Court No. V, Case No. VII.
Q If it please the Tribunal, in this connection to prove General Dehner's character, as well as his political and religious attitude, I shall present first of all from my document book 1, document Dehner No. 3 and this will become Dehner exhibit No. 1. I repeat, Dehner book 1, page 5 and 6 of both the German and the English text. This is an affidavit of the former General Franz Halder, dated 28 July 1947. If it please the Tribunal, I would like to draw attention first of all to paragraph 2 where it says:
"In the years 1931 - 1934 I was Chief of Staff of Military Area H.O. (Wehrkreiskommando) in Muenster in Westphalia. During this time I became more closely acquainted with the then Major Ernst DEHNER, who belonged to this staff as 2nd Adjutant (IIb). This acquaintance was not only limited to official contacts in the form of a qualifying superior to his subordinate, but was also of a personal nature, which amongst fellow-countrymen - we are both Bavarians - was naturally closer than that entertained by many other members of the staff."
The affiant goes on to say in paragraph 3:
"DEHNER is the type of a good German field officer. Also in staff-duty his interest was exclusively devoted to the troops, care of their correct training, and the preservation of a good soldierly spirit. As long as I was in the position to observe him, DEHNER was a perfect example of someone fulfilling his duty with minute meticulousness, an absolutely reliable, indefatigably industrious colleague, who keenly endeavored to fulfill the duties of his office to the best of his ability, and to lend effective support to his superiors. DEHNER is not a type who searches for and follows up independent lines of action in a self-willed way. He rather bowed willingly to the authority of his superior, without foregoing, however, the right and duty of expressing his own emphatic points of view."
In the next paragraph Halder mentioned General Dehner's religious and political attitude and in the second sentence of paragraph four he says:
Court No. V, Case No. VII.
"His reserved deeply religious austerely self-disciplined character was in innate antithesis to the lack of restraint and the blustering brutal measures, which became more and more extensive through the NSDAP in political life during these years. Although he himself, as a soldier of the Seeckt school, was absolutely unpolitical, DEHNER chose this way in ever increasing contrast to that of the Party. Many times he expressed this contrast to me in a very blunt manner, thereby pointing out the dangers for the education of the rising German youth and also for the spirit of the Wehrmacht which would spring from this attitude of mind. I recall amongst other things his official report on the National Socialist intrigues of a few company commanders of the Muenster garrison, who wanted to introduce the "Horst-Wessel-song" as a soldier's song for the troops, and on the efforts of a few young officers, who in order to go over to the Party for training wanted to have leave from the unit. The officer otherwise so calm and balanced, fell into a violent rage about these traces of National Socialist spirit amongst the troops, and himself proposed immediate drastic counter-measures.
"The impression I gained during the period of close collaboration of this upright thinking officer who was conscious of duty and honor does not allow room for the notion that in later years he could have acted from criminal motives or have become a representative of the spirit of the lack of restraint which he had formerly fought against with his very being."
I further offer in this connection document Dehner No. 4. This will become Dehner exhibit 2. It is contained in Dehner document book 1 on pages 7 to 9 of both the German and the English version.
This is an affidavit of the former General Franz Freiherr von Kress, dated 21 July 1947. The former General von Kress was formerly a superior of General Dehner and this affidavit is also submitted as evidence for the political and religious attitude shown by General Dehner. It says in the second paragraph of this affidavit:
"The former General Ernst DEHNER was regimental commander of Court No. V, Case No. VII.
the Infantry Regiment 87 in Wiesbaden from 1936 - 39 and was subordinated to my command as commanding general and commander of Army District XII."
The affiant goes on to say about General Dehner that:
"He enjoyed the education and training of the old German Officers' Corps to which he remained absolutely faithful even in the period of National Socialism, as I was repeatedly able to convince myself on this score from occasional conversations with him, and which I could observe at any time from his entire behavior. The spirit of decency with which he was blest, his high conception of honor and duty, his excellent education and training received at home make a low, unworthy or indecent attitude of mind, or action on his part seem impossible."
I will skip the next sentence and shall read from the next paragraph:
"I consider it absolutely impossible for him to commit a crime against humanity."
In the next paragraph General von Kress says about himself:
"I myself was discharged on 4 February 1938, since I was not in favor of National Socialism, and did not participate in the intrigues of this party."
