1.) The current attacks on arrested Serbs makes necessary the erection of a concentration camp to be guarded by restricted forces and closed from the outer world. The terrain between the Save and Zasaviza west of Sremaka, Mitrovica is especially adapted.
2.) In the proximity of the locality Grn-Zasaviza a camp sufficient for holding some 30,000 prisoners is to be created first of all in the open air, so that the transfer of the inmates in Sabac can take place by 20 October. In the course of further construction the locality is to be included into the same camp for winter quarters.
3.) Construction, erection and leadership of the Zasaviza concentration camp is to be transferred to the Chief of Military Administration with the commander of Serbia. Suitable Serbian workers from the Sabac concentration camp are to be utilized for construction.
Captain Kriess, 522nd Bridge Bn. is assigned as construction foreman. Organization Tedt is to supply the necessary technical personnel for leadership and construction in agreement with the chief of the military administration. The building equipment necessary for the construction will be furnished. Wood for construction is to be hewn on the spot. Herewith the aspects of the terrain are to be improved at the same time.
4. ) The 342nd Inf. Div. is to evacuate the terrain between the south border of Mitrovica and the isthmus 1 km. Ne of Bavnje of the entire population by 8 Oct. The economic evacuation of this territory is to be carried on urgently. The population to be evacuated is to be distributed among the localities lying south of Zasaviza.
In addition four hundred workers (carpenters, cabinet makers, smiths, etc.) capable of working are to be brought to Zasaviza from the inmates of the Sabac concentration camp by the 342nd Inf. Div. Rendevous 8 Oct. 1200 Hours Grn.Zasaviza/church. The Chief of the Military Administration is to decide the time of transfer of the majority of the inmates from Sabac to Zasavica. The 64th Police Btln. is to be employed for guarding the Zasavica concentration camp.
It is intended to let the Sabac camp remain further as a reception camp. Taking over by Dulag 183 is being considered.
5. ) 750th Inf. Rgt, is to furnish , until the taking over of the concentration by the 64th Police Res. Btln, the necessary troops for guarding the 400 prisoners, and takes over the supply for construction and guard forces as well as prisoners. Taking over of prisoners by the 342nd Inf. Div., 8 Oct., 1200 hours Grn. Zasaviza Church.
6. ) The chief of the Military Administration is to decide the time of the transfer of the majority of the inmates from Sabac to Zasavica. The 342nd Police Patrol is to be employed for guard-4 ing the Zasaviza Concentration Camp. It is intended to let the Sabac camp remain further as a reception camp. Taking over by Dulag 183 is being considered."
I think we need not read the rest of the document at this time. It is signed: "For the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, The Chief of the General Staff Pemsel."
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The next document is No. 3138, which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 72, on page 146 of the English and page 112 of the German. The document consists of extracts from the secret report issued by the Chief of the Security Police and SD in Berlin on 6 October 1941.
Most of the events involved concern the Union of Soviet Republics but there is an excerpt which relates to Serbia. The first page of the document simply lists the number and type of attacks which have occurred in Germany against the German Wehrmacht.
Page 2 of the document, which is on page 147 of the English and 112 German, and page 113 of the German, reads as follows:
"Enemy losses: 10074 dead, including 742 killed in the fighting during mopping up in the Save bend; prisoners, including the fighting in course of mopping up in the Save bend, 7280; 15 wounded. During mopping up in the Save bend an additional 190 men were shot by firing squads. Through executions approved by the Military Commander in Serbia, 150 were shot in Belgrade, 34 at Cuprija, and 14 at Uikinda (Banat). In Belgrade three police agents were shot and one poisoned. In course of screening of sections of the Vity 171 persons were arrested.
"Serbia.
"Telephone line sabotage at Belgrade; Danube traffic temporarily interrupted by bands at Gradiste.
"Mopping up in the Save bend proceeds according to plan. Near Lajkovac, northeast of Valjevo, an infantry regiment shot twelve insurgents.
DR. LATERNSER: There is a mistake in the translation which changes the meaning, which I would like to correct. In the German text on the document, on page 113, towards the middle of the page, it reads:
"Mopping up in the Save bend, 190 were summarily shot."
The translation which has just been read will read, "...were shot by firing squads" does not seem to have the same meaning.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Perhaps we can have the interpreter read the sentence in question.
THE PRESIDENT: If that is agreeable with counsel, that procedure will be followed.
INTERPRETER: The translation should read:
"During mopping up operations in the Save bend an additional 190 men were shot summarily."
THE PRESIDENT: Will the interpreter refer to the page and line of it.
INTERPRETER: This sentence is on page 147 of the English, line 5, page 113 of the German towards the middle of the page. It was approximately the last but one sentence that Mr. Fenstermacher has read.
Shall I repeat the translation?
"During mopping up operations in the Save bend an additional 190 men were shot summarily."
DR. LATERNSER: I do not know whether this expression just hits the meaning. What does "summarily" mean? Does that mean "standrechtlich"? "Standrechtlich means according to court martial procedure.
THE PRESIDENT: The Court will keep in mind the fact that there is some question as to the translation of this particular phrase and counsel may be sure that we will have in mind that there is some question as to the translation of this particular phrase.
DR. LATERNSER: But the discrepancies can be quite important, Mr. President, since, when it says here "standrechtlich", that means "according to court martial".
INTERPRETER: Dr. Laternser wants it translated "standing court". There is no such word as "standing court". "Standrechtlich" is "court martial".
MR. FENSTERMACHER: In accordance with the reading of the document, page 147 in the English and 113 in the German:
"Through executions approved by the Military Commander in Serbia, 150 were shot in Belgrade, 34 in Cuprija, and 14 at Uikinda (Banat). In Belgrade three police agents were shot and one poisoned. In course of screening sections of the city 171 persons were arrested."
I think we need not read the rest of the document at this time.
The next document appears on page 149 of the English, page 115 of the German. It is Document NOKW 1388, which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 73. This is an order of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia to subordinate units dated 7 October 1941, and it is particularly important because of the insignia references which are made.
The first page of the document simply gives the distribution list of the order, but on page 150 of the English and on page 115 of the German is this:
"In this area units of Cetniks and groups of partisans have appeared.
"a) Organization and strength:
"Cetniks: Fourteen companies, one machine gun company, one death platoon leader: Captain Racic. Strength about 1,000 to 1,500 men. Armament: rifles and machine guns. Insignia: Yugoslav eagle or "P".
"Partisans: Strength uncertain (1,000 to 4,000 men?) It is certain that there are four Macava and five Cer companies. The armament is not as good as that of Cetniks. The leader is the former teacher, Kebosja Jarkovic. Some are identified by red insignia."
In the next document, beginning on page 151 of the English, page 117 of the German, Document No. NQKW 1129, offered as Prosecution Exhibit 74. This is an order of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, General Boehme, dated 6 October 1941, and it prohibits negotiations by his subordinate units with the partisan enemy.
"Subject: Negotiations with Insurgents.
"On 29 September 41 a local defense company in Grn. Milanovac was attacked by insurgents; after a short skirmish the former was captured en masse and led off into the mountains.
"On 4 October 41 a guard commando of the Field Ordnance Battalion 1 and 18 with a strength of four NCO's and forty men was also captured by the insurgents, after an only short skirmish without any losses of our own.
"In both cases the same circumstance was responsible for the out come which was very unworthy of a German soldier.
On our side the very serious mistake was made of negotiating with the insurgents. In both instances the troops let themselves be deceived by the promise of an "honorable withdrawal", instead of defending themselves to the last cartridge.
"On the basis of these events I order the following:
"1) No negotiations are to be held with the insurgents.
