10 Dec.
45
"Commander-in-Chief, Army, requests
that he no longer have to assign 5 control divisions for this; but
might hold them ready as reserves for commander in the West.
"Führer 'When Barbarossa commences the world will hold its
breath and make no comment.'"
This much, I believe, when read with the conference conclusions, which I
shall read in a moment, is sufficient to show that the Army as well as
the Navy regarded Barbarossa as an action directive and were far along
with their preparations even as early as February 1941 — almost 5
months prior to 22 June, the date the attack was actually launched. The
conference report summarized the conclusions of the conference, insofar
as they affected Barbarossa, as follows; I am now reading from Page 6 of
the English translation, which is on Page 7 of the German:
"Conclusions:
"1. Barbarossa.
"a. The Führer on the whole is in agreement with the
operational plan. When it is being carried out it must be remembered
that the main aim is to gain possession of the Baltic States and
Leningrad.
"b. The Führer desires that the operation map and the plan
of the deployment of forces be sent to him as soon as possible.
"c. Agreements with neighboring states who are taking part may
not be concluded until there is no longer any necessity for
camouflage. The exception is Romania with regard to reinforcing the
Moldau.
"d. It must, in any case, be possible to carry out Attila. (With
the means available.)
"e. The concentration for Barbarossa will be carried out as a
feint for Sea Lion and the subsidiary measure Marita."
On 13th March 1941 the Defendant Keitel signed an operational directive
to Führer Order Number 21, which was issued in the form of "Directives
for Special Areas." This detailed operational order is Number
447-PS in our numbered series, and I now offer it in evidence as Exhibit
USA-135.
This order which was issued more than 3 months in advance of the attack
indicates how complete were the plans on practically every phase of the
operation. Section I of the directive is headed, "Area of
Operations and Executive Power," and outlines who was to be in
control of what and where. It states that while the campaign is in
progress in territory through which the Army is advancing, the Supreme
Commander of the Army has the executive power. During this period,
however, the Reichsführer SS is