Also Brigadier General Glaise von Horstenau, the German general in Zagreb.
I think we need not read the entire minutes. They concern themselves with a good deal of tactical and purely military operational material. I call Your Honors' attention to paragraph 3 of the minutes, which is on page 113 of the English, page 76 of the German, the forces which were available for the operations, the command operations of the Italian and German units.
Next on page 114 of the English and page 77 of the German, the general plan of operations:
"General Plan of Operations:
"It was established that the fight against the insurgents in Croatia had to be carried out according to a unified point of view; i.e., a concentric operation will have to be carried out on the basis of an estimate of the significance of the individual zones of insurrection. East Bosnia was called the most important zone of insurrection. The forces available will be employed here first. Later operations will extend in a northwest direction. The Commander-in-Chief of the Second Army will lay down the plan of operation and will agree with General Bader on the method by which these operations will be carried out in Bosnia. General Bader - subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief of the Second Army - will direct the operations himself, To this end the German, Italian, and Croatian army units assigned to the operations are subordinate to him."
Next skipping to paragraph 8, "Occupation of the Areas and Police Services", which is on page 115 of the English and page 78 of the German:
"Occupation troops will be left in the territories cleaned up by the operations in order to secure quiet and police services. This police service will be carried out by occupation troops and the corresponding police organs and in addition by the Croatian Gendarmerie. It was suggested that General Laxa see to the reinforcement of this gendarmerie.
"It is agreed that the administration (civil power) in the occupied territories will be carried out in the beginning by the military authorities.
After the pacification of the individual zones the Croatian civil authorities will be employed for administration pursuant to the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Second Italian Army."
Next follows the line of demarcation, which I think we need not read, but continuing with paragraph 10:
"Relation to Chetniks and to the Communists:
"It is agreed that no liaison of any sort will take place with the insurgents, neither with the Chetniks nor with the Communists.
"11) Treatment of the Rebels and of the Population:
"It is ordered that all rebels caught bearing weapons must be shot to death as well as any person in their employ or supporting them. Villages in which arms and ammunition are found or from which the rebels have been employed in any way whatsoever be burned down.
"During and after the operations the occupation units will treat the population with understanding and justly. Then the Croatian government will take measures to restore law and order. For this purpose it will immediately make the legal provisions necessary for the existence of the population."
Page 117 of the English and page 80 of the German, the minutes end. They are signed:
"Abbazia, the 3rd of March 1942, 1930 hours "By Vladimir Laxa, Major General, "By Kuntze and "By General D. Ambrosio."
Continuing on page 117 of the English, page 81 of the German, a communication from Combat Group Bader dated 29 March 1942. Your Honors will note the receipt stamp of the Commanding General in Command in Serbia for the 30th of March 1942.
"On 28 March P.M. continuation of the conference with practically the same participants as in the morning. General Roatta asks numerous questions and as a result he establishes essentially the following:
"1. The Croatian administration actually carries out even toda sovereignty rights in the insurrection area.
"2. The territory between Save, Drina, and Bosna is declared operation area under the commanding officer of the German 718th Division. A representative of the Croatian government is with him who will transfer to Combat Group Bader with the transfer of command.
"3. The verbal note of the Croatian government according to which the taking over of the actual power by authorities other than the Croatian government signifies interference with the sovereignty of the Croatian state is based on mistaken assumptions. Not only according to German and Italian but also according to general international custom the commander of a unit exercises the executive power during an operation, in as far as the operation demands."
I think we need not spend too much time on the intervening pages of this report from Combat Group Bader. They are largely of a tactical and operational nature. I call Your Honors' attention to paragraph 14 of the communication which is on page 122 of the English and page 86 of the German:
"14. Attitude toward the Population:
"a. Insurgents encountered bearing arms or in combat.
"b. Insurgents whose participation in combat can be proven.
"c. Suspects.
"d. Unsuspected persons.
"The population under 'a' and 'b' is to be shot to death; under 'c' to be 'removed'; under 'd' to be released."
