They procured for themselves special rations and everywhere enforced a surrender of alcoholic supplies. In a state of intoxication they annoyed the women, regardless of age, forced their way into their apartments at night, threw civilians out of their beds, and with force and threat abused many women. Later reports stated that among these were even girls from 12 to 15 years of age. Not infrequently a woman was abused by several cossacks throughout the whole night. It became known that in Gradiste alone 11 women had to have medical treatment. Complaining women asked for the removal of the Cossacks. In its own sector the regiment had employed patrols and had known how to stop excesses on the part of the cossacks. In almost every case the complaints could not be checked because different Cossack units passed through constantly. The population could not be helped.
4.) Passwords. Notwithstanding orders, different passwords had been issued to the German units and to Cossacks, so that wild shooting developed at one time on the East blockade. The Cossacks mostly did not know any password. Finally one had to be satisfied, after an agreement that the Cossack identify himself, if stopped, merely with the word "Cossack". The passwords are much too difficult to enunciate. It is impossible for either Croats or Cossacks to remember them (for instance Friedrichshagen, Lausanne, etc.). If possible, simple one or two syllable words should be selected in order to make allowance for the lack of intelligence of these soldiers.
5.) Field kitchens. Field kitchens must be taken along if the commitment lasts longer than 2 days. It is going too far to ask a soldiers to subsist on cold rations for almost 10 days. The usual consequences are that he practically attempts to bed (warm milk, soup, etc.).
6.) Means of communication. The broadcasting sets are very old and require a through overhaul after each employment. At this time 6 Dora sets are out of use due to this.
A new supply of broadcasting sets is required since one can usually work only by radio during an operation."
Your Honors, we find in Paragraph 7:
"Special incidents.
19.10.: 2 bandits arrested in Andrijasevci shot while trying to escape.
20.10.: Battalion Meinicke takes 2 prisoners which were transferred to the SD Vinkovci.
21.10.: I/130 arrest 9 deserting Domobranes in Babinagreda. Handed over to Vinkovci.
22.10.: Because of cowardness in the face of the enemy 2 Croatian auxiliary policemen were arrested and handed over to the unit leader.
23.10.: Domobrane Josip Berinc of the 1st Company/II/Syrm.Brig. was found intoxicated while on duty as guard in Gradiste. He resisted arrest using his gun and said that he would join the bandits because it is better there. He was given over to the E.K.3. Vinkovci.
2 drunks cossacks threw hand grenades at their own troops and shot off their rifles. The Cossacks were arrested and given to Cossack Regiment No. 5 in Zupania.
25.10.: Captain Meinicke arrested a Croatian unit leader for cowardness in the face of the enemy.
IV. Losses.
a) Own: 1 non-commissioned officer wounded.
b) Bands: 3 dead, 8 prisoners.
c) Deserters: 15 Domobranes were brought in.
Then on the next page is "captured materials." We don't have to go into all of the details.
Your Honors, it is pointed out that during this time a Cossack Divi vision in this area was fighting under the over-all command of the defendant Dehner.
Here again we find a document addressed to the 69th Reserve Corps at that time under the command of the defendant, Dehner, from the 2nd Panzer Army. The date is the 19 December 1943, defense counsel on page 28, I believe:
Evacuation measures outside of the area the 1st Croatian Mountain Brigade may be continued. However, they are to be checked once more according to the following points of view:
1) Reprisal and evacuation measures are to achieve best possible effect in combatting of bands.
2) For this purpose it is useful not to evacuate villages adjacent to the railroad line but to use the inhabitants as far as possible to help with the security.
3) For this purpose definite sectors of the tract should be allocated to individual villages. Appropriate reprisal measures are to be executed where attacks occur which the population did not stop or regarding the preparation of which nothing had been reported. These reprisal measures include arrest of hostages, partial evacuations of the population, burning down of individual houses.
4) Bandit nests near the railroad tracks are to be evacuated entirely and to be destroyed.