"3) Parlamentaires of the insurgents do not enjoy the protection which is due to parlamentaires of a regular troops. In case negotiators appear before the opening of a combat action, they are to be arrested and sentenced by summary court martial as franc-tireurs. If negotiators appear during or after a skirmish, they are to be fired upon immediately.
"The Corps Command LXV and the Commander in Serbia are to see to it that this order is made known to all subordinate troop units and offices in the shortest time."
The distribution list is given.
The next document, page 154, Document No. NOKW 263, which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 75. This is a ten day report dated 9 October 1941 of the 347th Infantry Division to higher headquarters, the Plenipotentiary Commander in Serbia. It is dated Belgrade.
"During the period from 24.9. to 9.10 at 1600 hours the enemy suffered the following losses:
"88 killed in action.
"1127 executed.
"17,420 prisoners.
"During the same period the following cattle was brought in as booty:
"1205 head of cattle.
"1861 sheep.
"940 hogs.
"of which "952 head of cattle "1811 sheep "809 pigs "were shipped to Belgrade by rail."
Signed: "For Divisional HQ. The 2nd General Staff Officer, Schuler, Captain."
The prosecution's next document is on page 156 of the English, page 120 of the German, Document NOKW-71, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit 76, an order of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, General Boehme, dated 9 October 1941, and it relates to the operation of military courts in the suppression of the uprising in Serbia.
"The suppression of the uprising in Serbia must be performed ruthlessly. Above all it has to be carried out by purely military means. Insofar as cooperation of the Military Courts appears to be required, it has to conform to the following principles:
"1) Only the most severe penalties promise a penetrating impact on the population. The death penalty is therefore generally essential in all cases of sabotage, acts of espionage and attempts to join a foreign army. Also in cases of illegal possession of arms at present the death penalty is the only adequate atonement.
"2) The judicial procedures are to be executed quickly and impressively. The execution, especially of death sentences, has to be carried through immediately.
"3) The troop sentences according to martial law insofar as the military situation permits such procedure, those persons who participate in combat personally, i.e. by direct assistance of any other support. The steps taken are to be reported to the competent chief of court.
"4) Sentence by Court Martial is to be applied only in cases where the evidence is absolutely clear; confession of the defendant or when the smallest and directly available evidence is sufficient. If it can be assumed that the defendant played a leading role in the uprising or if he gives credible statements as to the fact that he was compelled to support the action by irresistible pressure by the insurgents, but that he himself has undertaken nothing against German troops, the captured person is t+ be taken behind the front with an exact statement of the reason. Further treatment of this person is the task of the field gendarmery (military police), the collecting camp, or if need be the court martial.
"5) In cases when persons who generally are to be sent to collecting camps, are suspected of participation in the combat, its preparation or support, particularly of insubordination against the German Wehrmacht, its orders or against organs acting on behalf of German Domestic offices, the following procedure has to be observed:
"a) if proof can be furnished for the participation in the military action or its support, the prisoners are, after effective Contact has been established between the camp commanders and the court of the military commander for Serbia, to be sent to court action.
"b) In all other cases they shall servo as hostages in the event that in the cleaned up territory or in their home localities any action is taken against the German army or administration.
"signed: Boehme "General of the Infantry"
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The final Prosecution document in Document Book II is on Page 158 of the English and Page 122 of the German. It is Document No. NOKW-1386; which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 77. This is an extract from the War Diary of the 704th Infantry Division, dated 9 October 1941, and it relates to the occupation of Monica by a band of two hundred men in uniform. It reads as follows: "Valjevo: Illrd Battalion 125th Infantry Regiment conducts reconnaissance with one company from Divci to Mionica. Monica is occupied by a band of 200 men in uniforms. Enemy losses: 12 dead. Own losses none."
THE PRESIDENT: We will take our morning recess at this time.
(Recess was taken)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: The prosecution may proceed.
