Your Honors, the following pages--that is page 96 to page 98-we will not read into the record. I believe that these pages are a personal history statement and commendations and comments made by the superior officers of Major General Zellner who commanded one of the divisions we just mentioned, but we believe that in order to put this previous part of this document into evidence, we had to leave these pages attached to the document.
If your Honors please, we would like to offer at this time an insert to the document book and, as such, it has not been registered in the index. The document book in question is called "PS-744." It will become Prosecution Exhibit 302. We were unable to provide defense counsel with mimeographed copies of this order, so instead we are furnishing defense counsels now photostatic copies of the original. Your Honors, the pages of this document will become 98-A, -B, and -C, in the English document book, I do not know the numbers of the document in the German document book, number of the page in the German document book.
DR. LATERNSER: The last page is on 83.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors, this document is a letter signed or is two letters: one letter signed by Himmler and one letter signed by the Chief OKW Keitel. It merely sets forth that "All male prisoners, from 16 to 55 years age, captured in guerilla fighting in the operational area, the army area, the Eastern commissariats, the Government General and the Balkans, will in the future be considered prisoners of war. The same applies to those males in the newly conquered territories of the East. They are to be sent to prisoner of war camps, and are to be brought from there for labor allocation into the Reich.
"The chief of the Army General Staff and the Reichsfuehrer SS after consultation will issue within their jurisdiction the necessary directives on the conscription and further treatment of family members."
Your Honors, we turn now to page 99 of your document book and this will become-pertaining to document No. NOKW-714--and this will become a Prosecution Exhibit 303. Here we have a document stamped "Secret, 373rd Infantry Division, Received 6 August 1943." It has again a number of initials on there which cannot be identified.
"Commander of the German Armed Forces in Croatia Section Quartermaster /Ic No. 2016/43 'secret' Local Headquarters, 4 August 1943 Subject:
Treatment of Members of Bands, Prisoners of War, Hostages Reprisal Prisoners, Deserters, etc.
1. 1.) All male members of bands over 55 years old and all female members of bands are to be treated as bandits as before.
2.) All male members of bands between the age of 16-55 years are to be designated, in compliance with OKW directive for the Preservation of Labor, as Prisoners of War and to be treated as such.
3.) Those arrested in compliance with the order dated 10 July 1943, paragraph II, are to be treated, starting immediately, as hostages. The concepts of reprisal prisoners and exchange prisoners accordingly are no longer valid."
Your Honors will undoubtedly note that this order was published by the 373rd Infantry Division as a result of the order we have just put into evidence as Exhibit 302.
We now go to page 100 and it says:
"4.) The order Ic No. 3621/43, secret, dated 31 July 1943 remains valid to the full extent.
5.) Members of bands who voluntarily report to the troops will be treated as deserters, as before, and will be sent away for labor employment in assembly Camps. They are to be given brief identification papers denoting them as deserters.
Then to Paragraph # 2:
The Prisoners of War in the Corps Prisoners Camps Zenica and Prijedor are to be kept apart from the hostages and are to be identified as such with the letter "K" on their clothing. After undergoing sanitary measures they will be sent as laborers to Prisoner of War Camps in the Reich.
To paragraph # 3:
Hostages are to be treated in compliance with Ic order No. 3621/43 secret, dated 31 July 1943. To distinguish them from Prisoners of War they are to be designated by the letter "G" on their clothing in durable paint and to be separated if possible from the Prisoners of War in the camps until hostage camps have been established.
To paragraph # 5:
All deserters are to be transferred to the Deserters Camp to Banja Luka. The Commander of the German Armed Forces in Croatia dispose over them."
Page 101, Your Honors:
"II. The divisions will report to the Commander in the Daily Reports villages destroyed, the daily arrivals of Prisoners of War hostages arrested, and deserters in addition to the number of bandits shot.
T. On the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month, the divisions, the units directly subordinated to the Corps, and the Corps assembly camps at Zenica and Prijador, Banja Luka, report to the Commander of the German Armed Forces in Croatia / Quartermaster Section, the number of Prisoners of War, hostages (male or female), and deserters inasfar as they were in their custody on the preceding day. Prisoners of War, hostages, etc, who are being sent to another camp on the set days are to be reported separately by the departure camp, and are not to be counted by the receiving camp.
For the Commander of the German Armed Forces in Croatia The Chief of Staff Pfafferott Colonel, GSC" We now turn to NOKW-169, which Your Honors will find on page 103 of your document book and the defense counsel will find on page 87 of the German document book.
This is a communication signed by General Bader, the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia on the 5th of August 1943, at a time when the defendant Geitner was Chief of Staff to the aforementioned Bader. He states:
"The growing terror of the insurgents and Communist bandits against the peace-loving element of the population which does not follow --"
JUDGE CARTER: I don't believe you gave that an exhibit number.
MR. RAPP: Sorry, Your Honor. Exhibit 304.
"The growing terror of the insurgents and Communist bandits against the peace-loving element of the population which does not follow the enemy orders, works together with the occupying powers loyally and supports the orders of the Serbian government, the massacre of innocent members of the Serbian Volunteer Corps and others, make necessary the execution of further severe counter-measures.
"2) It is accordingly ordered that in extension of the order of 28 February 1943 Ia No. 652/43 Secret, also the male relatives, the brothers, as well as the fathers, of those persons who are with the insurgents or Communist bands can be used for execution of counter-measures.
"The counter-measures can, according to the severity of the deed to be avenged and which has rendered the insurgent or Communist bands guilty, consist in:
"a) Imposition of a fine up to 500,000 dinars, "b) Shipment to Germany for forced labor, "c) Utilization for reprisal executions.
"Persons are to be excepted from these counter-measures who "a) Are active as public officials, "b) Have declared themselves or are declaring themselves actively for the occupying powers or the Serbian government, "c) According to the knowledge of the competent military offices or own national authorities seriously refuse and condemn the actions of their relatives with the insurgents or Communist bands.
"Further to be excepted from the counter-measures under b) and c) are persons under 16 and over 65 years, and finally from the countermeasure under b) persons who, according to the judgment of the competent German military surgeon, are not capable of forced labor.
"Insofar as in special cases measures against still further relatives (par. 1) or exceptions from the paragraphs 3 and 4 appear necessary, the local district commander competent in the place of residence of the person concerned is to make the decision.
"3) The imposition of a fine is to take place through the competent District Headquarters. The arrest for purposes of deportation or for use in reprisal executions is to take place through the District Headquarters in whose area the arrested persons live, in cooperation with the unit, the SD, the Serbian Volunteer Corps, or the national authorities.
"4) Arrested persons who are sent to Germany for forced labor are to be brought to the Semlin collecting camp; those who are to be used for reprisal measures are to be brought to the locally competent reprisal camps (cf. Decree of 28 February 1943, Ia No. 650/43, secret).
"5) The names of the relatives concerned in the counter-measures and the basis for these counter-measures are to be made public to the furtherest extent at the residence of those concerned.
"6) The movable property of those persons who are with the insurgents or the Communist bandits (but not that of the relatives), as far as living stock is concerned, is to be taken away, by order of the District Headquarters, by the military police, according to the considerations of the specialist for agricultural questions. In cases of doubt, that living stock which was found on their property is to be treated as belonging to these persons.
"Confiscation of other property of the aforementioned persons has been worked out with the Serbian government.
"7) If it appears necessary in special cases to burn down houses of those persons who are with the insurgents or with the Communist bandits (but not of the relatives), the locally competent District Commander makes the decision. The execution of this measure is to take place through the District Headquarters.
"In any case, the execution of such a measure is to be reported to me.
"8) If a person returns who was with the insurgents or Communist bandits, his relatives who were arrested are to be freed. The decision rests with the District Commander locally competent for the residence of the one returned."
And this instrument, Your Honor, is signed "Bader", and it also bears the initials "H.G." and two strokes, "G", and we believe this to be the initials of the defendant Geitner.
On page 106 of your document book, Your Honor, you will find NOKW148, which will be our next prosecution exhibit, 305. Defense counsel will find this on page 90 of the document book. This document is dated August 7, 1943, is marked "secret" and is addressed to the 809th Feldkommandantur, which is 809th Administrative Sub-Area Headquarters. It says:
"For the information of: German Liaison Staff with the 1st Royal Bulgarian Occupational Corps.
"Reference: Your request Va 0207 of 4 Aug 43.
"As retaliation for the surprise attacks at Runjkovac, Leskovac District, on 16 and 28 July 43, in which 2 members of the German customs border guard were killed and two were wounded, 150 Communist reprisal prisoners are to be shot.
"The shooting of reprisal prisoners from the operations against the villages of Brza and Todorovce, as well as the levying of the needed reprisal prisoners through an operation against the village Runjkovac, is authorized. The operation against Runkjovac is to be carried out with the concurrence of the 1st Royal Bulg. Occ. Corps and the SD.
"Completion is to be reported by furnishing one copy of the proclamation."
There are some pencilled initials on this document, "L.R.". It is signed by the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia. "Ia No. 3302/43 Secret (Initial B)" If Your Honors will turn to the next page, you will find a letter from the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, Branch Ia, which is the Operations Branch, No, 826/43.
"Subject: Reprisal Measures.
"Reference: Your No. 2912/43 of 13 August 43/B.
"To : 599th Feldkommandantur (Adm. Sub-Area Hq) Belgrade "As retaliation for the murder of 2 and the wounding of 2 German soldiers by insurgents on the highway at Tozarevac on 9 August 43, 150 reprisal prisoners are to be shot.
"Since the political origin of the perpetrators could not be definitely established, 75 DM and 75 Communist reprisal prisoners are to be executed.
"Completion is to be reported by submitting a copy of the publication."
And that is a ration of fifty to one and twenty-five to one, respectively.
This document is signed by the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia again. The pencilled initials on it again are that of the defendant Geitner. The signature as such is illegible and it has merely the title of Major General under the illegible signature.
And on page 108 of the English and page 91 of the German, Your Honor, you will find a secret document dated August 15, 1943.
"To: C-in-C, SE "For the information of:
Germ. Plenip. Gen. in Croatia.
Cmdr. of the German Troops in Croatia "Daily Report of 15 August 1943 "(Line 9) 1st Royal Bulgarian Occupation Corps "(Lines 11-17) 2. In operations at Arilje, further 19 enemy dead, 84 "bandit accomplices arrested.
62 houses "burned down. Bulgarian losses up to 7 dead (through own mortar fire)."
THE PRESIDENT: We will take our afternoon recess.
(Thereupon a recess was taken.)
The Tribunal is again in session.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors will remember that we were dealing with NOKW-148, Prosecution Exhibit 305, the English Document Book 108, and -- page 108, and German Document Book page 91, this case, a report for the information off the German Plenipotentiary General in Croatia, and the Commander of the German Troops in Croatia, and it states that in operations at Arilje, further 19 enemy dead, 84 bandit accomplices arrested; 62 houses burned down. Bulgarian losses up to 7 dead through own mortar fire.
18 Bulgarians and 1 German custom official fell into the hands of the bandits, who promised in writing to free the prisoners if an officer of the Serbian Volunteer Corps Company Arilje was shot by the Germans. Measures for liberation of the prisoners underway. (Lines 23-24) on the original which is hereunder:
(Lines 23-24) on the original which is hereunder:
"15 Communist reprisal prisoners shot in retaliation for the murder of a mayor and the burning of threshing machines."
"Commanding General and Commander in Serbia Ia.
No. 3485/43, Secret."
Signature illegible.
On page 109, Your Honors, we find a report to the 809th SubArea Headquarters in Nis, paragraph 1:
In retaliation for the surprise attack on the quarz washing plant in Rgotina on 1 Aug. 43, 10 Communist reprisal prisoners are to be shot;
The murder of the village eldest of Bukarevac, Sreten and Cifkovic on 30 July 43, 10 Communist reprisal prisoners are to be shot;
The killing of the leader of a mixed harvesting crew, Unterwachtmeister of the Aux. Col. Tremmel on 7 Aug. 43, 50 Communist reprisal prisoners are to be shot.
