shown on its face there were twenty.
For certain reasons the administrative sub-area and district headquarters are to be informed of the following:
The Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia is charged with carrying out the affairs of the Commander of Serbia. Headquarters Staff and Administrative Staff remain in the same composition as before. If orders of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General refer to the Chief of the Administrative Staff with the Commander in Serbia, who co-operates closely with a Staff of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General.
The situation in Serbia makes it impossible at the present time to have an administration in certain districts.
That is why it is the more important that the Administrative sub-area.
and district headquarters see to it that a Serbian administration under German supervision is recognized in the territories cleaned up by our units or by Serbian Gendarmerie and Police Organs respectively. This is the exclusive task of the Administrative sub-area and district headquarters.
In carrying out the order dated 10.10.41 Diary No. 2848/41 Secret.
If I might interrupt to call the court's attention again, there is the reference to the basic order, which Exhibit 88 in evidence NOKW 557and appears at page 34 in Document book 3.
Returning now to the text after the word "Secret".
the units have carried out shootings in some localities which have resulted in serious consequences. The order of 25.10.41 No. 3208/41 Secret which is sent to the Administrative Sub-Area and District Headquarters for information concerning certain directives issued by the Commanding General Plenipotentiary.
If I may interrupt again please, that is the order which appears on page 83, the order of 25 October 1941 which had the details enclosed with reference to the directives for executions and I believe the court will recall that we just read it.
THE PRESIDENT: With reference to matters which were presented in the court this morning, arrangements have been made for a conference with certain individuals and that has been set for 4:20. That hour has been reached. We will adjourn at this time until 0930 Monday morning.
THE TRIBUNAL WILL RECESS UNTIL 0930 O'CLOCK MONDAY MORNING, 21 JULY 1947, Official Transcript of Military Tribunal V, Case 7, in the matter of the United States of America against Wilhelm List et at, defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, on 21 July 1947, 0930, Justice Wennerstrum presiding.
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the Courtroom will please find their seats.
The Honorable, the Judges of Military Tribunal 5.
Military Tribunal 5 is now in session. God save the United States of America and this honorable Tribunal.
There will be order in the Court.
THE PRESIDENT: Marshal, you will ascertain if all the defendants are in the court room.
THE MARSHAL: May it please your Honors, all defendants are present in the Courtroom.
THE PRESIDENT: Before we proceed with the regular Tribunal matters, the Court wants to make a statement in connection with the information that was brought to your attention Friday morning by counsel for the defendants relative to the matter of searching the defense counsel.
This Tribunal is conscious of the fact that we do not have any particular control over the administration of the matters which pertain to security, but we are desirous of cooperating with defense counsel and making it possible for them to present their case in a manner which will be helpful to them. Because of that interest, we had a conference with the officials Friday afternoon and the information was brought to us that the incident that happened at the mess hall was a result of a misunderstanding on the part of one of the officers there, and the men concerned.
We were assured that it would not happen again. In that connection, however, I want to make this statement; that as I understand it, as the Tribunal understands it, there was an arrangement made some several weeks or months ago which was agreeable to the security officers and defense counsel relative to these cards. Now there have been some incidents where some of defense counsel have rather hastily pushed the cards at the guards and have indicated that--that is, an attitude that they didn't have to show the cards.
If defense counsel will cooperate in the previous arrangements which have been made relative to the showing of these cards and show the proper attitude--I mean a courteous attitude-- which I know all of them will, I am quite certain that the incident that happened Friday will not occur again.
The Court was willing to take this and to go to this trouble. We were interested in bringing this matter to the attention of the authorities in the desire to be helpful to all concerned and we ask the cooperation now on the part of defense counsel and all other parties who may be concerned. That is all I have to say.
You may proceed.
MR. DENNEY: May it please your Honors, the prosecution has twelve additional copies of the document which was marked Exhibit 38-A for identification, which is the list of documents containing the references to the courts on which each of the documents in Document Book I is offered, and the defendants against whom these counts are offered. And will you hand these to the defense counsel at this time?
Further, in connection with Exhibit 38-A, the list to which reference has just been made, there have been some five omissions which we would like at this time to add to the list 38-A with reference to Document NOKW-1151 which is Exhibit 7, in addition to the defendant Weiche, it is also offered against the defendants List and Foertsch. Exhibit No. 9, which is Document NOKW-1522; in addition to the defendants List and Foertsch, it is also offered as against the defendants Felmy and Kuntze. Exhibit No. 10, which is Document NOKW-1382, in addition to the defendants List and Foertsch; it is also offered against the defendants Felmy and Kuntze; and then the last two--Document No, 454-PS, which is Exhibit No. 15 in evidence, in addition to the defendants List and Foertsch it is also offered against the defendants Felmy and Kuntze. And Document NOKW-1432, which is Exhibit 16, in evidence, in addition to the defendants List and Foertsch, it is also offered against the defendants Felmy and Kuntze.
With reference to Document Book II, the last document which was offered in that document book was Document 77 and we now ask that a list of the counts on which the documents in Document Book II are offered and the defendants against whom they are offered be marked Exhibit 77-A and inserted at the end of Document Book II. I hand three copies of 77-A to the Tribunal, 24 copies for the defense counsel, two copies for the Secretary General and a copy for the interpreters and the court reporters, one each.
THE PRESIDENT: The marking of this document as Exhibit 77-A is as I understand it to be accepted into the record under the same conditions that the like document was received relative to Document Book II?
MR. DENNEY: One.
THE PRESIDENT: Or one, and is so marked as an exhibit solely for the purpose of identification and is not to be received as an exhibit proper for the benefit of the court and interested counsel in their study of the case.
