Telephone message of the Liaison Post on 29 July 1941, at 0345 hrs. Armed Forces Transportation Control H.Q. reported that the viaduct on the Vilja-Krazsua line near Belipotek, 10 kilometers south of Belgrade, and the tunnel on the Ralja-Nish line have been blown up. Both roads are blocked.
Telephone call District Command Sabac of 29 July 1941, 1940 hrs:
On the 20 July 1941 armed men raided the municipal office in Lobecanj, and burnt all books and documents. They spread the rumour that the Russians would be in Serbia within 8 days.
Page. 53:
119a. On 26 July 1941 a Communist attempt to bomb the propaganda radio station Belgrade was prevented.
Then further down:
121. Field H. Q. 6l0 Pancevo reports on 26 July 1941. Yesterday, at 2130 hrs., communists who have not been captured as yet set fire to a granary on the northern outskirts of Petrovgrad. Approximately 30 t were destroyed.
Another fire broke out in petrovgrad at 2230 hrs, which destroyed approximately 20 t of grain.
122b. Field H. Q. 816, Uzice reports on 27 July 1941:
This morning, probably at about 1000 hrs, a motorcycle of the Reserve Police Battalion 64, was fired at by bandits on about the same spot where an attempt had been made on the life of Colonel LONSCHER. 1 passenger dead, the other missing, probably kidnapped by the bandits. The dead man has been robbed. The motorcycle and the rifle of the missing man were found in the forest.
I shall continue to read from cage 55, the first paragraph:
Serbian gendarmerie and armed bands. No particulars received as yet. In Belgrade, one of the big garages of the army Motor Pool was burnt down, probably through sabotage. 23 cars of obsolete make, destroyed. A number of suspects arrested. Investigations are being made.
125. 28 July 1941.
Acts of sabotage in Belgrade, also in the Petrovgrad district. In the latter, 2 members of the Wehrmacht reported killed. In the Valjevo district a motorcycle was fired at by bandits. 1 dead, 1 missing.
I shall turn to page 56 towards the bottom, 128:
128. Armed Forces Liaison office, Belgrade reports on 28 July 1941:
A V-man (agent) reports that during the night of 12/13 July 1941, about 80 guerrillas attacked the village of Curevo about 28 km south of Foca. 2 constables and 17 civilians were killed.
130. Information received from the headquarters of the LXV Corps, dated 31 July 1941:
1. On 30 July 1941, during the evening, a car containing the Ib (quartermaster) of the 717 Inf. Div. was shot at on the road kagujevac-Jagodina near Buna.
The driver was shot thru the hands.
131. Mining Engineer F.A. WEBER reports on 22 July 1941:
Re: Sacking of the lead-zinc mine "Suplja Stena".
On 21 July 1941, I was informed that Komitatschi were marching towards us whose intention it was to shoot me. I therefore fled, together with an ethnic German family, the members of which were also employed in the plant, to the police station Celebic. During the course of the day I was informed that: "At 12 o'clock more than 35 Komitatschi /without the sentries posted/ about 20 women and more than 20 horses arrived in the area of the plant. The Komitatschi are being led by three officers in Airforce-Artillery or Infantry uniforms. Arms equipment: Italian, Austrian and Yugoslav military rifles and one Yugoslav machine gun.
The predominantly Pravo-Slavic workers were driven into one of the mine galleries. After that the plant was thoroughly looted, including explosives, fuel and tools.
After the looting the workers were forced to leave the plant at once under threat of being shot. The Komitatschi gave out that the Russians were in Salonika and Belgrade, communism was on the march to conquer all Europe etc. and that the German swine would never be allowed to enter the mine again.
132a. Report from Commander Banus Dr. STAVANOWITSCH of 24 July 1941:
In the night from 22 to 23 July 13 bandits raided the house of NENANDOWITSCH Alexander from Ripanj, robbed 17 large and 1 small gold ducats and 2300 Dinar in cash, cutting of NENANDOWITSCH' right ear.
b. On the 19 July a communist gang attacked a motor truck near Staro-Zelo occupied by a German officer and a soldier the soldier was killed, but the officer was rescued by a patrol.
