Page 133, received by the Army General Staff on the 12th of August sent out by the Commader-in-Chief on the 11th August. In the middle of the bottom of the page, "Strong band forces reported in the area 15 km. North Northwest of Parga. Combing out of the area South of the river Asoos without contacting enemy. 3 villages of the bands were destroyed." And it is signed on page 134 of the document book again by the Commander-in-Chief Southeast.
135, 14th of August, Greece, bottom of the page. "Retaliation measures for attack on German column on the road Athens." And the next page continues: "These .." that is (yesterday's Daily Report) are proceeding. Vyllia (15 km. South of Thebes) has been evacuated." Then it says: "80 band suspects arrested.
"Area of the SS Division: IInd Battalion of the 1st Regiment encountered enemy superior in numbers in the area 40 km. West of Tara who had heavy weapons.
"Operation against band villages East of Stolac concluded, 2 villages destroyed."
Signed by the Commander-in-Chief Southeast.
Page 137, this is a report dated the 15th of August. 1st Mountain Division in the coastal area of Amuzia "arrested 1 British agent and 70 band suspects, and destroyed two villages. In reprisal for the attack on a German gun near Leskovic, reported yesterday, 3 villages were burned down.
........
Serbia: Weather clear. Local band activity. Northeast of Sjenica German Frontier Guard shot by Cetniks. During operation at Arilie 19 additional enemy dead. 84 supporters of band arrested, one village of the bands destroyed. During reconnaissance in the mine area of Ivanjica 6 Communists taken. Near Boljevac and Usica harvest and sabotage and attacks on communities; 20 members of the Serbian State Guard kidnapped or deserted.
"As reprisal 15 Communist prisoners shot."
"Commander-in-Chief Southeast."
That, by the way, is crossed out.
Then page 139, Daily Report, Commander-in-Chief, dated 18 August 1943, Serbia, "Weather: clear. Slight local band activity. As reprisal for the murder of two mayors, 30 Communists and 20 Cetniks were shot." Commander-in-Chief Southeast.
Page 131 at the bottom of the page, Daily Report from the Commanderin-Chief, dated 19 August 1943, and page 142, it says: "Greece: Local band activity. In Crete, in a village Southwest Rethymnon, 1 German Sergeant who was shot by unknown perpetrators. As reprisal 10 Greeks were shot, male population of the village transferred to Forced Labor Camp." This is a ten-to-one ratio in this case.
Then "Serbia, paragraph 4." At the end of this paragraph, "German Customs Officials and 18 Bulgars who had become prisoners during the fighting at Arilje were released by the Cetniks upon threat of severe reprisals."
Page 143 or 119 of the German Document Book, dated 20th of August 1943, at the bottom: "Greece: Mopping up operation started in the Peloponnes against renewed band activity in the area Southwest of Xylokastron. During search in the area of Almires 2 British parachutists and arms secured, 26 suspects arrested, 3 villages burned down. And again signed "Commander-in-Chief."
Finally on page 145, which is dated 21 August 1943, and we turn to page 146 on top where it says:
"Greece:
Weather: Sunny, stormy. In the Pelopennes mopping up operations in the area 30 km Southwest of Xylokastron concluded without any enemy contact of consequence. 2 villages destroyed, ammunition captured. Mopping up operation by the 1st Company Brandenbrug Regiment in the Kidairon Mountains so far without contact with the enemy.
"Serbia" it states at the bottom:
"Through sabotage numerous machines were severely damaged and 33 Communists were shot in reprisal."
Page 147 at the bottom of the page, dated the 22 August, the very last sentence says: "The enemy suffered 14 dead:" and the next page states: "large quantities of cattle and ammunition was seized, 4 band villages destroyed."
Signed Commander in Chief Southeast.
Page 149, Your Honors, a telegram dated 23 August addressed to OKH, and on page 150 we find on top.
"During mopping up operations our combat group destroyed several villages."...."Two suspected villages burned down."
And then the last paragraph says, "In the area South and Southwest of Mount Parnessees two bands of medium strength reported."
.....
"In villages explosives and ammunition secured, villages destroyed. A monastry near Amphilekia suspected of harboring bands set on fire from the air. Reconnaissance activity by the 1st Mountain Division in the coastal area and in the area of Joannina continued. 2nd Company Brandenbrug Regiment clashed with small band Southwest of Nepolis, 1 bank village burned down."
