Your Honors, we are turning now to page 16 of your document book and page 10 of defense counsel's document book. This is NOKW-1494which will become prosecution Exhibit 288. This is a report stamped "Secret," dated 5th of July 1943. That has also been handwritten initialed, to be sent to the Intelligence Section, to be entered into the War Diary. It's from the 1st Panzer Division, subject:
"Band Activity."
"1) Recent events show a revival of band activity in the entire Southeastern area. In the Peloponnesus there are also indications that here also an increase in band and sabotage activity is to be expected.
"2) The OKW has ordered that, also in the areas occupied by the Italians, after any attacks and acts of sabotage, speedy and sweeping reprisal measures are to be taken, to deter the population and to make amends for the damage inflicted upon the authority of the German Wehrmacht. The Fuehrer expects these measures to be carried out with the utmost energy and in a manner which will not fail to show its effects on the widest sections of the population.
"3) For the combating of bands in the Peloponnesus the following is ordered:
a) Units in their billeting areas police the main roads by employing motorized patrols at irregular hours. For this the normal trips by messengers or for supplies are to be utilized. Drivers and assistant drivers are to be instructed and armed accordingly. All observations are to be reported to the Division. The observations are to be exchanged with Italian headquarters. It is important to recognize early that bands are being formed and to suppress their formation at the start.
"b) In an extension of the order by 1st Panzer Division, Ia Section 1875/43 secret, dated 8 June 1943, number 7.), in every locality where units of the Division are stationed a fighter detachment of platoon strength is to be kept constantly at the alert for the combatting of bands and parachutists. Closest cooperation is to be maintained with Italian fights detachments existing in Italian garrison.
Requests for support by German fighter detachments are to be granted in cases of limited local engagements, this being previously reported to the Division. Major operations against bands, etc. with employment of stronger forces.
"4) Any acts of sabotage that may have occurred, as well as attacks on German soldiers, German Wehrmacht installations and all other installations, which are of service in the provisioning of the troops or in military tasks, are to be reported to the Division without delay. The division will then decide on the reprisal measures to be taken. Units are forbidden to carry out reprisal measures on their own accord.
"5.) I expect this order to be carried out with greatest exactness with regard to observation matters and reports. The opinion widely spread amongst troops that band activity is exclusively directed against the Italians is to be opposed with all severity. Rather the bands led by British officers aim merely at dividing the allied (Axis) nations by showing an apparently different attitude towards Germans than to Italian Occupation Forces. The German soldier, without doubt, is just as much Occupation Force, and thereby an enemy of the country, as the Italian. It is the duty of every superior, through his own behavior and during instructions, to constantly see to it that every German soldier adjusts himself to these particularities of the Balkans and draws his conclusions from it."
"Signature: Krueger."
The next document, your Honors, you will find on page 19 of the English and page 12 of the German document book. It is NOKW-1495 which will be offered as prosecution Exhibit 289. This is a rather voluminous document, being a collection of teletype messages sent from the Commander-in-Chief Southeast, High Command Army Group "E", the now deceased Colonel Loehr; and the first document which was sent on June 3, 1943 and was received at OKH on June 4, 1943, was addressed to the Operations Department of the General Staff of the Army OKH.
It gives a report of the situation in Greece.
"In the Italian region Vijese bridge west of Kenitsa (i.e. 40 kilometers north of Jbannina) blown up. Supplementary report concerning attempt on railroad Nezeres: 92 Italian and 60 Greek prisoners dead. Large number of wounded and missing. In Larissa 100 Communists from the concentration camp shot dead in reprisal. In the area of Soupre (40 kilometers northeast of Lamia) a band was reported in Greek uniform. Commande in Chief Southeast (High Command Army Group E)," dated June 3, 1943.
The next page is again a teletype or TWX Message from the High Command Army Group E, Commander in Chief Southeast, 4 June 1943, addressed to the OKH General Staff of the Army Operation Department:
"Secret --Daily Report of the Commander in Chief Southeast of 4 June 43 -- Operation 'Schwarz' -- Greece -- South of Florina a band 200 men strong. In the area Metsovo (38 kilometers northeast of Joannina) 1000 Communists reported. During Italian mopping up of area Joannina and Amfissa Atlanta 5 bandits shot dead quite a large number of rifles and ammunition secured, several houses of bandits burned down"; and that is signed "High Command June 4."