Then continuing on page 123 of the English, page 87 of the German, paragraph 19:
"19. At the conclusion, the Chetnik problem was again discussed and again very thoroughly. (As during the entire conference, each word was taken down by several stenographers.)
"General Roatta states:
"a. Communists are the enemy of all. Under no circumstances can negotiations be carried on with them.
"b. Chetniks, it is true, are enemies of Croatia but they are not enemies of the Axis. It would be practical therefore to negotiate at first with Chetniks only, of course, with the consent of the Croatian government."
And at the bottom of the page: "The conference was concluded approximately 1130 hours. Distribution as Ia 101/42 Top Secret." Signed Bader, Lieutenant General of Artillery.
Next turn to page 126 of the English, page 88 of the German document book, Document NOKW-1745, which becomes Prosecution Exhibit 531. This is an order of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, dated Headquarters 18 April 1943. The order is to the "Chief of the 6th Company of 4th Regiment Brandenburg":
"1) In modification of the order of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia Ia, No. 1283/43 Secret of 14 April 43, the company is to be transferred to Trstenik on 20/21 April and to be subordinated to the I Royal Bulgarian Occupation Corps. Report of transport to be made by company.
"2) Task: Guarding of Goc area (bands Gordic and Keserovic) as well as the carrying out in cooperation with the SD of mopping up and punitive measures as proposed by the Serbian Minister of the Interior of the 16th of April; see enclosure. (Enclosure sent ahead to the Company Brandenburg) "3) In execution of paragraph one of the instructions, the commander of the security police shoots to death ten DM followers brought in from the district Trstenik during operation 'Heinrich'."4) The Commandant of the Administrative Sub-Area Headquarters 610 imposes a fine according to paragraph 2 of the proposal.
"5) Execution is to be reported. Publication and propagandists exploitation of the measures will be organized from here after conclusion."
Signed "Bader".
We continue on page 128 of the English, page 89 of the German, Document NOKW 1713, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 532.
"Combat Group Western Bosnia, dated Staff Headquarters, 14 July 1942. Receipt Stamp: Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, Operation Plan ....."
I think we need not read it. It is largely of a tactical nature. I call your Honors' attention to paragraph 6 of page 129 of the English, page 90 of the German Document Book:
"Behavior towards the Population.
"Partisans and persons who aid them are to be shot by the forces after interrogation. Important persons will be sent for detailed interrogation to higher headquarters.
"All men over 14 years old, except frail old men , of the ARE to be mopped up between Una and Sana, are to be arrested and taken to Collection Camps. Women and children are to be left in their villages or ordered to return there.
Signed Stahl," Who is Commander of Combat Group Western Bosnia.
We return next to page 131 in the English, page 91 in the German, Document NOKW 1721, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 533. These are a series of reports and orders of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia. First, is a report from the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia dated - Headquarters, 1 August 1942 to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast.
Your Honors will recall at this time 1 August 1942 Commanding General and Commander in Serbia is General Bader, and his Chief of Staff is the defendant Gaitner and on 1 August 1942 the defendant Kunze is still Wehrmacht Commander Southeast and his Chief of Staff is the defendant Foertsch.
"TO Wehrmacht Commander Southeast Stamp:
SECRET 1. Enemy Situation.
Losses up to date incurred during mopping up of the Una-Sana bend (final report not yet available):
Germans: 6 dead, 11 wounded Croatian:
11 dead, 24 wounded Enemy:
450 dead, 1946 prisoners (of this 269 were shot as convicted partisans) The German Battalions subordinated to the Railway Security Staff (for special service) BROD conducted successful mopping up operations on both sides of the railroad Zagreb-Belgrad.
Enemy sabotage is diminishing in the Fruska Gora. The enemy suffered losses, 90 convicted patisans were shot by the Croatian Police. North of the Line Nova Gradiska - Nevska the enemy was forced to move North by German operations. An additional battalion will arrive at Popovaca today."
