"A peasant's house, in which munition was found, was burned down on 18 August '41 by the Pursuit Detachment of the 2nd Battalion 721st Regiment, in Glocane, 2 kilometers east of Lapovo. Inhabitants shot." Signed LXV 65th Corps Command.
Turning to page 37 of the English, the daily report of 28 August 1941 page 32 of the German, the daily report, as I said, of the 28th of August. You will note in the succeeding page, page 38 of the English under the 717th Infantry Division, and still page 32 of the German; "Communist leader Petrovic shot; three inhabitants of the house arrested by Pursuit Detachment of the 1st Battalion, 749th Regiment in Rigjage, 5 kilometers west of Cacak, 27 AUg." And still on page 38 of the English, the daily report of 29 August 1941, page 33 of the German, the report from Boehma who was the Commander of the XVIIIth Corps then operating in Greece; and he reports to his Commander of the 12th Army List as follows: "Military cable net in Chalkis cut through in three places the night of 26 Aug. 41. Perpetrator not yet known. Three suspects arrested by Greek police. Fifteen hostages killed."
DR. LATERNSER: Again, there is a mistake in the translation. I have to ask again that the documents be presented a little slower so that I can check the translations. The report as we just followed it, "15 hostages..." on page 33 of the German Document Book from the top the 10th line reads as follows, the original text in German reads: "15 hostages taken," quoting. Now, reading the English text, the translation reads: "15 hostages killed." Yes, that is correct. I ask to correct this translation. The English text is on page 38. In the English Document Book, it is the last sentence, the last line.
THE PRESIDENT: May I ask that it be handed to the official interpreter for her interpretation for the benefit of the Tribunal?
INTERPRETER SCHAEFFER: Your Honor, the German test reads as the German counsel stated--"15 hostages were taken." It doesn't say "killed" in any way.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed. Well, perhaps this would be a good time to adjourn. It is now 12:15. The Tribunal has observed that it pays to give a little extra time. We make some headway by giving counsel a little more of a recess period, and we suggest that you show your appreciation by being back here promptly at 1:30. The Tribunal will be in recess until 1:30.
(A recess was taken until 1330 hours 17 July 1947)
AFTERNOON SESSION (The hearing reconvened at 1330 hours 17 July 1947)
THE MARSHAL: Will all persons in the courtroom please take their seats.
The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: May it please the Tribunal, you will remember that before the luncheon recess we talked about certain reports which subordinate units had sent to Field Marshal List, 12th Army Headquarters, and other reports which the 12th Army Headquarters had sent out to OKH in Berlin.
We also spent some time on orders issued by Field Marshal List for the destruction of the insurrection movement in Serbia.
Now, with the next document, which is on page 47 of the English and on page 37 of the German, NOKW-1141, which becomes prosecution Exhibit No. 46, you see the connection between the Wehrmacht and concentration camps. This document is in an order of the Commander in Serbia and it is dated "Belgrade 1 September 1941."
The great number of the Communists under arrest impedes the troops. There is danger that these Communists will be liberated by their comrades. Consequently, it is necessary to transfer the arrested Communists to Belgrade as soon as possible in accordance with requisitions of the Security Police. For this purpose the individual military offices are to make lists if possible, immediately -- of the Communists detained by them. These lists must show:
"a) Exact personal data of persons under arrest, "b) Day and place of arrest and the troop unit which has made the arrest, "c) Reason for arrest and brief description of factual circumstances, "d) Exact place where person arrested is presently located.
"For the sake of convenience, these lists are to be submitted directly to the liaison officer of the security police with Higher Command IXV - SS - Obersturmfuehrer Muller -- in Belgrade."
And on the following page, page 48 of the English, page 39 of the German, is letter from "Servia Commander, Command Staff, Section Ia," Secret under date of 21 August 41, ordering that:
"Prisoners with the troops are to be transferred to Concentration camp Belgrade in order that the troops may be relieved of their responsibility. This cancels out the local importance of the concentration camp Belgrade subordinate to the Administrative Sub-area Headquarters.
"Therefore, effective immediately, the concentration camp will be made subordinate to the Commander Serbia/Administrative Staff and will be designated as 'Concentration Camp Serbia, Belgrade.'
