DR. ULMER: Thank you very much indeed, Your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: The Defendant Six will now be returned to the defendant's dock and the Defendant Paul Blobel will be taken to the witness box.
DR. HEIM: Your Honor, Dr. Heim for the Defendant Blonel. I want to discuss a basic question which arose owing to an occurrence this morning. When I came into this room this morning and talked to the Defendant Blobel, and put down my two hands on the barrier the guard instructed me to step back 70 centimeters. Your Honor, the Defendant Blobel is hard of hearing. There night be some difficulties during the session here owing to that. It is impossible for me to talk to him when I am 70 centimeters away from him, who is sitting. For that reason I ask the Tribunal to instruct the guards that one may put one's hands on the barrier, and I don't quite realize whether this is an offense against security.
MR. FERENCZ: If Your Honor please, the question of how far any one must stand when speaking to a defendant is a question of security which is solely within the competence of the military post who are responsible for the security, and I do not believe it nay properly be raised in this court. If there are any objections so that the defense counsel feels he may not present his defense, I ask the Court to instruct him to take it through the correct channels, namely through the Defense Administrator, making an appeal to the persons responsible for the security in the jail.
THE PRESIDENT: I mil say with regard to that, the Tribunal is ready at all times to hear complaints, criticisms, or appeals of any nature Which have to do with this trial and if Dr. Heim believes that his discharge of his duty is in any way being impeded by what he has now announced, he is entirely within his rights to inform the Tribunal, and the Tribunal will immediately look into the matter which he has mentioned, and if security regulations, because of the unusual circumstance, will allow him to advance closer to his client for the purpose of conferences that privilege will be allowed to him.
DR. HEIM: Thank you, Your Honor. fied as follows:
JUDGE SPEIGHT: Witness, raise your right hand and repeat after me. pure truth and will withhold and add nothing.
( The witness repeated the oath.)
THE PRESIDENT: Before you begin your examination, Dr. Heim, the Tribunal will instruct the Marshal to contact the prison physician to examine Dr. Blobel during recess time to ascertain that his hearing is so defective that it is necessary that his attorney approach closer than the security regulations require.
DR. HEIM: Thank you, Your Honor.
BY DR. HEIM:
Q. Witness, please tell us your full name.
A. Hermann Wilhelm Paul Blobel.
Q. When and where were you born?
A. On 13th August 1894 in Potsdam.
Q. What was your father's profession?
A. My father was a carpenter.
Q. Did your father do any political activity and did this have any results?
A. As far as I know my father was in a trade union. In 1899, owing to a strike, he left Berlin and went to Remscheid. He worked in Berlin as a carpenter in a construction firm. He wanted to work with a construction firm in the States. The mother followed him with the children, and my parents stayed in Remscheid.
Q. Please describe briefly your career until the beginning of the First World War, to start with.
A. At the age of five I came to Remscheid in the Rhineland and there I visited the elementary school. I then learned the carpenter trade. I passed an examination. After that I worked as a mason and also worked in the office in a construction firm. I trained myself in mathematics and other subjects connected with construction. In 1912 I passed the entry examination at the Royal Construction School in Wuppertal. I continued to work as carpenter apprentice, and I saved money in order to be able to visit school. I was exempt from military service for one year.
Q. Herr Blobel, did you take part in the First World War?
A. Yes.
Q. Please give a short description.
A. On 1 August 1914, I joined as a pioneer, the engineer regiment 24 in Cologne. At the geginning of November, 1914, I went into the field to the front. I remained with this unit from '14 until '18 at the front.
At the end of the war I was released. I had several slight wounds. I was released to go to Remscheid.
Q. Please describe your professional training and activity later on.
A. With the assistance of my parents and my brothers and sisters my professional training between 1919 and 1920 at the higher technical college in Wuppertal was finished. After that I was a building technician in various positions in construction firms and in 1924 I got a certificate as indepentant architect in Solingen.
Q. Did the economic collapse in 1926/27 concern you?
A. My activity as an architect started very small, from 1924-1927 I was successful. So that is 1926 I had a capital of my own of approximately- 15000 Reich Marks. I used this to build an apartment for myself. The money breakdown in 1926/1927 caused that I received very few orders, and therefore also the salary was missing sometimes, and business obligations I had very few. My debts at the tine amounted to 16,000 Reich Marks, On the other hand, I had duesof 25,000 Reich marks to come, which I could not get. In 1929, that is '28, '29 and '30 there was a time when I got no orders. My mobile property wasused to cover the debts. In 1931 I could not be leased. I was unemployed and until 1934 I got the unemployment relief which was. entered in the register.
