7 Jan. 46
themselves took the most severe measures
against the bolshevist and Jewish enemy quite on their own, so that
the direction by German authorities could not be found out.
"In Lithuania this was achieved for the first time by partisan
activities in Kovno. To our surprise it was not easy, at first, to set
in motion an extensive pogrom against the Jews. Klimatis, the leader
of the partisan unit mentioned above, who was used for this purpose
primarily, succeeded in starting a pogrom on the basis of advice given
to him by a small advanced detachment acting in Kovno and in such a
way that no German order or German instigation was noticed from the
outside. During the first pogrom in the night from 25 to 26 June, the
Lithuanian partisans did away with more than 1,500 Jews, setting fire
to several synagogues or destroying them by other means and burning
down a Jewish dwelling district consisting of about 60 houses. During
the following nights 2,300 Jews were eliminated in a similar way. In
other parts of Lithuania similar actions followed the example of
Kovno, though smaller and extending to the Communists who had been
left behind.
"These self-cleansing actions went smoothly because the Army
authorities, who had been informed, showed understanding for this
procedure. From the beginning it was obvious that only the first days
after the occupation would offer the opportunity for carrying out
pogroms. After the disarmament of the partisans the self-cleansing
actions ceased necessarily."
I pass to Page 10 of the translation, toward the bottom under "Other
jobs of the Security Police":
"Occasionally the conditions
prevailing in the lunatic asylums necessitated operations of the
Security Police."
Passing to
the next paragraph:
"In some cases authorities of the
Armed Forces asked us to clean out, in a similar way, other
institutions which were wanted as billets. However, as interests of
the Security Police did not require any intervention, it was left to
the authorities of the Armed Forces to take the necessary action with
their own forces."
I pass on
to Page 17 of the translation, the paragraph at the top of the page: "But
it was decided ... "
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Taylor, did you read Paragraph 5 (1) on Page 10?
COL. TAYLOR: 5 (1) on Page 10? I read the first passage, Your Honor If
you would like it in full ...
THE PRESIDENT: I think perhaps you might go to the end of it.