MR. FENSTERMACHER: If Your Honor, please, there are many times in which letters--extra copies of letters are made and put in the files and only the signed copy is distributed. I believe that that is perhaps the case here, but even if this document and this order was not distributed to subordinate units, it certainly reveals the state of mind of the Commander of the 65th Corps, who was subordinate to General Boehme, who in turn was subordinate to Field Marshal List. It indicates the state of mind of that Commander in regard to the suppression of the insurgent movement in Serbia.
DR. LATERNSER (counsel for the defendant List): Mr. President, may I again contradict. I say here and I maintain that it does not correspond with the state of mind. If it had corresponded with the state of mind, it would have been signed. It is a mere assumption on the part of the prosecution which he has to prove.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I think you will see, Your Honors, on the top right-hand of the document, above the date, 18 September 1941, you will see the words "anlazen" which means "enclosures". Now, those words were certainly not put on by Americans, they were put on by someone in the German -- some soldier within the 65th Corps; and it is my belief that this is perhaps the file copy which on many occasions is never signed.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal has taken the attitude heretofore, and it will take the same attitude in connection with this exhibit, that these being purported captured documents, even though it is not signed, it will be admitted for such probative value as the Court would feel should be given to an unsigned document. With that in mind, the objection will be overruled.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: This is an order of the mopping up of the Save bend west of Sabac and for the encircling of the Cer Mountains. It reads as follows: "Enemy bands under the leadership of former Serbian Officers are terrorizing the lowlands north of the Cer Mountains up to the Save and Drina Rivers. The staff of the enemy insurgent move ment is believed to be in the Cer Mountains.
South of the Cer also, several bands of considerable strength have been reported.
"Enemy resistance is to be broken ruthlessly. All settlements from which or from the neighborhood of which German Troops are fired on or near which arms and ammunitions are found, are to burned down. Straw and hay supplies in particular are to be burned down, if it is suspected that arms or ammunition are hidden within them.
"The entire male population above 14 years of age is to be arrested, to be sent to a concentration camp which the division will install, and to be detained there. According to the previous combat methods of the enemy, one must count mainly on attacks on the supply and on smaller detachments. Only by the arrest and the evacuation of the male population can these combat methods of the enemy be effectively obviated." Signed the Commanding General, Lt. General of Artillery.
The next document, on page 79 of the English and page 63 of the German, is NOKW-1057, which becomes prosecution Exhibit No. 59. These are reports of the military commands in Serbia over a period of time 5 July to 18 September 1941. The reports from Serbia to List and Foertsch at 12th Army Headquarters in Athens; and I Think here again that it might be well if the Tribunal would actually examine the photostatic copy of the document so you can see exactly what a report is and the various stamps which the 12th Army placed on it. You will note on page 2 of the photostatic copy in the right-hand comer the scribbled name "Foertsch". Foertsch is chief of Staff to Field Marshal List, 12th Army Headquarters initialed many of these documents. You will be able to see his name if you will just leaf through, usually in the right-hand corner in quite large scrawl. All of these reports from the Military Commander in Serbia have the receipt stamp of the 12th Army on them. The first report is dated 5 July 1941 to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, 12th Army, "In connection with the previously reported finding of explosives, 10 Communists and 3 Jews have been shot to death today.
Signed Commander Serbia Command Staff."
The next page is the report of 16 July, "Daily Report: Additional isolated instances of sabotage, in Obrenovac, 10 Communists shot to death."
And the next page, pare 81 of the English and page 65 of the German, the Daily Report of 18 July 1941. This one is on page 64 of the German. "Daily Report: Yesterday 16 Communists were shot to death in Belgrade for attempted sabotage acts. In Palanka (northeast of Topaola) Communists were caught while putting up posters. One was shot to death, two arrested. Because of new cases of sabotage on the lines in Belgrade the population was employed for guard duty."
