Then on page 23 of the German -- I believe in the German text the entire document is given whereas we only have excerpts here -- page 18 of the English is 23 of the German and it is the paragraph which bears the number "4" to the left and it is under, "Chief of Staff Conference on 7 December 42.
"Major Hammer (Ic/Intelligence Officer) weekly Political report:
"Speech of Churchill concerning the American campaign, increased propaganda campaign against the Italians in order to separate the people and state from one another there. According to English information 1,500,000 houses damaged by our Luftwaffe in England up to now and 550,000 houses were destroyed. All French colonial possessions are now all on the side of the Allies. The Duce made public the Italian war losses up to now with great openness, and exercised Italy's willingness to confirm the battle to final victory. Hungarian Prime Minister Kalay emphasized in speech before parliament the willingness of Hungary to hold out until the final victory likewise. In Sofia, a German Bulgarian economic treaty was settled. Increased pressure of the Allied on Turkey. A Turkish voice of the press says: As long as the European Mediterranean coast is not in the hands of the Allies, they will not rule the Mediterranean. Egypt: The Egyptian government has placed the Egyptian Army at the disposal of the Allies. The efforts at world domination of the United States of America show themselves further: American troop transports to Iran, erection of U.S. consul in Morocco, dominations of South America, etc. The Chief of Staff agreed with this. It is no question at all, that socialist thoughts in this war are at stake which have received a big push by the Allied powers throughout this war, of which one has still really no idea today."
And then under the next paragraph which I believe continues on page 26 of the German under the heading "Croatia" -- it is in the paragraph numbered "5" and it toward the end and is before the paragraph which starts, "Greece" -- it should be at the bottom of page 26 in the German.
Do you have it, Dr. Laternser? It commences with the word "After discussing these principal events."
Do you have it?
I am sorry to take this time, your Honors, but the complete document is in the German text.
"After discussing these principal events of the new conduct of the war, the Chief of Serbia turned to the following: The combating of the Mihailovic movement has had now successes. The disarmament of the Chetnik units is continuing. About 10,000 Chetniks fought on our side, of which half have gone into the woods. A quarter, around 4,000 men, were disarmed. The rest, about 4,000 men still holds with us. The whole action of disobedience called forth by Mihailovic amounted to nothing. The threat of retaliation measures alone had a frightening effect. Shootings even of those suspected of sabotage show that our methods are right."
"Greece:" -- and then this is on page 27 of the German copy, Dr. Laternser, 27 of the German under "Greece." It begins on 26 -- I am sorry -- I have it marked here as 27. Excuse me.
Under "Greece": A reconnaissance service with the greatest mobility must be used on the railway line (Draisinen). Lightening patrols on the railway lines. Also, hostages must be brought in from the localities in the proximity of the railway line."
And then turning to page 29 in the German, still on page 19 of the English, I note that this is all in the late period in 1943 after the period with which we are concerned so we will omit it at this time and perhaps will have occasion to refer back to it later.
Then turning to page 21 of the English and -- the next document is NOKW-1148--I have marked here "page 33 of the German." Is that right, Dr. Laternser? Page 33 of the German. Which is offered as Exhibit 221.
These are situation reports on the Armed Forces Commander Southeast to OKH and OKW for various dates in 1942, the first one for 25 August 1942; German losses: 2 dead, 1 wounded, none missing: Croatians: 77 dead, and it should be 108 wounded -- I believe that figure appears improperly in the German -- and 362 missing; insurgents losses: 1,031 dead, 273 wounded, 2, 169 captured and arrested, 212 shot to death in reprisal.
"The total number of insurgents shot to death in combat and as reprisal measures up to 24 August 1942, 49,724"; and here again appears the: "Signed in Draft Lohr," "Colonel General" typed underneath, and then "Certified true copy" by "Lieutenant Rossler." His signature is signed as "1st Lieutenant" and your Honors are familiar with his certifications of prior documents in a similar manner.