I will skip two sentences again and he then says:
"DEHNER never gave the Party his sympathy, and in all essential questions remained steadfastly at my side. He never curried favor with the Party in order to gain any privileges, but strictly followed the path of decency, justice and faithful fulfilment of his duty. His rise is not due to the fact that he made himself popular with the Party or that he was a special protegee of HITLER, it is entirely due to his diligence in his military profession. The fact that he became a highranking general is therefore not a sign that he held the same views as HITLER, but is his just merit."
I will read now from the next paragraph:
"From his religious attitude it is obvious that DEHNER was not Court No. V, Case No. VII.
susceptible to National Socialist enticements. In every respect National Socialism endeavoured to place difficulties in the way of the practice of religion. The work of the Military Area H.O. chaplain was sabotaged in every possible way, propaganda for the so-called German Christians assumed intolerable limits, the faithful adherents of the old Christian Church were ill-famed as followers of the Confessional religion, all possible sects sprang up to split up the Christian Church.
"As Commanding General I severely opposed these intrigues. As regimental commander DEHNER actively supported me in this matter, no doubt entirely from inner conviction, although however, he knew exactly that in doing so he made himself unpopular with the leading authorities, not only with HITLER, but also with the Reich Defense Ministry, which, at that time avoided all friction with the Party, and laid himself open to the reproach that he was making difficulties for National Socialism. As to how important these religious matters were regarded by the Party is seen by the fact that my discharge was chiefly caused by my opposition in the religious sphere. Nevertheless DEHNER like I took the risk upon himself and remained faithful to his convictions.
"It should be clearly seen from the foregoing that DEHNER is an upright soldier, who always acted according to the principles of honor and decency, without any consideration for personal advantage, I cannot imagine according to my personal impressions of this steadfast personality that such a man became a criminal under the HITLER regime."
If it please the Tribunal, I shall further submit one document in this connection, which is contained in document book VI, but has not yet been translated. I would therefore ask for permission to present this document at a later date.
THE PRESIDENT: That privilege will be given you.
Q. What were the conditions in your family, General?
A. Since 1918 I was married. I have two sons. They are 19 and 24 years old.
Q. What were your assignments during the First World War?
A. I was platoon leader, company leader and battalion adjutant.
Q. What decorations did you receive during the First World War?
A. During the First World War I received the Iron Cross, first and second class. The Bavarian Order of Merit and the decorations given for wounds.
Q. That brings us to the next chapter of our discussion. Did you e concern yourself with questions of International Law?
A. No.
Q. Did you at any time during your period of service receive any instructions or training concerning International Law or did you hear any lectures concerning International Law?
A. No, never at no time.
Q. On what was your knowledge of International Law based?
A. On the scarce notes about it which were contained in some of the orders of procedure. I remember, for instance, that in the old order of military procedure 1908 there is a chapter concerning the Geneva Conventions and, furthermore, any knowledge concerning International Law is based on the reading of newspapers and periodicals -- I mean of periodicals in the military sphere and, finally, based on my knowledge of military history.
Q. What was the general opinion held in the German army concerning hostages?
A. Hostages were an admissible reprisal measure which had been applied in former wars.
Q. Concerning the international law concept regarding hostage reprisals carried out by the German army, was there any clarity?
A. I believe this is being disputed even today.
Q. During the war would it have been possible for you to gain the necessary clairyt about these concept, prerequisites and questions of admissibility?
A. I believe that in the urgency of war and in the quick actions which are being taken in wartime there is no time to do this. Furthermore, every commander and every officer had to assume that all orders coming from higher agencies and especially from the highest level had been examined with respect to their admissibility under international law very clearly and quickly and that this admissability had been thoroughly considered and weighed One had to also assume that the legal experts which were attached to the high agencies for this purpose had been consulted about what was the general opinion held about the killing of hostages, and the admissibility under international law to kill hostages. The American "rules of land warfare" also discusses this subject.
Q. Was it customary in the army to check every order coming from higher agencies before it was passed on concerned its admissibility under International Law?
A. No, it was not customary to do that and this for the reason which I gave before. As I know from military literature and from military history all armies in this world follow the same custom. There is simply not enough time to check every order regarding its legal aspects. It is impossible, see from a tactical point of view, and would furthermore impair the confidence in the leadership. It would also curtail the discipline and the fighting strength and spirit of the troops.
Q. When you obeyed or passed or issued orders, did you ever have the feeling that you were committing any act which was contradictory to International Law?
A. No.
Q. That brings me to another chapter of this general examination, and where was the corps headquarters of the 69th Reserve Corps organized.