Turning to the next succeeding page, the report of 26 July 1941: "Near Petrovgrad during last night, 1,000 100-weights of wheat, in lofts and 800 in stacks were burned. A number of Communists were arrested there. They will be shot today."
The following page, the daily report of 27 July, supplement to daily report of 27 July 1941. "On 2 5 July a Jew as yet unknown attempted unsuccessfully in Belgrade to set fire to a German motor vehicle by use of a bottle filled with gasoline. On the same day similar attempts were made. A perpetrator, a 16 year old Serbian woman was arrested. She admitted a Jew to be the instigator. In reprisal, 100 Jews will be shot on 29 July in Belgrade."
This, if I might comment to Your Honors, is on 27 July 1941, and the 100:1 order of Field Marshal Keitl was not received in the Southeast until 16 September 1941.
Turning to the next succeeding page, the report of 27 July 1941, the daily report beginning with the last word of the last line on page 85 of the English and 68 of the German: "Because of the destruction of grain as reported yesterday, 5 Communists were shot to death yesterday."
Turning to the next page, the report of 29 July 1941: "80 were shot to death on 3 8 July, in reprisal for attack on police patrol on road Uzicz-Valjevo.
Paragraph 2. 122 Communists and Jews shot to death in Belgrade on 29 July for previously reported sabotage acts in Belgrade."
The following page, page 88 of the English and page 70 of the German -- I think the interpreter failed to read off in German the previous report which begins on page 87 of the English on page 70 of the German. The Report of 29 July to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, 12th Army. Daily Report: "One. 80 were shot to death on 28 July, in reprisal for attack on police patrol on road UziczValjevo. Two. 122 Communists and Jews shot to death in Belgrade on 29 July for previously reported sabotage acts in Belgrade."
The next report is on page 88 of the English and page 71 of the German, the report of 1 August 1941. "Daily Report: A reprisal measure for previously reported unrest near Petrovgrad yesterday, 90 Communists were shot to death there."
On page 89 of the English, the daily report of 6 August 1941 and page 72 of the German. "In Zagreb 4 plotters as ell as 98 Communists and Jewish hostages shot to death."
On page 90 of the English, the report of 7 August -- I think the interpreters have not yet read the German for the report of the 6th of August which appears on page 89 of the English and page 72 of the German. "Item 3. In Zagreb 4 plotters as well as 98 communists and Jewish hostages shot to death."
The next report is of the 7th of August -
THE PRESIDENT: I think we will take the recess at this time. The Tribunal will be in recess for 15 minutes.
(A recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: All right, proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honors, you will recall that we were reading from NOKW-1057, Exhibit 59, and we were on Page 90 of the English, talking about the report of the 7th of August 1941, which is on Page 73 of the German. It's a general report from the Commander in Serbia to the Military Commander Southeast. Paragraph 4 states, "In Zagreb on 6.8 an additional 87 Communists and Jewish hostages shot to death." Reading from the next report of 15 August 1941 from the Military Commander in Serbia to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, Daily Report, Paragraph I, "On 14.8 1650 hours a passenger vehicle of the 3./ Reserve Police Battalion 64 (Passengers: 1st Lt. Ehrmann, 3 Sergeants) was fired on by a machine gun near Skela 915 kilometers West of Obrenovac) on the way to Sabac. A patrol found a burned out car. A company of the police battalion sent from Belgrade found the corpses of first Lt. Ehrmann and of one sergeant in the Sabac, two sergeants arc mission. On 15.8 Skela will be burned down and 50 Communists from Belgrade will be hange there." The following reports of the 17th of August again from the Military Commander in Serbia, to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, "An additional Jagdkommando against Pizega (12 kilometers East Uzice) shot 3 Communits and took three prisoners of band. In Banja (3 Kilometers Northwest of Topola) Wehrmacht vehicle fired upon. Thereupon, 11 Communists shot to death and a number of houses burned down by Jaegerkommando. Paragraph 5) In Belgrade 17/8 Sunday morning, five Communists convicted of terror and sabotage; hanged publicly in the main street of the city and left there until 1900 hours tonight....," signed Commander Serbia Command Staff. Next report 4th of September to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, Daily Report, "In reprisal for the soldier murdered on the street in Belgrade on 3 September, 50 Communists executed." Signed Commander of Serbia Command Staff. Again 50 Communists arc executed in reprisal for one German soldier murdered twelve days before the order came down to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast from Berlin.