Then on page 22 in the English and in the German, NOKW-1254, which is prosecution's Exhibit 222 in evidence. This is a directive of the Commanding General in Serbia to some of his troop units, specifically three divisions, all Infantry, 714th, 717th and 718th Infantry Division, 9 September" with a stamp and was sent on 4 September; subject: "Security of Croatia":
"The divisions are to consider as their most important task the security of the railroad line Belgrade - Zagreb - Reich Border and Belgrade - Vinkovci Osijek. The Croatian Government has given assurance that the communists are fully responsible for guarding the railroad tracks situated within their district and that they are compelled to surrender hostages to the Croatian police.
"The Order Commanding General Ia No. 4495/42 secret of 19 August 1942 remains authoritative for the method of combat.
"The Divisions can dispose over the Administrative Sub-area and District Headquarters in the areas of the Division only in the event of an alarm for defense against enemy attacks.
"The Order Commanding General and Commander in Serbia No. 2070/42 secret of 25 March 42 is accordingly valid for the treatment of prisoners.
"According to the express opinion of the Fuehrer any negotiations with the enemy (Communists, Bands, D.M. followers)" -- that means Draga Mihailovic -- "is prohibited.
"Maps showing the borders of the final Division Areas in the Croatian State Territory will be subsequently."
And it is signed: "Bader, Lieutenant General of Artillery."
Then turning to page 23, or page 24, page 37 in the English, NOKW1134, which becomes Document -- or Exhibit -- 223 in evidence, if your Honors would look at the order signed by General Bader, to the right of "General Artillery"' appears the initial of the defendant Geitner, his Chief of Staff at that time. That is Exhibit 222.
Turning to Exhibit 223 in evidence, this is a report signed by the Armed Forces Commander Southeast, and forwarded to the OKW with copies to OKH, and various others that appear in the heading. Again the signature is in draft, and it is certified to by Lt. Roessler. It is dated 11 September, 1942.
The situation in Greece, on page 3, and on the first page bears the stamp of 12th Army for 16 September. Page 38 in the German, still on page 24 in the English:
"Strike in Athens ended. Cause: Hunger and inflation exploited by Communist and Nationalist propaganda. Strike discontinued by rigorous handling of the situation."
"III. Losses in the Entire Area (25 Aug. - 8 Sept. 1942):
a) Own losses: Dead Wounded Missing Germans 51 76 4 Croats 49 67 7 Serbian State Guard 22 --
b) Insurgenus: 2,601 dead 121 wounded 3,325 captured and arrested 37 shot as reprisals Total number of insurgents shot in combat or as reprisals up to 8 September 1942:
52,362 Economical Situation.
Considerable harvest losses in Serbia. Nutrition in Greece continues to be insufficient, especially since grain deliveries from Serbia are not possible this year. The inflation continues. Prices doubled within 4 Days" Signed in draft, by General Loehr". Signature is typewritten.
Certification to the left is signed by Lt. Roessler.
Turning to page 39 of the German, 26 of the English, Document NOKW 1241 is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 224 in evidence. This is an extract from the war diary of an SS division. The "Prinz-Eugen" or 7th SS. It is handwritten and the extracts are taken from the diary, which was-this portion of it-was on the 19 March 1942 to the 31 May 1943. Out to the left, as your Honors will see, this diary was typed not typed, bur rather made in long hand. There appear the dates for '42, which we are using.
"The SS-Mountain Artillery Regiment "Prinz-Eugen", and then it gives the subordination.
PRESIDENT JUDGE BURKE: From what page are you reading?
MR. DENNEY: From page 26, if your Honor pleases.
I do not think we need to read these headings. Your Honors have all seen it. The first entry for 14 October, "The patrol of the combat transport in the camp of Maejureije was fired on from the direction of the house of the local clergyman on 10 October 1942 at 2100 hours. 3 were wounded. The clergyman with two sons was arrested and all three were shot dead while trying to escape."