Signed 2nd Panzer Army, Ia
MR. RAPP: If Your Honors will turn now to page 32 of this Document Book, defense counsel I believe page 16, we find a report addressed to the 187th Reserve Division which fought in Defendant Dehner's corps at that time. It is called, "Subject:
Operation "Herbst II" (which is operation Augumn) and "Wildsau" (which is operation Boar".
Reference: Discussion with the Cossack mounted regiment.
To the 187th Reserve Division:
Operation Herbst II ended with the order of the Division to the Commanding Officer of the Reserve Grenadier Regiment 45 to transfer all Battalions to Colonel Schulze and to take over the command of the blockade and to strengthen the blockade as far as possible.
The purpose of the blockade is clear and does not require any clarification. Parts of the 5th Don Cossack Mounted Regiment came from an easterly direction on 22.10 about 1600 o'clock and went into bivouac.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors, then we find the order of battle of this outfit, and it is continued.
Having suffered casualties while units were matching to Cerna the regiment immediately made contact with the commanding officer of the regiment. On this occasion it came out that the Cossacks not only were ignorant of the road block East Vinkovci - Zupanja but that they were surprised to find German troops there. The Regimental Commander informed the leader of the Cossacks (Adj) of the operation Herbst II and the events up to now and himself asked for a short orientation regarding the situation of the Cossack Division. That the Cossack Division - in particular the 5th Don Cossack Mounted Regiment - was ignorant of the existence of a blockade line, now having an inverse front toward the East - results from the fact that the regiment went into bivouac in Stitar and Cerna, in order to prepare for an attack in this area after a rest day. Asked why they could not get ready for combat just as well in Gradiste and Zupanje since the country did not contain any enemy, it was explained that they were following orders.
They were also ignorant of the battle around Brcko as well as the existence of the Group Colonel Schulze and of the newly established southern blockade of the regiment in the area of Brcko-Bosjnaci. The order of bottle as ordered also proves that the existence of these German forces down there was not taken into consideration.
The German Regimental adjutant of the Cossacks was informed of the situation by the regiment (the pertinent radio message dated 22.10 from Colonel Schulze to the division has been monitored) and gratefully accepted the information.
On the 24.10 at 1600 o'clock the 5th Don Cossack Regiment made ready for an attack in the area of Stitar on both sides of the Gradiste in a Southeast direction with artillery positions close to the southern edge of Gradiste.
MR. RAPP: Then, we have some geographical subdivision of the various lines different units were to hold. And now we come to the last paragraph of this page, which illustrates the purpose of this document:
The behavior of the Cossacks: The Cossacks - to say it mildly are degenerating into a public calamity. The population is scared and has sufficient reasons to be. The Cossacks are actually "pillaging". They take away without compensation horses and vehicles, hay, oats and straw, cows, pigs and bicycles, and care little for the complaining population. Frequently the population avoids the Cossacks with alarm because it has received information of assaults, which are said to have occurred.
(handwritten)
For the files.
Then it continues:
The population reacts pleasantly to the behavior of the German troops and by implication connects the Cossacks with Bolshevism.
Information received states that the officers attached to the Cossack Regiment are almost powerless. The men do many things without the knowledge of the officers. There are Russian officers here too!
According to the statement of a commanding officer the thought was expressed that Russian peculiarities must be considered to a very large extent where this detachment is concerned.
The regiment has found it difficult these two days to quiet the population. Wherever possible, assistance was given but it was a hopeless enterprise. Manes and tails of the horses were cut off so that they would become immediately unrecognizable. Even if horses and vehicles are recognized they are not being returned or no compensation is being given.
The regiment doubts that in this respect the behavior of the Cossacks toward the population can be improved.
signed: Ruckser D/II Staff Headquarters dated 28.10.1943
MR. RAPP: If Your Honors turn now to page 35 we find that this report from the Regiment was sent to the 187th Division, which, in turn, endorsed this report to higher headquarters, this being the 69th Reserve Corps. It did come, in other words, from the Regiment which issued the original copy, to the attention of the Corps. If Your Honors turn now to page 36 we find a teletype message - on page 22 of the German Document Book - we find a TWX addressed to the Fliegerfuehrer, the Air Commander, Croatia Ia, Zagreb. It says in Paragraph 1:
Heavy enemy concentrations in the villages of Potocci Vojakovci, V. Poganac (3, 5 and 14 N. Krizevci.) Sizeable food, ammunition and medical installations in V. Poganac. The population of the 3 villages supports the communist bands.