Finally on page 151, fourth paragraph:
"Serbia" it say in the bottom line of first paragraph: "North of Kragujevac 18 Serbian Auxiliary Policemen supposedly shot by Communists."
"Reprisal measures initiated."
"Commander in Chief Southeast."
And page 152 another telegram to the OKH, this time dated 25 August. The last line says:
"Several enemy deat 1 band village and 1 ammunition depot destroyed."
Page 153, we will identify this document as being sent on the 26 August 1943, and on page 154 we find its contents. It says: under "Greece." "23 hostages arrested and transferred to Forced Labor Camp.?"
Page 155, dated the 27 August 1943, we find the contents on page 156. It says:
Commander Saloniki Aegina: 2nd Company Brandenburg Regiment had local contact with bands in the area South Southeast and Southwest of Arges Orestiken, 2 villages of the bands were burned.
6. Employment of the Luftwaffe:
25 August Croatia. 9 "Ju 52" transport planes in Albanian and Serbian territory.
26 August Crete: Reprisal attack on the village of Wiorissa (100 km Northwest of Tympakion) with 5.25 tons of demolition boms.
Croatia: Report has not been received yet.
Signed Commander-in-Chief Southeast.
Your Honor, we turn to page 157, which is page 130 of the German Document Book, and this is a report which wan sent on the 28 August 1943. We find the contents on page 158 at the top. It says:
"Greece.
"Weather: Sunny, hot Slight local band activity (crossed out) In Crete the band village of Worica was destroyed by bombing after evacuation of the population and removal of men to Forced Labor Camp."
And that again is signed by Commander in Chief Southeast.
This, Your Honor, finishes Document 309, which was NOKW 1488.
As the last Document of Document Book 12 we are offering Document NOKW 1437, which will be known as Prosecution Exhibit 310.
This, Your Honor, is a document which comes from the Commander in Chief Southeast, simultaneously charged with Commander of Army Group E, and it pertains to the new regulation of command authority in the Southeast.
1.) Commander-in-Chief of Army Group F (Belgrade), Field Marshal Freiherr Naiwatian von Weichs will be charged with the Command of the entire German area of operation of the Southeast area.
Chief of General Staff of Army Group E.
Major General Foertsch.
2.) To the High Command Army Group F will be subordinated Army Group E (Commander-in-Chief: General Loehr, Chief of General Staff:
Brigadier General Winter).
2nd Panzer Army (Commander-in-Chief, Lt. General of Infantry Rendulic, Chief of General Staff:
Colonel G.S.C. v. Grolmann).
German General-Plenipotentiary in Croatia (Major General von Gleise-Horstenau) within the limits of his duties beyond his authority and as an attache and territorial Commander.
The military attache in Sofia (Colonel G.S.C.
Grade within the limits of his duty beyond his authority as an attache.
3.) The High Command of Army Group E retains command over Greece including the Island eliminating the previous Designation, "Commander-in Chief Southeast" Channels of Command - Enclosure 1.
4.) The 2nd Panzer Army receives Command of Croatia and Serbia as well as of territories which may be subsequently occupied in the Southeast area outside of Greece. Channels of Command - Enclosure 2.
5. OKH/Army General Staff will issue orders concerning the reorganization of the existing offices within the area of the Commanderin-Chief Southeast.
6.) Special orders will be issued concerning the reorganization of counter Intelligence and transportation.
7. Command authority of supply and of administration is established pursuant to OKW/WFST/Qu (Administration./V) No. 004124/43 top secret of 7 August 1943 on the basis of the new regulation of command authority.
Special orders concerning this will be issued.
Channels of Command - Enclosure 3 Army Group F and within Greece, High Command Army Group E will order the time of transfer of command.
The Commanding General and Commander in Serbia will transfer to Mitrovica by 22 August at least the command echelon of the New Mountain Corps Headquarters XXI.
(signed) Loehr General And then it goes on giving the distribution of all the units that have previously been mentioned.
Then your Honor, on page 163, and 164, which is page 138 and page 139, German Document Book, you will find same schematic presentation on the Document of the command generals, that were set up under this new directive, including designation of various headquarters. If your Honors permit I would like to pass this document up to you so that you yourself could have a look at this original document.
This, Your Honor, will complete Document Book 12, and if the Tribunal pleases, Mr. Fenstermacher will at this time start with the presentation of Document Book 13.
DR. JON JAGDWIRZ, for the defendant Rendulic, Your Honors, unfortunately I have to object to the presentation of Document Book 13, which I received only this morning. As far as my defendant Rendulic is concerned I could not talk over these documents with him previous to this session. For this reason I will object to the submission of this document book before 24 hours have elapsed, and I believe this is a usually acknowledged regulation.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If Your Honors, please, the only documents in document book 13 which I believe we will have time to introduce today will only concern biolgraphical affidavits of the defendants von Weichs, and General Rendulic, and perhaps we may reach the biolgraphical affidavit of General Dehner.
Should Your Honors wish us to omit the presentation of the biographical affidavit of Dr. Tagdwik's defendant General Rendulic at this time, we can do that, and simply between now and 4:30 simply read the biographical affidavits of the defendants von Weichs and Dehner.
DR. FROESE (For the Defendant Dehner): I raise the same objection which Dr. Jagdwitz has just made, applying to the defendant Dehner; only during the course of this morning we had opportunity to look at Document Book XIII.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The original copies of all the documents which will be introduced in connection with Document Book XIII have for several weeks been in the defense information center.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: Defense counsel has been objecting to hearing this before a twenty-four hour period; I think it will have to be sustained. We wish, however, that Prosecution make every effort to serve these document books in time so we can keep the processes of the court operating. We realize you run into difficulties but we urge you to keep these matters in shape so the court will not have to adjourn. I take it since this objection is sustained that there is nothing the court can take up at this time.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I would like to make one statement for the record if I may before we adjourn today. Your Honors will recall that last week, representatives of the defense counsel and two members of the Prosecution staff met with your Honors in chambers with respect to turning over to the defense various documentary evidence which is here in Nurnberg in the possession of the Prosecution. The Prosecution at that time offered to turn over to the defense, and Dr. Laternser on behalf of the defense representatives, accepted the Prosecution's offer to turn over all the documentary material in the possession of the Prosecution here in Nurnberg which we do not intend to use in our direct case, that is, with the exception of material which we are holding back for cross-examination purposes. I should like, therefore, at this time to hand to Dr. Laternser a copy of a memoranda which I have today written to our document room asking them to turn over one photostatic copy of each of the below listed documents which number thirty-nine to the Defense Information Center for the use of the defense counsel in this case, Case No. VII. There will be other lists which I shall prepare within the next few days and I believe that within the next week we will be able to turn over to the defense all the material which we are not intending to use in our direct case or withholding for cross-examination purposes.
Should Dr. Laternser not find these documents in the Defense Information Center within the next two or three days, if he will call it to our attention, we ill see that it is expedited. I think, your Honors, that is all we have for today.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: To the extent that you have served them I assume that it is acceptable to Dr. Laternser. There is nothing more we can do about it now?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: No, I think not.
MR. DENNEY: Excuse me, I have been advised by Dr. Laternser that the question of the removal of the uniforms has been raised and I wonder if we might have just a statement from the court on the record about it so we can transmit it to the prison authorities so there will be no--
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: I might say it is agreeable to the Tribunal that they may remove their coats and wear suitable shirts in the presence of weather conditions like this; that the Tribunal will haw no objection to that whatsoever.
MR. DENNEY: And certainly as has been expressed to the Tribunal the Prosecution has no objection to this at all. Prosecution has nothing further at this time if your Honor please.
PRESIDING JUDGE CARTER: Due to the fact that we are unable to proceed further, the Tribunal will adjourn until 0930 hours in the morning.
The Tribunal will recess until 0930 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Official Transcript of the American Military Tribunal in the matter of the United States of America, against Wilhelm List, et al, defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, 30 July 1947 0930, Justice Wennerstrum, presiding.
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the Courtroom will please find their seats.
The Honorable, the Judges of Military Tribunal 5, Military Tribunal 5 is now in session. God save the United States of America and this Honorable Tribunal. There will be order in the Court.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Marshal, you will ascertain if all the defendants are present in the Courtroom.
THE MARSHAL: May it please Your Honor, all the defendants are present in the Courtroom.
THE PRESIDENT: Prosecution may proceed.