The next report is of 7 September 1941, to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast of September Daily report, "In three villages near Petrovgrad and Kik*** 10 Communists each were hanged publicly. Reason: 50 acts of sabotage on telephone lines." Next the report of 16 September to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast from the Commander in Serbia, Daily Report, *** Guilty Communists executed as a reprisal measure for plot on soldiers on railroad station Belgrade - Torcider." Next report of 17 September 1941. Paragraph ** "Parts of the Belgrade male Jewish population transported to transit **** near Belgrade Action continuing," signed by Commander Serbia. Following is the report of 1* September 1941 the Daily Report of the Commander in Serbia the the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, "10 Communists will be hanged, attacked on railroad ****** near Kosmitrovica, I gendarme dead, I wounded." The Prosecution's **** document is NOKW-1315, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. ** It's on Page 101 of the English and page 31 of the German. It's report dated 22 September 1941 of the 738th Infantry Regiment to the 718th Infantry Division, and it relates to the forced labor of native railroad workers in Serbia. The subject of the reports is "Reports on the Operation at Stoeremiried," and you will note the receiving stamp of the 713th Infantry Division of the 25th of September 1941. "In compliance with operational order No. 8 I drove from Sarajevo towards **bad on **** 1941 at 0030 hours with the 5th Company of the *nd Battalion of the 738th Regiment."
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The Regiment's material we have eliminated Your Honors; it relates purely to tactical and operational matters; so we have not had it translated.
MR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, this document of the Prosecution's exceeds what can be called fair. If a document has only a length **** I now show to the Tribunal and one only presents the countermeasures, and that only from the first three paragraphs without fact, one can see the reason for the countermeasures which is quite plausible or which might be plausible.
I just looked through it. Then, the Prosecution should not omit that. I cannot regard countermeasures separately, especially from that which causes these countermeasures, and I now request that in this case where it is quite obvious, the Prosecution, if it submits this document, it submits it completely.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, the purpose for which we intend to use this document can be seen from the last paragraph, and I read it, "Therefore, I forced the workers by threatening to use force of arms to continue to work on the line under the fire of the insurgents and also took over the command of the Croatian soldiers as both the officers would- scarcely leave the armored car." Now, no matter what goes before, and we have taken the paragraph which immediately preceds that one and had it translated. It's the contention of the Prosecution that nothing would justify the taking of innocent civilians and forcing them to work for the Germans under the fire of the civilians' own military forces.
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Laternser, may I inquire as to your claim for the portions of the documents that are not included in the translation?
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, in this case I would like to see the whole document translated. It can not be separate. It has one page and a quarter, and the Prosecution only presents the end of it. An event cannot be judged separately from the preceding peasures. One cannot just judge from the last paragraph.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal appreciates that only a portion of this document was shown in the translation. However, there is no reason by Counsel for the defendants can not introduce in evidence in its case in chief, such portions of this document as he feels is pertinent to a proper defense. That is a matter that can be taken care of by the defendants in the presentation of their evidence. That being true, the objection will be overruled.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I should like to resume the reading of Exhibit 60, in the middle of Page 101 of the English and Page 81 of the German, the middle paragraph.
"Thereupon I had the positions of the insurgents covered with armor piercing explosive shells. However, this did not have the desired effect because the area of traverse of the tank gun is too small for it to be aimed at a side target on the heights. As, in my opinion, the insurgents wanted above all to have our work continued into the night if not to immediately prevent it, I decided to repair the line with all means at disposal before nightfall."