I shall now read from page 59:
133. Report from the Serbian Rural Police Station at Markovac of 23 July 1941:
On the 24 July an armed group of about 50 men ambushed and and attacked the rural police patrol of the Markovac station with the corporal Malesevic DUSAN and the lance-corporal Ralivoje ANDELKOVIC in the village of Bakina, 3 km West of Markovac, Vel. Oraski district, Banat, Duvanska and disarmed them under threat of being shot.
On the 24 July another patrol of 4 men was attacked, and machine-gunned obviously by the same armed group, the patrol was forced to retreat. No losses.
The same armed gang of 11 men appeared toward 21:00 hours in Markovac threatening the inhabitant MILIVOJ, the Mayor Miskovic *IKA and the sergeant of the rural police ZARKO, blaming them for having got the father of one of the armed men into prison. They took away the books from the former Vladimir BOJOVIC who was just thrashing and forbade him to put down the quantity of the thrashed grain. The peasant Milan MITROVIC has been abducted by the bandits to an unknown place. When leaving the village they threatened to set fire to the Mayor's house and to kill him.
137. Military Field headquarters 816 Uzice reports on 31 July 1941.
1. Unsuccessful police action against bandits in bands of 10 men north of Bacana.
2. On 30 July at about 14:00 hours a band of 20 armed persons attacked a patrol of Serbian rural police between Vrelo and Banjani, district Ub, 7 km northwest of Ub. 1 policeman severely wounded. The band is being pursued.
3. On 31 July at about 01:30 hours 15 armed bandits attacked the house of the mayor in Preljnica 9 km northeast of Cacak, incited him to disobey and gave him threatening letters for the Landrat and commander of the rural police.
Now I shall read from page 61, 141:
141. Teletype FK 816 Uzice dated 2 August 1941:
1. Two attacks on the Serbian rural police-station in Lubovica took place yesterday and the day before.
2. At midnight on 2 August 1941 a band of 50 to 60 men strong attacked and looted the railway-station Zablace. 15,000 Dinar were stolen. Hay-wagon set on fire. Railway train Kraljewo-Cacac searched by the bandits.
143. FK. 610 reported on 2 August 1941:
The head of the district of Arandjelovac wires as follows:
Last night, 1 August 1941, at about 19:30 hours, a group of armed persons forced its way into the town-hall of the town-ship Mi-Miloschevac, all official documents and ledgers were taken away and burned in the presence of the community. The head of the community was threatened at their departure with being hanged unless he stop his activity.
144. Transport-Headquarters, Belgrade, paymaster BECKER, reported on 2 August.
Railway-administration Valjevo reported at 14:15 hours:
The local train 218 was stopped today in Zablace by a band of 50-60 men and a search was made for members of the German Armed Forces.
The band was armed with machine-guns, rifles and pistols. The railwaysafe was robbed of 15,000 Dinar and 2 rifles. In addition 500 bales of hay were set on fire by the band. Members of the German Armed Forces were not on the train.
I shall continue to read from page 64.
148a. FK 610, Pancevo reports on 6 August 1941:
1. 40 bandits attacked railway-station Selo-Banja on 3 August 1941 at 09:00 hours. Installations demolished. They chased the officials away and vanished in direction Orasac.
I shall skip 2. Three reads:
20 bandits attacked the town-hall of Zagerica on 3 August 1941, 17:00 hours, set fire to the town-archives, stole 3,277 Dinar, and declared that this money would be divided among the poor.
4. On 3 August 1941 the following communities were attacked by armed persons: Plaskovac and Maskar Osiste...
5. On 3 August 1941, after having disarmed the rural police-station Barajevo, 10 bandits tore up the check-lists of the thrashing machines and drove the officials away in the township of Bacevac. Burning of the archives was prevented. Rural police was powerless.