MR. WENSTERMACHER: May it please the Tribunal, before passing on to the introduction of documents in Document Book XIII, the Prosecution has made up the list of counts and the defendants against whom the documents in Document Book X are offered. I hand three copies to the Tribunal. I hand 22 copies to the defense counsel, two copies to the Secretary General, and two each to the Court Reporters and Interpreters.
These should be marked Exhibit 263-A for identification, and should be given the pages 81 A and B in the German, and 110 A and B in the English Document Book. With the introduction of the Documents in Document Book XIII, we pass to the fourth and final period in this case, the period which, from the standpoint of numbers of defendants involved, is the most important period. We will be concerned from now on with the period of time dating from the end of August 1943 until October 1944, when German troops were withdrawn from Greece, Albania and Yugoslavia. We shall be concerned largely with the "Order of Battle Chart" which appears on the wall of the Courtroom.
Your Honors will recall that in the end of August 1943 a reorganization in the Southeast Command took place. Field Marshal Weichs was made Supreme Commander Southeast, and simultaneously Commander in Chief of Army Group F. His Chief of Staff was General Foertsch, who carried over from General Lohr, as he had previously carried over from General List to General Kuntze, to General Lohv.
In Serbia General Felber was made military Commander Southeast, and simultaneously Military Commander of Serbia. The defendant Geitner, was Chief of Staff to General Felber, as he had earlier been Chief of Staff to the Commander in Serbia, General Bader. In Croatia a General Rendulic became Commander of the 2nd Panzer Army. He was assisted by General Luders as Commander of the 15th Corps and late in November 1943 General Luders was succeeded by the defendant Leyser, as commander of the 15th Corps. Also subordinate to General Rendulic as Commander of the 69th Special Reserve Group, was the defendant Denner.
In Greece General Loehr, who had earlier been Commander in Chief Southeast, and simultaneously Commander of Army Group E, retained the Command of Army Group E, largely concerned with the defense of the Greek mainland and Greek Islands. Subordinate to General Lohr in Greece was the defendant Felmy, as commander of the 68th Corps, and also in the Epirus section of Western Greece was the defendant Lanz, as Commander of the 22nd Group. Also in Greece was the defendant Speidel as Military Commander of Greece.
Turning now to Document Book 13, page 13, page 1 of the German, Page 1 of the English, we have Document NOKW 856. which is offered in evidence as Prosecution Exhibit---
THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me just a moment. I am informed the German translation is not coming over.
THE INTERPRETER: That is what I just wanted to say.
THE PRESIDENT: The Court will be in recess for a few minutes. Hold yourself subject to be recalled immediately.
(Thereupon a recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: Military Tribunal V is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: May I inquire of counsel for the defense as to whether or not they desire to have the preliminary remarks by counsel for the prosecution repeated at this time? They were solely of a preliminary nature.
Dr. Laternser, representing the defense, has stated that he does not desire, nor do the defendants desire, to have the preliminary remarks repeated, so you may continue.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Turning first to page 1 of the English document book, page 1 of the German, Document NOKW-856, which becomes prosecution Exhibit 311, this is biographical affidavit of the defendant Weichs outlining his career in the German Army.
"I, Maximilian von Weichs, swear, testify, and declare:
"I was born on 12 Nov. 1881 in Dessau as the son of the senior Master of the Horse in Anhalt Otto Freiherr von WEICHS. I was married on 28 July 1928 in Kassel to Margaretha von Niesewant. I have no children. I attended the Humanistic Gymnasium in Dessau and Munich. I completed my studies at the latter in 1000.
"I entered the Bavarian 2nd Heavy Cavalry Regiment in Landshut as an officer candidate in 1900. In 1902, I was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. I attended the Bavarian War College from 1910 to 1913. In 1914, promoted to Captain. In the 1st World War. I was staff Officer of the Bavarian 4th Cavalry Brigade from August to October 1914. From May 1915 to July 1917 I was the second general staff officer of the Bavarian Inf. Div. From July 1917 until the end of the war I was general staff officer with the Deputy Headquarters of the 2nd Bavarian Infantry Corps in Wuerzburg.
"From 1919 to 1920 I was general staff officer of the 23rd Reich Defense Brigade in Wuerzburg. From 1920 to 1922 I was general Staff Officer with the 3rd Cavalry Division in Kassel. From 1922 to 1925 squadron chief in the 18th Cavalry Regt., Stuttgart Constadt. In 1922, I was promoted to Major. From 1925 to 1927 I was tactical instructor at the infantry school (Ohrdruf and Dresden); from 1927 to 1923, Major with the staff in the 18th Cavalry Regt.