Next is the distribution list and we might as well note on the distribution list Wehrmacht Commander Southeast and Higher SS and Police Commanders.
Continuing with the report of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia:
"Own Losses during the period 16 - 25 July 1942:"
I call your Honors attention simply to total losses, under own losses: 85 dead, 55 wounded, 131 missing. Total under enemy losses, l,600/dead, 49 wounded, 2,177 arrested.
Page 133 of the English, and page 92 of the German, there is another report of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia. This one is dated Headquarters: 11 August 1942, to Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. The Wehrmacht Commander Southeast at this time, 11 August 1942, is General Loehr, whose Chief of Staff is the defendant Foertsch. The defendant Geitner continues to be Chief of Staff of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia:
"I. ENEMY SITUATION
c) Area Vrbas - Sana - Una:
In the Kozara area dispersed enemy forces of about 500 men have to be taken into consideration. Total enemy losses during the Kozara operation amount to about 4300 dead and 10,600 prisoners and people taken into temporary custody.
. . . . . . . .
The strength of the Serbian State Guard (Racial Germans and Hungarian origin) in the Banat amounts to 39 officers and 1063 E.M. During raids in the BANAT 60 Communists were arrested . . . . .
VII. Administration No events occurred worth noticing.
In detention camps there are 102 hostages and 1481 retaliation prisoners.
Signed for the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, Chief of Staff von Geitner."
Continuing with the bottom of page 134 of the English, and 93 of the German, I call your Donors' attention to the total losses under "Own Losses:" 96 dead, 159 wounded, 23 missing, as compared to enemy losses during the same period: 1,494 dead, 119 wounded, 1,946 prisoners.
We turn next to page 136 of the English, page 95 of the German ----
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal has some matters which will require some additional time during the noon hour and we will adjourn at this time until 1:30.
(A recess was taken until 1330 hours)
AFTERNOON SESSION (The hearing reconvened at 1330 hours.)
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed, Mr. Fenstermacher.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Thank you, your Honor. Prior to luncheon recess we had just finished NOKW 1721 which was offered as Exhibit 533 and we continue now on page 136 of the English, page 95 of the German, Document NOKW 1668 which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 534.
This is an exchange of correspondence between the Armed Forces Commander Southeast and Commanding General in Serbia covering the period 23 August 1943 to 11 November 1942 during which period General Loehr was Armed Forces Commander Southeast and his Chief of Staff was the defendant Foertsch and General Bader was Commanding General and Commander in Serbia and his Chief of Staff was the defendant Geitner. The first communication is from Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, dated Army Headquarters, 23 August 1942.
"Subject: Conversation between Colonel Kogard and Lieutenant Colonel in the General Staff Pfafferott.
"To the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia:
"We issue in the following an excerpt of an operational order of the 7 Company Demonstration Regiment "Brandenburg":
"Mission: In order to make the presence of German troops felt, the group Wedel gives the following order to the company: The company is to advance again into the area of Marini and is to shoot to death all persons men, women and children who are still there.
Signed:
"For the Wehrmacht Commander (12th Army Headquarters) The Chief of the General Staff I A Pfafferott Lieutenant Colonel in the General Staff" Your Honors will note receipt stamp of Commanding General and Commander in Serbia dated 28 August 1942.
Page 137 of the English, page 96 of the German: This is a communication of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia dated 1 September 1942:
"Reference: Conversation between Colonel Kogard and Major in the General Staff Gehm.
"Subject: Order of the Combat group West Bosnia to shoot to death insurgents.
"To the 714 Infantry Division.
"The OKH Office Counter Intelligence has objected to an order issued to the 7 Company Demonstration Regiment "Brandenburg" to shoot to death men, women and children. Such an order was unknown here."
The order which now has been transmitted in excerpt by the OKH Office Counter Intelligence reads as follows:
"Mission: In order to make the presence of German Troops felt, the group Wedel gives the following order to the company: The company is to advance again into the area Marini and is to shoot to death all persons men, women and children who are still there."