Q. Until this time did you take part in any political activity or were you interested in politics at all?
A. Until 1931 I did not belong to any political party. My professional activity for many years caused no to have connections with SPD circles, the Socialist Party of Germany.
Q. Did you then join any political organization, and if yes, which one?
A. In May 1931 I joined the SA Reserve, a group of older businessmen. In October 1931 I joined the SPD, the Socialist Party of Germany. In January 1932 I came to the So as a candiate. In 1932 I received my book of membership to the SPD.
In 1933 the SPD was prohibited.
Q. Mr. Blobel, does your reply not contain an inconsistency, that you were a member of the SPD and the SA or SS Candidate at the same time?
A. At the time a great many members of the SA Reserve were in the same position. We did not consider the SA to be a political organization but rather "Vereiv" a club, which it actually was. Concerning the membership in the SPD and at the same time the application to join the SS, I saw no contradiction in this, because at that time I did not carry out any political activity in the SA, in which I found no aims opposite to those of the SPD. At that time the SS was established in Solingen for the first tine and Gruppenfuehrer Weitzel was appointed for this district in Duesseldorf. In 1929, with a few hundred men he went over from the SPD to the SS.
Q. Witness, how long were you a member of the SA Reserve?
A. A member of the SA Reserve I was from May 1933 to - or rather June, July, 1931. In July 1931, I left the SA Reserve.
Q. What was the reason and your motive to change your political opinions and to leave one party?
A. The difficult position made it necessary to join people who were prepared to help each other.
Q. Did you join the NSDAP?
A. I was registered through the SS.
Q. When was this?
A. I received the membership book in 1934. My application was filed at the end of 1934. My register card submitted by the Prosecution does not coincide with these dates. In this file as date of joining the NSDAP, the 1st of December is entered, 1931, but this time is too early. It is predated.
Q. Having been a proper member of the SPD, did this not have any consequences for you?
A. In 1933, a procedure was opened in the examination board of the NSDAP, owing to my membership in the SPD.
Q. Witness, using this opportunity, I want to refer to Document Book III-C of the Prosecution, page 17 of the German text. It is Document NO-3197, Exhibit 136. It is the file submitted by the prosecution as your register card. This is your personal file, page 17, in the Document Book III-C.
MR. HORLICK HOCHWALD: page 11 in the English.
Q. Thank you, Mr. Prosecuter. On page 1 of the document a number of decorations are mentioned and the copy of the document does not reveal which of these decorations you receiver. Witness, would you please explain briefly which decorations you actually received, according to your personal records?
A. I only got those decorations mentioned in the copy of the register card, those which bear a star in these records here.
Q. That is sufficient. Witness, what did you do after 1933?
A. From 1933 to 1934 I was still unemployed. In 1934 until the middle of 1935, I was employed by the City of Solingen with a month salary of 120 Reichmarks. After June 1935 I came to the SD Section, Duesseldorf.
Q. Herr Blobel, please describe your activity in the SD in Duesseldorf.
A. As an architect, I Wes appointed by the SD. I set up and conducted the construction of the SD office in Duesseldorf in 1935. I remained with this new agency and I had to deal with the information service deomestic sphere in the Duesseldorf district. When the SD Section was extended I then became Chief of a sub section and later on the Section Duesseldorf, within the Oberatschnitt (Main Section) Duesseldorf.
Q. During your activity in Duesseldorf, did you have any differences with superiors or other party agencies?
A. Differences of opinion in dealing with some subjects occurred repeatedly. The change in the leadership of the SD Sectors also causes divergencis in opinions with the subordinate leaders.
Q. When were you promoted for the last time?
A. My last promotion occurred on the 30th of January, 1941.
Q. How do you explain the fact that since 1941 you were not promoted any more?
A. I had no previous convictions by any court, and there is no reason why I should not have been promoted. Perhaps I was too old, because sufficient younger members were there who confirmed with the conditions required. The judgment of my superiors about me I don't know, but the judgment of the superiors was decisive.