(Ludwigsburg); 1928, I was promoted to Lt. Colonel; from 1923 to 1930 I was commander of the 18th Mounted Regiment Stuttgart-Cannstadt; 1930 I was promoted to Colonel; 1930 to 1933 I was Chief of the General Staff of the 1st Cavalry Div. Frankfurt on the Oder; Feb. to Oct. 33, Infantry Fuehrer 3 in Potsdam. In 1933 I was promoted to Brigadier General from 1 October 1933; I was the commanding General of the 3rd Cavalry Division Weimar. From 1 Oct. 1935, this division was reformed into the 1st Panzer Division, the commander of which I remained until 1 Sct. 1937.
"In 1934 I was promoted to Maj. Gen., 1936 to Lt. Gen. Cavalry. From 1 Oct. 1937 I was Commanding General Infantry Corps, Nurnberg. In this position I participated in the occupation of Austria and of the Sudeten Land 1938, as well as Bohemia 1939.
"I participated in the Polish campaign in the 2nd World War as Commanding General of the XIIIth Inf. Corps., which I led from the district OILS/Gross-Wartenberg through Lodz to Warsaw.
"In Oct. 1939. I was nominated Commander-in-Chief of the and Army. I had to supervise the training of a number of divisions in the winter of 1939/40 in Wesel, then in Bonn.
"In the campaign in the West in 1940 the 2nd Army was brought in as a reserve Army and was not used during the 1st part.
"In the 2nd part, I led the attack of the Army from Chemindesdames through the Aisne at Reims, over the Marne to the Loire.
"After the Armistice, I first of all, conducted in France the changing of an Infantry Division into Panzer Division and motorized protective divisions."
Now, if your Honors, please, I believe there is missing from your Honors' document book one sentence which I would like to read slowly at this time:
"In October 1940 my staff was transferred to Munich where it was changed"----I beg your pardon---"where I was charged with the supervision of the training of a number of divisions."
"In October 1940 I was promoted to General.
"For the Balkan campaign the newly formed 2nd Army was deployed in Styria and West Hungary and then led the attack through Zagreb in the direction of Sarajevo and Belgrade. On 17 April 1941 I had to sign the Armistice with Yugoslavia in Belgrade. After finishing this mission I returned to Munich in order to continue the previous training missions.
"At the beginning of the campaign against Russia in 1941, my staff was committed to Warsaw and was not used at first. Some weeks later, relieved the staff of the fourth Army (Klunge) at the front, continued the attack begun through Minsk, then over the Dnjepr on both sides of Mohilev. Then, the Army participated in the battles at Doeml, Kiev, and Brjansk. In the winter of 1941/42 it was in a position somewhat East of the line Kursk/Orel. From this position, it led the attack against Vornesh on both sides of the Don in summer 1942. On 15 July 1942, I was named Commander-in-Chief of Army Group B which had the mission of taking the Don Front and Stalingrad. In the course of this attack, the heavy set-backs at Stalingrad and in the North occurred, from Nov. 1942 on. In Dec., the front of the Army Group was split through the entrance of the new Army Group Mannstein. During these battles, the Army Group had to be recalled considerably from the Don. On 15 Feb. 1943 the Army Group Staff was pulled out and remained, not utilized at first, in Viniza.
"On 1 Feb. 1943, I was promoted to General Field Marshal.
From February to the end of July 1943 I was in the home land without being used. Only in April and May for 6 weeks, I represented Field Marshal von Mannstein who was ill, in Shaporosche. At the end of July 1943 I received a mission from the OKW to make a tour of orientation in the Balkans principally Greece, and to hold myself ready for use in that district.
"In August 1943 the staff of the Army Group F was set up in Belgrade. On 26 August 1943 I took over the command, as Commander-in Chief of Army Group F, (Commander-in-Chief, Southeast), and held then the command of all the German combat troops committed in the Balkans.
The Army Group E which was already employed there and the High Command of the 2nd Panzer Army which had been brought in recently were subordinated to me for this purpose.