We request an immediate answer.
Signed:
For the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia The Chief of the General Staff:
Geitner Next on page 138 of the English, page 97 of the German, Communication from the 714 Infantry Division dated 5 September 1942.
Commanding General and Commander in Serbia.
Subject: Shooting to death of insurgents, Combat Group West Bosnia.
Reference: Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, Department Ia No. 406/42 top secret, of 1 September 42.
We beg to be permitted to present our answer to the above matter on 9 September instead of 16 September as the Commander of the 721 Infantry Division is on leave.
Signed:
For the Division Headquarters The Ia Major Then at the bottom of page 138 of the English, 98 in the German, communication from the 714 Infantry Division, dated 18 September 1942 to the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, with respect to the same matter.
The next follows on page 139 of the English and 98 of the German:
The requested answer could only now be submitted because of the leave and subsequent commitment of Lieutenant Colonel von Wedel.
The Combat Group Westbosnia of Lieutenant Colonel von Wedel did not give an order either in writing or orally to shoot to death women and children.
During the operation of the Company Demonstration Regiment Brandenburg the deputy company commander once drew the attention of Lieutenant Colonel von Wedel to the fact that women were often encountered among the fighting partisans. Thereupon Lieutenant Colonel von Wedel answered that no clemency could be shown to such rifle women. Children on the other hand were not mentioned:
To stress the presence of German troops was not necessary as their performances and successes were sufficiently known to the partisans as well as to the population.
Continuing a communication from the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia Local Headquarters dated 23 September 1942.
To Wehrmacht Commander Southeast Saloniki.
The following answer was received by the 714 Infantry Division:
The text is the same as in the preceeding memorandum from Stahl except that it is signed for the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, Chief of General Staff Geitner.
Continuing on the bottom of page 140 of the English and 100 of the German, is another communication from the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast dated 11 November, 1942:
"Subject: Shooting to death of women and children.
"To the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia.
"Original Document will be sent in supplement to your report of 23 September concerning the enquiry of the OKW/Office Counter Intelligence of 2 November 42 requesting another answer after examination of the matter.
Signed for the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast.
(12 th Army Headquarters)
The Chief of the General Staff. I.A."
The receipt stamp of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia for the 14th of November appears on the bottom of that particular page and document. At the bottom of page 141 of the English and 101 of the German is a communication from the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia dated 17 November 1942:
To the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. After conversation with the Commander of the 714 Infantry Division it was confirmed that his attitude of 18 September 42 Ia No 328/42 top secret is entirely maintained. This attitude is given literally in the letter of the Commanding General and Commander of 23 September 42.
The character of Lieutenant Colonel von Wedel guarantees that an order, in the style of the order issued by the 7th company of the Demonstration Regiment Brandenburg was not issued.
and the letter is initialed "B" The next document NOKW 722 has already been introduced in evidence, in document book IX so we will pass it, and continue on page 153 of the English and 110 of the German, NOKW 793 which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 535.
This is an order of the XXII Infantry Division of 13 December 1942. At the time that division was operating on Crete, the Wehrmacht was directly subordinated to Wehrmacht Commander Southeast who at the time was General Loehr whose Chief of Staff was the defendant Foertsch.
"Subject: Alert Plan, Arrest of Hostages.
"1. The arrest of hostages is to be considered in the alert plans, according to the order referred to. The setting-up of lists of hostages serves for the preparation of this measure. The lists of hostages are to be set up and presented by the section and sub-section heads, according to expert and local suggestions of the Secret Field Police and the District Headquarters. This is to be carried out according to the following principles:
"a) Lists of hostages are to be set up for all localities and their neighboring localities occupied by troops. The section heads are to determine which localities are to be considered as neighboring localities. The concept 'neighboring locality' is to be construed as narrowly as possible with regard for the strong load on the fighting units. Localities which lie more than three kilometers away from the quarters of the troops are not, in general, to be regarded as neighboring localities.