Q. What were the chances of promotion for full-timeservice leaders generally?
A. On the whole, promotions were made from time to time in spaces of one to two years, according to efficiency.
Q. Which organizations, sections, or associations connected with the NSDAP did you also belong to?
A. I was a member of the NSV, the Reich Colonial association, the Reich Association for Air Raid Protection, the Reich Association for Art, and then I was in the SA for a number of months. I left the SS when I was transferred to the SD.
Q. When were you appointed to go to Berlin?
A. I was drafted on the 13th or 14th of June, 1941.
Q. What kind of an authority was this?
A. I was taken from military Service as being indispensible in civil life and I was put at the disposal of the Reichfuehrer SS. This being ordered to Berlin was to be regarded as conscription.
Q. Was this drafting to Berlin--could it be compared to a conscription for War?
A. Yes.
Q. At the time did you know the reason why you were appointed?
A. I did not know the reason for this, no.
Q. Where were you sent from Berlin?
A. From Berlin I was sent to Pretsch with other leaders.
Q. Did you previously know about the transport to pretsch?
A. No.
Q. In Berlin, did you take part in any official discussion?
A. No, not even in the discussion in the Prinz Albrecht Palais, which were mentioned here repeatedly. On the day of my arrival, together with other leaders, I was sent to Schmiedeberg immediately.
Q. What statements can you give concerning the age of the leaders in Schmiedeberg and Pretsch?
A. In general, the leaders were much younger than I was.
Q. Witness, at the time you were already 45 years of age. At the time on comparing yourself, did you realize the differences in age between you and the rest of the leaders, and did you not think about whether it might be a special motive for your being drafted?
A. I considered this drafting to be a reply to my application to leave the SD.
Q. Can you give us facts which confirm this assumption of yours?
A. With the inspecteurs, Brigadefuehrer Freiherr Von Schade and Oberregierungsrat Nockemann and Oberregierungsrat Hasselbach, who were in charge of the SD Main Section (Oberabschnitt) at the time, I requested that I be released from the SD, because I wanted to go back to my former profession, particularly as the personal relation with the Chiefs of the Main Section in Duesseldorf was not bearable any more. There were so many intrigues.
Q. How long were you in Pretsch?
A. Until the morning of the 23d of June, 1941.
Q. Please, describe briefly the external events during your stay in Pretsch.
A. On arriving in Pretsch, Schmiedeberg, men had already been established there. The leaders were given quarters and billets in Schmiedeberg and other localities. I had to report to Dr. Rasch whom I saw on the 17th or 18th of June there. The setting up of units or detachments was done according to the lists of the members. I did not know the general situation; on the 17th or 18th of June, the leaders were sent to the leaders Training School in Pretsch.
Q. Who announced the reason for your appointment?
A. It was announced by Gruppenfuehrer Streckenbach, in front of all the leaders who were together in the Leaders' Training School in pretsch.
Q. What were you told about your future commitment there?
A. Streckenbach announced: From that moment on, You, as well as all subleaders and men who have been drafted will be under war regulations., which have to be observed by a soldier in the field. All of you are bound to the Fuehrer by oath. to inform you about just like every other soldier of the Fuehrer. You know about the measures you will have to expect according to war regulations. According to the Fuehrer Order, Einsatzgruppen are being formed and subdivided into Kommandos. These Einsatzgruppen will be subordinated to the Army commanders on the expected invasion of the East. Your task is the following: In cooperation with the Wehrmacht, the German Army, all elements which endanger the security are to be seized by you. political activists, functionaries, agents of the Communist party, and Jews. their men. The leaders of the Einsatzgruppen can make use of penal law and jurisdiction, according to the SS and police laws. In cooperation with the Wehrmacht, you are to see to it that personal discipline and good conduct will be maintained during the march and when carrying out the tasks and you will emphasize this."
Q. What was the general attitude when the tasks of the unit were announced?
A. At first there was general silence. The speech was finished. We went into the different rooms. There little circles formed and in general the task was considered a necessary security measure while the News Agency and Information Service and the fighting of armed resistance of the forces mentioned were main items. No one could exactly picture what the task was which Streckenbach had explained in a few brief words. He had explained a great deal more about the soldierly behavior of the men of the Security Police, Who, together with the Wehrmacht Would march cut to the front. That was his main concern.
