Text: English     International Military Tribunal "Blue Series," Vol. 4, p. 337
		3 Jan. 46 THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): What did the group do after Bierkamp left? OHLENDORF: I think I can say that the Einsatzgruppe ceased to exist after the retreat from the Caucasus. It took over tasks similar to those of the Wehrmacht under the immediate command of the Commander of the Sicherheitspolizei in the Ukraine and particularly under the command of the Higher SS and Police Leaders in the Ukraine. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): In other words, it merely carried out its activities in different surroundings under different leadership, and that was all the difference. Such functions as were performed by the Einsatzgruppe in the past continued to be carried out in new surroundings. OHLENDORF: No, it actually became a combat unit. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): What does that mean? Against whom were the military actions directed? OHLENDORF: Within the scope of operations directed against the partisan movement. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): Can you say more particularly what this group was actually doing? OHLENDORF: After the retreat? THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): When you say that the function of this group changed when it conducted operations against the partisans. OHLENDORF: I have no concrete experiences myself. It was probably used for reconnaissance against the partisans and also in combat. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): But did it carry out any executions? OHLENDORF: I can no longer say that definitely for this period, for the unit now entered territories in which that sort of activity was out of the question. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): In your testimony you said that the Einsatz group had the object of annihilating the Jews and the commissars, is that correct? OHLENDORF: Yes. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): And in what category did you consider the children? For what reason were the children massacred? OHLENDORF: The order was that the Jewish population should be totally exterminated. THE TRIBUNAL (Gen. Nikitchenko): Including the children? 337
		Text: English     International Military Tribunal "Blue Series," Vol. 4, p. 337     Last modified: October 10, 1998 Copyright © 1998 The Mazal Library and The Holocaust History Project. All rights reserved. Technical/administrative contact: webmaster@holocaust-history.org Find a typo? Let us know.