"The Administrative Staff will regulate directly the process of taking over of the concentration camp and the inclusion of the Einsatzgruppe of the Security Police and SD. Guarding of the concentration camp as heretofore."
Signed "Lt. General Air Corps."
You will hear a lot in the next few weeks in this trial about the lack of knowledge by the Wehrmacht Commander of the concentration camps which I am sure they will claim were entirely within the jurisdiction and knowledge of other units of the German occupation forces in Serbia; namely, the SD and Security Police.
This document, I think, will make quite clear that the Wehrmacht knew and had jurisdiction over certain concentration camps in Serbia.
The next document is NOKW-1141. I beg your pardon. The next document will be NO-3154, prosecution Exhibit No. 47, page 50 of the English and page 39 of the German. These are extracts from situation reports of the Chief of the Security Police and the SD and I think if your Honors would look at the original photostat it might be helpful for an understanding of the actual document.
You will note that this is a fairly voluminous report of 16 pages. It's from the Chief of the Security Police and the SD and the date line is "Berlin 11 September 1941" end it contains various references to the activities of the Einsatzgruppe, how it occupied certain territories.
Actually, the excerpt which we are using is Document NO-3154 and this exhibit is the final page of the photostatic copy of page 16. You will see it refers to the "Balkans" and then "Serbia" and the excerpt in translation is as follows:
"Increase of the insurgent movement in the Drina-Save-Triangle and in the area around Lazarevac. Considerable concentration of insurgents around Gor. In general numerous attacks and acts of sabotage mainly on railroads. Line Belgrade-Nish as yet not repaired. In reprisal for attack on a Wehrmacht vehicle on 5 September in a village north of Cacak, the village was destroyed on 6 September."
It is quite clear from this document that the destruction of a village as a retaliation for an attack on a vehicle was not a spontaneous act of outraged troops because the reprisal action took place a full day after the attack occurred.
DR. LATERNSER(Counsel for defendants Weichs and List): A translation is not correct. In the German text of the document book, page 39 -- that is page 50 of the English -- it says on the last line: "The village was shot to pieces on the 6th of September"; while in the English document book, on page 50, in the next to last sentence of the text of the document, it is translated as follows: "The village was destroyed."
The translation is not correct at all because the sense of the document if I use the words "shot to pieces" means that it is probably shot to pieces with a fight of bands and not as it looks from the English translation, by way of reprisal.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors, please, I think the translation is quite clear as to whether it was shot to pieces or whether it was destroyed.
It was in fact in reprisal for an attack on a Wehrmacht vehicle which occurred the day previous.
THE PRESIDENT: If there is a question as to whether the translation as given in the English is correct, The Court will ask that it be handed to the official translator for his translation.
May I ask that the translator refer both to the English page of the document book and the page in the German page so it may be properly identified.
THE INTERPRETER: Then in the German document, in the last paragraph -- in the English document book it is page 50 and it is again the last paragraph --- the translation is: "as a reprisal for the attack in the village north of Cacak on the 5th of September on a Wehrmacht vehicle the village was shot to nieces on the 6th of September." That ends this paragraph.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I think, if your Honors please, that does not affect the purpose for which he document has been introduced by the prosecution. We intend to show that the village was shot up, or what we intend to show is that the village was shot up in reprisal for an attack which occurred the day previous and it is quite clear, I think, from the text that there was no combat action involved through which the village was shot up.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The next six documents in Document Book 2, your Honors, are probably the most important documents which will be introduced by the prosecution against the defendant List, and I think I should fill in the background a little bit before we actually introduce them.
When the German Army made preparations for the attack against Russia, which was launched on 20 June 1941 -
DR. LATERNSER: I believe I must again object. In order to give the background, the prosecution had ample opportunity in its opening statement. We are now in the case in chief, where according to the rules established by the International Military Tribunal connecting sentences, are possible. Additional statements arc not possible in the case in chief as far as I know, in the procedure.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I do not mean to enter into any argument at this time, but I believe that for the proper understanding of the document, there ought to be a little bit of association between external events and these somewhat dry and dull words that appear on the printed page. I would fill in the background, as I term it, in about 4 or 5 sentences.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Prosecutor you may make such explanatory comments as you feel may be necessary in connection with these documents. However, this Tribunal is of the opinion that this is not the time to comment on their value or to give your conclusions as to what you think about them.