The next document, still the same NOKW-1495, which you find on page 14 -- or page 14 of the German, 21 of the English, is again a report about the situation in Greece and it states that:
"In the area Melisseurghi strong group of bands under leadership of former Greek General apparently in connection with Zervas hands in the area Arta. The strike situation in Athens has quieted down."
That is "Secret" and is dated June 7, 1943.
If you will turn your next page, your Honors, you will find the same addressee and the same source under the 18th of June 1943 pertaining to the situation in Serbia, however, and it says:
"Local band activity. In reprisal for raids and acts of sabotage committed during the last period 350 communists and 50 cetniks were shot dead."
And it is signed again by the "High Command Army Group E" -- on the next page, Your Honors.
On the next page, your Honor, you find the same source reporting to the OKH, the situation in Croatia pertaining to the 114th Jaeger Division, in which there it is reported that, "6 bandit villages destroyed."
That report was dated the 19 June 1943.
There is another report you will find on page 24, page 17 of the German Document Book, pertaining to the situation in Croatia again, and it states; "20 Cetniks and 10 Communists shot dead."
Also again signed, "High Command army Group E", June 23 1943.
We then go back to Greece again, which you will find on page 25 of your document book, and page 18 of the German, and it states that two commanders of bands have been arrested, and several bandit houses have been burned down.
Then it changes from Greece to Serbia, and you will find that 30 Communist prisoners were shot dead.
That was the 26 June 1943.
We turn to page 26, and there we find the High Command of Army Group E reporting under the 27 of June, 1943, pertaining to the situation in Serbia: "In reprisal for shooting of Italian officer in the area of Berane Podgerica Niksic, 150 communist prisoners in all were shot dead".
Page 27, your Honors, page 20 cf the German, a tactical report about Greece and then about Serbia: In the area Krusevac and Mladenovac, in all 125 communists and their assistants and band suspects were arrested by the German police and the Serbian State Guards, 7 communists were shot dead".
Page 28, the report about Greece again, -- that is page 21 and 22 respectively of the German Document Book--, and down toward the end of the report we find:
"Complete destruction cf the surrounding villages in connection with reprisal measures ordered, and in progress. Up to now 4 villages burned down, In reprisal for blowing up of line near Litochoron". ** "50 communists were shot dead".2 July 1943.
In the report dated 3 July 1943, on page No. 29, your Honors, you will find a report on Greece, addressed by the High Command of Army Group E, and stating:
"Slight contact with bands. 5 bandits dead. 2 further villages destroyed. Mopping up and reprisals continued."
On Page 30, Greece again, to OKH, from Army Group E:
"In athens strike cf the telephone company; mopping up operation southeast of Servia continued by Combat Group Salminger; further villages burned down; 87 suspects were shot dead while escaping".
Then we turn to page 31, page 25 of the German Document Book, and here is a report of the Commander-in-Chief Southeast, dated 5 July 1943, "Greece: In Malaxe acts of sabotage on important communication lines. Searching operations so far without any result. Increasing security measures ordered since 3 July prevented more serious damage. Reprisal measures 50 Greeks shot dead. Further shooting threatened, if perpetrators not discovered by cooperation of population within 7 days."
Page 32, which is page 26 of the German Document Book:
"Greek railway personnel arrested. Examination and reprisals measures in progress."
"Serbia: Weather fine. Local band activity. 25 DM reprisal prisoners shot dead."
This concludes document 1495, which is Prosecution Exhibit 289.
Your Honors we would like to offer now NOKW 949, which will become our Exhibit 290. This, your Honors, is a top secret report, dated 22 July 1943, 4th Brandenburg Regiment Commander. There are various handwritten names on there which are illegible. There is also an illegible initial on the original. It is addressed:
"To the Commander in Chief Southeast/Ia, through Commander of the German troops in Crotia.
Subject: Proposals for the future employment for special purposes of the 4th Brandenburg Regiment."
If your Honors would now turn, please, to page 34 of this same document, in the middle of the page, -- that is page 28-29 of the German Document Book-- and we find here:
"The method followed up to now of shooting to death all partisans without distinction, could never be successful, Many became partisans but by the combined influence of several circumstances such as: Ustaschi-Moslems-or Cetnik-atrocities- want and starvation, terror and duress by other partisans.
They stay partisans because the way back is blocked by the German orders. They have lost their country end their family and so they fight to their death.
Since the political conditions in Croatia are not improving new partisans replace those who are killed.