Completion is to be reported by submitted a copy of the publication of this.
On page 110, Your Honor, we find to "Commander-in-Chief Southeast" dated 24 August 1943.
For the information of: German Plenip. Gen. in Croatia Cmdr.
of the German Troops in Croatia HQ XXIst Mtn.
Corps Secret Daily Report of 24 Aug.
43 (line 11) 1st Royal Bulgarian Occupation Corps:
(lines 14-16)
2.) Enemy losses in operation Sanrilje (cf. Daily Report of 21 Aug. 43) 372 DM followers dead, 351 suspects arrested, 460 houses burned down (final report).
(lines 19-25)
4.) To yesterday's report, No. 7: Surprise attack came from 500 men strong DM band on force in the strength of 4 German police, 24 A ux. men (Moslems) , 10 Serbian State Guard Men. Losses after fourhour battle 3 police dead, 15 aux. men, that is, SS-men missing. Band retreated into the mountains, village residents taken along due to fear of reprisal measures, pursuit of the bandits by police under way, Stragari was burned down.
(lines 38-39)
Target: 25 Aug. Surprise Attack on DM officer conference with English in the Homodje Mountains.
Your Honors, on page 11 you will find that this is signed, "Commanding General and Commander in Serbia," and, "Ia. No. 3673/43 Secret" and the signature is illegible.
Your Honors, this completes Document NOKW 148, our Exhibit 305.
The next document, NOKW 155, which the Tribunal will find on page 112 of the English Document Book, defense Counsel will find on page 94 of their document book, will be introduced and submitted by the Prosecution as Document Exhibit No. 306.
This is a copy -- the original is a copy. It is, "Secret":
"The Commander-in-Chief Southeast Headquarters, 10 Aug. 1943 simultaneously Acting Commanding General, Army Group E O r d e r for Treatment of Prisoners and Deserters in Bandit Fighting.
Reprisal and Evacuation Measures.
Treatment of Prisoners and Deserters, execution of revenge measures and evacuations are not matters of administration but rather measures of combat and/ or of combat preparation and of security.
II. The Fuehrer order concerning the importation of human material into the Reich to ensure the necessary supply of coal is authoritative for the treatment of prisoners; accordingly all captured bandits are to be deported to the Reich by way of the prisoner of war collecting points.
III. Orders respecting this matter are in detail as follows:
1.) Captured bandit members are to be deported to the prisoner collecting points; the commanders are to examine whether the previously erected prisoner collecting points are sufficient. Further transport from the collecting points into the Reich is to take place according to separate order of the Oberquartiermeister.
An exception to this regulation is possible only if the combat situation does not permit a deportation.
The seizure of individual bandits for intelligence missions (intelligence units, intelligence branches, SD, Secret Military Police) is still necessary.
2.) Deserters are also regarded as "prisoners". Considering the good experiences encountered in Russia, which resulted from a better treatment of the deserters, from propaganda, etc. shooting of deserters must be discontinued.
Orders concerning deserter propaganda proceed through the Commanderin-Chief, Southeast, Branch Ic/Intelligence Officer.
3.) As already ordered in the directive of the Commander-in-Chief.
Southeast Ia/Id No. 566/43 Secret of 14 July 43, reprisal measures are to be executed as heretofore with most severe means, if an chemical attitude is discernible in the population.
In territories occupied by the bandits, in which surprise attacks have been carried out, the arrest of hostages from all strata of the population remains a successful means of intimidation.
Furthermore, it may also be necessary, to seize the entire male population, insofar as it does not have to be shot or hung on account of participation in or support of the bandits, and insofar as it is incapable of work, and bring it to the prisoner collecting points for further transport into the Reich.
Surprise attacks on German soldiers, damage to German property must be retaliated in every case with shooting or handing of hostages, destruction of the surrounding localities, etc. Only then will the population announce to the German offices the col collections of the bandits, in order to remain protected from reprisal measures.