"Through the withdrawal of Army Group E from Greece and the commitment of the 2nd Panzer Army to Hungary at the end of 1944 the front of the Army Group was so shortened that its staff was unnecessary. It was accordingly deactivated. The Commander-in Chief of Army Group E became Commander-in-Chief Southeast. I myself was assigned from the 26th March 1945 to the Fuehrer reserve to which I belonged, until my capture on 2 May 1945 in Ettal (upper Bavaria).
"I have received the following order and decorations:
1st World War: Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Bavarian Military Service Order with Swords 4th Class.
Cerman: Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class) ) in the Polish Campaign Clasp to the Iron Cross 1st Class) 1939 Knights cross of the Iron Cross in the Campaign in the West 1940 Oak Leaf to the Knights cross of the Iron Cross after close of the retreating battles in the Balkans, 1944.
Non-German: Great crosses to the:
Hungarian Service Order, Order of the Italian Crown, Bulgarian St. Alexander Order, Croatian Zvonimir-Order.
"I have never belonged to the Party or one of its branches.
"I have read the statement above, consisting of 4 pages in the German language, and I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief it is the entire truth. I have had the opportunity to make changes and corrections in the above statements. I have made this statement voluntarily without any promise of reward and I was neither threatened nor compelled to do so."
Signed: "Freiherr v n Weichs," Nurnberg, German, dated 12 March 1947.
I should like to hand defendant von Weichs' affidavit to your Honors for examination of the signature.
DR. LATERNSER: (Counsel for the defendants List and Weichs) Your Honors, I would like to have two translation mistakes corrected on page 2. The word "Schuetzen Divisionen" was used as "protective divisions." It should be translated, as far as I know, as "rifle divisions." To protect --rifle divisions have nothing to do with protecting. It's on page 2, near the bottom.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: We'll accept whatever the Court Interpreter says on that.
INTERPRETER: Well, I agree Dr. Laternser. It should be "rifle divisions."
DR. LATERNSER: The second mistake-
THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me--we are having difficulty in locating it. Will you repeat again the place, the page and the line in the English?
DR. LATERNSER: In the English Document Book on page 2, last third of the page, bottom third, a paragraph begins with: "After the Armistice, I first of all, conducted in France the changing of an Infantry Division into Panzer Division and motorized protective divisions," and I suggest it to be "rife divisions."
THE PRESIDENT: As I understand it, the interpreter approves of the suggested change.
THE INTERPRETER: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: The prosecution also accepts the change.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Very well.
DR. LATERNSER: Then on page 3 of the English Document Book -
DR. LATERNSER: Then on page 3 of the English document book -I beg your pardon, still on page 2 of the English document book, the German sentence on page 2 reads, I quote now: The word "abzuschliessen" is translated in the English text on page 2 as, --translated as "to sign" and this translation is not strong enough in my view.
It merely means to underwrite a treaty or to sign it, whereas "to conclude" means to conclude. That comprises negotiations, and well, conferences which lead to a treaty.
For this reason I ask for better translation of the word "abzuschliessen".
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I suggest we hand the original document to the court interpreter for his version of the text.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: It is so ordered.
INTERPRETER: This is on page 2, the last paragraph, and the sentence -- I repeat, that this is in the German document book, page 2, the last paragraph but one, and in the English document book it is on page 2, the paragraph starting, "After the Armistice," no, I am sorry , I must correct that. It is the last paragraph starting with, "For the Balkan campaign the newly formed 2nd Army was deployed in Styria and West Hungary and then led the attack through Zagreb in the direction of Sarajevo and Belgrade".
I think "concludes" is a better word than "signed" in this text.
DR. LATERNSER: I agree with this translation.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Turning next to page 6 of the English and page 4 of the German, Document NOKW 042, becomes Prosecution Exhibit 312. This is the German Army service record of Field Marshal von Weichs. Your Honors will note on page 6 of the English, page 4 of the German, the war time service record of the defendant Weichs, 1 September 39:
"Commanding General XIII Infantry Corps 23 Oct 39 C-in-C 2nd Army 13 July 42 C-in-C Army Group B 10 July 43 OKH Fuehrer Reserve 25 Aug 43 C-in-C Army Group F C-in-C Southeast 22 Mar 45 Fuehrer Reserve OKH at the disposal of the Fuehrer" Turning next to page 7 of the English, still page 4 of the German, various decorations which he received ---Turning next to page 8 of the English, and page 4 of the German, various commendations which he received from other commanders in the German army, 25 Feb 1941, General Leob writes of him:
"Perfect Army Commander-in-Chief with strong influence on training and a good insight for fiction and untruth. His next higher assignment cannot be sufficiently appreciated."