MR. DENNEY: May it please your Honors, during the recess. I have placed on each of your Honor's desks a mimeographed copy of the list of the exhibits in document book I by document number, by exhibit number. The reference to the counts to which each exhibit has been offered, and the reference to the defendants against whom these exhibits have been offered. There has also been distributed to each of the defense counsel a copy of this and at this time -- I don't think it is necessary to read it into the record but I have given the Secretary General a copy of it. The interpreters have a copy and the stenographers and I suggest that it be marked Exhibit 78 in the record if that meets with your Honors' approval.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well, Mr. Denney. This refers to Document Book I only?
MR. DENNEY: Only to Document Book I, yes, Your Honor. It is a list of the exhibits numbered I to XXXVIII which are contained in that document book which have been received in evidence only. There is not there included one which has been marked for identification nor two others, one of which was passed and the other of which, if your Honors recall, was out of place and at the time the book was offered it was requested that the Tribunal disregard that one page.
THE PRESIDENT: In marking this as Exhibit 78, it is not to be considered as an exhibit but merely as explanatory?
MR. DENNEY: For the purposes of identification, yes, Your Honor. Perhaps it would be more convenient for your Honors if we, when we present those -- this idea just occurred -- if we mark this 38-A, which is the exhibit right after the last exhibit in the book.
THE PRESIDENT: I believe that would be better.
MR. DENNEY: And then if we did that in every case, it would be clear both for defense counsel and for the court and for anyone reading the record, so if we change this from 78 to 38-A and hereafter we Hill follow that procedure, when those are offered, we will give them an "A" number which follows the last exhibit in the book to which it refers, and of course as your Honor has stated this is only being received for purposes of identifying the offer of the evidence as against the defendants and as to counts.
If your Honors please, we turn now to the early days of October in the Southeast, particularly Serbia. As Mr. Fenstermacher indicated this morning, we have seen the deceased Boehme placed as Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia in addition to his duties with the XVIII the Corps at the request of the defendant List in September of 1941. The first document in Book III, which is at page one of that book, and also page one of the German is NOKW-192 which we offer as Exhibit 78.
This is a copy of an order by General Boehme which was issued on 4 October 1941 to the Chief of the Military Administration, the Commander of Serbia of 342nd Infantry Division and a Corps Signal Battalion.
DR. LATERNSER: Your honors, I object to the submission of this document because it is not signed.
Actually it is only a typewritten sheet of paper which has been photostated.
MR. DENNEY: Your Honors will see as we proceed with the presentation of this matter to show that this order was issued again. It is necessary to state that we only can photostat what we find. This is the only copy of this order which we were able to get. The further proof will show that the order was passed down.
THE PRESIDENT: The court is conscious of the fact that this apparently is a copy but as has been indicated in previous rulings it will be taken for such probative value as the court may deem it is entitled to and if it is connected with other matters then the court can give such additional consideration to it as the court may deem proper. Objection will be over-ruled.
MR. DENNEY: 21 Soldiers were tortured to death in a bestial manner on the 2nd of October in a surprise attack on units of the signal regiment between Belgrade and Obrenovac. As reprisal and retaliation 100 Serbian prisoners are to be shot at once for each murdered German soldier. The Chief of the Military Administration is requested to pick out 2100 inmates in the concentration camps Sabac in Belgrade (primarily JJews and Communists) and to fix place and time as well as burial place. The shooting details are to be formed from the 342nd Division (for the Sabac concentration camp) and from the 449th Corps Signal Battalion (for the Belgrade concentration camp). They are to be furnished by the chief of the military administration n through the Plenipotentiary Commanding General of Serb0ia.
The Chief of the Military Administration is requested to order the camp leaders to inform the prisoners of the reason for the shooting.
And, typed on the bottom is General of Infantry The German handwritten notes on the left reads only verbally ordered.
Returning to page 3 of the English document Book and page 2 of the German Document Book we have NOKW 1211 which we offer as Prosecu tion Exhibit 79 in evidence.