Reprisal measures are to be ordered by the divisional commanders and/or independent regimental commanders, in order to avoid encroachments on subordinate offices and individual soldiers, and to prevent a false, unjust treatment of the population.
4.) In the territories especially valuable for the conduct of battle, the male inhabitants between 15-60 years are to be evaluated. They are to be collected together in guarded labor camps and /or insofar as they are capable of working, be transported into the Reich.
Evacuations must be carried out decisively, in order to prevent a premature escapt of the population.
The territories to be evacuated are the strips of coast especially suitable for landings, area of important pass heights and pass lanes, strips of terrain along especially dangerous railway line stretches, etc. The evacuations completed are to be reported through the commanders to the Commander-in-Chief Southeast.
The order for the treatment of bandits hitherto authoritative; Addition to Wehrmacht Commander, Southeast, Ia, No. 2868/42 Top Secret of 28 Oct 42 for the Fuehrer order re combatting of so-called commando operations - is herewith rescinded.
Sgd. Loehr"
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honors, I ask that the following be corrected. There have been two mistakes in translation. Under Roman I of this order the words "revenge measures" -- this has been translated as "revenge measures." I believe that it would be better, or rather correctly translated as "retaliation measures, " for the word "revenge" has its root, I assume, in the French word "revanche." That means "revenge" in English. The second translation mistake appears under Roman III, No. 3. That's on the English Page 113, at the top. The words "in territories occupied by the bandits" -- they are translated "as occupied by partisans," but the German should be translated by another word. To put it like this, that is to say "occupied by bandits" would be putting it too strongly.
JUDGE CARTER (Presiding): Is there any objection to changing the first translation?
MR. RAPP: We will change, Your Honor; it's agreeable to us, Your Honor.
JUDGE CARTER (Presiding): All right; it will be so changed.
What do you say as to the second?
MR. RAPP: We suggest, Your Honor, that this be put up to the Interpreter, in the second case, and accept his interpretation.
JUDGE CARTER (Presiding): That's our practice. Hand it up to the Translater.
MR. JACOBSOHN (Court German-English Interpreter): The passage in question occurs in the English Document Book on Page 113, under 3. And you might translate it, and it probably would be the right translation to say that "territories penetrated by the bandits," rather than say "occupied by the bandits." (Dr. Laternser speaking) Dr. Laternser suggests "infested by bandits, "infested by bandits," which I think is just as good.
MR. RAPP: It's quite agreeable to us, Your Honor.
JUDGE CARTER (Presiding): All right, you may proceed.
DR. HINDEMITH: Hindemith, as representative for Dr. Rauschenback, for the Defendant General Foertsch. In my view, as a further mistaken translation in the same document, under Roman III, No. 2. (Giving the German version)
MR. JACOBSOHN (Court German-English Interpreter): He's now giving the German version.
DR. HINDEMITH: The word "unterbleiben" istranslated, "must be discontinued." Discontinue in my view means to cease; to cease in German means that something had taken place before, which is now ceasing. Unterbleiben in the German does not comprise this meaning. For that reason, I think the English word "discontinue" does not mean "unterbleiben." For this reason I ask that the document be submitted to the Interpreter in order that he may translate it.
MR. RAPP: Your Honor, we agree to the suggestion made by Defense Counsel, and it won't be necessary to submit this document to the Interpreter.
JUDGE CARTER (Presiding): Being agreed to, it will stand as suggested.
DR. HINDEMITH: Thank you.
MR. RAPP: Your Honors, we are turning now to Page 115 of your Document Book, and we have Document No. NOKW-735, which will be Prosecution's Exhibit No. 307. This is a document from the 369th Croatian Infantry Division, dated the 29th of July 1943, and it is secret. And the reference is "Commander of the German Troops in Croatia, Ia/Ic No. 3556/43 secret of 28.7.43, Subject: Treatment of Bandits."