Q. what picture did you have, Herr Blobel,at the time, about your future task?
A. My personal opinion of this task was based on the fact, to be part of the Wehrmacht in a military commitment as a Security Police especially to secure the troops, and if these Einsatzgruppen were committed there had to be reasons which indicated danger. As opponents, there was the enemy counter Intelligence with all its branches, which we did not know as yet, but which had to be known by the Military counter-intelligence.
Q. At that time, could i you imagine at all that the security tasks given to you would conflict with general moral laws?
A. About the extent of the tasks of the Security Police, I could not imagine anything. I did not know the Eastern Territory until then. The generally valid laws of morals and law I considered to be our directives. Apart from that I imagined the Security Police tasks to be the same as I had seen in the work of the Security Police in The Reich, as I remembered during the franc fireurs partisans time from 1914 to 1918 during the first World War.
Q. At the time would you have had the possibility to leave your commitment("Einsatz") and resign?
A. No.
Q. Why not?
A. I had been drafted under war law, to this particular task. A refusla would have caused a court-martial.
Q. Do you know any case that when the orders were given in Pretsch Schmiedeberg a leader asked that he be transferred?
A. I did not hear of any such case. I did not hear of that kind of thing.
Q. What would have been the consequences according to the laws at the time if one had refused to obey the order which had been given?
A. From that moment onwards, the man would have been given to the SS and Police court to be examined and the punishment inflicted by the police court was much stricter than that of the Army Courts-martial. The sentence was death for disloyalty.
Q. How was the task distributed in Pretsch?
A. The Einsatzgruppen A,B, C, D were formed.
Q. To which Einsatzgruppen were you appointed?
A. Einsatzgruppen B; after a few days it was altered into Einsatzgruppe C.
Q. Who was the chief of your Einsatzgruppe?
A. Dr. Rasche.
Q. How was the subdivision in Einsatzgruppe C which had previously been Einsatzgruppe B?
A. Einsatzgruppe C was subdivided into Sonderkommando 4a, Sonderkommando 4b, Einsatzkommando 5 and Einsatzkommando 6.
Q. Was there a difference between the Sonderkommandos and the Einsatzkommando concerning tasks ?
A. The Sonderkommandos were units subordinated directly to a Army unit, in particular officials of the STAPO and the KRIPO as interrogating officers, so to say as, a Secret Field Police and extension officers for the political secotr. The Einsatzkommandos on the other hand were directly subordinated to the Einsatzgruppen.
Q. I refer to the document submitted in Ohlendorf's cross-examination by the Prosecution , NOKW -256, Exhibit 174. It is the draft for an order the commitment of the Sonderkommandos and the Einsatzgruppen and it says on page 4 of the German copy: "The Sonderkommandos of the Security Polce (SD) carry out their tasks on h their responsibility." Witness, is this draft not in contradiction with the way it was carried out according to which the Sonderkommandos were subordinated to the Army?
A. Not at all. This document is a draft order, which obviously had nothing to do with the later Barbarossa Decree.
The fact is, in any case, that the Sonderkommandos immediately subordinate to an Army unit, as can be shown by my other explanations.
Q. Was there a difference between the Sonderkommandos and the Einsatzkommandos concerning the number of men?
A. The Sonderkommandos in contrast to theEinsatzkommandos were much smaller concerning the number of their men, approximately in a rate of one to four, at least of one to four.
Q. How strong was the SK 4A and how far was it set up? What were the subdivisions?
A. Sonderkommando 4a consisted of a commando Leader, 7 leaders, 45 subleaders, men, drivers, kitchen personnel, altogether a total of 1 7 45.
Q. Who were the leaders of your Kommando?
A. The leaders in the SK 4a were Criminal Officers and leaders from the SD: Jantzen, Hanf, Haefner, Karlson and Dr. Funk were candidates for the leading staff. Drafted as war emergencies and appointed as interpreters were Von Radetsky and Mueller.
Q. Were they commanded for a special purpose?
A. The drafting to the Einsatzgruppe was considered a military commitment.
Q. For Now long did your appointment last?
A. The time of the committment meant for a definite period of time, which, however was not fixed according to which the course was to be carried on.
Q. When did the SK 4a leave Pretsch and where did it go to next?
Court2A Case 9
A. Gruppe C, that is, the previous Gruppe B, as well as SK 4-a, marched in the surly morning hours of 23 June 1941 from Pretsch via Liegnitz and Gleiwitz, to Cracow.
