7 Jan. 46
a new series of regulations for fighting partisans.
Many months pawed, however, before these regulations were finally
published, in 1944, when they were already practically useless.
DR. STAHMER: Who issued these regulations?
VON DEM BACH-ZELEWSKI: These regulations were published by the
Wehrmacht, in the form of an ordinary Wehrmacht directive.
DR. STAHMER: They were issued by the Wehrmacht?
VON DEM BACH-ZELEWSKI: They came out in 1944.
DR. STAHMER: What were their contents?
VON DEM BACH-ZELEWSKI: They were entitled, Regulations for the
Fighting of Partisans (Bandenkampfvorschrift).
DR. STAHMER: What were their contents?
VON DEM BACH-ZELEWSKI: They comprised the whole of partisan warfare;
thus they contained reconnaissance, operational details, differences
between small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale operations.
DR. STAHMER: Since these partisan combat regulations did not appear
before 1944, was it not your task, as you had an anti-partisan forces in
the whole East, to instruct your forces directly on their conduct?
VON DEM BACH-ZELEWSKI: In the first place, as I have said; I had no
authority to issue orders. Consequently, I could only make suggestions.
Secondly, closely organized anti-partisan forces never existed; it was
an empty name which they were given. Any kind and number of formations
would be assigned for anti-partisan warfare whenever necessary. It is
wrong to say that I had troops at my disposal for the sole purpose of
fighting the partisans. Moreover — and I should like to emphasize
that — the document appointing me Chief of Anti-Partisan Combat
Units stated as follows: Anti-partisan operations will be commanded
either by the Higher SS and Police Officer, or the competent Wehrmacht
commander in their respective areas. According to that directive, my own
task was only that of an inspector, in spite of my continuous request
for authority to issue orders.
DR. STAHMER: I don't quite understand ...
THE PRESIDENT: You must go slowly and you most pause between your
sentences.
DR. STAHMER: As general of the Waffen-SS you must have had power to
issue orders?
VON DEM BACH-ZELEWSKI: I had authority only to issue orders when I
personally conducted an operation.