Corps requests destruction of the villages by sizeable air force operation (Stuka; the German Dive-Bomb version).
Kapela and Rakitnitci (9 N. and 12 NW of Bjelovar) main assembly places of 3 communists brigades who are seemingly preparing large scale attack on Bjelovar.
MR. RAPP: On page 37, "Corps requests strong air force operation against these villages." And that then is signed by the "Air Liaison Officer, LXIX Reserve Corps, Korth, 1st Lieutenant."
DR. FROESE: Dr. Froese for the defendant Dehner. Might I please look at the teletype which has just been read. From the German text there's no date. Also, from the original one can see when it was sent, and I can't see why it is brought forward in this connection, whether it is a teletype with an order or whether it is a fact from this period. I must object to the introduction of this.
MR. RAPP: That, as has been pointed out previously to the Tribunal, this particular document like many others, was found in Washington within the files of the various corps, division, and army headquarters we had screened for that purpose. We feel that since this particular instrument was included in these documents, not through us but by the German Army, we felt that it should be introduced as part of the record at this time.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: For the same reasons heretofore assigned by the Tribunal, and with the same limitations, the document will be received.
MR. RAPP: If Your Honors turn now to page 38, which is page 23 of the German Document Book, we will have before us a rather bloody account of the excesses of the Cossacks, which were part of the 69th Special Purpose Corps, at that time under the command of Defendant Dehner, who was subordinate to General Glaise-Horstenau. That is page 38 of the English Document Book.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may proceed.
MR. RAPP: It is called "Excesses of Cossacks, 20 November 1943", and the heading is subdivided in columns, which on the top from left to right read: "No," - "Facts of Case" - "Reported by" - "1st Cossack Div. requests investigation on" - and then "Action taken by 1st Cossack Division." I now cite:
"No. 1; Facts of Case: Pillaging in Divosch; Reported by: District of Vuka; 1st Cossack Div. requests investigation on: 19.10. 43 Ia; Action taken by 1st Cossack Division: 1st Cossack Division Facts of Case: Hanging of the German; Reported by: District of Vuka; 1st Cossack Div. requests investigation on: No. 1651/2458/43; Action taken by 1st Cossack Division: dated 22.10.42 number - Facts of Case: Deputy Mayor Kuhn; Reported by: No. 1246/43; 1st Cossack Div. requests investigation on: Secret and No. 1652/2459/43; Action taken by 1st Cossack Division: 1345/43 secret" and then we come to Confiscation of Cattle in Mandjelos (district Mitrovica); Reported by: Secret 14/11/43; 1st Cossack Div. request investigation on: Secret." And then we go to the right column and we find "Concerning Mayor Kuhn: care has been taken that similar incidents will not occur; concerning requisitioning of Cattle. 1st Cossack Div. Ib dated 30.10.43: issuance of pertinent orders of the day. Kuban-Mounted Regiment has been requested to report regarding confiscation of vehicles and horses." And, Your Honors, the second incident was "Confiscation of horses and mistreatment of farmers in Hrvatski Karlovci." And it was reported by the "German Plenipotentiary in Croatia Zagreb dated 23.10.43". And we find no entry for the "1st Cossack Div. requests investigation on" and no "Action taken by 1st Cossack Division." The third is "Raping of women and girls and pillaging in Oriovac (20 W. Brod.)" And there we find, "Teletype II. Croat. Corps HWs. No. 1141 dated 26.10.43." 1st Cossack Div. requests investigation on: "Teletype dated 27.10.43, Ia No. 1790/2784/43, secret. Teletype dated 30.10.43, Ia No. 1853/2936/43 secret." Action taken by 1st Cossack Division:
"Teletype 1st Cos. Div. dated 31.10. No. 1469/43 secret: The divisional court martial dispatched local court on 19.10. 8 Cossacks shot to death for looting and raping between 25th and 28th of October."