According to congruent observations of the troop, it would have been possible to win over a certain percentage of the captured partisans for fighting on the German side, if their lives were spared and food, as well as their return to their homesteads later on, were guaranteed."
There are some marginal notes on this letter from the 4th Brandenburg Regiment to the Commander-in-Chief Southeast. The initials are illegible, but it says:
"Since the political conditions in Croatia are not improving, new partisans replace those who are killed."
"Correct" on the marginal side.
In the next paragraph, the marginal, information says, "But not the Croatians?
No!"
Now on the next page, your Honors, page 35, right on the top there is a proposal made by the 4th Brandenburg Regiment, it states:
"Immediate order to troops, not to shoot to death any more captured partisans. Delivery to collecting camps and humane treatment.
In the collection camps short observation of the partisans by confidential agents."
Somebody wrote on the margin, "No".
"Recruitment of the partisans considered suitable, by Brandenburg.
Transfer of those unsuitable to work camps.
After instruction and very careful observation in troop for special commitment - employment against Tito.
Means of pressure: All partisans still remaining in the troop and in camp guarantee with their lives against treason of the bandits employed.
In case of efficiency and prowess also recognition, pecuniary compensations, allotments of land and cattle. No pettefoggery. What is precious today is only German blood."
Then Paragraph B which says:
"Raiding of the so-called "Mainstaff" and the English airfields in the area Bihac:
In the area west and northwest of Bihac there is a strong wellorganized group of partisans amounting to about 8,000 individuals extending far out into the Italian occupied area. Air-reconaissance and reports of confidential agents confirm that a continuous supply of leaders and materials is being assured by the Royal Air Force. Active airfields, permanent billets, some of them barrack-camps, were identified whether this group is under Tito's command or whether it has its own leader is not yet certain. The latter is probable."
"This group is of special importance, because in the event of an English landing at the place most suitable for the purpose - (for the reasons see under letter c) - it will be able to form a bridgehead and to hold it open.
Inside this group, which beyond a doubt contains English officers, the designation "English-American Volunteers Army" has already been coined."
This document is signed: "Heinz, Colonel and Commander of Regiment".
Your Honors, we have now NOKW 1079, Prosecution Exhibit 291. This, Your Honors, is an order dated the 14 July 1943, and the order was issued by the Commander-in-Chief Southeast, simultaneously charged with Command of Army Group E, and the order concerns itself with the security and reprisal measures against the enemy population.
July 26, 1943-- this is about the period, your Honors, that the defendant Foertsch was Chief of Staff to the then Commander-in-Chief of the Army Group E.
I cite: "In the event cf enemy landing attacks we must reckon with the most far reaching participation of hostile parts of the population on the side of the enemy. The activities of the bands against objects of vital importance especially the railroads will begin suddenly.
In order to overcome this great danger measures of adequate security are to be taken now.
1. I give permission to and oblige all commanders to take most severe measures in case of obvious hostile attitude of the population on their own responsibility and without having requested authorization from their superior offices. Measures taken are to be reported and will be covered by me. Commanders however who out of negligence or softness omit to take measures of reprisal will be held responsible.
2. Among other things, all strikes even if they do not directly affect military affairs are to be considered as hostile attitude."
of the population. Curfew regulations for the entire population closing of shops and the cutting of electric light and water supplies are to be immediately introduced as efficient counter measures.
3.) It is the duty of every German soldier to break any active resistance of the population, by force of arms, immediately and relentlessly. Soldiers who violate this duty are to be brought before courts martial and the sentences are to be made known to the troops.
4.) As soon as sufficient forces have arrived, the setting up of an evacuation zone 5 to 10 kilometers wide is to be carried out in Greece on both sides of the main railway lines with the exception of large localities. The zone is forbidden to the civilian population except for those working under guard, every civilian is to be shot unchallenged. In the larger villages, curfew at dusk and the taking of hostages etc. are to be considered. Preparations are to be made now. Plans for such prohibited zones, with corresponding maps are to be reported by 1 August 1943.
5.) In all measures of reprisal the following is to be observed.
Ruthless combat and reprisals should as far as possible be directed only against the hostile civilian population. By a correct treatment of the friendly population a rush of the population towards the bands must be avoided.
As a result of these considerations however it must not happen that for example, if German soldiers were shot at in a village nothing is done because the perpetrator was not clearly determined. In such cases measures of reprisal must be effected by the immediate arrest and shooting to death or still better by hanging publicly influential personalities of the villages. The same applies when justifies suspicion exists that the perpetrators of successfully carried out or even only attempted acts of sabotage were supported by the population. In most cases the populartion is on the side of the bandits.