A. The corps headquarters of the 69th Reserve Corps was established the months of July and August 1943 in Vienna.
Q. Did the corps headquarters of the 69th Reserve Corps, when it was organized in Vienna, have any orders about the arrest and treatment of hostage about the carrying out of reprisal measures, et cetera?
A. I cannot recall that the corps headquarters had any orders to the effect. I think that is out of the question.
Q. When was the corps headquarters transferred to Croatia?
A. The corps headquarters was transferred to Croatia in August 1943.
Q. When was the Croatian state created?
A. The Croatian state was created at the beginning of April 1941: to the best of my knowledge, on the 15th of April 1941 it was recognized by Germany and two months later it joined the so-called anti-Comintern Pact and in December 1941 Croatia declared war on the Allies.
Q. What do you know of the recognition of the Croatian state by other states?
A. The Croatian state was recognized by the Axis powers and also by the neutral states. These had their representatives with the seat of the government in Zagreb. Croatia concluded trade agreements with neutral state to the best of my knowledge.
Q. How large was the area of the Croatian state?
A. The area of the Croatian state was 115,000 square kilometers, to the best of my knowledge. On the map it is the area encircled by the red line
Q. How many inhabitants did Croatia have?
A. Croatia had 7 million inhabitants.
Q. Which was the area under the commander of the 69th Corps?
A. The 69th Crops covered about a third of a fourth of this area and I am pointing that out here very roughly. This was the area under the jurisdiction of the Corps in the north of Croatia.
Q. Who was the state authority in Croatia?
A. The power of the state was held by the Croatian government and the head of this government was Ante Pavelic who was called the Poglavnik -- I spell that P o g l a v n i k.
Q. What was the general constellation of the Croatian government?
A. All ministries were represented in the Croatian government as is the general custom. There was the Ministry of the Foreign Office, the Ministry of the Interior, the War Ministry, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, et cetera.
DR. GAWLIK: If it please the Tribunal, in this connection and to co*** the statements made by the witness, I should like to offer from Dehner Document Book I, Document Dehner No. 6. This will become Dehner Exhibit 3. It is on pages 11 to 13 of this document book which is Dehner Document Book 1. It is an excerpt from the "Voelkischer Beobachter" dated 16 April 1941. The headline is: "Independent Croatia Recognized by the Axis Powers."
"Berlin 15 April. The newly formed Croatian National Government in Zagreb, through a telegram from its Chief Dr. Pavelic and General Kvaternik has informed the Fuehrer of the proclamation of the independent State of Croatia and requested recognition of independent Croatia by the German Reich I shall skip the next paragraph but in the next afternoon it is shown that Croatia was recognized by the German Reich.
It is further shown on the following page on page 12 that Croatia was also recognized by Italy. It say "I am happy to announce to you the recognition of the independent Croatian State by the Fascist Government which, in a free interchange of opinion will be pleased to come to an agreement with the National Croatian Government concerning the boundaries of the new State, to which the Italian people extend the best of luck."
The next paragraph on the bottom of page 12 shows that Slovakia also recognized the independent state of Croatia.
I further submit in this connection Document Dehner No. 7, also con tained in Document Book Dehner I and this will become Exhibit 4, page 14 -this is Dehner Document Book I. This document, which is also an excerpt from the "Voelkischer Beobachter" shows that Croatia had its own armed forces and its own commander in chief of the Croatian armed forces.
I am further submitting Dehner Document No. VIII, which will become Dehner Exhibit No. 5. This is contained in Document Book I for Dehner on page 15. This also is an excerpt from the "Voelkischer Beobachter" which I am submitting as evidence of the independence of the Croatian state. From this document it becomes apparent that Croatia had an ambassador in Berlin, that, therefore, Croatia had international connections with other states.
I further submit from Dehner Document Book I Dehner Document 9 which will become Dehner Exhibit No. 6. This is on page 16 of Dehner Document I and is also an excerpt from the "Voelkischer Beobachter" dated 10 May 1941. From this document can be seen how the government of the Croatian state was organized. The document shows the inner and foreign political sovereign of the state.
I further submit in this connection Document Dehner 15 which will become Dehner Exhibit 7. This is also contained in Dehner Document Book I on page 17 and it is also an excerpt from the "Voelkischer Beobachter" where the German Croatian frontier is described. From this document can be seen that this newly created state had taken up international relations with other states.