6. Arandjelovac reports:
On 3 August 1941 40 bandits attacked the town-hall of Stradari (15 kilometers South of Topola - it should probably read Stragari) burned town-documents and interfered with the lines. They are being pursued.
7. Arandjelovac reports:
Attack on township of Kopljar on 3 August 1941. Officeseal and files destroyed.
I shall continue to read from page 65:
152. Corporal MUELLER reports on the 4 August 1941 at 6:00 hours:
I had received the order from the Commander Kragujevac to arrest a gang leader in Bakovac this morning. When I had advanced 200 mtrs. into the village with my squad, 1 noncom, 15 privates, we were fired on presumably by two machine guns, and shots were fired also from the trees. In the face of the superior enemy strength I rallied my squad and retreated. One man, Lance-Corp. BRENNICH, got a shot in the head and was seriously wounded.
153. 5 August 1941 The following telephone lines were destroyed last night by unknown perpetrators:
I don't want to read the names.
153. During the night from the 4 to 5 August 1941 "rubber-killers" were thrown on the road from Obrenovac to Belgrade, densely on the stretch up to 20 km from Obrenovac and less densely from there on to Belgrade. 17 motor vehicles of the Air Force and 5 others, including 1 ambulance truck, had tire-punctures.
153b. Telephone call from Field Headquarters 816, Uzice, on the 7 August 1941, 16:15 hours:
On the 4 August 1941, at about 1:00 hours bandits tried to blast the railroad bridge across the Tamnava river (about 12 km South of Obrenovac). One cross-support was partly damaged. Traffic not obstructed. Repairs being made.
Now I shall continue to read:
154. Field headquarter 809, Nisch, report on the 4 August 1941:
On the 3 August at 21:20 hours a hand-grenade or bomb was thrown into the dining room of the Park Hotel in Nisch by unknown perpetrators. The explosion injured three members of the Armed Forces seriously and four more slightly. Furthermore, a woman staying in the room and the conductor of the band playing in the hotel were seriously injured. Of the injured, one of the seriously wounded soldiers and the seriously wounded woman died. The other seriously and slightly wounded are now in the surgical ward of the Nisch war-hospital.
The woman died in Nisch hospital of her injuries.
Court No. V, Case No. VII.
persons, dressed in peasant and town-peoples' garb, 2 in uniforms, calling themselves communists, arrived at the township of Kloza (10 km East of Topola) and set fire to the municipal archive, cash-books and other documents, taking 700 Dinar from the cash-box. After that, they left taking with them the keys from the cash-box and other keys belonging to the municipality. On the same day, at about 7:00, 70 unknown persons, dressed in peasant garb, calling themselves communists arrived at the township of Jancovac and set fire to the municipal archive and cash-books, taking with them 6000 Dinar and the cash-box and other keys belonging to the municipality.
160.) Commander Kragujevac reports on the 6 August 1941:
District Magistrate in Arandjelovac reports:
On the 5 August 1941 at 19:30 a troup of about 120 armed men raided the Rural Police Station at Donja-Satornja. The firing lasted for about 1 1/2 hours. The Rural Police was disarmed and the arms carried off. The attacking gang withdrew in the direction toward Rudnik, cutting the telephone wires. Measures have been taken to track down and round up the attackers."
On page 68, 163.)
Army-Liaison Quarters report on the 6 August 1941 over the telephone at 23:00 hours:
38 km from Belgrade, on the Lazarerac road a bullet-riddled Wehrmacht motorcar was found on the road and a dead soldier discovered in the adjoining corn fields. It was a Lance Corporal of Artillery belonging to the Artillery Battalion of Valjevo. The corpse was badly mutilated and taken to Belgrade."
I shall continue to read from page 70:
"168. On 8 August 1941, 1725 hours, the Higher Command of the LXV Corps Major Kolbe, reported:
1. That Communists stopped a train near Cuprija, forced some men of German blood to alight and shot them."
"169) Field Headquarters 610, Pancevo, reported by telephone on Court No. V, Case No. VII.
8 August 1941 as follows:
1. The district-head JANCOVIC reported via district headquarters KRAGUJEVAC:
that on 7 August 1941, 18:30 hours, a Communist band of 11 men, armed with rifles and sub-machine-guns, forced their way into the Vokofacec local court, burned the town archives and the account books, sealed the Court with red sealing wax and warned the mayor and manager not to execute their duties any longer, else they would be shot. Pursuit squads are searching for the band."
I shall continue to read from page 71:
170a) Telephone message from district headquarters of Kragujevac on 8 August 1941 at 13:55 hours, stating that a motor car of the district headquarters of Kragujevac was attacked by bandits near Topola at noon-time when on a long distance trip. The car was completely destroyed. The private first class GERTIG, interpreter, was killed, sergeant GUMPERT, driver, was dragged away, and staff-sergeant KAUSCH was able to reach Topola bare-footed. Topola Local Commander and District Headquarters of Kragujevac have sent trucks to the place of the incident."
I shall continue to read from page 72:
"173. Belgrade Railway Traffic Officer reported by telephone on 9 August at 7:40 hours that the train No. 333 was attacked by unknown persons in the railway station of Latcovic (12 kilometers north-east of Mionica. 3 German soldiers were killed and some civilians were injured.
"175. Higher Command LXV reported on 9 August at 1045 Hours.
"1. That communists presented an ultimatum in Caprija saying that more racial Germans would be shot if 8 arrested Communists were not released by 1300 Hours."
I shall continue to read now from page 75.
Court No. V, Case No. VII.
"182. FK 816 Uzice reports:
On 10 Aug., at 2400 hours, 15 Communists attacked the Municipal building Salotnsi (dist. of Banja Baska). Archives were burnt. Cash box looted. 11 Aug., at 1:00 hours 15 communists attacked the railway station of Sevojno for the second time and looted it. Various murders of Municipal employees have been reported.
"183. Daily Report, 9 Aug. 1941 "1. Attacks directed against Wehrmacht:
On 8 Aug. 1941, a Wehrmacht car was shot at near Trnava. Losses: 1 Pfc killed, 1 non-com. officer missing. During night 8/9 a communist band attacked a train stopping at the station of Latkovic. Losses: 8 soldiers killed, 1 injured, 1 missing, in addition 8 civilians were wounded."
"2. Ethnic Germans attacked: On 8 Aug. 1941 a communist band attacked a train near Ravnarka. All Ethnic Germans were taken from the train and shot. Number of these shot, unknown so far." I shall continue to read from page 74 now:
"185. "The Plenipotentiary for Economy reports on 14 Aug. 1941: Tonight at 2400 hours, the mine Avala was attacked. 100 kg. of explosives were stolen and the Serbian guard was injured."
THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me, Dr. Laternser, in connection with your reference to page 75, there seems to be two numbered 75, perhaps one of them should be 74?
DR. LATERNSER: Yes, I am quite sure one of them should be 74.
THE PRESIDENT: For the record, perhaps it should show that the Nos. 179 to 183 will be found on page 74 and the Nos. 184 and 185 will be found on page 75.
DR. LATERNSER: Thank you very much Your Honor. I shall read from the last paragraph on page 75.
FK 816 Uzice reports On 12 Aug.
1941 at 500 hours a band of 250 men attacked the police station and the railway station as well as the Municipal Court No. V, Case No. VII.
office Studline; 10 policemen were kidnapped, 12 rifles taken. On 12 Aug. at 900 hours, a gang destroyed the furnishings of the Rail - and Post office in Dublje.
On 10 Aug. the Police station and the Agricultural Cooperative Soc. of Klenje (4 km SW of Bogatio) were looted by communists."
