. NMT04-T0081
Volume IV · Page 81
| Chief of Staff, G-2, Counter Intelligence Subdivision." It reads here under IV, "The German Intelligence Service," as follows: |
"Office III with its regional offices, is the Party Intelligence Service inside Germany. To this end, it maintains networks of agents in all walks of German life * * * who are drawn from all classes and professions. The information supplied by these agents is made up into situation reports [Lageberichte] which are sent to the RSHA by the regional offices. These reports are extremely frank, and contain a complete and unbiased picture of German opinion and morale * * *." |
| These are only brief indications for the
presentation of evidence of Ohlendorf. The picture of a man will arise who, in
purpose, intent, and actual work stood in opposition to the terrible events in
the east. Ohlendorf, who had been a compulsory member of the security service since 1938, got into the terrible situation, the effects of which are visible today, through the announcement of the mobilization. Before his assignment in Russia, he had a war assignment of the Reich Group Commerce. After he had refused twice, this war assignment was cancelled upon order from Heydrich. Ohlendorf was drafted for the Reich Leader SS. This fact is also proved by Document NO-3196, page 5 of the original. Ohlendorf now clearly belonged to a military, hierarchic organization. Ohlendorf did not agree with the execution order. The assembled leaders of the Einsatzgruppen protested unanimously against Streckenbach, who announced the Fuehrer order in the name of Himmler and Heydrich. Streckenbach agreed with the opinion expressed through that protest, but he declared that in similar cases in Poland he had already tried everything in order to have the order not executed. Himmler supposedly refused flatly. At the beginning of October 1941, Ohlendorf approached Himmler at Nikolaev, with regard to the execution order, although the latter in a speech before an assembly of leaders and men of the Einsatzgruppen and of the Einsatzkommandos, had again repeated the strict order of the Fuehrer. Ohlendorf in speaking to the Reich Leader SS emphasized the inhuman burden. He did not even receive an answer. He could not make Himmler revoke the order. There was no possibility for him to prevent the practical execution of the order, which was his endeavor. There was no possibility for him to evade the order. He was in an unheard-of conflict of duties. Ohlendorf had no possibility to make any appeal, since any attempt to get to Hitler personally always had to be made via Heydrich and Himmler. Since it was Bormann who was behind the order, any attempt to surpass Himmler and Heydrich |