The last document which I want to present in this connection will be document Dehner No. 11 which will become Dehner Exhibit No. 8. It is contained in Dehner Document Book I on page 18 and 19. This is likewise an excerpt from the "Voelkischer Beobachter" and confirms that Croatia was an independent state. This document shows the constitution of the state and in the second paragraph it states:
"It has not been determined whether or not the representative body of the people will be formed on a corporative or some other basis."
Which shows that all prerequisites were fulfilled which have to be gi** for a country to be a state -- that is, state area and state constitution.
From page 19 it can be seen that the Italian troops which were in the Croatian state as occupation troops were retired to the new borderline. It shows that the executive power was from then on invested in the Croatian authorities.
Q. General, is it correct to designate the Croatian government as a puppet government?
A. No. I don't believe one can say that. The Croatian government was very seriously concerned with the rights which it defended against the Wehrmacht. At times we had considerable difficulties in our operations because we always had to consider the Croatian state. In many cases, it was very inexpedient but we had to get the agreement of the Croatian state for our actions.
DR. GAWLIK: If it please the Tribunal, in this connection I shall submit a document which is contained in Dehner Document Book V which I cannot present at this moment because this document book Dehner V has not been translated. This is an excerpt from the war diary of the 69th Reserve Corps The presentation of this document I would like to reserve for a later date but at this point I would like to express my gratitude to the Tribunal for supporting me in obtaining this war diary from Washington.
Q. General, what German agencies were there in Croatia?
A. There were agencies of the army, the navy, police, the German legation and agencies of the various Reich officers which I cannot enumerate at the moment.
Q. Were the Croatian agencies subordinate to the German agencies?
A. No, they were not.
Q. What were the reasons for the presence of German agencies in Croatia?
A. I have to assume that this fact was based on the agreement and express consent of the Croatian state and the Croatian government.
Q. Who was primarily responsible for public safety and order in Croatia?
A. The Croatian government which held executive powers and exercise them.
Q. What were the tasks of the German troops in Croatia?
A. The Croatian government in order to maintain law, order and security in the country, had to be supported and the country had to be protected against possible invasion.
THE PRESIDENT: We will take our morning recess at this time.
THE MARSHAL: The court will be in recess until eleven-fifteen.
(A recess was taken).
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the Courtroom will please find their seats.
The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed, Dr. Gawlik.
DIRECT EXAMINATION - Continued BY DR. GAWLIK:
Q. When did you arrive in Croatia, General Dehner?
A. In August 1943.
Q. How long were you in Croatia altogether?
A. Altogether I was in Croatia for about five months.
Q. During this period were you continuously in Croatia?
A. Shortly after I arrived I had to go for a few days to Berlin on official business, and following this I took leave which had been promised to me for sometime. Therefore, from the 28th of August 1943 until the 26th of September 1943 I was absent. Then I was in Croatia again until December, in January I was absent again. Then I remained in Croatia until I went into Hungary on the 18th of March 1944.
Q. As evidence for the absence of General Dehner I submit Dehner Document No. 1 as Dehner Exhibit No. 9, from Dehner Document Book I, Pages 1 to 3. This is an excerpt from the Army Pay Book, which is an official document. On Page 3 of the Document Book it can be seen as to when General Dehner was absent. In this connection I submit further Dehner Document No. 16, from Dehner Document Book III, as Dehner Exhibit No. 10. This document is contained in Dehner Document Book III, Pages 27 to 49. In this connection I would like to draw the attention of the Tribunal to the entry for the 28th of August 1943, Pages 29 to 30, in Document Book III. That is the entry:
"Commanding General leaves for Berlin to report to the Chief of Army Equipment and Commander of Army Replacement and Training."
Before this period -- August 1943 -- were you ever in the Balkans, and did you know the conditions there?
A. No, I was never in the Balkans previously, and I did not know the conditions there.
Q. What were the tasks of the LXIXth Reserve Corps?
A. In addition to the training of the reserve divisions to maintain peace, order, and security in the Corps territory, especially in connection with the vital Zagreb-Belgrade railway, and to combat the bands which appeared. (THE WITNESS POINTS TO THE WALL MAP DIRECTLY BEHIND THE WITNESS STAND): This is the railway line. Here is Zagreb, and there is a one-track railway south of the Save and another onetract railway line north of the Save. Then they join here at Novka. From here the railway continues with a double track via Brod (B-R-O-D), via Vinkovci (V-I-N-K-I-V-C-I). And from here it runs via Ruma to Indija and then Belgrade. From this main station the sub-railway stations go towards the south from here, and this main railway line continues through Serbia as far as Greece, as we heard a few days ago.