Then turning to page 28 of the English, 41 of the German, this is document C 81, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 225, this if your Honors pleases, is a photostatic copy without any distribution list on it. However, at a later time we can show that this Hitler order, - it is the Commando Order of 18 October 1942, was passed on to units in this area. We have diary entries later which we submit conclusively connect this order with the defendants, or some of them, Perhaps your Honors would care to look at that. That has a little different style than some of the other orders that we have seen, and at the end is a photostat of the former Supreme Commander of the German Armed Forces' signature.
It is dated 18 October 1942. Top secret. Only by Officer.
The Fuehrer a Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces I think this order should be read completely. It is only two pages, if your Honors please:
The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
I have been impelled to issue a strict order for the annihilation of enemy sabotage groups and to put the disobedience of it under severe penalty. I believe it necessary to inform the competent commanders in chief and unit commanders of the reasons for this order.
As it has never been done before, in this war a method was developed to disrupt the lines of communications in the rear to intimidate those parts of the population who are working for Germany, as well as to destruct industrial installations, vital for the war in the territories occupied by us.
In the East, this manner of fighting a so-called partisan war, already last winter had led to a considerable decrease of our fighting power, has cost the lives of numerous German soldiers, railroaders, workers of the organization Todt, the labor service (Arbeitsdienst), and has extremely decreased the performance of transportation for the maintenance of the fighting ability of the troops, it has even disrupted the latter for days. The successful continuation of this type of warfare or even its itensification may possible lead to a serious crisis at one or the other sector of the front. Many measures against this cruel as well as teacherous sabotage activity fail simply because the German officer and his soldiers have no conception of the extent of the danger they face, and thus they individually do not act against these enemy groups as much as it is necessary to help the most forward front and thereby the entire war effort.
Therefore, it was partially necessary to establish special units in the East which mastered this danger, or to transfer these missions to special SS units. Only where the fight against this partisannuisance was begun and carried out with ruthless brutality, successes were not missing, and consequently they cased the situation for the fighting front.
Therefore, the war in the entire Eastern territory against the partisans is a fight for the complete annihilation of one or the other part.
As soon as this fact has become common knowledge of a unit, it will be able to handle these happenings normally within a short time, if not, their commitment will not be successful. It therefore becomes useless.
Although under different names, England and America have decided on a similar type of warfare. The Russian tries mostly to bring sabotage groups behind our lines by land, and only exceptionally do they use aerial transport to infiltrate men and supply food. England and America, however, carry out this warfare by sabotage units until landed mostly from submarines or inflatable boats, or by parachute agents. Fundamentally, however, this type of warfare is not different at all from Russian partisan activity.
For the mission of these units is:
1) To build up a general espionage service with the aid of willing natives.
2) To organize terrorist groups and to supply them with the necessary weapons and explosives.
3) To undertake such sabotage actions as are not only able to continually disrupt our communications by the- destruction of traffic installations, but also, if necessary, to make troop movements impossible altogether and to neutralize the means of communications.
Finally, attacks are to be attempted by these units against establishments essential to the war, by blowing up key plants according to a scientifically explored program, thus paralising practically entire industries.
The consequences of this activity are extremely serious. I do not know whether every commander and officer is aware of the fact that the destruction of, for instance, a single power station can cost many thousands of tons of aluminium for the air corps and thus the loss of production of numerous planes which are missing at the front for combat, and thus lead to severe damage at home and bloddy losses among the fighting soldiers.
But this type of warfare is entirely without danger for the enemy. For since he lands his sabotage units in uniform, but on the other hand gives them civilian clothing as well, they can appear as needed either as soldiers or as civilians. While they themselves have the mission to liquidate ruthlessly German soldiers or even inhabitants whi hinder them, they are not in danger of suffering really serious losses in their activities because of worse comes to worst and they are caught, they can give up immediately and thus they believe they will fall theoratically under the Geneva Convention. There is no doubt, however, that this is the worst kind of an abuse of the Geneva convention, even more so since some of these elements are criminals who have been liberated from their jails and can rehabilitate themselves by such actions.
England and America will therefore be able to find volunteers for this type or warfare as long as it can rightly be said to them that there is no danger of life for them. If worse comes to worst, they only need to complete their attacks against people, traffic installations or plants successfully, and then, caught by the enemy, they can simply surrender.
If the German war effort is not to suffer severe damages by such actions, then it must be made clear to the enemy, that every sabotage unit will be exterminated without exception to the last man. That means, the chance to get away alive is zero. It can under no conditions be permitted that a demolition-, sabotage-or terrorist unit simply surrenders and is taken prisoner to be treated according to the rules of the Geneva convention; consequently they are to be exterminated in every case without exception.
The report which shall appear about this in the armed forces bulletin, will contain very briefly and laconically, that a sabotage terrorist or demolition unit has been caught and exterminated to the last men.
I therefore expect, that the commanders of the armies subordinated to you, as well as the individual unit commanders do not only understand the necessity of this action, but also that they do their utmost toward the execution of this order. Officers and NC)'s who fail because of some weakness are to be reported without consideration or, according to the conditions - if danger is imminent - are to be held strictly responsible. The homefront as well as the fighting soldier on the front have a right to expect that behind them, the basis for their food as well as the supply of important weapons and ammunition be safeguard.
These are the reasons for the order issued by me.
Should it be advisable at times to spare one or two men at first for intelligence reasons, then they are to be shot immediately after interrogation.
signed Adolf Hitler And this is the section which is under Count 3 of the indictment, at letter "h", which says, "During a period of time after 18 October 1942 all of the defendants herein, except the defendant List, issued, executed, and distributed to troops under their command and jurisdiction an order to execute in battle, or within 24 hours after capture, all members of Allied 'commando' and 'military mission' units, whether or not such persons were regularly attached to, and wore the recognized uniform of, duly authorized members of the established military forces of enemy belligerents."
Turning then to page 30 of the English and page 46 of the German is Document No. NOKW-1106, which is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 226 in evidence. This is an order of the 710th Infantry Division, which is signed for the Division Commander by one of the General Staff officers of the division, who is a major, but the signature is not decipherable. It appears in the book that this Document No. 1106 is signed "Geitner", and there was a Geitner who was a major in the General Staff Corps in this division, but that is not the defendant who is in this box. And in order that there may be no doubt about it, we submit at this time that this Geitner was not Staff officer in the 710th Infantry Division because there are one or two other places where this same thing crops up. This is dated 22 October 1942, subject "Prisoners". There is a heading, the "710th Infantry Division".
"The enemy communications service is of very great significance to the leadership. Next to one's own task the enemy news is most important for an estimate of the situation. The basis for piecing together the enemy situation is formed especially by statements of prisoners. These are of value only if they are immediately forwarded to the division. The same applies to captured papers.
"Therefore the following regulations are issued concerning the seizure and the treatment of prisoners:
"Seizure:
"1. All persons of both sexes who participated directly in com bat, with or without arms.
"2. All persons of both sexes from the ranks of the adversary (train, medical personnel, supplies, etc.).
"3. Civilians of both sexes in the operation area, who are encountered at work in the fields or at home, if it is proven that they were in the service of the adversary or supported enemy operations.
"4. Invalids, sick persons, pregnant women, and persons over 60 years of age (only in case they come under paragraph 1).
"B. Treatment:
"1. After a short interrogation all persons listed under A/1 and A/4 are to be shot to death by the troop.
"2. Persons listed under A/2 and A/3 are to be marched off as prisoners.
"3. Enemy deserters presenting themselves with or without arms are to be led off as prisoners.
"4. All prisoners are to be interrogated briefly and are to be transferred, listed, and with a short remark, to the military prison of the Alexanderkaserne in Sarajevo.
"5. Important results of interrogations of prisoners concerning formations, strength, armament, and intentions are immediately to be reported to the division by telephone; if necessary individual persons are to be brought to the division immediately.
"6. Thieves, slanderers, political suspects, or other civilians who commit offenses against public order are to be delivered to the nearest Croatian police or gendarmerie post.