"b) Those persons, if occasion arises also of the female sex, are especially to be regarded as hostages who have shown an attitude inimical to the Germans or allow such to be expected. Mayors in office and local clergy are not to be utilized as hostages.
"c) In general one percent of the local residents, however not less than 5 and not more than 150 per locality, are to be considered for hostages. The arrest of substitute hostages is to be prepared for hostages who have fled.
"d) The lists of hostages are to be presented to the division, branch Ic, by 1 Jan 43 for examination by the counter intelligence agencies.
"II. Arrest and collection of hostages in prepared shelters (churches, schools, and similar) is to be ordered by the section and subsection heads. The arrest and guarding of the hostages is to be carried out by the unit. The feeding of the hostages is to be the obligation of the communities.
"III. The section commanders are to decide about the further use of hostages. Shooting may take place only with the approval of the division. The section commanders have the right to decide about the lives of the hostages only in the prospect of danger.
"IV. The arresting of hostages according to special decree (in searches for weapons and similar measures) remains unaffected by this.
"(Signed) Mueller."
The order is signed by Mueller, Commanding Officer 22nd Infantry Division, who Your Honors will recall was executed in Greece as a war criminal sometime in May of this year.
The next document is NOKW-1710, which has previously been submitted in evidence in Document Book 9, so we will pass it at this time and continue instead to page 158 of the English and page 114 of the German. This exhibit is NOKW-1807, offered as Prosecution Exhibit 536. This is a photograph which we were unable to put into the document book itself. We have put into the document book the translation of the writing which appeared on the photograph. I now hand Your Honors three copies of the photograph which is to be inserted at page 158 of the document book, and copies for the Secretary General. Attached to it is a certificate issued by Vincent Zeisler, a research analyst in charge of the Washington screening team, which certifies the photograph showing a group of soldiers in the Yugoslav Army was secured by him from the files of the XV Mountain Corps and that the file at the present time is located in the Document Center in the Pentagon Building, Washington, D.C. On the back of the photograph there is certain writing in the Yugoslav language which we have translated. It reads:
"VIS to 2 January 1943 - souvenir from a trip of a group of Likanians. Starcevic, Stjel...? Miskovic, Antic, Uselac."
We call Your Honors attention to the full uniform which the men in the photograph are wearing and to the red stars appearing on their capes. The photograph was found in the files of the XV Mountain Corps, and from the writing on the back of the photograph, "2 January 1943," we may feel that this was the date on or about which the photograph was taken.
I call Your Honors' attention to the date and type of uniform which the men in the photograph were wearing at that time.
We turn next to page 159 of the English and page 115 of the German document book, NOKW-1755, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 537. This exhibit is a series of excerpts from the War Diary of the Commanding General and Commander of Serbia, February 2, 1943. At that time the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia was Bader, and his Chief of Staff was the defendant Geitner. The Commanding General and Commander in Serbia was subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief Southeast, who at that time was Loehr, and whose Chief of Staff was the defendant Foertsch. The entry in the War Diary is:
"2 February 1943.
"Teletype orders to 610th Administrative Sub Area Headquarters to shoot to death a total of 16 communists and D.M. followers in reprisal for destruction of telephone line Krusevac-Aleksandrovac 25 and 27 January. The above to be made known publicly and the execution to be reported. The Chief of the Security Police---"
THE PRESIDENT: From what page are you reading?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Page 159 English, page 115 the German document book. The entry in the War Diary for the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, February 2, 1943.
"---will see that prisoners for reprisal measures are available.
"Teletype reprisal orders to the 610th Administrative Sub Area Headquarters for the blasting of the line Lajkovac-Cacak on 31 January for the shooting to death 20 communists and 20 D.M. followers, additional reprisal orders for the murder of the official in the taxation department in Boljkovac for the shooting to death of five communists and five followers of D.M."