I shall continue to read from page 76. I shall not read anything from page 76, but I shall read from page 77, at the top from figure 6:
"6. Umka: on 14 September a group of 40 armed partisans attacked Conatice, burned the files and kidnapped the mayor. Upon intercession of the inhabitants he was released.
"7. Roca: on 14 August at 1630 hours 5 armed bandits burned the municipal files in Kremare."
If Your Honors please, from this document I only read a few pages. The whole of the document deals exclusively with the band activities which took place before the 5th of September.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honor, before we leave this document, I should like to read a very few brief excerpts into the record which Dr. Laternser had very kindly translated, but did not read. The first is on page 6 under paragraph 12.
"12.) Field Headquarters 816 received a report stating that a band of armed partisans in Serbian military uniforms in the strength of 8 men with a machine gun were observed in the towns of Prilike and Brezova at 10 o'clock in the morning of 6 May 1941."
Next on page 11, under paragraph 27:
"27.) 1st Bn. Inf. Regt. 330 reports on 7 June 1941:
According to trustworthy information by a local ethnic German who eavesdropped on a conversation between a peasant....."
THE PRESIDENT: We are not getting it over the sound.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Do you have the key on?
THE INTERPRETER: Yes, will you please talk into the Mike?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Continuing on page 11, under paragraph 27....
THE PRESIDENT: I can understand you from speaking, but we are Court No. V, Case No. VII.
not getting it over the sound system.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Can you hear me now, Sir? Do you get it now?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I get it now. Can you hear me?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Alright, then we are alright now.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Continuing on page 11 under paragraph 27.
"27.) 1st Bn. Inf. Regt, 330 reports on 7 June 1941:
"According to trustworthy information by a local ethnic German who eavesdropped on a conversation between a peasant from GernyiMilanovac and a civilian from Belgrade, two Chetnik regiments with arms and ammunition are said to be located in the mountains and large forests near G. Milanovac (90 km. south of Belgrade, as the crow flies,) they are said to receive their food supply from Gernyi-Milanovac. The battalion requests further instructions in the matter."
Next, on page 14 under paragraph 35:
"36. Wehrmacht liaison post reports:
"1. Montenegro:
"A band of about 1500 - 2000 ex-soldiers has formed in the environs of Niasic under the command of the Serb general Stanjecic. They are equipped with arms, also artillery. They want to fight for a free Montenegro and have opened the struggle against Italians and Croats. They are waging guerilla warfare in units of company strength."
THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me, may I inquire as to whether you have many of these items?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I should take about five minutes more, Your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we will adjourn at this time and you can read them into the record in the morning. The Tribunal will be in recess until tomorrow morning.
THE MARSHAL: The Tribunal will be in recess until 9:30 tomorrow morning.
(A recess was taken until 0930 Hours, 6 January 1947).
Official Transcript of Military Tribunal V, Case VII, in the matter of the United States of America against Wilhelm List, et al, defendants, sitting at Nurnberg, Germany, on 6 January 1948, 0930, Justice Burke presiding.
THE MARSHAL: Persons in the Courtroom will please find their seats.
The Honorable, the Judges of Military Tribunal V.
Military Tribunal V is now in session. God save the United States of America and this Honorable Tribunal.
There will be order in the Court.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Marshal, will you ascertain if all the defendants are present in the Courtroom?
THE MARSHAL: May it please your Honors, all defendants are present in the Courtroom with the exception of defendant von Weichs who is in the hospital and defendant Foertsch who is excused by the Tribunal for today.
THE PRESIDENT: Judge Burke will preside for this day's session.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, yesterday afternoon prior to the adjournment I was reading some excerpts into the record from the War Diary of the Military Commander of Serbia which was offered as List Document 200, introduced into evidence by Dr. Laternser as List Exhibit 42. These excerpts are in List Document Book IV-A.