"By virtue of basic orders for mopping-up operations in the operational area, Croatia - finally dated 10.7.43 - all Cummunists (bandits) were to be shot to death and all suspected persons to be arrested.
As bandits were considered:
a) Whoever participated in combat and was found with arms.
b) Whoever is convicted of communist activities.
c) Who obviously, without compelling reason, wanders about outside of settlements.
Women and youths also are to be apprehended. By virtue of the decision of the Fuehrer, these bandits are no longer to be shot to death but to be treated as prisoners of war. The reason for that is:
1. To acquire people capable of work.
2. To stimulate the bandits to desert.
3. To counteract enemy propaganda that the Germans shoot everybody.
Members of bands from 16 to 55 are to be sent to prisoner collecting points.
The old directives are applicable for reprisal measures. Captures persons, who are suspected of having aided actively or passively in acts of sabotage, are to be used as hostages for the carrying out of measures.
They are to be reported to the commander of German troops in Croatia, Section Ic. This report is to contain cause and place of arrests as well as the personal history and the same report is to be sent to the prison camp Zenica.
Safety measures are to be taken for billets and railroad transports as before.
It is a matter of course that now, as before, strict procedure against Communist bands will be applied in combat.
For the Divisional Command 1st General Staff Officer (Signed) Bussman Lieutenant Colonel G.S.C."
MR. RAPP: And on Page 97 of the German Document Book, still Page 116 of the English Document Book, the 369th Croatian Infantry Division publishes a letter. Subject: Ic-Duties. (MR. RAPP: Duties of the Intelligence Officer)
A. Prisoners, deserters, captured documents.
I. Leaders of all ranks, as well as those prisoners or deserters who may be regarded as intellectuals because of their origin, their position with the Communists and because of the impressions they make, are to be transferred to the Division, Section Ic. The escort detachment is to be given at least a slip of paper showing place and time of capture, or desertion respectively and the transferring authorities. The same thing applies accordingly to captured records. Furthermore, it must be guaranteed that this accompanying slip also reaches the Division.
II. There is reason to point out that the designation "partisans" is prohibited. All verbal and written communications are to use the designation "Communists" or "Bandits."
III. Cap and rank insignia (Officers and men) of killed or captured members of bands are to be collected and to be sent to the Division Section Ic.
IV. In case of combat actions with invasion troops, the number of prisoners made is to be reported immediately to the Section Ic. Speedy transfers of utmost importance.
In case of delay, the division will have the prisoners collected or carry out an interrogation on the spot.
Except Military passes and pay books - which will be taken from these prisoners after they reach the prisoner collecting camp - all civilian and military identification papers, such as:
Military driver's license, enlistment papers for the unit, militany identification papers, seamen's papers, leave passes, railroad passes, ration cards, identification cards (unless they are replacing the Wehrpass) foreigner identification cards, passes through the lines, professional papers, etc. are to be sent to the Division, Section Ic.
If at all possible, men killed in action are to be searched. Anything found is also to be sent to the Division.
............
(signed) Neidholdt" The next document to be offered, your Honors, will be NOKW-216, prosecution Exhibit 306.
This document is dated the 21st of August, 1943, and it is from the Commander of Fortress Crete, the Isle of Crete. Reference: Commander-in-Chief Southeast. Subject: Order pertaining to the treatment of prisoners and deserters in band combat reprisals, evacuation measures, and there is a stamp on this document which says: "Summary Court of the Commander of Luftgau Staff Crete, 24 Aug. 1943, Enclosure 1, Files, (illeg.)."
"1) The order of the Commandant of the Fortress Crete Ia No. 7309/43 secret dated 26.7.43 (individual order for the defense No.17) remains in force to the full extent. It is especially pointed out that until further notice the commander of Fortress Crete reserves to himself the right of reprisal measures.
2) Captured members of the band are, after interrogation by Secret Field Police, etc., to be sent to compulsory labor camps with the special notation that they are dangerous band members. Further transport will be effected by the commander of the Fortress.
The order that persons attempting to escape, resist or are found in the possession of arms, are to be shot to death immediately, remains unchanged.