The reasons for all measures of reprisal are immediately to be made know publicly.
The extent of a reprisal measure is to be ordered clearly, its execution must be supervised in order to prevent excesses of our own troops.
In all reprisal measures sufficient troops are to be employed in order to guarantee complete success. A withdrawal of our forces in cases of failures will be interpreted as weakness and will only have a stimulating effect on the population.
The careful seizure of rations for the troops, in case the supply roads should be blocked belongs to the preparations for the fight which is to be expected against an enemy which has landed and against a hostile population. The necessary reconnaissance must be made well in advance. Becomes to such civilian stocks is however permissible only in case of open combat actions or in dire needs. ***ry superior must see to it that such measures do not lead to plundering. A lack of supervision herein can quickly spoil the troops.
(Signature) Loehr (Initials illeg.)
MR. RAPP: And there is also this document initialed, we submit, by the Defendant Foertsch.
DR. HINDEMITH: Your Honors, Hindemith for the Defendant Foertsch. Regarding what the Prosecutor has just said about the last document. I would like to state the following: I object to the prosecution's statement that this document the initial "F" on it and that indicates the Defendant Foertsch. The German document does not show this. It only shows the initial is illegible. What the Prosecutor has just said is not factual, but he was arguing just now. Since in the German document the initial is not shown I move that the remarks of the Prosecutor concerning this should be stricken from the record.
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is true that the argumentation is made; it will take further evidence to show that they are, in fact, the initials of the Defendant Foertsch. I think, however, the Prosecution may call the attention of the Tribunal to any marks made on any exhibit.
MR. RAPP; Very well, Your Honor.
DR. HINDEMITH: From what your Honor has just said, I take that the Defense has the right to make objections to the argumentation of the Prosecution at a later date.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I think that is correct.
DR. HINDEMITH: Thank you.
MR. RAPP: If Your Honors turn now to page 40 of the English Document Book, page 36 of the German, I continue with the same document--that is, Document No. NOKW-1079. It will not be necessary to read these two pages into the record; and this will close up the Document No. NOKW-1079which is Prosecution's Exhibit No. 291. If the Tribunal please, we submit now NOKW-718 which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 292. We turn to page 43 of the English Document Book of the same document, page 37 of the German Book, and under paragraph 3, which is page 38 of the German Document Book, now we find.
3.) Counter Intelligence Office Grn. Milanovac reports: 1200 D.M. men under the command of Lt. Colonel Simic marching in two groups from Tresjnvica (about 12 South Southwest Arandjulovac) in a Southerly direction. A group is marching in direction of Strajari under the command of Captain Kalabic (400 men); the second group is marching in direction of Rudnik under the Command of Lt. Col. Simic. The band has 80 to 100 light machine guns and is wearing mostly uniforms of the former Yugoslav Army.
4.) In Kamenica the SD burns down 7 houses at 1700 hours because the village held a festive reception for D. M. and its buildings have served for some time as refuges for English men and D.M. bands.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors, on the next page, Page 44 we find under Roman Numeral II:
"Daily Report: Today: Total:
1. Captured: 8 180 2. Shot to death 3 8 (women) 3. Houses burned down 1 19
MR. RAPP: And then below for the 18th of July 1943, we find "Daily Report:
Today: Total:
Shot to death: 3 11 (women) Houses burned down:
2 21
MR. RAPP: This is all for NOKW-718, Prosecution's Exhibit No. 292. Your Honor we have now NOKW-893 to offer, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit No. 293. These are again some of these teletype reports. This one is dated the 22nd of July, and it is to the Commander of German Troops in Croatia.
"Brigadier General von Chamier Fliegerfuehrer in Croatia:
It is my duty to call the attention to the fact that especially lately the use of bombers in the Coratian Civil War has become a very problematic means of combat. Either villages are bombed in which bandits never stayed, or such villages in which the bandits stayed temporarily without the agreement of the population and have long since departed. A week ago several villages were bombed in Zagoria (north of Zagreb). They were completely free of insurgents and the pure Catholic inhabitants had, as was proven, up to now nothing to do with the disorders. There were dead and wounded and much damage was caused. All this was suffered by citizens and peasants whose brothers and sons served with us as Legionnaires or as Coratian soldiers and who are supposed to fight courageously on our side. All this in an area whose economic well being is in the interests of our conduct of war. The extraordinary national and political complexity of the country in which we are fighting demands that a means of combat such as air raids, which elsewhere may be used to combat Partisans without hesitation, be used rarely and carefully.