Continuing on page 17, the last paragraph at the bottom of the page:
"Part of them found billets in the village in the elementary school building and others in a farmhouse near a forest. Their clothes vary, some still wear military uniforms and others peasants garb (short jacket and trousers) with sheepskin caps displaying the Cetnic badge. All of them are well armed, each man has besides his rifle and cartridge belt a dagger, pistol and some hand-grenades, and they also have two machine-guns.
In the group there are also three women clothed in military uniforms and caps, also armed. One is supposed to be a Czech and one a Serbian. Their leaders are an unknown General, Novakowitsch, several officers, and the deputy is Nikola Vokoevitsch, a mine superintendent who formerly worked in the village of Lipovica in the Oplenac district in the mines belonging to Milenko Lesarowitsch of Belgrade."
Turning next to page 28 to the top of the page:
"People even carry these weapons in public now. There are even Serbian officers in uniform."
Next on page 51, the paragraph at the top about in the middle of the paragraph: "The enemy's strength is approximately 4,000 men and although they retreated in places they are still on the offensive."
Finally on page 53, at the top of the page, paragraph 119A, Dr. Laternser yesterday read the first sentence into the record; I should like to read the balance of the paragraph.
"Perpetrator arrested. Ringleader jumped from the 4th floor while attempting to flee - died. Wife of perpetrator who had knowledge of the attempt was arrested, also 3 Jewesses in whose house the ringleader lived, are detained. The latter had plotted more bombing attacks."
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may continue, Dr. Laternser.
DR. LATERNSER: If the Tribunal please, I shall continue with the presentation of my documents. The last document I dealt with was Exhibit 42. I submitted that document in order to show the Tribunal the extent of the partisan activity. During the period of time between the 5th of September, which is the day when Fieldmarshal List issued the order which comprises Prosecution Exhibit 42. For the same subject matter, I have further evidence to submit in order to have the Tribunal gain the conviction that the situation in Serbia required the most stringent measures of the Military Commanders there seen from a military point of view.
Document 201 has already been submitted by me as List Exhibit 7. This document is contained in List Document Book IV-A on page 79. There are a few passages yet which I would like to read from this document. I would like to read from page 80 in Document Book IV-A, page 80 on the top. It says "Teletype to the German General in Zagreb.
"6,000 Serbs were again driven into Serb territory near Bogatic. Ustascha-mon threatened that in two days 12,000 (twelve thousand) more are to be driven away. The refugees have no food. Local remonstration to Croats was of no avail. Emphatic remonstration to the Croat government is requested. The Commander of Serbia" I have read this passage into the record because it speaks against the plan which has been asserted by the prosecution.
I shall continue to read from the bottom of page 80:
"The commander of Serbia Command Staff Department Ia.
"11 July 1941 Activity Report of the Department Ia During the Month of June 1941."
I shall now turn to page 81:
"1. From 3 June 1941 on Serb custom officials were transported to the Serb border to close it. The reason was to prevent the influx of former Yugoslav money for change into new Serb notes. The custom officials were at first trained and supervised by German troops."
I shall skip the next few sentences and continue from 3 on page 81:
"3. 5 June 1941. Explosion in the ammunition dump Smederevo. Great destruction in the city. Killed: Wehrmacht - 10, civilians - about 500. Injured: Wehrmacht - 110, civilians about 700.
4. Owing to the beginning of the Russian war lively Communist activity."
I shall only read No. 7 now from this page:
"7. Throughout the whole of the month sallies of the Hungarians, Croats, and Bulgarians had to be warded off."
The signature is, "For the Commander of Serbia, The Chief of the Command Staff."
I am maintaining that these sallies of the German troops would have been correct if the plan asserted by the prosecution had actually existed.
I would now like to draw the Tribunal's attention to List Document 148. This document is contained on page 11 in Document Book List I. The contents of this document have been submitted by the prosecution as Exhibit 128 and 527. But it was only contained in the photostat of the actual exhibit not in the document books. Therefore, I had to include this extract into my document book so that it could be translated. This document, since it has already been submitted as Exhibit 128 and 527 I shall not give an extra exhibit number.