3) For Crete only shooting to death is to be considered. Hanging falls under the concept of reprisal measures. Orders for these measures will be issued in due course by commander of Fortress Crete.
4)(The following paragraph is crossed out in its entirety with the handwritten notation: "substituted by Commandant Fortress Crete, dated 26.8.43, see page 1122") For the evacuations ordered by the Commandant Fortress Crete Ia 7283/43 secret dated 24.
7.43 paragraph (4?) of the order referred to above is valid. The evacuated male inhabitants are also to be sent to compulsory labor camps. Evacuations which have taken place are to be reported from case to case by the Oberabschnitte which is the (SS Administrative Districts), stating the number of male persons sent to labor camps.
5) Directive Commander in Chief Southeast Ia/F No. 120/43 secret dated 27.7.43 distribution stopped; directive Commander in Chief Southeast Ia/Id No. 1566/43 secret, dated 7.43 contained in individual order for the defense No. 17 (signed) illigible" The next document will be NOKW-1488, your Honors.
You will find this on page 121 of you document book. Defense counsel will find it on page 101 of their document book and it will be prosecution Exhibit 309. This is a rather voluminous document consisting of a number of telegrams and TWX sent again to the OKH, Army General Staff Operations Section. That is the Oberkommando des Heeres, High Commander of the German Army; and we start on page 121 at the bottom, Daily Report from Commander-in-Chief; Southeast, from 1 August 1943. "Greece: 1st Mountain Division: During reconnaissance East of Parga contact and engagement with small band; 11 enemy dead, 2 machine guns and other weapons captured, 1 band village destroyed." And at the bottom of this page 122, or rather page 4 of the original, it is signed by the Commanderin-Chief Southeast, High Command Army Group E.
We then turn to page 123 and we will find at the bottom again a priority cable to OKH Army General Staff Operations Section, "Daily report from the Commander-in-Chief. Greece: On Rhodes lately repeated cable sabotage. Italian mopping up operations proceeding in the Northern sector of Euboea. And then it continues on the next page saying: "Band group near Volos repelled by Italian pursuit detachments." And then it says "10 bandits shot. In the evening of 1 August 4 enemy planes over the sea." Again signed "Commander-in-Chief Southeast High Command Army Group E."
The next one, your Honor, page 125, at the bottom, Greece again: "On Crete movements to mix formations have commenced. Local band activity.
Southwest of Naepolis contact and engagement between 2nd Company Brandenburg Regiment and medium-size band. 15 enemy dead. Numerous wounded, 1 village destroyed, several inhabitants were shot for favoring bands." And that again is on page 126 authenticated by being signed "Commander-in-Chief Southeast (High Command Army Group E).
We then turn to page 127; it is 105 in the defense counsel's books, and in the middle of the page we have a stamp again "Army General Staff Operations Section, received on the 6th of August 1943," and a report from the Commander-in-Chief Southeast for 5 August, 1943. Greece-and that concerns itself with purely tactical matters but if your Honors turn over to page 128 of the same telegram, the reference pertaining to Serbia, it states: "Continuing local attacks and clashes between insurgents and Serbian Police, 10 Communist reprisel prisoners were shot."
And then at the end it is signed again by C-in-C Southeast, Amy Group E.
If Your Honors turn to page 129, will you see again to whom this report is being sent and on page 130 you will find on top "1st Mountain Division: Engagement during reconnaisance Northwest of Paramyhia, one village of the bands was burned down."
And the second paragraph, the second last line: "3 band villages destroyed, 3 depots with arms, ammunition, clothing, and rations taken. Hopping up operations continue.
"Area 373rd Division --" and there it says: "Total of 6 dead, 6 missing, Reprisal measures initiated." Signed "Commander-in-Chief."
Page 131, "Local band activity," Greece: "At Orestikon another band village and one enemy ammunition depot destroyed by 2nd Company Brandenburg Regiment."
It continues on page 132: "During mopping up operations along the costal road Northwest of Himare 1 band village was destroyed, Attack on Italian motorized column was repelled." Signed "Commander in-Chief Southeast."