On the next page, Your Honor, page 23 of the German document book, we find entry number four, the facts where thefts and rapes in Podvinje, district of Brod, were reported by the 187th Reserve Division, and the 1st Cossack Division requested an investigation, and it says:
"Action taken by 1st Cossack Division: Investigation by Kreigsgerichtsrat Mueller of the 1st Cossack Division" -- that is Judge Advocate -- "enclosed with 1st Cossack Division Brigade," dated so and so, "secret, dated 6.11.43. Report of the investigation to 2nd Panzer Army, 1.10.11.
"5. Confiscation of horses and vehicles. Shooting to death of a 70 year old man in Sibinj on 26.10.43.
"6. Rape of 16 women and girls in Mlinci (district of Brod).
"7. Confiscation of 11 pigs in the village of Grabarje.
"8. Looting and burning of the apartment of 1st Lieutenant Bosanac in Novo Topolje (claim for damages).
"9. Confiscation of vine and brandy in Brodskl Varos on 30.10.43."
I think Your Honors have 13.10.45 in the books but it should undoubtedly be 1943.
"10. Murder and looting in Babina Greda on 26.10.43."
We find in the document pertaining to the incidents between entry number five and entry eight any action that has been taken. Also for nine.
Then paragraph ten:
"Murder and looting in Babina Greda on 26.10.43.
"11. Theft and threats in Podvinje on 7.11.43.
"12. Looting and rape in Gromacnic."
Reporting by the II Croatian Headquarters and an investigation was ordered.
"13. Looting and murder in Andrijevci (13 Cossacks shot to death)."
1st Cossack Division. Copy went to Corps Headquarters.
"14. Looting and assault in Andrijevci. Complaint of Oberfaehnrich Pindaric.
"15. Looting, rape and murder in Lacacac (district of Mitrovica).
"16. Acts of assault by the Cossacks in Gradiste."
The next page, Your Honors, page 41:
"17. Confiscation of 300 horses, 500 sheep, 400 head of cattle, and 200 pigs from the villages of Ljuba, Grgurevei, Mandelos, and Schuljan."
This was reported by the District of Buka. The 1st Cossack Division requested the investigation and the action taken was:
"Comment of the 1st Cossack Division dated 7.11.43; captured cattle partly from bandit villages request information from which villages loot has been taken illegally in order to recompense with Reich monies.
"18. Complaint of master forester Ebenhoeh, 2nd Panzer Army."
The 1st Cossack Division reported:
"Events in Ilok partly invented, partly intentionally exaggerated with intent to discriminate against the 1st Cossack Division.
"19. Arrests of Croatians by Cossacks."
And finally: "Excesses of the Cossacks in the community of Morovca."
If Your Honors turn to page 42, page 25 of the German document book, we find items:
"21. Excesses of Cossacks in the community of Privlaka, District of Vuka.
"22. Arrest without cause of Ustasha follower Marijan Stivic and family Stivic." And the Cossack Division said, "No arrests, only drafted for transportation work.
"23. Complaint of the postmaster of the Croatian post office Osijek.
"24. Confiscation of horses of Domobrane Parasilona Marko" and "Excesses of the Cossacks in Kamenica."
DR. FROEHSE: Dr. Froehse for the defendant Leyser. Your Honor, I would like to point out page 38 of the English, No. 3. I would like also to point out that orders were given and also executed. The prosecution didn't read this part in column four but that says that eight Cossacks were shot to death for looting, etc. I think it is important that this also should be read into the record
MR. RAPP: Your Honor, the entry in paragraph three on page 38 of your document book I will now read again into the record. "Action taken by 1st Cossack Division. Teletype 1st Cossack Division, dated 31.10, No. 1469/43 secret. The divisional court martial dispatched local court on 29.10. Eight Cossacks shot to death for looting and raping between 25 and 28 of October."
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: It is my impression that it had previously been read.
MR. RAPP: That is correct, your Honor.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Very well.
DR. FOEHSE: I am sorry.