The targets are only to be bombed when it is established without a doubt that they are occupied by the enemy and the bombing of villages of villages is to be avoided as far as possible." "Since additional forces adversaries "(into the woods)" it does not help to pacify the country but is detrimental and shakes the confidence in the German soldier of those parts of the population which are of good will. I beg you to take these ideas into consideration in view of the extreme subtlety of our adversary and of the combats which certainly demand ruthlessness and severity."
NOKW-965 will be offered next. That is page 48 of the English and 42 of the German document book, and it becomes Prosecution Exhibit No. 294. This is a teletype message sent by the Commander of German Troops in Croatia to all of the divisions enumerated here: SS Division 369, 373, 187th and so forth, and it goes on to say:
Recently the air force was repeatedly used against completely peaceful villages. Such attacks do not help us, but rather harm us, as they only strike against the harmless civilian population. Attacks upon villages have to be reserved for special cases, when, furthermore, it is certain that these villages are completely communist.
Genuine successes of the air force can only be expected where a known enemy is being engaged.
Commander of German Troops in Croatia The initials are illegible.
Your Honors, now NOKW-1439, page 49 of your document book, page 43 of the defense counsel's document book, becomes 295 Prosecution Exhibit. This is a rather lengthy document and we have only made certain excerpts of this document, the rest pertaining to tactical matters. "Commander of German Troops in Croatia, Branch Ic" -that is the intelligence branch.
Enclosure - 1 Headquarters 5 July 1943 E n e m y S i t u a t i o n i n S l a v o n i a In Slavonia, East of the line Virovitica-Ban Jaruga units of the II Croatian (Slavonic) Corps were stationed up until the end of June.
The total strength of the Corps amounted to approximately 5,500 men without the units assigned to the territory alter the dissolution of the III Operation Zone. This figure includes 650 women.
Organization: Staff (40) Batterie (32), 1st Division (1900 including 300 women), 4th Division (3,300, including 350 women).
Then it gives the weapons starting out with 3500 rifles, etc.
Each Division has three Brigades consisting in the main of four Battalions.
On the next page, Your Honor, page 50, you will find the breakdown of the order of battle or battle strength of these various units. It starts out with the first Division which also is called the Tenth. It talks of XVII Slav Brigade; it talks of the XXI Brigade; and it talks of a Slavonian Division, which is subdivided into the XII and XVI Brigades.
And on page 51, Your Honors, you will find "lately a 12th Division has been mentioned which includes three Brigades one of which is designated as the XIV. This is probably a new setup from compulsory recruitments or segregated elements of the units assigned to the area."
That is, by the way, page 44 and 45 of the German document.
Then:
The XIV Brigade of the 12th Division is cabled "Zagreb Youth Brigade JOZA SLAVONIC" because it is composed 50% of Croates.
Three units assigned to the area operate in the same territory. One of them operates in the Papuk (400 men) one around VOCIN (600 men) and the third changes constantly between the BSUNJ and the DILJ Mountains (300 men).
These units (the so-called Slavonic Order) assigned to the area are not to be mistaken for the so-called military forces of the rear area. They are guards which are subordinate to area headquarters and to town-headquarters. Like the gendarmerie, they are organized by districts. They do not wear the usual rank insignia of red cloth directly on their sleeve, but they wear the Soviet Star and insignia superimposed on green cloth background.
Your Honors, if you turn now please to page 54 of your document book, which is page 47 of the German, we find a little note about combat methods of the communists, and it says:
Combat methods of the Communists Prisoners are never to be shot to death without being interrogated concerning unit, commanding officer, strength and the intentions of their unit.
Intelligent people who wish to make statements, all commanding officers and commissars are to be sent to the division, all radio technicians and telephone men to be sent to the Commander for thorough interrogation.
And then this document is signed for the Commander of the German Troops in Croatia, the Chief of General Staff and in draft signed Major Berger of the General Staff Guard.
Then we have another teletype here, page 55, Your Honors, page 47 and 48 of the German document book, and it is dated July 5, 1943.
I. All Communists are to be shot to death. Suspects are to be arrested.
The following are considered bandits:
a.) Any person having participated in combat or encountered bearing arms.
b.) Any person convicted of Communist activities.