MR. DENNEY: That is our understanding, if your Honor pleases, in conformity with your Honor's ruling of last week.
On Friday when we adjourned, we had reached Document NOKW-802which is Exhibit 105, in evidence, appearing at page 96 of the English text and 71 of the German text; and we had reached the end of the first page of the exhibit. I should like to direct your Honors' attention to the fact that this copy which is from the Commanding Plenipotentairy in Serbia, Gen. Boehme, dated 26 October, 1941, to all administrative subareas and all district headquarters, the last page which we had just finished--the last paragraph of the first page which we had just finished reading; there is a reference to diary No. 2848/41 of the 10th of October. That is a reference.
THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me, for my information may I make inquiry as to from what page you are reading?
MR. DENNEY: Page 96 of the English.
THE PRESIDENT: Ninety-six?
DR. DENNEY: Yes, sir. The last page, the page which we had concluded on Friday, and it is the last paragraph on that page. It is page 96 of Document Book III, the reference in the first line of the last paragraph of that page is to Exhibit 88 in evidence, which is page 34 of the English document Book III and page 27 of the German Document Book III and it refers to the order of Boehme which referred, if your Honors will recall, to the OKW order of Keitel which was the OKW order put in as the Exhibit 53. Then the reference on the third line from the bottom to the order of 25 October 1941 refers to NOKW562 which is at page 83 in Document Book III, and as your Honors will recall the No. 3208/41, it is the order from Boehme which he signed which had to do again with the suppression of the insurgent movement in Serbia.
Continuing then with the paragraph starting at the top of page 97:
This order shows clearly in paragraph 2 the cooperation, and there again he is referring to his order of 25 October, Exhibit 83, I The coo-eration of the Administrative Sub-area and District Headquarters. According to this order not only are the units to be advised in the seizure of hostages but - if my order dated 10.10,41 was carried out as directed - the Administrative Sub-Area and District Headquarters must be able to put at the disposal of the units a number of hostages without any difficulties. The ratio being 1:100 in case of a dead and 1:50 in case of a wounded German soldier it will frequently happen that the Administrative Sub-area and District Headquarters will not be in a position to furnish the required number of hostages, if a certain concept of guilt should be taken into consideration to some extent, even if only on the basis of the general behavior of those to be arrested. In such cases I am to be informed by the speediest possible means.
As a matter of principle it must be said that Jews and Gypsies in general represent an element of insecurity and thus a danger to public order and safety. It is the Jewish intellect which has brought about this war and which must be annihilated. The gypsy, because of his internal and external make-up cannot be a useful member of a peoples' community. It has been found that the Jewish element participates considerably in the leadership of the bands and that Gypsies in particular are responsible for special atrocities and for the communication systems. That is why it is a matter of principle in each case to put all Jewish men and all male Gypsies at the disposal of the units for hostages. Moreover it is intended to transfer the women and children of Jews and Gypsies in a collection camp in the near future and to remove this disquieting element from Serbian territory by way of resettlement.
Proper preparations for this are to be made.
Per se it is against the concept of the German Soldier and civil servant to seize women for hostages. Nevertheless arrests are to be made if it is a matter of wives or family members respectively of insurgents who are in the mountains.
In such case greater severity means at the same time greater clemency. In this way the bandit suffers the consequences of his own actions. The sense of justice of the decent part of the population is appealed to, while the belief in the feeling for justice of the German Wehrmacht must be destroyed if not only people who are completely innocent are shot to death but - as occurred in one case, just those men of the village were executed who had remained at their place of work waiting for the German Troops, because of their confidence in their own innocence and because of their obedience to the German Arms.
These ideas are to be propagated by the Administrative subArea and District Headquarters. A Commanding Officer of a District Headquarters reports that a Regimental Commander forced him to sign an order which was against his own opinion. The Commanding Officers of the Administrative Sub-Area and District Headquarters are in no case subordinate to the unit commander in administrative affairs except by virtue of a Special Order.
In the present situation the Commanding Officers of the Administrative Sub-Area and District Headquarters are carrying a heavy responsibility. Essentially it is their part to bring about a co-ordination of Military needs, which in view of the situation must have priority, with the needs of a well planned administration.
For the Commanding General-Plenipotentiary in Serbia The Chief of the Military Staff (signed ) Turner Certified True Copy The next document is NOKW 1202 which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 106 and is a proclamation by the German Commandant to the Serbian population with reference to retaliation measures.
It was issued sometime in 1941 as may be seen from the dates, that is October 1941, as may be seen from the dates at the close of 21 October to 31 October----12 October and 31 October. Excuse me, Your Honor.
The German Army does not want to take your freedom and to prevent you from working peacefully,. But just like your Belgrade Government it demands, peace, order, and security in the country.
Insurgent Communists, Jews, and plunderers have united. They force you to join their ranks, endanger your property and life.
Repeatedly German soldiers have been murdered cruelly. Also individual national organizations of your country have made alliance with these insurgentsin order ot harm the German Wehrmacht.
The German Wehrmacht has looked on at this activity for a long time, to give you time to think it over. Instead of acknowledging gratefully the generous attitude of the German Wehrmacht you in many cases have believed more in the lies and provocative whispers of communistic and ambitious leaders. So it happened, that many of you not only did not resist the insurgents but even supported the insurgents. Thereby you have become accomplices to the criminal acts of the insurgents.
Lately raids on vital installations of economy and traffic have increased as well as organized attacks on German forces. Here again many German soldiers were murdered in brutality.
The German Wehrmacht must and shall put an end to this activity with all means and unyielding severity to restore peace and security also for you.
The following directives become effective immediately: