Security Service of the Reich Fuehrer of SS . (SS) Security Service, Section Koblenz
111 .4 B No. 11/44 gKs-S/fd
Koblenz, June 12, 1944 3 copies 3rd copy Top Secret
To the Inspector of Security Police and of SD SS-Colonel Bomann _
Wiesbaden.
For information:
To the Director of the State Police Office Koblenz SS Major Dr. Christiann Koblenz.
Concerns: Enemy aviators who have been shot down Reference: Your letter—IV 2a (new) 43/44 gKs—of 21.4.1944
With reference to your letter and to the preceding oral consultations, it is announced that the OKW issued a similarly worded decree which was read to the company leaders. The appropriate wording of the decree was that German soldiers cannot be expected to give their protection to murderers of German people. Further confidential information was that the company com-
745-PS
745-PS
manders informed their companies accordingly and gave them to understand that value is no longer placed on imprisoned enemy aviators. '
The decree of the OKW which was read as a top secret military document, was presented on 3.6.1944. '
Acknowledgement is requested.
The head of the SD Section Koblenz * (SS) Lieutenant-Colonel
[sig. illegible] Wiesbaden, 21 April 1944 Top Secret 9 copies 9th copy
TRANSLATION OF DOCUh/TENT 754^PS
WFSt/Op (Army Command Staff) [Wehrmachts Fuehrungstab]
TOP SECRET
[pencilled notes illegible]
28 Oct 1944 6 copies
' 5th Copy
KR—Teletype
1. Geb [?] AOK (Army Supreme Command) 20
2. For information: (WB) Armed Forces Commander in Chief, Norway
3. For information: Reich Commissioner for the Occupied Norwegian Territories .
4. OKM (Supreme Command, Navy) /l. Ski. (Koralle)
Because of the unwillingness of the north Norwegian population to voluntarily evacuate, the Fuehrer has agreed to the proposals of the commissioner for the occupied Norwegian territories, and has ordered, that the entire Norwegian population east of fjord of Lyngen be evacuated by force in the interest of their own security, and that all homes are to be burned down or destroyed.
The supreme commander, Northern Finland, is responsible, that the Fuehrer's order is carried out without consideration. Only by this method can it be prevented, that the Russians with strong forces, aided by these homes and the people, familiar with the terrain, follow our withdrawal operations during this winter and shortly appear in front of our position in Lyngen. This is not the place for sympathy for the civilian population.
544
754-PS
[Pencilled note bottom page 1: BDC—OKW 1612.] [Stamped:] 13/184
* * * * * * *
It must be made-clear to the troops, engaged in this action, that the Norwegians will be thankful in a few months that they were saved from Bolshevism, and that the barbarian methods of the air war against our German country and her cultural shrines have brought a thousand times more misery to our people if compared with the humane evacuation and destruction of homes in Northern Norway, which is necessary for our war effort, and which, if it is not done, must be paid for with blood of German soldiers. .
The population—whose livelihood is fishing—in Northern Norway, furthermore has enough shipping space at its disposal to be able to get out of the way en mass across the water. A large part of the small Norwegian ships which are kept hidden at present can be used for this and can later also be used for our own transportation needs.
The danger of the formation of guerilla bands on the part of the Norwegians appears to be negligible since they can no longer use the houses during the winter.
I.A. [By order]
signed: JODL
Supreme Command Armed Forces/Armed Forces Command St/ Army Operations/North/No 0012887/44 top secret Distribution:
Chief Armed Forces Command St (1st copy)
Deputy Chief/Ktb (2nd copy)
Operations (Army) operations (Navy) (1 each .3rd & 4th copies)
Quartermaster and G-2 (1 each 5th & 6th copies)
Message from the SD chief at Koblenz to the the security police and SD inspector at Wiesbaden (Col. Bomann), stating that the military high command had directed soldiers not to protect Allied aviators who were shot down
Date: 12 June 1944
Literal Title: Concerns: Enemy aviators who have been shot down
Total Pages: 1
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-745
HLSL Item No.: 451566
Notes:This document was apparently not entered as evidence in the trial.
Trial Issues
Criminal organizations (Gestapo, Leadership Corps, Cabinet, SS, SD, OKW) (… Allied airmen, murder or mistreatment of (IMT, NMT 3)
Document Summary
PS-745: Top Secret Correspondence of SD Regional Headquarters Koblenz on treatment of captured allied fliers
PS-745: A.) Top Secret letter, dated 21 April 1944 from SS Colonel Somann handwritten signature (Inspector, Security Police and SD, Wiesbaden) to the Gestapo Chiefs of Darmstadt, Coblenz and Luxembourg and to Lt. Colonel Wiebens (SD Chief, Koblenz).