This, again, is a photostatic copy of an unsigned document and we are interested only in the part which appears under No. 3. It is a report from the Commanding General Plenipotentiary in Serbia to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast dated 9 October 1941.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I must also protest against this document. This is another typewritten sheet of paper.
MR. DENNEY: What applies to this applies to the previous document and it can be connected up later even as will the one Exhibit No. 78.
THE PRESIDENT: The court understands that these documents and this document in particular is one of many which were obtained at the close of the war and is a document which was eventually found in the effects of the Army. It will be taken for what value the court may consider it as an unsigned document.
MR. DENNEY: Paragraph 3 which is all we are concerned with here states:
"Execution by shooting of about 2000 Communists and Jews in reprisal for 22 murdered of the Second Battalion of the 521st Army Signal Communication Regiment in progress."
Then turning to page 4 in the English Book and page 3 in the German Book we come to Document NOKW 497 which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 80. If the Clerk would show this to the court I think Your Honors will be able to see the connection between this and the previous document. Excuse me, please, the Secretary-General. The first photostated page is dated 20 October 194l and is a communication from the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia to the Senior Signal Officer, Serbia, and is signed For the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, the deceased Boehme, by Pemsel, Chief of the General Staff. The document refers to a report of the second battalion 521st Signal. The word "Battalion" is here; it should be "Regiment" and Your Honors will recall that in the previous document, No. 79) that unit is mentioned. The subject of the report is Reprisals for 22 fallen members of the 2nd Battalion, 521st Signal - and again that should be Regiment instead of Battalion "It is requested that a final report concerning the execution of the reprisal measures be presented:
That the 2nd Battalion, 521st Signal Regiment, be ordered to submit reports only through channels.
For the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia.
The Chief of the General Staff: (signed) Pemsel."
And, if Your Honors will note on the bottom there is a faint stamp indicating that it was received by the Military Commander Serbia and have entries for Diary Number and when they were entered in the Diary.
Then turning over to the second page this is part of the first page in the exhibit and just completes the bottom part below the stamp where it says, in the original.
(pencilled note) 21 October In the original To the Plenipotentiary Commanding General of Serbia Belgrad handed back after acknowledgment 17729.
9 and then there is another rubber stamp which says For the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia The Chief of the Administrative Staff and some handwritten initials which are illegible.
Then turning to the next page of the document, page 6 in the English, page 4 in the German, we see a report from a Major and Battalion Commander of the Second Battalion, 521st Signal Regiment. This is dated 15 October 1941, five days prior to the date contained on the previous document and is explanatory in part so far as that document is concerned. The subject of this communication from the Commanding officer of the Second Battalion of the 521st Signal Regiment is: Surprise attacks of Communist Bandits on Members of the Battalion, There is a big stamp on the right of the photostat which indicates that it was received by the XVIIIth Corps on the 15th of October; the 18th Corps was also commanded by Boehme who was also Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia.
In addition, the distribution list 12th Army, the defendant List, the two positions held by Boehme are next listed, the Commander of Serbia, the IXVth Corps, and the Senior Signal Officers to whom the report of communication of 20 October signed for Boehme by his Chief of Staff was directed. This is a report from the Battalion Commander which recites an enclosure which we will come to in a moment.
The battalion represents as a supplement to the reports about Communist bandit surprise attack, a report concerning the shootings of Jews, which have been carried out.
Further shootings could not be carried out by the battalion, since an allocation of men was impossible on account of their being utilized for re-establishment of the telephone lines from Sabac to Loznica.
The Pongruber corps Signal Battalion was charged by Col. Wurster with the carrying out of further executions.
Then the supplement which is enclosed starts on the next page which is page 5 of the German and page 7 of the English. This is dated 13 October 1941 and is a report by a Lieutenant Liepe which is signed. He appears to have been the Lieutenant who was company Commander of the unit that carried out the executions. The report is headed:
Concerning the shooting of Jews on 9 and H October 1941.