THE PRESIDENT: Would you give the exhibit number again? I mean the prosecution exhibit number?
DR. LATERNSER: Yes, your Honor, 128 and 527. These are daily reports of the Armed Forces Commander Southeast, addressed to the OKW, covering several days between the 8th of August and the 4th of September. The Tribunal may gather from these reports the strong activity pursued by the insurgents. Furthermore, the fact in which sober and matterof-fact way these events were reported to the OKW.
I am not going to read any parts from this document but I recommend the contents of the whole of the document to the judicial notice of the Tribunal.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honor, many of these extracts are from a period of time when it is contended that Fieldmarshal List was on leave. I should like to know from Dr. Laternser whether I am correct that he is contending, on the one hand, that Fieldmarshal List is not responsible for any of the activity that went on in the area, in the Southeast area during the period when he was on leave and, on the other hand, is he going to take advantage of certain activities which happened during that period?
DR. LATERNSER: I don't think that the prosecution contends is quite logical. For the period of time when Fieldmarshal von List was on leave, he can of course not be held responsible for any events which occurred. However, the band activity has to be regarded as one whole and this activity did not take into consideration the fact that Fieldmarshal von List was absent and if I want to prove what the extent of the band activity was before the fifth of September, then I shall have to prove that also for a period of time when Fieldmarshal von List was absent.
I have already said that I don't want to read anything from this document for other reasons, but I have recommend the whole contents of the document to the notice of the Tribunal. What extent the insurgent movement reached from the fifth of September is further borne out by Document 203 which I shall submit as List Exhibit 43. This document can be found in List Document Book IV-B on page 136. This is an excerpt from the War Diary of the LXV Corps. I shall read a few passages from this exhibit and I am going to start on the top of page 157.
"7 July 1941. Today the struggle of the bands begin in the former Serbian area and later in Banate; too. In the hope of Soviet successes or even parachuting of Soviets into Serbia, the Communists start guerilla warfare by raids and acts of sabotage affecting railways in particular."
The page number is 157 and I am reading from the top of the page. The document book is IV-B.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may continue.
DR. LATERNSER: I shall continue to read now from page 158 from the top of the page.
"14.7.41. The impression is growing: 1. The acts of sabotage actually carried out in recent days affecting railways, telephone lines and bridges are undertakings of Communists bands in support of the routed Soviets. 2. Clashes between peasants and bands, exaggerated rumors of unrest, strikes and demolitions are enacted by Communist elements for the purpose of harassing the occupying forces.
"16. - 18. July. Increase in acts of sabotage particularly affecting telephone lines.
"19,7,41. In the district 15 km east of Topola armed band encircled by forces of the 714 Infantry Division. On the Jaboclina airdrome planes set on fire by Communists."
I shall continue to read from page 159 and I shall start to read the second sentence there. The date is 26 July 1941.
"In Banat the Communists are attempting to cause trouble by destroying the harvest, for instance 5 grain stacks burned near Petrograd, all the official grain threshing lists at Markovac, 20 kilometers SE of Palanka, destroyed. Reports are increasing that armed bands are disarming Serbian policemen.
I shall skip one paragraph and read the entry under:
"29 July 1941....The bands grow larger and are apparently well armed and show planned disturbances at all possible positions of the entire Corps sector. Acts of sabotage increase....
2 Aug. 1941....Attacks on railway stations and police posts increase."
3 August 1941 -- I will omit the first paragraph:
"Tracks blown up near Markovac. Ticket office in railway station robbed, policemen disarmed - both typical activities of the Communists who appear almost daily now. In a surprise attack against 2 cars of the 714th Signal Company: 2 soldiers dead, 1 wounded.
13 Aug. 1941 Order of the Commanding General: The fight against the bands and the maintenance of law and order, which heretofore was exclusively the duty of the police and gendarmes is turned over to 65th Corps: offensive warfare. Districts. District Commanders. Raiding units in raiding areas of the districts....."