II. The following are considered suspects:
a.) Any persons roving about away from settlements without compulsory reason.
b.) Any non-resident unable to prove that his presence is necessary.
Women and young people are also to be taken. The entire population of all villages within the areas to be mopped up are to be screened. A few persons who seem trustworthy, belonging to different religious and national groups, are to be selected and to be interrogated individually concerning non-residents and Communists. The interrogation is to be carried out in such a manner that the people concerned do not have to fear any acts of vengeance.
The troops carrying out the arrest are to send along a short report giving reasons and place of the arrest and personal data when the arrestees are sent to the collection camp.
III. Deserters.
Deserters who voluntarily report to the unit are to be sent to a collection camp for labor employment. They are to be given brief identification papers designating them as deserters. Before they are transported to collecting camps, they are to be offered to the SD.
IV. All villages which are entirely Communists are to be destroyed. The population, in as far as it is not being treated as Communists is to be evacuated to collection camps.
In addition, villages serving entire bands as a permanent refuge with the consent of the population are to be considered Communist villages.
V. Houses in which weapons and ammunition are found and which are not reported promptly and voluntarily, are to be destroyed.
The shooting to death of Communists (bandits) the arrest of suspects, destruction of villages and the number of deserters is to be included in the daily report.
And the Distribution:
Troop units North of thee Save (down to companies) The next page, Your Honor, page 57, or page 49 and 50, respectively of the German document book, I still continue, paragraph I:All Communists (bandits) are to be shot to death.
Suspects are to be arrested.
The following are considered bandits:
a.) Any person having participated in combat or encountered bearing arms.
b.) Any person convicted of Communist activities.
c.) Any persons roving about away from settlements without compulsory reason.
Women and young people are also to be taken. In doubtful cases, persons concerned are to be arrested.
II. Persons arrested who are suspected of having actively or passively supported acts of sabotage, are to be used as hostages, for the execution of reprisal measures.
They are to be reported to the Commander of the German Troops in Croatia Ic giving reason and place of arrest as well as personal data and to be transferred with the identical report to the Prisoner-of-War Camp Zenica.
Subject: Order concerning counter-intelligence and reprisal measures against the enemy population.
In addition to the reprisal measures ordered, hostages are to be arrested from the area concerned in the event of sabotage.
When hostages are seized it must be considered that innocent people are mostly arrested while the guilty persons have fled to the woods.
Hostages may carry on correspondence under censorship.
The seizure of hostages is effective only when the hostages are taken as a reprisal measure from the immediate locality of the incident. The population is to be informed by means of posters and leaflets, giving the names and threatening that the hostages will be hanged or shot on the occasion of the next attack. The carrying out of the reprisal measures by hanging or shooting of hostages as ordered by the Commanding Officer also is to be published.
This is dated the 31st of July, 1943.
1. The sabotage activity which is increased of late, compels strict adherence to the order mentioned in the reference.
2. The Divisions are ordered to seize immediately as hostages from those areas and villages from which traffic and supply roads have been threatened and above all where attacks have already taken place and without regard to nationality.
a) the family of band members
b) Persons guilty of aiding and abetting bands
c) Suspected persons.
by special detachments in closest cooperation with the SD and the Ordnungs Polizei.
A detachment with the 114th Jaeger Division has achieved great success by surprise operations.
These special detachments are to be of a sufficient strength and well equipped, suitable for their task. Forces of the Secret Field Police of the SD Field Gendarmerie and if at all possible of the Croatian Police or Gendarmerie are also to be employed. The Special Detachment is responsible for the Military area of the operation. House searches and interrogations are to be executed under the direction of executive organs of the Secret Field Police, of the SD or of the Ordnungs Polizei.
3. The arrested hostages are to be delivered to the Corps Prisoner Camp Zenica or Prijedor. Those divisions who are too far removed by rail from Prijedor or Zenica will install temporary hostage camps in agreement with the SD. It is intended to install hostage camps in Sisak and Mitrovica. The minutes of the interrogation together with personal data and the domiciles of the hostages are to be turned over to the camp Headquarters together with the hostages delivered.
4. Arrests and shootings of hostages is to be included in the daily report to the Commander.
5. Pursuant to the reference above, the seizure of hostages as well as reprisal measures carried out are to be made known to the population by means of posters and leaflets in cooperation with the Croatian propaganda staff, in Zagreb or its branch offices in Banja Luka, and Sarajevo.