Then Rundstedt: A thoroughly proven Army Commander whose clear and well-defined leadership merits special mention. 29 Jan 42, v. Kluge: After an extended sick leave Weichs took over his 2nd Army recently when it joined Army Group South. I am unable to judge his army leadership since he was not subordinate to me. 3 Apr 42.v. Field Marshal von Bock: Continues to prove himself fully as Army Commander. Suitable for next higher assignment if required."
On page 9 of the English, page 5 of the German, there appears in chronological order the career in the German Army of the defendant von Weichs.
Turning next to page 11 of the English, page 6 of the German document NOKW 878, which becomes prosecution Exhibit 313, this is a biographical affidavit of the defendant, Rendulic, as commander of the 2nd Panzer Army, who as commander was subordinate to the defendant von Weichs, Commander -in-Chief, Southeast, and Commander of Army Group F:"I, Lothar RENDULIC, being duly sworn, say and declare:
I was born in Wiener-Jeustadt (lower Austria) on the 23 October 1887. My father was an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army. I attended the elementary school and the Gymnasium of Wiener-Neustadt. I began to study Jurisprudence and political science at Vienna University in 1906/07. However, in the fall of 1907 I entered the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener-Neustadt. In 1910 I received my commission as an officer.
During World War I, I was a Company Commander, a Regimental Adjutant and finally an Officer of the General Staff Corps. I was promoted to Captain in 1917. After the end of the war I again studied law, and I received the degree of Doctor of Laws at the University of Vienna on the 24 December 1920. A short time prior to that I had been taken over by the Bundesheer, which had been recently organized. At first I had different assignments with the troops, later assignments with the Bundes Ministry for National Defense. I was promoted Colonel in the General Staff Corps in the Spring or summer of 1933. From the fall of 1933 until the beginning of 1935 I was military attache for France and for England with my residence in Paris. After that period I commanded a motorized brigade in Vienna.
I became a member of the National Socialist Party of Austria on 12 May 1932. The Party was already dissolved in the summer of the following year (1933). This ended my membership forever. After the Anschluss, I was taken over into the German Reichsheer on 1 April 1938, just like the majority of the officers of the Austrian Army. I became the Chief of the General Staff of the XVII Infantry Corps. With this Corps I participated in the Polish Campaign in 1939. The Commanding General of the Corps and the Commander-in-Chief of the Group applied for my promotion, waiving the customary period of service in rank, as early as spring 1939, (I had been a Colonel for 6 years), but the Army Personnel Office refused.
I became a General major (Brigadier General) in the normal course of procedure on the 1st of December 1939.
After the Polish Campaign I began to suffer from severe lumbago which made me unfit for service until June 1940. I was appointed commander of the 14th Infantry Division during the last days of the Western Campaign. When this Division was transferred home to be transformed into a motorized division I took over the command of the 52nd Infantry Division in France toward the beginning of October 1940. At the beginning of the war against Russia, the Division was sent to the East. I commanded this Division during the summer and fall offensive of 1941, during the winter battle 1941/42 and during the summer fighting 1942 to October 1942. Meanwhile -- I was promoted in the normal course of procedure to Generalleutnant (Major General) on 1 December 1941 after having held the rank of Generalmajor (Brigadier General) for just two years.
I became Commanding General of the XXXVth Infantry Army Corps on 23 October 1942. In view of my achievements the IVIIth Army Corps to which I was subordinate at that time, as well as the 4th Army, and Army Group "Mitte" had proposed my appointment as Commanding General, waiving the customary period of service in rank in February of the year 1942. I commanded the Corps until the 5th of August 1943, in the winter and summer battle of Orel (Central Russia).
I was promoted to General of Infantry on the 1st of December 1942. On 26 August 1943, I was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 2nd Panzer Army in the Balkans at the suggestion of Field Marshal von Kluge. I was glad when I was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 20th Mountain Army in North Finland (Lapland) on 24 June 1944. There the period of my command was filled up with the struggle to extract the Army from a three sided pincer-movement and to lead the men back to Norway during the Arctic winter, 1944/45."