This Tribunal is interested at this particular time only in the presentation of the evidence. However, as I stated before we have no objections to your briefly commenting on those matters as you feel you should do so to connect them up. Let's limit it to that.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: To go on from the Southeast theatre after the campaign ended in May, immediately during the course of the summer, the insurgent movement grew larger and larger, and finally something had to be done, and we can see that Field Marshal List suggested what should be done from the next document, which is NOKW 1424, and begins on page 51 of the English translation, and page 42 of the German. It becomes Prosecution Exhibit No. 48.
This is the request which Field Marshal List sent to OKW in Berlin, requesting that there be unification of commands in Servia in order to successfully defeat the insurgent movement.
There was a military commander in Servia at that time, who had administrative troops under him,, and there was a technical commander in Serbia and General Bader with the 65th Army Corps Command who had tactical groups under him.
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, I object against this presentation here. It is not right, in order to show the court why these documents are submitted here, the prosecution here presents assumptions, and from these assumptions he must bring proof, and this is not the time to add any assumptions to the documents presented here.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal is of the opinion that the objection is made by counsel for the defendant is a proper one, and that the matters which are commented upon become, in their nature, evidentiary. As I stated before, we have no objection to your making brief comments as to these documents, as they are connected, as I stated before, and I believe it should be limited to that, and that there should be no comments as to what could very well be termed evidence being given by the prosecutor.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Exhibit No. 48 is a memorandum from the defendant List, the commander-in-chief of the 12th Army dated 15 September 1941. It goes to OKW headquarters, and it reads as follows:
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT No.NOKW 1424 OFFICE OF CHIEF OF COUNSEL FOR WAR CRIMES I (Page 1 of original) (handwritten) O Qu Qu2 (Illegible initial) 14 Sept.
M.C.
(Stamp) Top Secret.
Priority 5 copies Teletype 4th copy To OKW/Headquarters Group same text OKH, Army General Staff.
Threatening development of the overall situation in Serbia demands energetic measures. Even the new Serbian Government docs not come up to expectations, according to reports of the Commander in Serbia. Gendarmerie unreliable on an increasing scale. Association between the insurgents - in my opinion not aptly described as Communists by the Commander in Serbia - with the Cetnicks, has been confirmed.
First requisite is a rigid uniform leadership of the offensive operations which are necessary for the restoration of unconditional authority. Moreover it is essential that the overall executive power, including command over the troops which will be committed, should be united in one hand. This can only be that of the supreme troop commander. The present command regulations are based on peaceful conditions and are unbearable under the present turbulent combat conditions.
General of Infantry Boehme is a person to be considered as especially suited for this position since at the same time he has an excellent knowledge of conditions in the Balkans. Together with his staff, he should be made free for this task.
(Stqmp)
12th Army.
Received 13th Sept. 1941.
O.Qu No. 1163 (handwritten) Top Secret.
O Qu/Administration 134/41 top secret.
(Page 2 of original)
It is fully understood that the interests of the Four Year Plan will also be taken into consideration in this case. Main condition for its realization is security and order in the country.
Even after the transfer of the reinforced 125th Infantry Regiment, the German Forces are in no way sufficient for carrying out the necessary operations in Serbia. The divisions of the 15th Wave, both as regards personnel and material composition, as well as regards leadership, are unsuitable, according to experiences made up until now, "for the destruction of this revolt, which is universally breaking out." Mobile supply installations for larger sized operations are also lacking.
I therefore see myself forced, in spite of my appreciation f the overall situation, to propose the speedy transport of at least one powerful front-line division with tank support.
(Signed)
Wehrmacht Commander Southeast Certified true copy (signed) (Illegible) (12th Army) Colonel GSC 13th September 1941.
(Signed) List.
After release. Field Marshal.
Chief (Teletype - 1a-1c-O.Qu War Diary.
CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION 19 June 1947.
I, Mary E. Carter, British civilian #20134, hereby certify that I am thoroughly conversant with both the English and German languages; and that the above is a true and correct translation of Document Np. NOKW-1424.
Mary E. Carter # 20134
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, I must complain about a mistake in the translation which in my opinion is present. In the German text on Page 41, in Line 9, "for suppressing this revolt which calls itself universal".
