. NMT03-T0776
Volume III · Page 776
| intimidate them. To begin with, the following directives should be observed: |
| I |
| In case of criminal acts committed by non-German civilians and which are directed against the Reich or the occupation force, endangering their safety or striking force, the death penalty is indicated in principle. |
| II |
| Criminal acts contained in paragraph I, will on principle, be tried in the occupied territories only when it appears probable that death sentences are going to be passed on the offenders, or, at least, the main offenders, and if the trial and the execution of the death sentence can be carried out without delay. In other cases the offenders, or, at least, the main offenders, are to be taken to Germany. |
| III |
| Offenders who are being taken to Germany are subject to court martial procedure there only if particular military interests should require this. German and foreign agencies will be told upon inquiries on such offenders that they were arrested and that the state of the proceeding does not allow further information. |
| IV |
| The commanders in the occupied territories and the judicial authorities, within their jurisdiction, will be personally held responsible for the execution of this decree. |
| V |
| The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces will decide in which of the occupied territories this decree shall be applied. He is authorized to furnish explanations, to issue supplements, and implementation directives. The Reich Minister of Justice will issue implementation directives within his jurisdiction. |
| BY ORDER: |
| The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces |
| [Signed] KEITEL |
| Distribution:
Foreign Office Reich Minister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery |
