3
Dec. 45
It is
signed by Adolf Hitler and authenticated by
Defendant Keitel It was distributed to the OKH,
to Defendant Göring's Luftwaffe, and to
Defendant Raeder at Navy headquarters.
Two
months later, on 17 December 1938, Defendant
Keitel issued an appendix to the original order,
stating that by command of the Führer
preparations for the liquidation of
Czechoslovakia are to continue.
I
offer in evidence Document C-138 as Exhibit
USA-105, and other captured OKW documents
classified top secret.
Distribution of
this order was the same as for the 21 October
order. I shall read the body of this order.
"Corollary
to Directive of 21. 10. 38.
"Reference:
'Liquidation of the Rest of
Czechoslovakia.' The Führer has
given the following additional order:
"The preparations for
this eventuality are to continue on the
assumption that no resistance worth
mentioning is to be expected.
"To
the outside world too it must clearly
appear that it is merely an action of
pacification, and not a warlike
undertaking.
"The action
must therefore be carried out by the
peacetime Armed Forces only, without
reinforcements from mobilization. The
necessary readiness for action,
especially the ensuring that the most
necessary supplies are brought up, must
be effected by adjustment within the
units.
"Similarly the
units of the Army detailed for the march
in must, as a general rule, leave their
stations only during the night prior to
the crossing of the frontier, and will
not previously form up systematically on
the frontier. The transport necessary
for previous organization should be
limited to the minimum and will be
camouflaged as much as possible.
Necessary movements, if any, of single
units and particularly of motorized
forces, to the troop training areas
situated near the frontier, must have
the approval of the Führer.
The
Air Force should take action in
accordance with the similar general
directives.
For the same
reasons the exercise of executive power
by the Supreme Command of the Army is
laid down only for the newly occupied
territory and only for a short period."
— Signed — "Keitel."
I invite the attention of the Tribunal to the
fact that this particular copy of this order, an
original carbon signed in ink by Keitel, was the
one sent to the OKM. the German Naval
headquarters. It