"C. Captured Papers:
"Captured papers in original form are to be forwarded to the division by the quickest means.
"For the Divisional Command "1st General Staff Officer "(Signature) "Major in the General Staff" And then at the left appears the note "Distribution in Draft". And then turning to page 32 in the English and page 47 in the German is Document No. NOKW-1536, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 227 in evidence.
These are a series of telegrams which are reports from the Commander in Chief Southeast to OKH, and all of them are on telegram blanks and teletype that has come out and affixed with mucilage. There are no signed copies in them. They do, however, bear certain stamps which appear on the translations. The first one, "North of the Save: continued looting and local attacks. Ninety insurgents shot to death." And this is dated 30 July 1942 and it is from the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast to OKH General Staff in Berlin, and at this time on 30.7.42 the defendant Kuntze was still the Armed Forces Commander Southeast. Then, for the 31st of July 1942, Daily Report, still the defendant Kuntze. Your Honors will recall that General Loehr did not take over until the 9th of August. "Total losses during mopping-up Una-Sana Bend from 23 to 30 July inclusive. Germans: 6 dead, 11 wounded. Croatians: 11 dead, 24 wounded. Enemy: 450 dead, 1946 temporarily arrested of which 269 shot to death so far." And then for 1 August, the defendant Kuntze is still the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, in a report to OKH, "Total number of enemy losses in the Una-Sana Bend has increased to 666 dead and 2640 temporarily arrested. Eighty-three additional prisoners shot to death so far." And then for the 2nd of August, still the defendant Kuntze, "West Bosnia - an additional 30 persons who were temporarily arrested were shot to death." For the 3rd of August, still the defendant Kuntze, "North of Save, south of the Fruska Gora, attack on passenger train halted in a siding. Two Germans dead, 40 Croatians surrendered. The band succeeded in escaping before the arrival of the German detachment. Reprisal measures instituted." And then on a later page, a British intelligence officer, who apparently had parachuted down, was killed by anti-Communists. And then for 5 August, still the defendant Kuntze, "An additional 8 temporarily arrested persons shot to death." And for 8 August, still the defendant Kuntze, "On 8.8 German (Croatian) combat group started concentric mopping-up of Samarica mountains.
Fifty-three arrested and shot to death." And then on the 11th of August - at this time Loehr is in; however, we still have Foertsch as the Chief of Staff. "Samrica operation according to plan. Twentysix partisans shot to death." For the 13th of August, going back to the "temporarily arrested" incident, "Only minor contact with the enemy in Samarica. Fifty-three temporarily arrested, 10 shot to death." And then for the 17th of August, "Syrmia: Ninety shot to death in reprisal, 65 temporarily arrested." For the 29th of August, "Increased appearance of smaller bands in area south of Vlasenica 55 kilometers northeast Sava and around Rogatica 46 east of Sarajevo. Two bridges and a railroad station set afire. Counter-measures instituted." And then, further down in that same message, "In Samarica 262 temporarily arrested of which 20 were shot to death on the spot. Continued insurgent activity along the demarcation line south and southeast of Zagreb." Report for the 5th of September--
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Denney, we will pause here and take the usual recess until 3:15.
(A recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
JUDGE BURKE: You may proceed.
MR. DENNEY: May it please your Honors, continuing with Prosecution Exhibit 227 in evidence, at page 44 in the English and 58 in the German text, still on the daily reports from the Commander in Chief Southeast to OKH, the High Command of the Army, the report for 5 September 1942:
"In Nish, non-commissioned police officer shot to death. 50 reprisal shootings to death intended."
Then on page 45, the report for the 9 of September:
"In addition to Communist incitement and hunger there is also a probable intention to paralyze Africa supplies. For the German area application of severest measures has been ordered. Arrests and seizures of hostages have been carried out."
Report for the 15 of September:
"Southeast of Ruma attack on community. 25 hostages arrested."
Report of the 21st:
"North of the Save: Continued Communist activity in the area southwest of Cirovitica. Attacks, 2 interruptions of railroad branch line, several hostages seized."