On the succeeding page, page 102 of the English and page 82 of the German, appears the receipt stamp of the 738 Infantry Regiment.
The prosecution's next exhibit in NOKW 194 which becomes prosecution Exhibit No. 61. It appears on page 103 of the English and page 82 of the German. It is an order dated 23 September 1941 of General Boehme as Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia. and it is to tho 342nd Division which was subordinate to General Boehme and you will note on the distribution list at the end of the document, page 104 of tho English and page 83 of the German, that informational copies of this order wore sent to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast and to the Commander of Serbia, the SXV Corps Command, and the German General in Zagreb. The subject of the order is the evacuation of Sabac and it reads as follows:
1) On 23 Sept., German patrols were shot at from houses with machine guns and rifles. Losses were sustained.
2) 342nd Div. is to evacuate Sabac by surprise attack of the entire male population between the ages of 14 and 70 and take it to a concentration camp set up by the Div. North of the Save, For this purpose, the German troops and offices in Sabac are subordinated to the 342nd Div.
3) Execution:
a) The following are to be shot at once?
All residents who take part in the battle or offer resistance, The male residents in whose houses weapons or munitions are found, from whose houses shooting takes place, or who wish to escape arrest by fleeing.
b) Care is to be taken, in liaison with the District Commander of Savac that Volkdeutsche as well as members of Allied or Neutral Nations are not hurt in tho action. The District Command is to be charged with the responsibility for their special protection.
c) Serbian officials (including police and gendarmes) are to be disarmed, but in special custody and guarded closely. So far as they take part in battle actions against the German Wehrmacht, they are to be shot at once.
d) In addition to normal clothing, the male residents to be taken to the concentration camp are to be given?
1 coat 1 blanket 1 mess kit with spoon and rations from their effects.
Ail other effects, as well as currency, are to be taken from them.
e) Right after the commencement of the operation, Sabac is to be closed for all civilian traffic to the outside. Trespassing of the locality is to be prevented by force of arms.
4) 342nd Division is to report by 1900 hours 24 September, the status of the action and the situation of the concentration camp, after completion of the action, execution by presentation of a report in three copies.
(Signed) The Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia:
Boehme On the succeeding page, page 105 of the English and page 84 of the German, is an advance order which relates to the previous order which I have just finished reading.
The advance order rads as follows:
"342nd Inf, Div. is to remove the entire male civilian population over 14 years of age out of Sabac on 24 September and conduct it into a concentration camp North of the Sava. More exact orders follow. (Signed) The Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia."
The prosecution's next document is NOKW 183 which becomes prosecution Exhibit No. 62. It begins on page 107 of the English and page 85 of the German. It is an order of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General, General Hoehme, dated 32 September 1941 and it relates to the mopping up of the Sava-Bend.
1) Enemy bands under the leadership of former Serbian Officers have been reported in the Sava-Bend west of the line Mitrovica Savac and to the south in the extensive mountain terrain.
The population in the lowland between the Drina and Sava rivers has joined the insurgent movement. Women and children take care of the intelligence service and keep up the food supply of the roving bands. Thus the entire population is participating in the revolt.
2) The lowlands in the Drina and Sava-Bend which serve as the food supply base for the insurgents is to be mopped up, and bands appearing there are to be annihilated in order to cut off the continued food supply from this area for the insurgents. By means of ruthless measures a deterring example must be created which will become known all over Serbia in a short time.
3) For this purpose the 342nd Infantry Division will cross the Sava river on X day Y hours.
And then there follows material which I don't think we need read at this time.
Dropping down to paragraph 5, "Enemy resistance is to be broken ruthlessly."
All persons participating in the fighting in any form are to be considered franc tireurs and to be treated as such.
All settlements from which or in the neighborhood of which German troops are fired on or near which arms and ammunitions are found arc to be burned down.
The entire male population from 15 to 60 years of age is to be arrested and to be transferred at first into prisoners assembly points which are to be organized by the Divisions. Later it is to be employed by sectors for labor in particular for the cutting down of cornfields on transit roads and for the bringing in of the harvest.
