Instructions to military offices and commanders on dealing with resistance in occupied territories, including Hitler's order to use "the most drastic measures" against opponents, and an order for reprisal killings

The Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces
Fuehrer's Headquarters
16th September 1941
WFSt/Section L(IV)Qu)
No. 002060/41 Most Secret 40 copies, 25th copy
Subject: Communist Insurrection in occupied territories
1. Since the beginning of the campaign against Soviet Russia,
Communist insurrection movements have broken out everywhere in the areas occupied by Germany. The type of action taken is growing from propaganda measures and attacks on individual members of the Armed Forces, into open rebellion and widespread guerilla warfare. .
It can be seen that this is a mass movement centrally directed by Moscow, who is also responsible for the apparently trivial isolated incidents in areas which up to now have been otherwise quiet. '
In view of the many political and economic crises in the occupied areas, it must, moreover, be anticipated, that nationalist and other circles will make full use of this opportunity of making difficulties for the German occupying forces by associating themselves with the Communist insurrection.
This creates an increasing danger to the German war effort, which shows itself chiefly in general insecurity for the occupying troops, and has already led to the withdrawal of forces to the main centers of disturbance.
2. The measures taken up to now to deal with this general insurrection movement have proved inadequate. The Fuehrer has now given orders that we take action everywhere with the most drastic means in order to crush the movement in the shortest possible time.
Only this course, which has always been followed successfully throughout the history of the extension of influence of great peoples can restore order.
3. Action taken in this matter should be in accordance with the following general directions: a. It should be inferred, in every case of resistance to the German occupying forces, no matter what the individual circumstances, that it is of Communist origin.
b. In order to nip these machinations in the bud, the most drastic measures should be taken immediately on the first indication, so that the authority of the occupying Forces may be main-
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tained, and further spreading prevented. In this connection it should be remembered that a human life in unsettled countries frequently counts for nothing and a deterrent effect can be attained only by unusual severity. The death penalty for 50-100 Communists should generally be regarded in these cases as suitable atonement for one German soldier's life. The way in which sentence is carried out should still further increase the deterrent effect. The reverse course of action, that of imposing relatively lenient penalties, and of being content, for purposes of deterrence, with the threat of more severe measures, does not accord with these principles and should therefore not be followed.
c. The political relations between Germany and the country in which the disturbance is taking place, are no criterion for the censuring of the military authorities in occupation. Rather, it should be borne in mind and so represented in propaganda, that stern measures also rid the inhabitants of the Communist criminals, and are thus to their own advantage. Clever propaganda of this kind will consequently not result in the severe measures against the Communists having an undesirable reaction on the well-disposed sections of the population.
d. Forces formed from the local inhabitants will generally fail to accomplish such acts of violence. They should on no account receive further support, for this involves increased danger to cur own troops. On the other hand, the fullest use can be made of rewards and remuneration for the population, in order to ensure their cooperation in a suitable way.
e. Where, in exceptional cases, court martial proceedings should be instituted in connection with Communist insurrections or other offences against the German occupying Forces, the most severe penalties are indicated. In this connection only the death penalty can constitute a real deterrent. In particular, acts of espionage, deeds of sabotage and attempts to enter the Armed Forces of a foreign power, should as a matter of principle, be punished by death. Sentence of death should also as a general rule, be passed in cases of illicit possession of arms.
4. The Commanding Officers in the occupied territories are seeing to it that these principles are made known without delay to all military establishments concerned in dealing with Communist measures of insurrection.
Keitel
[Illegible initial]
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Keitel
[Illegible initial]
C-148
Distribution:
Armed Forces Commander South East.........................
with Intelligence Section, Officer Commanding Serbia .....
with Intelligence Section, Officer Commanding Salonica-Aegean with Intelligence Section, Officer Commanding Southern Greece
with Intelligence Section, Officer Commander Crete . ....
Armed Forces Commander Norway ............................
Armed Forces Commander Netherlands .......................
Armed Forces Commander Eastern territory .................
Armed Forces Commander Ukraine ...........................
Copies . 1st . 2nd . 3rd
. 4th . 5th . 6th . 7th . 8th . 9th
Armed Forces plenipotentiary with the Reich Protector in Bohemia
and Moravia ................................................ 10th
Supreme Command of the Army (Ops Section) .................... 11th
(OQu IV) ................................................... 12th
(Gen. Qu) with Intelligence Section for .................... 13th
Military Commander France .................................. 14th
Military Commander Belgium and Northern France ............. 15th
Military Commander with Government of Poland ............... 16th
Chief of Army Ordnance and BdE with Intelligence............ 17th
Section for Officer Commanding German troops in Denmark .... 18th
C-in-C of the Air Force (General staff of the Air Force) ..... 19th
Supreme Command of the Navy (Naval War Staff) ................ 20th
Armistice Commission Wiesbaden ............................... 21st
Foreign Office for the attention of Herr Botsch Ritter........ 22nd
Orders staff Frankfurt/O) (Verfuegungstab) ................... 23rd
Orders staff Breslau ) via LIII .............................. 24th
Supreme Command of the Armed Forces
Armed Forces Ops Staff ..................................... 25th
Section L ............................................26th-32nd
Armed Forces Propaganda .................................... 33rd
Foreign Department / Abwehr ....................;........... 34th
Foreign Section .......................................... 35th
Abwehr III ...............;............................... 36th
Economic Ordnance Dept: (Wi Rue Amt) ....................... 37th
General Armed Forces Dept................................... 38th
WR [?] ..................................................... 39th
Admin Officer with Government of Poland Cracow ............. 40th