1. Missign: On 8 October 1941, the shooting of 2,200 Jews, who were in the camp at Belgrade, was ordered.
2. Leadership and Partici- First Lieutenant Liepe and Comrades pation: of field units 26557 and 06175, of which two officers and twenty men were killed, 16 were missing, and three were wounded.
3. Medical Care and Oberarzt Dr. Gasser, field Unit 39107 Mission: and Corporal Bente, MD, of Unit 26557.
4. Transport and Vehicles: Transport and guard of the prisoners furnished by the participating units. Vehicles were allocated by the motor pool of the Belgrade administrative sub-area Has. The transport of the soldiers taking part was furnished by army trucks.
5. Place of Action: 9 October 1941 - forest about 12 km. east of Kobin. 11 October 1941 - in the vicinity of the Belgrade shooting range, on the road to Nis.
6. Security and Conceal- Took place in close agreement with the ment: security police in Belgrade and Pancevo.
7. Film and Pictures: "S" Propaganda Company.
8. Supervision: First Lieutenant Liepe, 2nd Lieutenant Vibrans, 2nd Lt. Luestraeten, SS-Oberscharfuehrer Enge, of the Security Police Belgrade.
"Execution" -- this id on page 7 of the German -- "after basic exploration of the place and preparation, the first shooting took place on 9 October 1941.
"The prisoners were picked up with their emergency baggage from the camp in Belgrade at 0530 hours. Through issuing of spades and other working tools a working party was simulated. Each truck was guarded only by three men so that from the strength of the guard no suspicion should arise concerning the true action.
"The transport took place without difficulties of any sort. The mood of the prisoners during the period of the transport and preparation was good. They were happy about the removal from the camp, since their accommodation there was allegedly not according to their desires. The prisoners were occupied eight km from the place of shooting and brought up later as required. The place was covered sufficiently as regards the preparation as well as the shooting. The shooting took place with rifles at a distance of 12 meters. Five shots were ordered for the shooting of each prisoner. In addition the doctor was allowed two shots which had to cause death by shots in the head according to instruction of the doctor.
"Articles of value and superfluous things were removed under supervision and were later sent to the Nazi People's Welfare and/ or the Security Police in Belgrade. The attitude of the prisoners at the shooting was calm. Two people tried to flee and were accordingly shot at once. Some expressed their feelings, in that they brought another hail to Stalin and Russia. 180 men were shot on 9 October 1941.
"The shooting was finished at 1830 hours. There were no special events worth mentioning. The units returned to their quarters satisfied. The second shooting could rot take place until 11 October 1941 on account of construction work on the Danube ferry. As a result of the construction work the next shooting had to take place in the vicinity of Belgrade. For this, exploration of a new place was necessary and demanded a double precaution.
"The next shooting took place on 11 October 1941 in the vicinity of the shooting range. It went according to plan. 269 men were shot. No prisoner escaped in either shooting and the unit had no special events and occurrences to report. A platoon of the unit of major Pon-gruber under command of 2nd Lt. Hau was employed for strengthening the security. Altogether 449 men were shot on the 9th and 11th of October 1941 by the units named. Unfortunately, an additional shooting by the units named had to be stopped on account of commitment and a transfer of the mission to the unit Pongruber resulted."
This is signed: "Liepe, 1st Lieutenant and Company Commander."
The report is thorough in it's detail. I should like to call your Honors' attention to the fact the the Army and the SS were participating in the supervision, as is shown on page 7 of the English, in the source of the persons to be executed in the concentration camps and it suggests that this ties back to Exhibit No. 78, the unsigned copy of the order of Boehme to the Chief of the Chief of the Military Administration dated 4 October.
The next document, on page 11 of the English and page 9 of the German, is NO-3156 which again is a report from the Chief of the Security Police and SD in Berlin. The portion of this document which we are using is very short and I would appreciate it if the Secretary General would pass the exhibit to the Court so that they may see the manner in which reports of this sort have been furnished to defense counsel.