From the first day on the entire female population is to be employed for the same work or to be forced into labor employment.
By special order the prisoners are to be evacuated to special concentration camps which are to be organized by Commander Serbia north of the Sava and the female population is to be forced away into the Cer-Mountains to the east. The villages and farms are to be burned down but harvest stores are to be spared.
Cattle is to be driven together in cattle assembly points which are to be organized by the Division directly on both sides of the Sava.
I think we need not read the rest of the order which is signed by the defendant Boehme and is distributed to his subordinate units and his allied units, namely the 342nd Infantry Division, 125th Infantry Regiment, and informational copies to the Commander in Serbia, the Corps Command SXV, and the Plenipotentiary Commanding General and - rather the Plenipotentiary Commanding General's own departments-that is, his I-A, his Operational Department, QU Quarters, his I-C, his Intelligence, and for the War Diary.
Our next document is NOKW 1048 which becomes persecution Exhibit No. 63. It begins on page 114 of the English and page 89 of the German. This is a directive of General Boehme, the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, dated 25 September 1941. Its subject is the evacuation of the Sava Drina Bend and it goes to the Commander of Serbia with a copy for the Chief of Military Administration and to the 342nd Division. It is interesting to note that an informational copy is sent to List as Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. Another informational copy is to the Corps Command LXV, the German General in Zagreb, and the Plenipotentiary General for Economics. The order reads as follows:
In the course of the mopping up of Communists bands in the Sava Drina bend the male population between 15 and 60 years of age will be collected in prisoner assembly points while the entire rest of the population will be forced into the south into the Cer Mountains.
These measures will be executed by the unit.
A concentration camp is to be erected by Commander Serbia north of the Sava into which the prisoners can be brought from the prisoner assembly points by the unit. Regarding the possible taking over of the concentration camp organized by the 342nd Division pursuant to the order mentioned in the reference above paragraph 2, Commander Serbia will contact the division directly.
If your Honors please, I have been informed that I have been reading from Document numbered NOKW 183 which is prosecution Exhibit No. 62, so that this should not be a new document. This is a continuation of Exhibit No. 62 and not Exhibit No. 63.
Now on page 112 of the English and on page 88 of the German, continuing the reading of the order of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, dated the 25th of September, 1941, and relating to the evacuation of the Sava Drina Bend:
For the installation and guard the entire 64th Police Reserve Battalion is to be employed and will be relieved later by Volksdeutsche auxiliary service.
The chief of the military administration with Commander Serbia is charged with the direction of the concentration camps, with the political surveyance of the prisoners and with the jurisdiction.
The economics exploitation of the evacuated territory is the task of the chief of the military administration.
The interests of the plenipotentiary General for economics in Serbia are to be taken into consideration to the fullest extent. The Chief of the Military Administration is requested to guarantee the readiness for employment of Volksdeutsche auxiliary forces up to 28 Sept.
At first the 342nd Division will take over the protection of these forces against possible band attacks.
The Chief of Military Administration will report up to what time this protection is considered necessary.
For the protection of Volksdeutsche and members of Allied or Neutral states living in the Sava Drina Bend paragraph 3b of the order referred to above is to be applied accordingly. (Initialed) PM.
For the Commanding General - Plenipotentiary in Serbia Chief of the General Staff:
(Signed) Pemsel And the distribution of this order can be seen from the list.
Commander Serbia first copy Chief of Military Administration 342nd Division Wehrmacht Commander Southeast Corps Command LXV German General Zagreb General plenipotentiary for Economics The Prosecution's next document is NOKW 1048 which becomes Prosecution.
Exhibit No. 63. This is on page 114 of the English and page 89 of the German and it is a directive of General Boehme relating to the retaliation measures in Serbia. It is dated 25 September 1941 and reads as follows:
The following disposition is to be made known to all officers, non-commissioned officers and men. Distribution is to be made down to company, battery, etc.