This sentence in the English document, on page 51, page 52 I beg your pardon it is on page 52, that's right, - on page 52, line 8, it is translated, "for the destruction of this revolt, which is universally breaking out".
"Destruction" in my opinion is too strong a translation for the military "Niederschlagung" expression- it is not as strong, it is "to suppress", and this translation makes this order bear another sense than it was originally intended to bear.
THE PRESIDENT: Unless there is some objection on the part of counsel which they wish to present, the Tribunal will request that the document in German be submitted to the court interpreter for his interpretation.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: It is agreeable with the prosecution, your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: Is it so agreeable with the defense counsel?
(Dr. Laternser indicated it was by nodding his head "yes".).
Dr. Laternser has indicated his approval and it will be landed to the interpreter.
May I ask the interpreter, for the purposes of the record, to indicate from what page and line in the English and in the German documents he is now reading?
INTERPRETER: The English test, page 52 of the English Document book, line 8.
The German text is on page 41, and on the 9th line from the top. I must add here that the German text, in the German document book, does not correspond with the document in English and for that reason it is very difficult to translate it. The document on that lino says, and I rend it in German now:
"Fuer niederschlagen dieses sich abzeichenden Aufstandes"; (The interpreter then rend the sentence again) - "des sich allgemein abzeichnenden Aufstandes"
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, perhaps we could have the actual line from the document itself translated by the interpreter.
THE PRESIDENT: The interpreter shall interpret the line in question from the document as presented.
INTERPRETER: It's on page, Line 9 and reads as follows:
"For the suppression of this revolt which can now be seen and is universally breaking out."
MR. FENSTERMACHER: That's the end of this passage. The next document will indicate the reply of Hitler to Field Marshal List's request, as sot forth in the previous document. It appears on page 53 of the English and on page 42 of the German. It's Document NOKW-1492, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 49. It's from the Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht, Fuehrer Headquarters, 16 September 1941. There arc twenty-two copies and this is the eleventh copy.
(stamp) (Handwritten)
Top Secret Directives The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht OKW/WEST/Branch (National Defense) No. 44 1538/41 Top Secret for Officers only (stamp) Top Secret for Officers only Fuehrer Headquarters 16 Sept 1941 (Handwritten) To (excerpt to (illegible)) (illegible) Wehrmacht Commander Southeast 22 Copies 11th Copy (Initial) W 12/9 I charge the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, General Field Marshal List with the task of suppressing the insurgent movement in the Southeast area.
The primary task is to secure in the Serbian area the traffic arteries and objects which are important for the German War Economy and to re-establish order in the entire area on a long-term basis by the application of the most severe means.
In Croatia, (up to the line of demarkation) measures deemed inperative against the bands are to be taken in agreement with the Croatian government through the mediation of the German General in Zagreb.
For the duration of the execution of these tasks all Army Forces stationed in the insurgent area, as well as those to be brought there, are to be concentrated under the order of the Commanding General of the XVIII Infantry Corps, Lt. General of Infantry Boehme. The latter exercises executive power in the insurgent area itself, pursuant to directives of Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. In so far, all military and civilian offices must follow his instructions.
The Wehrmacht Commander Southeast regulates a more accurate definition of his authority. The interest of the Four Year Plan are to be taken into consideration as a matter of principle.
An Infantry Division, Panzer Platoons and captured tanks will be sent by the Commander-in-Chief of the Army into the Serbian area in addition to other security forces (those for Croatia also). He prepares for the bringing up case of need of an additional division as soon as one is released in the East.
I request that the measures be reported in detail to the OKW.
As before, the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe supports the operation in the insurgent area with all the forces available for this purpose. He designates to Wehrmacht Commander Southeast a loader for tactical co-operation with Lt. Colonel of Infantry Boehme.
It is not permissible to employ forces of the Hungarian, Rumanian and Bulgarian Army and Luftwaffe for these operations without the approval of the High Command of the Wehrmacht. However, Hungarian and Rumanian ships which are offered may be employed together with the Danube Fleet for the security of the Danube traffic. With a corresponding commitment of the German Flotilla, they are to be assigned such duties as will prevent them having anything to do with each other.
The use of Croatian troops in the Serbian border areas adjoining Croatia has been conceded by the Croatian government, and may therefore take place.
The Italian High Command will be informed of the intended measures and will be requested to take suitable energetic action in the territory occupied by the Italians, in agreement with the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast.
The Foreign Office will carry out a joint political action of the Balkan States against the Communist Central Offices in these countries.
A representative of the Reich will inform Wehrmacht Commander Southeast regarding the details.
(initials)
W K (Signed) Adolf Hitler Distribution:
Wehrmacht Commander Southeast 1 Copy Military Commander Serbia 2 " German General in Zagreb 3 " German Wehrmacht Mission in Rumania 4 " German General with the Headquarters of the Italian Armed Forces 5 " Commander-in-Chief of the Army (O. Qu. I) 6 " (Op. Branch) 7 " Naval High Command (Naval Operations Branch) 8 " Luftwaffe High Command (Luftwaffe Operations Staff) 9 " Chief Wehrmacht Transportation 10 "
O K W W F S T 11 "
MR. RENSTERNMACHER: The document is initialed "W" and "K" -which arc Field. Marshal Keitel's initials, the Chief of the OKW, and it is signed by "Adolf Hitler", in his own handwriting.
It's distributed as follows: The first copy to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, the second copy to the Military Commander Serbia, and the third copy to the German General in Zagreb. In the next document it's apparent that it rather is Field Marshal List's order in accordance with the Hitler directive, appointing Lieutenant General Franz Boehme to suppress the insurrections mounting in Serbia. The number of the document is No. NOKW-1334, and becomes Prosecutions Exhibit No. 5. The document is a radio message from the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, of 19 September 1941. It goes to the Commander in Serbia, LXV Corps Command, and the German General in Zagreb.
(Handwritten) Copy (Handwritten.)
Without stamp Vort.
Enclosure 64 Military Commander in Serbia Ton Secret Command Staff Ia No. 220/41 of 19 September 41 Radio Message from Wehrmacht Commander Southeast of 19 September 41 To The Commander in Serbia
LXV Corps Command German General in Zagreb By order of the Fuehrer, General of the Infantry Boehme Commanding General of the XVIII Army Corps is commissioned with the Leadership of military operations in Serbia.
In compliance with Fuehrer Order I transfer to General Boehme the entire executive power in Serbia.
All Command authorities and forces of the Army existing there or to be transferred there are subordinated to him.
As the only possessor of executive power in accordance with the Fuehrer order binding instructions to all military and civilian offices.
The interest of the Four Year Plan will be protected on principle.
In suppressing the insurgent movement in the Croatian - Serbian frontier area, General Boehme possesses executive power there too, in so far as it is an operational area, in agreement with the Croatian government, via the German General in Zagreb. Instructions for the carrying out of operations for the necessary protective measures will be given by mo only to General Boehme who is responsible for their being carried out. Certified True Copy: Wehrmacht Commander Southeast Ia 1953 Top (signature illegible) Secret Lieutenant of 18 September (signed) List General Fieldmarshal
MR. FENSTERNMACHER: The document is signed the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. List, General Fieldmarshal. I think it is important that the Tribunal know who this man was. General Fieldmarshal List was considered especially suitable to suppress the insurgent movement on the Bethaus Franz Boehme was indicated as defendant in this case, but he has died since the indictment was served; however, we have an affidavit of Boehme's which was executed in Nuernberg on the 12th of March 1947. The next document is that affidavit which appears on page 59 of the English and page 47 of the German. It is Document No. NOKW-876, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 51. The first part of the document simply outlines Boehme's carrier from the time he entered the Austrian Army until 1936. I think it need not be read, but I should like to read the bottom, beginning the last six lines on page 59 of the English and page 47 of the German.
AFFIDAVIT:
I, Franz Boehme, Being duly sworn say and depose:
I was born in Zeltweg/Styria (Austria) on 15 April 1885. I am an Austrian citizen. From 1900 to 1904 I attended the Infantry Cadet School in Liebenau near Graz (Austria). In 1904 I entered the Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment Number 95 as a Cadet (Lemberg, Galicia, later Ragusa and Cattare, Dalmatia). In 1905 I was commissioned Lieutenant, in 1911 I became ist Lieutenant from 1911 to 1914.