MR. RAPP: Your Honor, the next page, page 43 in your document book, which is page 26 of the German document book, is a letter from the 69th Reserve Corps, at that time commanded by the defendant Dehner, to the XVth Mountain Corps, stationed in Banja Luka, at that time commanded by the defendant Leyser, and it states:
"Reference: 187 Res. Div. Ia/E No. 9852/45 Secret dated 19.
11.1943.
To XV Mountain Corps B a n j a L u k a For information 187 Reserve Division German Railroad Security Staff Croatia Inspector of the Railroad Security Croatia The constantly repeated attacks on the railroad line Zagreb Jasenovac seem to make it desirable to evacuate all villages close to the line and if necessary to destroy them so as these villages cannot be garrisoned with railroad security troops and in particular with the 1st Cossack Division.
The Corps Hq's requests information as to the intentions in this respect since the German Railroad Security Staff Croatia which is subordinate to the Corps Hq's, has been entrusted with the security of this line.
For the Corps Hq's Chief of the General Staff" And then there is an illegible signature.
"Copy, Top Secret." Then something handwritten 25.11.43.
Then if your Honors turn now to page 44, this is nothing but a tactical operational page still part of the same document. You will find this on page 26 of your document book, defense counsel, and now we are turning to page 45. If the Tribunal permits me, I would like to ask defense counsel at this time whether or not they have this particular page. When I checked the document book last, at least in the copy I had, the German copy, this particular page was missing in the German document book.
Dr. Laternser, is that missing? Of course, you wouldn't know if you had no page. It is this particular page.
If your Honors permit, while defense counsel is checking whether or not this page has been furnished to them, we suggest that if defense counsel does not have this copy, we will furnish them a German copy of this particular page.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You are referring now to page 45 of the document-
MR. RAPP: I am referring now to page 45, your Honor.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Of document book 14.
MR. RAPP: Of document book 14, NOKW-509, which is Prosecution Exhibit 340.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Are you prepared, Dr. Laternser, to state whether you have it in your book?
DR. LATERNSER: I haven't found it yet.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may pass to the next matter that you have in order, until it has been determined whether they have it or not.
MR. RAPP: Very well, your Honor. Well we will then turn to page 46, your Honor, which is page 27 of defense counsel's document book and this particular document is a copy of a letter of the Plenipotentiary of the Croatian State Government, who was attached with the 69th Reserve Corps, and it is the "Ustasha Colonel P.T.B. Vieskoslav Serveatzy," and his subject is "Draft of labor and hostages in agreement with the author ities and with the Ustashal movement."
Then there is handwritten and it says: "To the Headquarters of the 69th Reserve Corps in the Field."
"Answered by Ia on 4.12.43: Affair had been submitted to the Army so that relief can be had via the German Plenipotentiary General Zagreb."
"The Ustasha district leader of Karlovici has reported to me that entirely unobjectionable Croats had been compulsory drafted among others from the city and its environment for construction work at the Vienac (Fruska Gora). There they were submitted to inhuman treatment. They were insulted, beaten, billeted in penal barracks for almost a month under the worse conditions without compensation and with insufficient rations. They had to work without a rest day. German non-commissioned officers and soldiers, often times drunk, insulted them as "Partisans."
Several of these pitiful creatures had escaped from the Herzegowina province and other threatened territories with their families in order to save their bare lives and to make a living by honest work. The sons of some of them have been fighting in our Ustasha Units for 2 years.
At the occasion of my inspection trip I personally interrogated some mistreated Croats. The above report is supported by 7 written statements.
It is requested that:
1.) The case mentioned above be investigated and the guilty ones called to account."
2.) These unobjectionable Croats be dismissed whose names are submitted as quickly as possible to the commander of the units employed at the construction there by the Ustasha district leader.
3.) All subordinate HQ's receive an order to the effect that the drafting of labor, hostages, or other persons to be interned is to be undertaken exclusively in agreement with the administrative authorities and the Ustasha district and local leaders, in order to avoid similar incidents which upset the entire Croatian population, which are regrettable and impede the absolutely necessary close cooperation of the civilian population.