Volksdeutsche Labor Forces are to be held in readiness for labor employment behind the unit now; the projected labor employment of the male population is accordingly dropped.
The female population is not to be put to work, likewise, but from the start, to be forced off to the Cer Mountain Range with all possible means.
(signed) Boehme Lt. Gne.
, Infantry Then dropping down to the fourth line at the bottom of the page we read:
After dissemination, destroy.
In March of this year, Serbia shamefully broke the friendship treaty with Germany, in order to strike the German units marching against Greece in the back.
German revenge stormed across the country.
We must turn to new, greater goals with all our forces at hand. For Serbia, this was the sign for a new uprising, to which hundreds of German soldiers have already fallen in sacrifice. If we do not proceed here with all means and the greatest ruthlessness, our losses will climb to immeasurable heights.
Your mission lies in carrying out reconnaissance of the country in which German blood flowed in 1914 through the treachery of the Servs, men and women.
You are avengers of these dead. An intimidating example must be created for the whole of Serbia, which must hit the whole population most severely.
Everyone who wishes to rule charitably sins against the lives of his comrades. He will be called to account without regard for his person and placed before a Court-Martial.
The next document is NOKW 1434 which becomes Prosecution Exhibit No. 64. This is a wireless message from the Plenipotentiary Commanding General Boehme, to List, as Armed Forces Commander, Southeast and it is dated the 26 of September 1941. It begins on page 116 of the English and page 91 of the German. I think we need not read anything from this document until we get to paragraph 6 which is on page 117 of the English and on page 91 of the German:
"Jews are being arrested in Smederevo and vicinity, since they were found to be instigators of the insurrection."
Then turning to page 118 of the English, paragraph 3, which is on page 92 of the German. I think the following should be read into the record at this time even though it is material which is helpful to the defense on the question of the insignia worn by the insurgent bands. Paragraph 3. "Bands near Krusevac repelled with the support of a tank platoon and Cetniks (Kosta Pocanac). 125th Infantry Regiment northwest of Valjevo shot 49 bandits including commander (Serbian Reserve Officer). 71 houses destroyed. Some of the enemy is fighting in Serbian fatigue jackets and German caps."
I think we need read no more of that document, your Honors. Our next, document is NOK 1381 which becomes Prosecution Exhibit No. 65. It is a report of the 724th Infantry Regiment, dated 27 September 1941 and relates to the insignia worn by the partisan units. The subject of the report is: Communist bands in the area, Valjevo Krupanj:
In the night of the 26 to 27 September 1941 the traffic constable of the 5th Company at the east gate, Private Seliger received the following information unasked for from the Serbian gendarme Hacinocic Milorad who was on duty with him:
He had come into contact with Communists in the neighborhood of Valjevo and had heard that the HQ and leaders of the food supply for the bands was located in the school building and the neighboring buildings in Pricevic. Kitchen and vehicles were sheltered there completely hidden from view of planes. Also air raid trenches had been dug. Their bread was baked in Pecka. Another HQs was located in Susica.
Equipment and clothes as well as weapons captured at Krupanj were utilized by the bandits. Usually they wore a Soviet star on their cap. Wagons with rubber tired wheels drawn by former troop horses brought up the bread. The prieses of Krupanj and of Pricevic as well as a former Serbian Reserve officer (Narednik?) were the leaders of the movement. The front towards Valjevo followed a line from the blasted stone bridge shortly behind Valjevo on the road to Osacina, where troops had already been fired on from machine gun nests hidden on the slopes on both sides of the road, over the heights south of Valjevo to the site of the blasting on the road to Uzice, then along the heights south of Kolubara and to the east along to Mionica and Music. In the latter places were the command posts for the destructions on the railway line Valjevo - Lajkovac. A school teacher was the Commander.
(signed) by a Lieutenant We next offer NOKW 193 as Prosecution Exhibit 66.