I attended the war academy in Vienna. I participated in World War I as 1st Lieutenant and since 1915 - as Captain of the general Staff. At first I was with the 38 Honved Infantry Division in Galicia, later with tho 132 Infantry Brigade. In Wolhynia, Russia , I was with tho Austrian XXIV Infantry Corps. Then I was exchanged and attached to the German 51 Corps Headquarters in Kurland. I participated in tho fighting in Italy first with tho Austro-Hungarian XXIV Infantry Corps and later in the Isonzo Army. In France I was with tho first Austro-Hungarian Infantry Division, From 1920 to 1938 I was in tho Austrian Bundesheer: first as Major (1920), Lieutenant Colonel (1921), Colonel (1929), General Major (Brigadier General) (1936). During that year I was tho Austrian observer in the Abyssinia Campaign.
After tho Anschluss of Austria with Germany I was taken over by the German Army. From July to October 1938 I was in Potsdam for retraining. From November 1938 to August 1939 I was Infantry Commander with tho 23 Infantry Division. I was promoted to General lieutenant (Major General) in 1939.
From September 1939 I was a commander of tho 32 Infantry Division (Polish Campaign and the first part of the French Campaign), I was promoted to General of Mountain Troops in 1940. From June 1940 to December 1943 I was Commander General of the XVIII Infantry Corps, in the second phase of the French Campaign (1940), in the Balkan Campaign (1941) and in Finland (1942/1943). From January 1944 to the end of June 1944 I was Deputy Commanding General in Salzburg. From 38 June 1944 to 10 July 1944 I was the Commander-in-Chief of the 2nd Panzer Army in the Balkans. Having been in a plane crash on 10 July 1944 I was in a hospital until the middle of January 1945. From 22 January to 8 May 1945, I was Commander-in-Chief of tho 20th Mountain Army and Wehrmacht Commander in Norway.
In World War I received the following Austro-Hungarian decoration: Signum laudibus in Bronz and Silver, Military Merit Cross 3rd Class, Order of the Iron Crown 3rd Class. The Republic of Austria granted no the Military Merit Order.
In World War II I was decorated with the Iron Cross 1st Class and 2nd Class (Clasp) with the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross and the German Cross in Gold.
I am married and childless and my wife never was a Party member. I never belonged to the "ILLEGALS" in Austria and I always was true to my oath as an officer. I never belonged to the National Socialist Party, neither in Austria nor after the Anschluss. I have no party decoration.
I have made this statement voluntarily without any promise of reward and I was neither threatened nor compelled to do so.
I have road carefully each of the three pages and countersigned them with my own hand, have made the necessary corrections in my own handwriting and countersigned them with my initials, and I herewith declare under oath that all facts stated by me in the above affidavit are the entire truth to
MR. FENSTERNMACHER: I think the remainder of the document also need not be read. Signed Boehme. The following document which begins on page 62 of the English and page 40 of the German, is a Service Record of General Franz Boehme. It is Document No. NOKW 1560 which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 52. I think most of it also need not be read since it simply outlines his career, which he also outlines in his own affidavit, but on page 64, of the English and on page 50 of the German are some recommendations from various other German Commanders who commanded General Franz Boehme, and I think it will throw some light on the nature of this man which Fieldmarshal appointed to suppress the revolt in Serbia. On the 22nd of February 1941 Fieldmarshal Weichs said, "Quiet, considered, intelligent, always considerate in furthering the educational position of the subordinate divisions. For his especial adaptation for higher position not yet be disregarded". Then General Dietl in a private letter of 1 September 1943 to the Chief of the Personnel Office says, "Dependable, adaptable troop commander.
Good head. Have not yet learned to know him under large-scale battle conditions. Has to show yet whether he possesses, in long-enduring, largescale battle, necessary severity and the considered leadership qualities above the level of corps. At the present time, therefore not yet adapted for army commander. Considering his knowledge of languages, especially adapted for employment in the Balkans." Then, later on, on the 10th of January 1944, Dietl again says of Boehme, "Has served well as commanding general. No opportunity was present for employment under major and heavy fighting conditions. Very active and adaptable leader. Sometimes somewhat nervous and irritable. Could, as senior commander, be somewhat more generous at times. Especially adapted for employment in the Balkans."