Q. What orders did you get there?
A. On the 25th of June 1941, in Cracow, I received the order to march SK 4a to the AOK 6 headquarters, and that I should report to the Commander-in-Chief of the 6th Army, General Field Marshal Von Reichenau.
Q. Witness, please describe further events, particularly the occurrence when you reported to the AOK-6.
A. The SK 4-a marched via Sandormirsz, Samos (?) to the headquarters to the AOK 6 near the river Bug . On the 26th of June 1941 together with the leader , I reported to the Commander-in-Chief , General Field marshal Von Reichenau, in the afternoon. The Field Marshal ordered me to a discussion. Also the following people were oredered to take part: The Chief of Staff, the Quartermaster General, the Chief of Department 1-C; a colonel, Major Palzow, officer in the Department C; and another major of the staff, Altogether, the Field Marshal and five officers and myself, and a leader of mine. The Field Marshal who was walking about in the park in his bathing suit turned to me with the following words: "Please excuse my dress. I have just returned from the front. I expected you already for three days , together with your commando." I told the Field Marshal that three days ago we had set off. The Field marshal said, "I am glad you are here there is your Commando stationed , - and how many men do you have," I told him how many ,1:7:45, the Commando was still approaching.
Q. Please describe the discussion with Field Marshal von Reichenau.
A. It follows now the discussion, with almost verbal extractions: "The Field marshal: Herr Major Palzow, please give me the map and the order which concerns the Commando." The Field Marshal to the officers of the staff:" Gentlemen, please hold the map. About the position:
We are here, we are there, and there." And the Field Marshal pointed out on the map the position of the front." And according to the reports received by the divisions in these areas," -- and he indicated these places on the map," armed civilians have been met who have done us a lot of harm." And he said to 1-C, "Please, Colonel submit today's report." Then he continued: "According to the situation, the Commando will be sub-divided into three sub-divisions, and subordinated to the commanders in chief of the Division. The army order, please." Herr Major Palzow, who had the order in his hand, showed a page in the text to the Field Marshal, The entire order consisted of about ten to twelve pages. The contents of the order were: announcing the individual units , out of which the army was set up, and also troop units which had been ordered to the combat area of the Sixth Army. The next paragraph dealt with the commitment of the Commando of the Security Police, and their tasks . I heard there about the same assignment of tasks , how they were announced by Gruppenfuehrer Streckenbach at Pretsch. The contents were approximately as follows: PKH. A file number. Top Secret matter. Date, July .1941. And the contents were approximately ...: "Since it is to be expected that the advance of the units is hindered by the many political groups of the opponent, the commanders in their territory are given detachments of the Security Police of the Reichsfuehrer SS. The task of these commandos deals with the Security Police activity concerning political opponents and the absolute elimination of all elements and Jews, insofar as they endanger the security of the units. The commandos will give instructions as required to the units subordinate to them, " Then some more followed, which I don't remember exactly. I told the Field Marshal that the Commando, according to the commitment order Barbarossa -- this order which had been handed to me by Dr. Rasch in Cracow -- that the Commando, of the Rear Army territory with view to marching routine - was subordinate to him. The Field Marshal give the order that concerning the technicalities of the actual marching and the supplies, and concerning the task it be directly and immediately subordinateto AOK 6, and should only be used in the fighting area.
The Chief of Staff received the order to inform the Commander of the Rear Army territory, and also the Division Commanders about the commitment of Commando 4-a. The Chief of Staff ordered the 1-C to carry out such an order at once. A copy of this order was received by the Commando the following day. The contents of this order was approximately the following: "AOK 6, Department C, the SD 4-a, of the Security Police of the Reichsfuehrer SS, are subordinate to AOK 6 , Department C with regard to factual concern with the task to carry out Security Police measures on political events endangering the security of the troops. The Commando is to be supported in every respect. " And then the stamp of the AOK 6, and the signature. Another copy of this order was given to the leaders of the later Teilkommandos - subcommandos. The Field Marshal instructed all officers of the staff who were present to support the commando in every respect. I was given the order to advance the Commando as quickly as possibly. Maps were handed out; march routes were fixed; news service and reports from the Division were discussed. The Field Marshal gave orders current personal reporting to him or the chief of staff, or rather, to 1-C. A permanent liaison officer was appointed, and the utilization of material which had been captured by 1-C and the Ukrainian Special department which was attached.