This is an order of the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia, General Franz Boehme, dated 27 September 1941 and it relates to the concentration camp Jarak:
The Jarak Concentration Camp is to be transferred by the 342nd Division to the 64th Police Reserve Battalion, which has assumed direct liaison. With the transfer, guarding and further construction in the camp, guarding by the police, as well as jurisprudence over the inmates are transferred to the commander of Serbia (and/or Chief of the Military Administration directly.).
As far as a juridical interrogation of individual inmates allows important information for the conduct of war to be expected a military court martial proceedings will be ordered by the plenipotentiary commanding general in Serbia from case to case. For this the Oberkriegsgerichtarat with the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia is to maintain direct liaison with the Commanding Officer of the concentration camp. Orders concerning interrogations by the troop in prisoner assembly points are to be issued through Ic.
The procuring and furnishing of rations to the concentration camp is to be carried out by the 342nd Division. Troop rations are to be provided for guard personnel and inmates.
Allocations:
a) For guard personnel: Full troop ration,
b) For inmates: Half troop ration (in any case only 200 grams of bread, and weekly 200 grams of meat).
The preparation of the food is an affair of the camp commander. The Commander Serbia is to report to the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia.
a) The strength on the first, 10th and 20th of the month.
b) Current special events and any commitments or new installations of concentration camps.
(signed) For the Plenipotentiary Commanding General in Serbia: Chief of the General Staff:
Pensel Our next document is NOKW 1043 which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 67, page 124 of the English and page 96 of the German.
These are various activity reports of the 704 Infantry Division. Report of 22 September 1941.
At 1:05 o'clock we saw troops of the 125th Infantry Regiment (as I heard later from some of the officers, their home was Saarbruecken; they were not attached to any division, independent commitment in order to "clear up matters". All branches of arms are represented.
While waiting I talked with officers of the 125th Infantry Regiment; one of them had his left arm in a sling - he had been wounded the day before in fighting with the Communists. The regiment had casualties of dead and wounded. Communists are being caught daily and shot to death immediately - for instance, 12 in one day.
On page 125 of the English, the report of 704th Infantry Division continues. It is on page 96 of the German. This document is very revealing on how the Germans knew who a Communist was.
"Dragoljub Dragojlovic, Judge from Valjevo, Duzanova 41, reports as follows regarding an incident of 25 Sept. 41:
My brother Zivan Dragojlovic, 29 years of age from Radjevo Selo, 3,5 kilometers North of Valjevo, together with his uncle Radovan Dragojlovic was carrying bricks on their ox cart. Machine gun fire could be heard from the 300 meters distant forest belonging to family Dragojlovic. My younger brother Duzan Dragojlovic 19 years of age was just carrying nuts through the court yard into the room where the prune drying ovens stood. German soldiers entered the court, aimed their rifles on Duzan and called him 'Communist', he answered 'no communist'. Duzan who knows a few words of German called 'My brother, my house!' Thereupon the soldiers asked for the identification papter. Both showed their identification papers in addition, Zivan showed his prisoner identification. Then, the soldiers searched all buildings and only found a saddle which was my property. The soldier asked whether it was a soldier's saddle. Duzan answered: "My brother is an officer, Sudja from Valjevo." Thereupon, both brothers were handcuffed and led 300 meters down the country road. There they met the above mentioned Radovan Dragojlovic and his brother Andrija Dragojlovic, both of them had been arrested by other soldiers. Zivan carried the saddle. An interpreter standing near Radovan asked him who owned the saddle. Zivan answered in Serbian that the saddle belonged to the reserve officer Dragoljub Dragojlovic. Question: 'Where is the horse?' 'By order of the German Wehrmacht the horse was turned in.' The interpreter said that you don't have to be afraid. You only have to come to Valjevo for an interrogation. Radovan and Andrejia were to remain there.
"They were asked what they were being there. Answer: 'Together with Zivan, we were carrying bricks for a building.' The soldiers themselves saw that the bricks and the sand were there.