TOP SECRET By Officer Only
The Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
Berlin, 21 Oct 1938
10 copies 3rd copy OKW L la, No. 236/38 Top Secret
The future tasks for the Armed Forces and the preparations for the conduct of war resulting from these tasks will be laid down by me in a later Directive.
Until this Directive comes into force the Armed Forces must be prepared at all times for the following eventualities:
1. The securing of the frontiers of Germany and the protection against surprise air attacks.
2. The liquidation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia.
3. The occupation of the Memelland.
1. Securing the Frontiers of Germany and Protection against Surprise Air Raids
947
C—136
2. Liquidation of the Remainder of Czechoslovakia
It must be possible to smash at any time the remainder of Czechoslovakia if her policy should become hostile towards Germany.
The preparations to be made by the Armed Forces for this contingency will be considerably smaller in extent than those for "Gruen"; they must however, guarantee a continuous and considerably higher state of preparedness, since planned mobilization measures have been dispensed with. The organisation, order of battle and state of readiness of the units earmarked for that purpose are in peace-time to be so arranged for a surprise assault that Czechoslovakia herself will be deprived of all possibility of organised resistance. The object is the swift occupation of Bohemia and Moravia and the cutting off of Slovakia. The preparations should be such, that at the same time "Grenzsicherung West" (The Measures of frontier defence in the West) can be carried out.
The detailed mission of Army and Air Force is as follows:
a. ARMY: The units stationed in the vicinity of Bohemia-Moravia and several motorized divisions are to be earmarked for a surprise type of attack. Their number will be determined by the forces remaining in Czechoslovakia; a quick and decisive success must be assured. The assembly and preparations for the attack must be worked out. Forces not needed will be kept in readiness in such a manner that they may be either committed in securing the frontiers or sent after the attacking army.
b. AIR FORCE: The quick advance of the German Army is to be assured by an early elimination of the Czech Air Force.
For this purpose the commitment in a surprise attack from peacetime bases has to be prepared. Whether for this purpose still stronger forces may be required can be determined from the development of the military situation in Czechoslovakia only. At the same time a simultaneous assembly of the remainder of the offensive forces against the West must be prepared. '
3. Annexation of the Memel District * * * * * * *
Signed: Adolf Hitler Authenticated /s/ Keitel
Distribution: OKH 1st copy, RdL & ObdL 2nd copy, OKM 3rd copy, OKW (including stock) 4th to 10th copy.
948
Instructions to the armed forces on future tasks, including the liquidation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia
Authors
Adolf Hitler (Fuehrer, Reich Chancellor, Supeme Commander of Wehrmacht)
Adolf Hitler
Austrian nationalized German politician, leader of the National Socialist party and dictator of Germany (1889-1945)
- Born: 1889-01-01 1889-04-20 (Braunau am Inn) (country: Austria-Hungary; located in the administrative territorial entity: Archduchy of Austria above the Enns; statement is subject of: Adolf-Hitler-Geburtshaus)
- Died: 1945-04-30 (Berlin Führerbunker) (country: Nazi Germany; located in the administrative territorial entity: Berlin; statement is subject of: death of Adolf Hitler)
- Country of citizenship: Cisleithania (period: 1889-04-20 through 1918-11-11); First Republic of Austria (period: 1919-01-01 through 1925-04-30); Nazi Germany (end cause: death of Adolf Hitler; period: 1933-01-30 through 1945-04-30); Republic of German-Austria (period: 1918-01-01 through 1919-01-01)
- Occupation: painter (statement is subject of: paintings by Adolf Hitler); political writer; politician (reason for preferred rank: generally used form); soldier
- Member of political party: German Workers' Party (period: 1919-09-12 through 1921-07-11); Nazi Party (series ordinal: 556)
- Member of: Nazi Party
- Participant in: Aktion T4; Beer Hall Putsch; The Holocaust; ethnic cleansing
- Significant person: Albert Speer; Benito Mussolini; Eva Braun; Joseph Stalin
Wilhelm Keitel (Field Marshal, Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces)
Wilhelm Keitel
German field marshal
- Born: 1882-09-22 (Helmscherode) (country: German Empire; located in the administrative territorial entity: Duchy of Brunswick)
- Died: 1946-10-16 (Nuremberg) (country: Allied-occupied Germany)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: military officer; military personnel; politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Military rank: general field marshal
- Military branch: artillery
- VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/74027425
Date: 21 October 1938
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: C-136
HLSL Item No.: 451823
Notes:Another copy of C 136 was entered in the trial as US exhibit 104; this copy was not entered as evidence on the OKW. The instructions mention the tasks of securing the frontiers and the occupation of the Memelland (in Lithuania), but the corresponding texts are omitted. For a follow-up message, see document C 138 by Keitel.
Trial Issues
Criminal organizations (Gestapo, Leadership Corps, Cabinet, SS, SD, OKW) (… Wars of aggression
Document Summary
C-136: Hitler order of 21 October 1938 outlining preparations for war