Next, the entry for 3 February 1943:
"The Commandant of District Headquarters of Zajecar complains about independent arrest of hostages by the SD and proposes the removal of the confidential agent Arsenijevic.
The Chief orders a settling of the matter by personal conversation with SS-Standartenfuehrer Schaefer (compare enclosure)."
Continuing the entry for 16 February 1943:
"The civilians arrested after the murder of Colonel Hens of the 704th Infantry Division are not to be shot to death as reprisal as formerly intended but deported for work as most of them are innocent. Four hundred communists from the camp in Belgrade are to be shot to death as reprisal measure. Corresponding teletype instructions to the Commander of the 704th Infantry Division and the Commander of the Security Police."
Finally, the entry in the War Diary of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia for 18 February 1943:
"Teletype message to 809th Administrative Sub Area Headquarters that there is no objection to the use of the 2000 male persons considered as hostages in the District Leskovac, as workers for B, provided that a sufficient number of reprisal prisoners remain available."
Turning next to page 161 of the English, page 117 of the German, NOKW-1748, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 538. This is a telephone message from Reserve Grenadier Battalion of 135th Regiment to Group West, dated 7 February 1947.
"Yesterday the area of the group Hofmann was combed according to orders. In Novi Grabovac and in Subockigrad three partisans were encountered with weapons and communist papers, and were shot to death. In the rest of the area no bands were encountered. Novi Grabovac was half burned down and fifty percent of the population was sent to the transit camp in Sisak as partisan suspects. The number of hostages from this place, including women and children, amounts to about 70 persons; the exact number will follow.
"The communist papers as well as a list will be forwarded to the division via the courier service.
"Group Hofmann requests information where requisitioned cattle is evacuated."
Signed "Captain Hofmann".
On page 162 of English, page 118 of the German, is a document NOKW1806, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 539. This exhibit contains excerpts from a booklet on the Draza Mihajlovic movement, which was issued by the OKH, the Army High Command in Berlin. I call Your Honors' attention to the date of this booklet, February 9, 1943.
"The Draza Mihajlovic Movement as of 1 February 1943.
"The present report issued in limited distribution may not be forwarded to other offices."
Signed "Commander-in-Chief Southeast (High Command Army Group E)".
Your Honors will recall at this time, February 9, 1943, General Loehr was Commander-in-Chief Southeast, and his Chief of Staff was the defendant Foertsch.
Your Honors will note from the table of contents which appears on page 163 a complete report on this partisan movement. This booklet is broken down into:
"General Information.
"1) Development.
"2) Aims of the Movement.
"3) The Personality of Draza Mihajlovic.
"B) Political Relations.
"C) Military Organization.
"D) 'The General Revolt'.
"E) Final Conclusions."
I think we need not read it all. I should like to find out as we go through certain dates, I should like your Honors to pay particular attention to.
Part II contains a series of enclosures. Your Honors will note one section of Part II "Brigades ascertained up until now," that is until February 1, 1943. Also a section on "Commanders and Confidential Agents."
I should like to begin on page 164 of the English, page 121 of the German. Since the Draza Mihajlovic Movement is one of the two Draza movements which was operated during the entire German occupation in Yugoslavia, the German report on the movement is of particular importance.
"A) General Information
1.) Development "Among the various Insurgent Movements which increasingly cause trouble in the area of the former Jugoslav State, the Movement of Draza Mihajlovic stands in first place with regard to leadership, organization and activity.
It is composed of the following groups:
1.) "Cetnic-Units"
2.) "Followers of DM".
"In the former Jugoslavia the "Cetnici" were a reliable voluntary Combat Organization which however was organized by the State and supported with arms and money. At the beginning of the war they were organized as Shock- (Jurisni) - Battalions for the carrying out of special tasks. Immediately after the capitulation of the Jugoslavian Army most of these Cetnici grouped together in Great Serbian Combat Units under the leadership of their officers thus forming the foundation of the DM Movement.