Q. To support these statements by General Dehner I would like to draw the attention of the Tribunal to the document which I have already presented as Dehner Exhibit No. 10, which is Dehner Document No. 16, in Dehner Document Book III, Page 33. It is the entry dated the 20th of September 1943. Here it states: "In accordance with Army Teletype No. 527/43 secret of 20 September 1943 --" It is Page 33, Your Honors, in Dehner Document Book III.
It has just been pointed out to me that it shows the 20th of September 1943, not 1947, as is stated in the English Document Book. Of course it is not possible for it to be 1947. It should be 1943.
"In accordance with Army Teletype No. 527/43 secret of 20 September 1943, Corps Headquarters is immediately entrusted henceforth with security of the main lines Zagreb-Belgrade, Indija-Neusatz and Vinkovci - Osijek. The units of the 173 and 187 Reserve Divisions are to be used actively for protection of the line if construction is seriously hampered."
I have submitted this excerpt as evidence to show that the LXIXth Corps did not have the entire executive power in Croatia, but that it had only these very limited tasks.
Q. General, to which tasks did you dedicate your main work?
A. To the larger and smaller tactical operations and the training.
Q. How large, approximately, was the extent of the Corps area?
A. The Corps area was bordered in the North by the then Northern frontier of Croatia along the Drave, as far as the Danube, and from there along the Danube as far as Belgrade. The Southern limit of the Corps area was the Save which ran approximately parallel to the river which I have just mentioned, and the Eastern frontier was near Belgrade. The West was bordered by a line from DubreseloVaristin; and in addition, later, this area was added. The frontiers were extended from time to time, a comparative stretch from Zagreb to Belgrade of 450 kilometers--that is about a stretch from here to Berlin, plus another 50 kilometers, and the width was about 50 to 80 kilometers-that is a distance from about here to Wuerzburg.
Q. Where were the Corps headquarters?
A. The Corps headquarters in September was in Brod, then in Bukovar until the 2nd of February, 1944, and then in Zagreb until the Corps left for Hungary on the 18th of March, 1944.
Q. Which troops were subordinate to you, General?
A. Subordinate to me were the 187th Reserve Division, then the 173rd Reserve Division which left in February 1944, then the 1st Cossack Division from the 5th of October until the 25th of November with two brigades, from the 25th November until the 20th of December with only one brigade. Then there were further subordinate to me but only for purposes of training the Light Infantry Reserve Regiment 1, towards the end the 367th Infantry Division which at the beginning was in the process of being set up.
Further during the course of the five months in which I was in the Balkans, there were some other divisions who were merely transferred there for the purpose of being freshened up.
Q. In this connection, I submit the memorandum of the prosecution in which it states on page 74 of the German and Page 74 of the English that the 7th SS Division Prinz Eugen was also subordinate to you.
THE PRESIDENT: To what Document Book do you refer?
DR. GAWLIK: Your Honor, it isn't a Document Book; it is a memorandum which the prosecution has submitted a short time ago. In this, it is maintained-this was a new assertion which hadn't been produced before,--that the 7th SS Division Prinz Eugen was subordinate to the 69th Reserve Corps. The 69th Reserve Corps is therefore responsible for all the deeds committed by the SS Division.
THE PRESIDENT: What I am trying to ascertain is where can we find it? Is it in the law brief--or-
DR. GAWLIK: Yes, it is in the law brief, page 74 of the German and page 74 of the English.
BY DR. GAWLIK:
Q. General, was the 7th SS Mountain Division ever subordinate to the 69th Reserve Corps?
A. No, never. I cannot understand at all how such an assertion could have been made by the prosecution. This assertion by the prosecution contradicts its own statements in the basic information where as far as I know there is a map according to which the 7th SS Mountain Division Prinz Eugen was subordinate to the headquarters of the 5th Mountain Corps. That is, to the Higher Flex.
Q. Where were the staff quarters of the division subordinate to you?
A. The staff quarters of the 187th Reserve Division were in September 1943 in Zagreb and then it was transferred to Brod, remained in Brod until the withdrawal in the middle of March, 1944. The staff headquarters of the 173rd Division were first of all in Bukovar in September 1943 and then was transferred to Ruma, remained there until the second of February, 1944, and on this date it left the Corps area. The 1st Cossack Division was unloaded here in this area in October--that is in the East, and then was transferred all through the Corps area from the East to the West and through this, of course, kept on changing its quarters and was finally settled down with its staff headquarters in Zagreb.