On the 28 of September:
"German Croatian operation (6 German Battalions) intended against Jayace."
The 30th: "1 village burned down as reprisal measure".
And the last report for the 23 of October 1942:
"In the Banat 50 Communists shot to death in reprisal for murdered Volksdeutsche policeman."
Then the figure at the top, 23/10 1945, also appears on the original.
The interpreters advise me that they have document Book I and I should like to apologize to them for failing to mention the document book in which Exhibit 4 appeared and assure the court it was my fault that they didn't have it here. This exhibit now is Exhibit 4b in accordance with the ruling by the Tribunal and it is in Document Book I, English and German, and the English page is 8 and the German page is 6. As has been said before; it is a letter of 23 April 1941 to Reichsleiter Bormann, who was at that time at Hitler Headquarters and there is no signature appearing on the letter but it has been established that the letter was written by Alfred Rosenberg, about whom we have commented before.
Paragraph 2 beginning on Page 9:
"There is a great misunderstanding with respect to what is involved in the question of the south-east and the employment of my administrative staff: art objects have always been treated as a second line problem. In the first line an order of the chief of the high command of the Armed Forces (OKW) on the instance of the Fuehrer has gone twice to the occupied territories of the west to place all scientific and archive materials of world philosophy opponents of the regime at my disposal for research purposes. That has resulted also in close cooperation on the widest scale with the Security Service (SD) and the military commanders, and I believe that I have secured priceless research pieces for the Reich direction of the Nazi party and its higher institutes of learning. I wish to inform you especially that as many as 7000 crates have been brought to Germany up to the present moment. In the course of these confiscations we have found according to the nature of the case other valuable cultural objects including very valuable works of art. And in order that these things should not be dispersed and that they be secured for the Fuehrer, the Chief of the high command of the armed forces (OKW) on my request and on the instance of the Fuehrer has ordered that these art objects should be catalogued by me. I ask you that if necessary it should be established for the benefit of the Reich Marshal that my working staff has executed these tasks in a correct fashion and in an objective blameless form. Art objects generally do not come into question as far as the Balkans are concerned although there are Free-Masonry archives and Jewish libraries and other relevant research objects. In my opinion only the same attitude as that prevailing in occupied French territory can be taken and what I requested, was really only an expansion of an already existing regulation. For with General Field Marshal List, and likewise with the General Quartermaster of the Army the work has al ready been begun and my men are already at work with these circles in Belgrade.
And on command of General Field Marshal List as well as of his deputy general, these men will also be employed in closest relationship with Security Service (SD) in Salonika. As you know, Salonika is one of the largest Jewish centers.
"I should like to remark in this connection that this affair has already been executed on our side with Security Service (SD) in the most loyal fashion. One of our collaborators who also belongs to the Security Service (SD), had his duty-obligation countermanded by the Security Service, whereupon it was impressed upon him that the Security Service cooperates with my administrative staff in a most loyal fashion. The things are thus clarified in a practical fashion and the work has taken its course. What I asked was only a confirmation that the already pronounced decisions for the West should also have validity under the given circumstances for other occupied or to be occupied areas. Finally the representative of the Fuehrer has expressly ordered that the appropriate party members in this question should be placed so as not to permit this unique opportunity for inquiry in the Jewish and Masonic lodge question to pass away. The agreement in this matter is thus general.
"I trust that this letter has cleared up the resulting misunderstanding.
"Heil Hitler!"
Now with reference to the Exhibit 100a for identification, I request that the court direct that this Exhibit be marked 100b for Boy, in evidence, and I hand it to the Secretary General. The Exhibit was distributed the other day in Court, if your Honors recall, and I would request permission of the court to withdraw the exhibit and have the copies photostated and photostatic copies substituted in order that the papers which are now in the exhibit may be returned to their source in the National Commission for the Investigation of War Crimes in Yugoslavia.
JUDGE BURKE: There is no objection on the part of the Tribunal to that procedure.