I shall omit the first sentence.
"14 Aug. 1941. Attack at Eelarkva, 36 km NW of Valieve; losses: 2 dead, 2 wounded, 1 missing. Work halted in mine located there. I company assigned there.
"15 Aug. 1941. Munitions train attacked at Lajkovac; 5 dead, 7 wounded. A train carrying arms derailed 8 km SW of Mladenovac due to sabotage...
"16 Aug. 1941. Trip of General Bader to Valjevo with Chief. Tracks mined and train attacked in the Serbian part of the 3rd Division's sector. Railway bridge blown up - great activity by the raiding units, without particular results, however, battle in the sector of the 718th Infantry Division near Zwornick - Drinjura. Paymaster 1st Lt. Johann Wolf killed in attack on anti-tank column.
"17 Aug. 1941. Band activities in entire Save - Drine bend increase.
"17 Aug. 1941. Band activity increases near Zwernick, also near Sabac and in the area east of Uzice.
"19 Aug. 1941. In the north part of the bend of the Save the the number of rebels is increasing. Railroad section Lubljo-Lipolist If the raiding units often make no enemy contact, it is due to the expert retreat of the opponent in the uneven and wooden terrain. Acts of sabotage and attacks in all sector of this division, at the present time particularly in that of the 704th Infantry Division.
"20 Aug. 1941...Only certain designated trains are made available for Army traffic on account of the frequent attacks of the Communist bands against railway trains. These carry a guard."
I shall omit something hour and go on:
"Between Mokov and Sokulac column shot at.
"21 Aug. 1941 bands near Ponjavor, 22 km east of Loznica. Attack near Slepcevic, south of Sabac: Losses 3 dead, 10 wounded.
"22 Aug 1941 coal mine at Junkevei, 10 km MW of Lazarevac blown up.
"23 Aug 1941 Kraljeve-Cacak railway disrupted. Telephone lines destroyed.
"24 Aug 1941 in surprise attack while returning from Grabovac, several dead and wounded. 2 platoons from 6th Co. of 750th Regt. missing found by pilot SE of Debrc after units from Sabac and Raiding Detachment from Lazarevac have been sent out. Through him union with relieving units is possible. No workers in Krupanj - soldiers keep the plant going. Forcible inspection in Slupnica, 12 km SE of Loznica. Plundering and destruction of railway stations increase. Unrest increases in the Croatian sector. 26 Aug 1941. A truck in a convoy on the Kraljevo-Kragujevac road shot upon. Sabotage of telephone installations and attacks upon community public offices. Train convoy Valjevo - Uzic attacked, Stretch between Valjevo and Lajkovac blown up.
"27 Aug 1941. Police forces threatened and reinforced near Kammenica, 14 km NW of Valievo. Bands at the Ravna -- Reka mine.
"27 Aug 1941. Raiding Battalion I of 749th Regiment near Guca, 18 km SW of Cacak. Dirty attack upon Raiding Unit Battalion III, 749th Regt. between Jagodina and Kragujevac. 1 Lt. and 3 men dead, 3 wounded."
I shall continue to read on page 163 towards the middle of the page.
"28 Aug 1941. Attack on Engineer Unit on bridge 7 km east of Lazarevac - 6 victims despite protection of two machine guns.
"29 Aug 41. Insurrection increases in the Save bend - Bogulic; attack on bridge head near Mitrovica.
"30 Aug 41. Unrest now also in the eastern sector of the 714th Infantry Division near Zvijucar and Bor and Colubac.
"3 Sept 1941. III Battalion of 738th Regiment still encircled at Koviljuoa. The company is fighting its way through in the direction of Valjevo. 25 men arrived in Valjevo. 32 men in Kamenca. No report about the rest of the company. Rebels at Bogatic, surprise attack near Sabac, one platoon of the 668th Artillery Battery arrived in Bjeljina. All lines of the 718th Infantry Division to Zvornik destroyed."