Q. Where were the divisions assigned, General?
A. The divisions were assigned as follows: I will go from the right to the left. The 173rd Reserve Division in the Eastern part approximately as far as this line--that is East of Brod. The 187th Reserve Division from here as far as approximately this district. The 367th Reserve Division near Zagreb Northeast and North of Zagreb. The Cossack Division when, when going from East to West had to carry out various tactical operations, finally received a sector on the railroad.
Q. What was the combat value of the subordinate units?
A. The Reserve Divisions had approximately a strength of about ten or twelve thousand men. That is a little less than the normal war strength of an active division and in comparison the Cossack Division was considerably stronger. That is about 22,000 to 25,000 men. The greater part of the men of the reserve divisions was completely trained and capable of fulfilling all demands which were made on them. The fact that a part of the NCO's and men of these reserve divisions were rather older was in comparison to the civilian population only a favorable fact, and meant in no way a weakening of their fighting value.
The 367th Infantry Division was an active infantry division with modern equipment.
Q. What was the equipment of the subordinate units?
A. The equipment of the troops was modern weapons and their supply was permanently assured.
Q. What was the compilation of your Corps staff?
A. The Corps staff was as regards personnel weaker than that of an active Corps staff. The Chief of Staff and the Ia were older officers. In addition - apart from the Commanding General, all the officers in the staff were reserve officers.
Q. What were the tasks of the Corps staff?
Court No. V, Case No. VII.
A The Corps staff was primarily a tactical staff. It had to deal with all tactical operations and planning. Since I as Commanding General was not the supreme judicial authority, my Corps staff also was lacking in a judicial department.
Q Apart from the sphere of work of an active Corps staff in the war, did you have other tasks?
A Yes, there was the extensive sphere of work of training; in this respect I was subordinate to the Chief of Army Equipment.
Q And what were the results of this?
A The amount of work of the Corps staff was considerably greater than that of an active Corps staff. The Corps was continuously called in to undertake tactical operations and in addition it had to carry on training. This considerable amount of work with the rather small amount of personnel on the staff could only be done by calling in all the forces available and by working continuously day and night.
Q Witness, how great on an average was the distance between the Corps staff and the divisional headquarters?
A The approximate - the average distance-one can't talk about average distances because there were very great differences--was from 75 kilometers to 300 kilometers. When the Corps, for instance, was in Bukovar, the distance to the divisional staff of the 187th Reserve Division was 75 kilometers. When the Corps was in Zagreb, the distance to the divisional staff of the 173rd Reserve Division was 300 kilometers. That is a distance from about here to Cologne.
Q What were the communications like?
A Communications were unfortunately not very extensive and could not be relied upon very much. The telephone lines along the main railroad were frequently interrupted by sabotage acts of the partisans. There was no underground cable. The radio, as a result of the mountainous country, functioned badly, especially at night. The courier communications etc, with the railroad or with convoy was frequently Court No. V, Case No. VII.
interrupted by sabotage acts on the part of the partisans and sometimes was even made impossible.
Q How did you try to overcome these difficulties, General?
A I tried to get to the troops as often as possible. About half of the time I was on the Balkans I spent either with the troops or moving in order to get to the troops.
Q What were the departments of the staff?
A The staff had the operational department with the Ia, Ic, the 1st and 2nd ADC, the so-called quartermaster department with the quartermaster, with the 2nd ADC, the transport officer, the officer for weapons and equipment, then the adjutant's office with the IIa, the commandant of the staff quarters, the Corps superintendent's office to which the quartermaster's department was attached with the Corps superintendent, the IVa, the pay master, the Corps doctor with the Corps chemist, the Corps veterinary surgeon; but as I repeat there was no judicial department.
Q What were the tasks of these departments?
A The operational department had to deal with tactics and training. The quartermaster department dealt with supply. The personnel department dealt with appointments, promotion, decorations, etc. The Corps superintendent's office dealt with economic, clothing, and calculations, etc. The Corps doctor had to do with the medical welfare and the Corps veterinary surgeon had to look after the horses, shoeing of the horses, etc.
Q What was your activity in detail or, in other words, General, what did you do in particular as regards all these tasks?
A Mainly I was concerned with the direction and the supervision, the evaluation of all tactical operations, with the supervision and the inspection of the training of the troops, then as was usual numerous decisions had to be taken about and orders had to be issued and discussions and conferences which arose from the assignment of the troops and corresponding to the tasks they had to fulfill.