The commander of the unit employed at the construction at the Vienac (Fruska Mountains) is said to be Lieutenant Colonel Appell, or Apel and his officer is said to be Obersturmabannfuehrer Konrad. The unit is said to have APO number 26967-A.
It is sa.id that the contractor Wolf has instigated the mistreatment of the workers by the German non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
Ready for the Poglavnik and country! H e i l H i t l e r ! Ustasha Colonel P.T.B. Vjek. Servatzy:
Signed signature.
Certified to be a true copy! Corps HQ. dated 6.12.1943 (Illegible signature) Captain.
And then it is certified to be a true copy, Corps Headquarters, 6.12.43, and an illegible signature "Captain."
If Your Honors will now permit I would like that you turn please to page 51. I believe that as to pages 48, 29 and 50 I am advised that a similar situation as previously exists, where through some miracle defense counsel did not receive the German pages of the document.
THE PRESIDENT: While we don't believe in miracles at this time, we are willing it should follow the same ruling.
MR. RAPP: On page 51, this will be NOKW 1137, and this will become Prosecution Exhibit 341 -
Defense Counsel will find this on page 29.
This, Your Honor, is a document which eminates from the 7th SS Mountain Division, the so-called Prinz Eugen Mountain Division, and is dated 1 October 1943. This mountain division, your Honor, shown at that time as part of the 5th SS Mountain Corps, and the 5th SS Mountain Corps was subject and under command of the then Commander of the 2nd Panzer Army, the defendant Rendulic. It is a teletype message, and it is dated 1 October 1943, and it says:
"Railway line Ragusa - Metkovic interrupted.
Own losses: None Enemy losses: 19 partisans shot.
Bootes: 1 75 mm (°) battery with ammunition of this one gun with breechblock, equipment, clothing and medical equipment. Signed SS Division Prinz Eugen, Ib."
"1. In front of the right wing of the division no enemy resistance to-day. Group Peterson has taken up the assembly position as ordered, after eliminating flanking enemy resistance from the West slopes of the Moser Mountains.
2. SS Division "Prinz Eugen" with attached 92nd motorized Infantry Regiment will take Split on 27. September 1943.
Page 2 of this particular document, page 52 of the Document book. "The unit safeguards itself by immediate arrest of hostages. The slightest resistance is to be broken with ruthless terror." And then there is illegible handwriting and handwritten: 6318 Stamp: 4 Oct 1943 - Radio message.
And it says at the bottom:
"In Prozor on 2 September the district superintendent of Prozor as well as his driver were publicly hanged. Connection with bands clearly established ....."If your Honors will turn to page 53 we find a document dated 14 August 1943 and it states:
"with Participation Southeast of Mostar versus band (insurgent) villages Pitkubas and Suzian completed. Both villages, except for houses of reliable inhabitants, destroyed.
This was sent to the Commander of the German armed Forced in Coratia, and information to 373rd Infantry Division. The sender was SS Division Daily Report of 13 August 1943.
This, Your Honors, will conclude Document 1137.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
MR. RAPP: Very well, Your Honor.
If the Tribunal, please, will you now turn to page 54, page 33 of Defense Counsel's book, and we will now have Prosecution Exhibit 342. This, your Honor, is an affidavit given by the Defendant Leyser, which we are now offering as evidence;
AFFIDAVIT:
I, Ernst Hans-Ulrich von Levser, being duly sworn say and depose:
On 18 November 1889 I was born as the fourth child of the then 1st Lieutenant Hans von Leyser and of his wife Emillie nee von Wurmb in Steglitz-Berlin.
I joined the Cadet Corps in Oranienburg near Diez a.d. Lahn in fall 1900; Easter 1906 I attended the Main Cadet Institute in Gross-Lichterfelde where I graduated as Officer candidate Easter 1906. Subsequently - up to March 1909 - I was in the Selekta (Kriegsschule) (Military Academy) of the main cadet Institute where I graduated as an officer.
