7 Jan. 46
had already been done toward previous
commando undertakings in the same manner."
Your Lordship, there is just one further development in connection with
this order, this basic order, and that was that in July 1944. The
question was then raised within the German High Command as to whether
the order should be applied to members of foreign military missions with
special regard to the British, American, and Soviet military missions
which were co-operating with Allied Forces in Southeastern Europe,
notably in Yugoslavia. A long document signed by Warlimont, which is
1279-PS, and becomes Exhibit USA-552, embodies the discussions which
were had at OKW. I think I need not read from this document, and merely
wish to point out that the Armed Forces operational staff recommended
that the order should be applied to these military missions and drew up
a draft to this effect. I would, however, like to read 537-PS, which is
Exhibit USA-553. This is the order which actually resulted from these
discussions. It is dated 30 July 1944. 1 will read that in full:
"Subject: Treatment of members of
foreign 'Military Missions' captured together with partisans.
"In the areas of the High Command Southeast and Southwest,
members of foreign so-called 'Military Missions' (Anglo-American as
well as Soviet-Russian) captured in the course of the struggle against
partisans shall not receive the treatment as specified in the special
orders regarding the treatment of captured partisans. Therefore they
are not to be treated as prisoners of war but in conformity with the Führer's
order concerning the annihilation of terror and sabotage troops of 18
October 1942.
"This order shall not be transmitted to units subordinate to the
corps commands and the equivalent staffs of the other branches of the
Armed Forces, and is to be destroyed after being made known.
"The Chief of the High Command of the Wehrmacht, Keitel."
Pursuant to this order, approximately 15 members of an Allied military
mission to Slovakia were executed in January 1945, as is shown by
Document L-51, which is already in the record as Exhibit USA-521, and
which has been read in full by Lieutenant Harris. I will not read it
again.
This concludes the presentation of documents with respect to the order
of the 18th of October 1942 and its subsequent enforcement and
application. I can pass from here to another subject.
THE PRESIDENT: We will adjourn for 10 minutes now.
[A recess was taken.]