Commander-in-Chief of AOK-6? the 1-C of the AOK 6 with the duty to report to Field Marshal von Reichenau and to supply a permanent liaison officer, as to the marching route, and the supplies, it was attached to AOK-6, it was ordered to be in the fighting area.
DR. HEIM: Your Honor, I believe this is a suitable moment to introduce the document Blobel No. 1, as Exhibit No. 1. This is the first document in Document Book Blobel No. 1. It is a plan with the title: "Division and Subordination of Sonderkommando 4-a on the 28th of June 1941." yesterday.
THE PRESIDENT: Proceed.
DR. HEIM: Your Honor, it concerns the first photostatic plan in the book. It is called, "Division and Subordination of Sonderkommando 4-a on the 28th of June 1941."
Q (By Dr. Heim) Witness, please explain to the Tribunal, briefly, the sketch made by you. dotted lines show the relation concerning the information service among the units. In the middle of the sketch you see AOK 6, to which Staff Department C under Field Marshal von Reichenau belonged. As the plan shows, this Department C was a Special Ukrainian Department. This special department was connected with the former Ukrainian Colonel Brisancz, and exchanged news and information with him. Brisancz himself was in the military counter-intelligence. On the right side of Department C you see the liaison officer of Sonderkommando 4-a, put in who was attached to Department C of AOK 6.
THE PRESIDENT: May I say to the interpreter that the designation on the chart, in English, is "Section C". I presume that when you are say ing Department C you are referring to the same block which is here indicated as Section C. And if that be true I would suggest the use of Section C to avoid any confusion when the record is read and compared with the chart.
INTERPRETER: Thank you, your Honor. BY DR. HEIM
A The full lines indicate about the Section 1-C. The orders were sent immediately to the offices of SK 4a; also direct to the Teilkommandos of SK 4a with the divisions, In the latter case, the orders were sent through 1-C of AOK 6 to the competent 1-C -
THE PRESIDENT: Does any one know what the equivalent in the English language is of 1-C? What the equivalent would be in the American Army?
MR. WALTON: Your Honor, please, that would be the G-2, or Intelligence -- Chief of intelligence.
THE PRESIDENT: I see. Very well. Thank you very much, Mr. Walton. BY DR. HEIM: the competent 1-C of the Intelligence Section of the Army unit, and from there to the Teilkommando. Information, but not orders, were sent from the Teilkommando to the office in the same manner. Or through courier. As the dotted line indicates, between the Teilkommandos and SK 4-a and the orderly room. In the upper part of the chart the subordination of AOK under the Army Group South is shown. Between the Army Group and AOK 6, the Higher SS and Police leader with his staff acted as intermediary. As the line of the Higher SS and Police Leader to Einsatzgruppe C shows, the Higher SS and Police Leader had the right to give instructions to the Chief of Einsatzgruppe C. Between Einsatzgruppe C and SK 4a there is a full line missing because orders by the Einsatzgruppe C were sent via the liaison officer with AOK 6 to SK 4a, to the orderly room. The SK 4a, therefore, was subordinate immediately to the AOK 6, and also to Einsatzgruppe C. On the way, orders were given via AOK 6. An immediate connection with Einsatzgruppe C existed temporarily between the Ukrainian interpreters inasfar as they could meet within movements of the units about.
This is indicated by the dotted line between the interpreter unit of Einsatzgruppe C and the interpreters of SK 4-a, The interpreter of Einsatzgruppe C were mostly Ukrainian emigrants -- politically it belonged to Colonel Brisancz and had been connected with him during the war 1914-1918. by Field Marshal Von Reichenau? breaking unit. Also, personnel was appointed for the orderly room. This can be seen in the chart discussed just now.
DR. HEIM: Your Honor, may I point out that the three Teilkommandos are entered at the bottom of the sketch, and on the same level the safebreaking division. Below the little sections, the strength of the individual commands are mentioned.
Q (By Dr. Heim) What tasks did the Teilkommandos have?
A The Teilkommandos: Security Police work -- that is, finding and seizing of the opponent's document material, interrogations of persons, filing of documents concerning certain events were part of the security task. Also, participation in the carrying out of executions. were to be carried out by the Teilkommandos?
A No, I was not entitled to this. The Commander-in-Chief did decide about this. Or rather, the Commander of the Army unit in whose territory the Teilkommandos were committed.
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Heim, may we suspend now?
DR. HEIM: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well. The Tribunal will be in recess for fifteen minutes.
(A recess was taken)