On 24.3.1909 I was commissioned Lieutenant in the 5th Guard Infantry Regiment. As such I went to the front as platoon leader in August 1914. Without any serious wound or illness I took part in the entire war at the front with my regiment until September 1918. I was platoon leader, battalion adjutant, company commander, regimental adjutant and battalion commander.
In June 1915 I was promoted 1st Lieutenant and in June 1918 I was promoted to Captain. In September 1918 I became brigade adjutant of 1st Guard Reserve Brigade. In November 1918 I became battalion commander in the 1st Guard Reserve Regiment. In January 1919 I went to the Baltic as Brigade Adjutant. In summer 1919 the German troops had to withdraw from the Baltic. In the other Reichsheer I was then company commander with the 115 Infantry Regiment in Stettin, Prenzlau and Spandau. When the army was reduced to 100,000 men I had to resign toward the end of 1920. Thereupon I transferred to the Prussian Police as Captain and leader of a unit of 100 men. As such I was in Muehlheim (Ruhr) and Essen until 1926. After taking an examination in Eiche near Potsdam I was promoted to Major in April 1927, and was transferred as teacher and trainer to the Police school in Kiel. In the fall of 1932 I went to Bochum-Horne as deputy Unit Commander, later as Deputy Unit Commander to Muenster/Westfalen and Iserlohn. In 1935 I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was attached to the staff of the Police Regiment in Duesseldorf.
At the time of my transfer into the Army I was taken over, in accordance with my own application as Lieutenant Colonel on the staff of the 77th Infantry Regiment. In 1936 I became commander of the Panzer-Jaeger-Battalion 2 in Stettin. I was promoted Colonel in 1937. In 1938 I was Colonel and commander of he Panzer-Jaeger-Truppen XIV at first in Leipzig with Group Headquarters IV and later in Magdeburg with the XIV Infantry Corps.
At the beginning of the Second Wold War in September 1939 I became commander of replacement Infantry Regiment Number 6 in Bielefeld and in October 1939 Commander of Infantry Regiment 169. As such I participated in the French Campaign in 1940. I was promoted Generalmajor (Brigadier General) in February 1941. I was appointed Commander of the 269 Division in March 1941. I led this division in the Russian campaign up to before Leningrad. In October 1942 - as Generalleutnant (Major General) I was charged with leading the XXVI Army Corps at Lake Ladoga. I was appointed in December 1942 General of Infantry as the Commanding General of this corps.
From the end of October 1943 until July 1944 I was a commanding general of the XV Mountain Corps in Croatia and in August 1944 Commanding General of the XXXI Mountain Corps in Albania."
This, your Honor, should be 21st Mountain Group, I believe. "In April 1945 until the Armistice, due to illness, I went to Gastein for the cure. Since, then I have been an American Prisoner of War; in Gastein, Augsburg, Neu-Ulm hospital, Neu-Ulm and Garmisch.
War decorations I have received:
World War I: Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class.
The Hohenzollern house order with swords.
Austrian War Merit Cross.
World War II: May 1940, Clasp for the Iron Cross 2nd class.
June 1940, Clasp for the Iron Cross 1st class.
September 1941, Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.
March 1943. German Cross in Gold.
Party member from fall 1932 to 1935.
In April 1927 I married Klara Gleisner daughter of the business man Max Gleisner and his wife Anna nee Witt in Hamburg. In January 1928, my son Hans-Polykarp was born in Kiel.
On 28 September 1944 an enemy bomber attack on Magdeburg completely destroyed my residence there. My son was heavily wounded and my wife was killed.
At the present time my son is attending school in Hamburg where he lives with my widowed mother-in-law who has also been totally bombed out.
I have read the statement above, consisting of 3 pages in German language, and I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief it is the entire truth. I 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. Nuernberg, Germany, dated 12 March 1947 (Signed) Ernst Leyser If your Honors permit I would like to hand this document up to the Court at this time so that you may readily identify his signature.
THE PRESIDENT: If it is agreeable to the other members of the Tribunal we will discontinue at this place, and you may hand it up in the morning
MR. RAPP: Very well, your Honor.
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal will recess until 0930 tomorrow morning.
(Thereupon the Court recessed)