In order to be able to work unmolested in the scope of their overall organization they camouflage themselves in Serbia under the cover of "Cetnik-Units loyal to the Government", in Montenegro as "National Militia", in Dalmatia as "Anti-communists" and in Bosnia as "Loyal Cetnik-units"."The Followers of DM come from all classes of the population and at present comprise about 80% of the Serbian people.
Hoping for the liberation from the "alien yoke" and for a better new order and an economical and social new balance their number is continuously increasing.
"2.) Aims of the Movement "The aim of the DM-Movement is the creation of a Great-Serbian State which is to comprise former Jugoslavia as well as the frontier regions of Hungary, Albania and Bulgaria under the leadership of King Peter II, from the House Karadjordje.
The DM-Movement the attitude of which is more great-serbiannational than Jugoslav conceives as its primary task the liberation of the Serbian people.
The future State shall therefore be governed by Serbian Leaders only. To all other peoples being "Minorities" rising to leading positions in the new State is to be made impossible.
"3.) The Personality of Draza Mihajlovic.
Draza Mihajlovic was born in 1893 as the son of a Serbian Officer in Cacak. His ancestors were Serbian peasants. Shortly after he had joined the Serbian Army the Balkan Wars began in the course of which he was twice decorated and rose to the grade of 2nd Lieutenant. On 1 September 1918 he was promoted Lieutenant and took part in that rank in the combats at the Salonika front. After being wounded he was decorated by the King for his courage with the order of "White Eagle".
He was taken over into the Jugoslav Army, graduated from the War Academy and was then employed alternately in offices of the General Staff and with the troops.
"As Military Attache in Prague and Sofia he was able to gain a good insight into the political relations in the Balkans.
"In 1937 DM was relieved as Colonel in the General Staff. The reason presumably for this were his continuous differences of opinion with his superiors and his morbid ambition and selfwilledness.
Soon after the breaking up of Jugoslavia he tried to take into his own hands the fate of his people.
"As a fanatic fighter for the Great-Serbian idea and enthusiastic follower of the Royal House he began to build in Western Serbia a movement which today entends over all of Serbia, Bosnia, Dalmatia as well as into the frontier areas of Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria.
"The center of the movement is located in Montenegro. There DM believes himself to be out of danger of being caught by the German occupations troops.
"In January 1942 the Jugoslav Government in Exile appointed DM General of the Army, and at the same time he was appointed "Commander -in -Chief of the Jugoslav Home-Army"; a short time afterwards he was appointed Minister of War.
"On account of his absolute undisputed position as Military Leader the large majority of the Serbian people also look towards him as the coming political leader of the new Jugoslavia."
-Then follows the Political Relations, and Political Organization of the DM- Movement.
I should like to pick up the text on page 167 of English, and page 124 of the German:
"Each Region is under the orders of a "Regional Commander". He supervises within his region the entire political and military organization and propaganda. At the time of the "General Revolt" he is responsible for the quick reestablishing of peace and order.
"The regions are subdivided according to their size into districts. The District Commanders have in their areas essentially the same tasks as the Regional Commanders. In addition at the time of the General Revolt they are commissioned to take over the office of Heads of Community.
"The political organization of the regions:
Dalmatia Slovenia Montenegro Syrmia Backa Banate is not completely known at present".Turning to page 168 of the English, page 125 of the German, page 2 of the report of the DM movement, dealing with "2.) Relation to the Jugoslav Government.
DM depends only partially on the Jugoslav Government in Exile in London. Therefore he takes the decisive political and military measures on his own.
"3.) Relation to the Allies.
England aids the Movement by supporting it with funds, war materials and by sending officers and men. For this reason DM approves of the relation of his government to England. He is however opposed to English attempts to gain stronger political influence on the Movement.
"The relations to Russia are at present characterized by the combating of communist bands. DM however regards this conflict as an Internal-Jugoslavian affair and he himself strives to achieve good relations with Soviet-Russian Government. Therein he is supported by the efforts of the Jugoslav Government in Exile in London.