THE PRESIDENT: Will you identify it by exhibit number?
MR. DENNEY: It is offered as Exhibit No. 81, if your Honors, please.
THE PRESIDENT: And the German page number?
MR. DENNEY: The German page number is No. 9. We are only using a very brief part of this document from pages 1 and 2.
This report is dated 9 October 1941 which is prior to the date of the report of Lieutenant Liepe and, of course, prior to the date of the letter of the Major commanding the 521st--or the 2nd Batallion of the 521st Signal Regiment and as such the details carried here cannot be as they were in those later documents because your Honors will recall that the executions took place, the first on the 9th, and the second on the 11th, of October; and they were in Serbia and this is from Berlin.
The report:
"Political Review. Foreign Countries. Serbia:
"The Chief of the Einstazgruppe of the Security Police and the SD in Belgrade reports. Mopping-up by the German Wehrmacht in the area of Sabac has resulted up to now in the arrest of 22,000 male persons. These are housed in a temporary camp and are at present being screened by a Detachment of the Security Police with the assistance of the Belgrade Police.
"In reprisal for the 21 German soldiers shot to death near Topola a few days ago 2,100 Jews and Gypsies are being executed. The execution is carried out by the German Wehrmacht. The task of the Security Police is merely to make available the required number. 805 Jews and Gypsies are taken from the camp in Sabac, the rest from the Jewish transit camp Belgrade.
"Collecting camps are installed by the German Wehrmacht in the Save river bend near Mitrovica for the persons arrested in the course of the mopping-up action by the Wehrmacht and also for other arrestees. This amp is being constructed by Organisation Todt. It will have an immediate capacity of 50,000 persons, and can be enlarged to hold 500,000 persons. The camp is constructed like the German concentration camps. The direction of the camp is in the hands of the Linsatzgruppe of the Security Police and of the SD."
Of course, at that time, on the 9th, when the executions were just taking place, the Linsatzgruppe --or, rather, the Security Police and the SD in Berlin -- had no way knowing the numbers who would actually be reported by Lieutenant Liepe in this later report.
The next document is 3404 which we offer as Exhibit 82 and this is the report of a day later to the Chief of the Security Police and the SD in Berlin, dated 20 October 1941.
This again is a substantial report but we are only using a few pages of it. It appears on page 11 in the German document book, page 13 in the English document book. It is offered as Exhibit 82 in evidence.
There first is a report on page 1 on the band situation and shows attacks against German units and installations, post and telegraph ofices, railroad stations and installations, etc., and then on the next page it tests the enemy losses and both in prisoners taken, people wounded and people killed.
The first entry on the top of page 14, which is page 12 in the German, recites the use of artillery for the first time by the insurgents. It also contains the note that the insurgents were well armed; and then comes a paragraph which has to do with compulsory recruitment by the insurgents in their area with which we are not concerned; and then at the bottom of the page appears No. "2) Arrests," and there is a recital for the period of this report, "101 persons were arrested mostly for Communistic activity; 12 of the persons arrested have already been convicted and shot to death. Investigations are under way to continue gathering information concerning the communist organisation. The assignment of a reliable interpreter guarantees supervision of the work of the Serbian Special Police (Communist Section). A special detachment has been assigned to the screening of the prisoner's camp in Sabac which had been organized by the Wehrmacht, Total number of prisoners approximately 22,000. Screened up to now, about 8,000; up to now 910 by the Wehrmacht.
"To prevent acts of sabotage a special detachment (Sonderkommando) has been assigned to the Engineer Battalion stationed at the Iron Bridge;" and I don't think we need to read the next four paragraphs.
At the bottom of the page they recite: "420 foreigners screened in Belgrade," and then that two German soldiers had been attached in Belgrade, both of them heavily wounded end as a reprisal measure there were killed a total of 200 Communists and Jews shot to death; and then they again refer to the matter which we have under discussion, the 2100 reprisal killings: