| TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 695-PS Source:Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression. Volume III USGPO, Washington, 1946/pp.498-509 Reinecke Order Concerning Treatment of Soviet Prisoners of War SECRET Berlin-Schoeneberg Armed forces high command 1. Treatment of Soviet prisoners of war. The necessity of increased use of the labor of Soviet prisoners of war necessitates a new regulation of their treatment. The statutes in reference to this matter are repealed, and the following regulation is in effect in the future for the treatment of Soviet prisoners of war: A. Treatment of Soviet Prisoners of War in General Bolshevism is the mortal enemy of National Socialist Germany. The Soviet soldier must on principle be considered a carrier of Bolshevism. Therefore it answers political necessity and the authority and dignity of the German armed. forces, for every German soldier to keep his distance from the Soviet prisoners of war. With cool and correct treatment, avoidance of violence and insults, and protection from public curiosity, the work done by the Soviet prisoners of war can be increased. It is forbidden to carry out retaliatory measures against them. On the other hand, any attempted fraternization is to be rejected. Even the public must at all times be aware of the feeling of pride and superiority of the German soldier detailed to guard Soviet prisoners of war. Ruthless and energetic action in cases of uncooperativeness, refusal to work, and negligence in work, especially toward Bolshevist agitators, is to be ordered ; insubordination, or active resistance must be completely removed immediutely with a weapon (bayonet, gun-butt, or firearm, no sticks). The decree concerning use of arms by the armed forces is to be interpreted strictly. Whoever does not use his weapon or does not use it energetically enough in seeing that an order is carried out is liable to punishment (see [volume ?] VI, 12). Notation: also page 8). 2. All traffic between the Soviet prisoners of war and the civilian population is to be prevented. Special attention is to be given to the separation of the captured officers, which has in general already been carried out by the field army, in the territory of the armed forces commanders and in the Reich territory ; especially since Soviet officers for understandabIe reasons frequently pass themselves off as enlisted men. Any communication between the Soviet officers and men, even by signs, must be made impossible. (see [volume ?] V) . 3. A camp police corps is to be formed within the camps and the larger labor details of suitable Soviet prisoners of war. This police corps will be appointed and supervised by commandants to keep order and maintain discipline. B. Individual Instructions I. Food and clothing: 4. According to principle all prisoners of war receive equal treatment. In regard to the feeding of Soviet prisoners of war, however, the rates established in the armed forces high cornmand statute AZ. 62 f Va/ AG V III/ V 3 (V d) of February 27, 1942, is in effect in the home war area. If the food is prepared without loss of food value and if'the distribution times are sensibly spaced throughout the, day, these food rations are adequate to feed the prisoners of war. Points to be especially considered in preparing food are contained in the "Collection of orders No. 11". Especially in winter, the food is to be served warm if possible and is to be distributed as often as possible during the day. The contractors should distribute warm food not only after work but also in pauses in the work. The suitable feeding of the Soviet prionsers of war is especially important, since their physical efficiency is low, partly as a result of years of undernourishment, partly as a result of doof difficulties in the Soviet army and as a result of war events. Since the prisoners of war recover more easily on individual fare outside the camps than on mass feeding in the camps, it is recommended that Soviet prisoners be put to work even if they are not yet completely fit for work. Full achievement cannot, of course, be expected in that case (compare army high command of 19 February 1942, AZ: 2f 24. 17 b prisoners of war Org. (III b) No. 678/ 42). As far as possible, foreign tobacco goods will be made available for Soviet. prisoners of war in the camps. German tobacco is not to be given to Soviet prisoners of war. The matter of clothing was settled by decree army high command AZ. 2f 24. 23a prisoners of war (II, 2) No. 5632/ 41 of 22 August 1941. According to this, the clothing debit of the Soviets corresponds to that of the other prisoners of war. II. Work: 5. As a result of the general labor situation, the employment of the Soviet prisoners of war, including officers, derives decisive significance. In principle it is permitted everywhere, unless there are objections for reasons of defense in individual cases. (Compare enclosed statute AZ. 2f 24. 17 b, chief of prisoners of war [organization?] III b No. 1474/ 42 of 1 April 1942, and No, 1396/ 42 of 9 April 1942) In general labor columns of at least 20 men are to be provided for. In industrial economy, however, it is permissible in cases of urgent business necessity to use smaller labor details down to 5 men in various departments of the * * * concern, even in. "protected" concerns. However, in such cases the employment of smaller groups requires the special approval of the competent defense post and of the armament command. A prerequisite is the presence of an adequate number of reliable foremen who have been investigated in regard to defense as "auxiliary guards". The employment of officers requires the special approval of the army high command in each case. The responsibility for the orderly employment of the Soviet prisoners of war in the Reich rests exclusively on the bureaus ordering their employment:
The borrowing of Soviet .prisoners of war is regulated for the Reich by statute AZ. 2f 24. 27a prisoners of war (II, 2) NO. 6999/ 41 of 29 September 1941, and supplementary statutes:
and for the territories of Ostland (Baltic countries and White Russia) and the Ukraine by statute armed forces high command AZ. 2f 24. 17s-prisoners of war [organization?] (III b) No. 463/ 42 of 29 January 1,942. For the rest of the eastern territories and the Gouvernement General the following decrees are in effect :
The employment and work of the Soviet prisoners of war are to be under the strictest control. Strong measures are to be taken in any case of refusal to work. Poor or mediocre work not due to weak constitution, exhaustion, physical condition, or a similar cause must immediately Incur appropriate punishment. III. Free time: 6. Musical instruments can be obtained and distributed.. Arts and crafts in the sense of statute AZ. 2f 24. 72g prisoners of war Ch 2 No. 5671/ 41 of 9 August 1941 are to be encouraged. They are not forbidden to organize religious services among themselves, whether by captured priests of the camp or by laymen. Spiritual consolation for the dying as well as the presence of a captured priest or lay-priest at burials are permitted. (see VIII). . It is forbidden to bring in members of the clergy who are not prisoners of war. No religious writings may be distributed. IV. Treatment of minorities 7. Special orders are issued according to need regarding the majority of the peoples among the Soviet prisoners of war; as far as such orders have been issued, they ,remain fully in effect. For all members of the most important Soviet minorities
V. Separation of prisoners of war and civilians of the Eastern campaign: 8. Deserters: The peculiar circumstances of the Eastern campaign in many cases made it impossible to guarantee the special consideration in captivity promised to deserters. The result of this fact,on the Soviet front has made itself felt in a most undesirable way, through Soviet prisoners of war who have escaped and managed to reach their homes. The German troops on the Eastern front have now been instructed, therefore, to give every deserter a certificate that he has surrendered voluntarily and that special treatment in captivity was promised him. For the most part, the deserters will be employed with the troops. When they are sent to the armed forces commanders and to the Reich, ,however, they are to retain their deserter certificates. They are to be given preferential treatment in billeting in the camp, in feeding, and in the assignment of work places. It is urgently desired that they be kept together, segregated from the other Soviet prisoners of war, in labor commands. 9. For the segregation of Soviet prisoners of war and the civilians present in the camps, the following is in effect, besides the division by nationalities in the prisoners of war camps, according to figure IV: To be segregated :
10. While the first separation according to figure 9 is undertaken, as far as possible, by the camp organs themselves, the Reichsfuehrer SS makes special details of the security police and the security service available to segregate the Soviet prisoners of war by their political attitude, They are directly under the chief of the security police and of the security service and have been especially trained for their special task. They take their measures and make their inquiries before the Soviet prisoners of war. are put to work within the framework of the camp order, according to directives which they have received from the chief of the security police and the security service. The special details are instructed to work in the closest cooperation with the commandants, and especially with their defense officers. If the Soviet prisoners of war are put to work without previous examination in exceptional cases because of the necessity for hastened commitment of labor the special details of the security police and the security service will undertake the segregation at the place of the labor detail. The head of the labor detail and, if the occasion arises, the contractor will be consulted before the segregation in doubtful cases. The special details will then request of the prisoner of war camps the surrender of those Soviet prisoners of war who are then claimed. The approval of the chiefs of the security police and the security service in Berlin is to be submitted to the camp commandants. The request for surrender of the prisoners is then to be met. Prisoners of war who are put to work after investigation are to be constantly watched by the guards in regard to their sentiments. If in time a Soviet prisoner of war proves himself to be unreliable, he is first to be turned over to the prisoner of war camp which will take care of turning him in to the security service if the occasion arises. If on the basis of the decree armed forces high command Az. 2f 24. 17b prisoners of war [organisation 11 ( II b) No. 678/ 42 of 19 February 1942, Soviet prisoners of war who are not fully capable of working are given special fare in order that they may gradually be made fully capable of working, the contractor is to receive full compensation if for political reasons it becomes necessary to turn them over to the security service. 11. Further treatment of the groups segregated under figure 9:
VI. Procedure in case of escapes or punishable acts: 12. Escaping Soviet prisoners of war are to be shot immediately without previous warning. Proclamation on the bulletin board and during roll call is necessary. Contrary directives of H Dv 38/ 11, Page 13, etc., are rescinded thus far. No warning shots are to be fired. On. the other hand, arbitrary use of firearms is forbidden. If a Soviet prisoner of war is shot by a guard, for the purpose of keeping up discipline and to prevent. unjustified shooting, in every case a short description of the happening is to be presented to the camp commandant with the following details :
13. The following order, published in the armed, forces regulation, remains in force:
Civilians, as well as prisoners of war of other nations, who return escaping Soviet prisoners of war may be rewarded. Compare :
14. The recaptured Soviet prisoners of war, even if they were delivered to police stations, must be turned over by them to the nearest prisoner of war camp. Considering the danger of spotted fever, isolation is necessary. The camp commandant must find out in every individual case the cause for escape. If the reason for the escape is only the longing for his family or hunger, and if the PW has not committed any crimes during his flight, then he is to be disciplined by the camp commandant and to be returned to work. 15. If a Soviet prisoner of war commits in camp on another prisoner of war murder, manslaughter or another crime, for which there is no punitive regulation in the German criminal code, which however demands the most severe punishment (for instance cannibalism, to bring about incapability to work by self-mutilation), then the criminal is to be turned over to the secret state police [Gestapo]. Also in the case of other crimes by a Soviet prisoner of war (for instance during flight), the camp commandant must turn over the criminal to the secret state police unless he is convinced a disciplinary measure or the judicial punishment which is to be expected after interview with the judge of the competent army court is sufficient to retain the discipline of the camp. Punishment for disobedience is only possible if the prisoner of war disobeys a distinct order, given to him and understood by him. 16. In the case of every transfer to the secret state police the prisoner of war is to be discharged from captivity, and the transfer is to be reported to the armed forces information bureau if a registration has already taken place. VII. Funerals: The following shall apply to funerals of deceased prisoners of war: 1. Funerals are to take place unobtrusively and in a simple manner. Treatment in the press radio or motion pictures is prohibited. 2. A German military delegation will not be provided. Participation by comrades of the deceased, who belong to the same prisoner of war enclosure is permitted. Civilians may not participate. 3. Gun salute will not be given. 4. Wreaths of Soviet prisoners, may, if allowed, only carry black or white ribbons ; no wreath may be deposited by Germans. 5. Clergymen or their helpers may participate if they belong to the camp itself; in the case of Mohammedans, religious servants may be brought in if it is possible without special effort. 6. Coffins are prescribed ; however each corpse (without clothes, if those are still in any way usable) is to be wrapped in strong paper or otherwise appropriate material. In the mass graves, the corpses are to be placed next to each other at a depth of the grave, usual at the locality, and they are to be equipped with an identification tag as always, so that it can be determined later on, with the aid of a card file, which corpses are concerned. 7. In cemeteries, the graves are to be kept separate or at a proper distance from other graves; in camp cemeteries, the sequence of graves of other prisoners of war may not be disturbed. 8. If it is possible with special effort, cremation is permitted. In this case also, the camp must keep lists. However, corpses of Mohammedans must be interred in any case, and with the head, facing East, the face South. . 9. On the "Interment of corpses of Soviet prisoners of war by the communities", the decree IV e 10363/ 41, 3991 of 27 Oct 41 has been forwarded to them by the Reichsminister of the Interior. 10. The regulation, OKW Az. 29k AWA/ W Allg. (II) No. 4470/ 41 of 29 July 41 on "Funerals for enemy military personnel, deceased or killed in action," will be synchronized in section D with the above regulation. Distribution: [omitted here] By order of the Chief, /s/ REINECKE [Rubber stamp] : Certified v. Graevenitz Generalmajor Certifying above copy |
Document compiled by Dr S D Stein