MR. DENNEY: Thank you, your Honor. I believe your Honors have the pages which begin with 76a and I believe run up to 76p, Document Book III, and for the record I should like to state for Dr. Laternser, that the lists of people who have been recited in the document will be furnished to him as well as the untranslated material prior to one week from now, and I hope within the next day or so.
It is a little difficult to find someone who can translate from Yugoslavian to German but we do have one such person here and for the Tribunal I have spoken with Dr. Laternser about this outside of Court.
JUDGE BURKE: Is that understanding agreeable to you, Dr. Laternser? Dr. Laternser has indicated that it is. You may proceed.
MR. DENNEY: Thank you, your Honor. The first report......
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honors, I agree to this, after my objection has been rejected. But I shall maintain my objection.
MR. DENNEY: The Prosecution did not mean to imply that Dr. Laternser was withdrawing his objection.
JUDGE BURKE: Now did we intend that it should be implied.
MR. DENNEY: Thank you, your Honors. There are other excerpts of this report which will be offered at a later time. Therefore, the explanation for the figures, 87, and so forth, appearing at the top of the pages, are a compilation of a number of reports which were given page numbers again for purposes of translation. And there are short excerpts, as is indicated on these, which have not been translated, and those are the ones which will be translated and given to counsel in addition to the lists which do not appear here, which are lists of names.
This report is from the National Commission for the Investigation of Crimes committed by the occupation forces and their accomplices, this is Investigation No. 9278. State Commission Serbia for the Investigation of Crimes committed by the Occupation Forces and their accomplices.
REPORT CONCERNING ESTABLISHED CRIMES .........During the bittier battles between the People's Liberation Army and the German Occupation Forces in the neighborhood of Kraljevo in October 1941, the German authorities in Kraljevo carried out mass shootings of citizens during the period of 15 to 24 October.
Daily, they brought in several hundred of citizens from Kraljevo and the surrounding districts for execution by shooting.
On the basis of statements of eye witnesses as well as of some individuals who saved themselves from being shot to death, the following method was employed in this mass crime:
During the battles in the environment of Kraljevo, the German authorities in Kraljevo started to drive the population out of their houses, streets and shops and to lock them up in a camp situated in the yard of the railroad car factory. Patrols of the German Wehrmacht went from house to house driving out all men starting with children of 14 up to old men of 60 and above. All the citizens with their hands above their heads were led through the city in rather small groups.
Then they were formed into larger groups and driven into the camp of the railroad carriage factory. Before they entered the camp, they were counted, identified and registered in books by German soldiers. Then they were locked up together with the rest of the camp inmates. The Germans selected groups, each of 100 citizens, and took them from the camp. They were put in front of a machine gun on a site previously selected in front of open graves and shot to death. After the fire of the machine gun had mown this group of citizens, the German soldiers walked among the dead citizens, and anyone shewing signs of life, or whom they did not believe to be dead, was finally killed by a shot from a machine pistol or from a pistol. Having liquidated one group, the Germans, in the same way, brought up the second group and so on. In this way, the executions were carried out from 15 to 24 October 1941. Up until now, it was not possible to establish exactly how many citizens were shot to death in Kraljevo on this occasion since the families of all victims did not make any reports and taking into consideration that at that time many refugees from different areas of Yugoslavia, as Bosnia, Herzegovia, Lika, Macedonia and other areas, were living in Kraljevo. The majority of these refugees were working as laborers and employees at the railroad carriage factory and at the airplane plant in Kraljevo. Their families - insofar as they had any - could not find out anything about their death. However, meanwhile, many witnesses stated in their reports that according to their estimate between 4,000 and 5,000 persons were shot to death in Kraljevo on this occasion.
...........
In addition to inhabitants whom the Germans drove out of their houses in Kraljevo during that time and whom they led to the place of execution many residents arrested by the Germans previously in different places and locked up as hostages in the camp of the railroad car factory were shot to death on this occasion.
Furthermore, at that time, a great number of inhabitants were shot to death who had just been brought in three transports to the railroad station of Kraljevo.