Affidavit concerning German forces involved in the occupation of the Sudeten territory in 1938, including the SA

AFFIDAVIT OF GOTTLOB BERGER
I, Gottlob Berger, under oath and being previously sworn make the following statement:
1. In the fall of 1938 I held the rank and title of Oberfuehrer in the SS. In mid-September I was assigned as SS Liaison Officer with Konrad Henlein's Sudeten German Free Corps at their headquarters in the castle at Dondorf outside Bayreuth. In this position I was responsible for all liaison between the Reichsfuehrer SS Himmler and Henlein and, in particular, I was delegated to select from the Sudeten Germans those who appeared to be eligible for membership in the SS or VT [Verfuegungs Truppe]. In addition to myself, Liaison Officers stationed with Henlein included an Obergruppenfuehrer from the NSKK, whose name I have forgotten, and Obergruppenfuehrer Max Juettner, from the SA. In addition, Admiral Canaris, who was head of the OKW Obwehr, appeared at Dondorf nearly every two days and conferred with Henlein.
2. In the course of my official duties at Henlein's Headquarters I became familiar with the composition and activities of the Free Corps. Three groups were being formed under Henlein's direction: One in the Eisenstein area, Bavaria; one in the Bayreuth area; one in the Dresden area; and possibly a fourth group in Silesia. These groups were supposedly composed of refugees from the Sudetenland who had crossed the border into Germany, but they actually contained Germans with previous service in the SA and NSKK (Nazi Motor Corps) as well. These Germans formed the skeleton of the Free Corps. On paper the Free Corps had a strength^of 40,000 men. I do not know its actual strength, but I believe it to be considerably smaller than the paper figure.
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The Corps was armed with Manlicher-Schoenauer rifles from Army depots in Austria. It was my understanding that about
18,000 rifles were issued to men under Henlein's command. In addition, small numbers of machine guns,* hand grenades, and 2 captured antitank guns were placed at Henlein's disposal. Part of the equipment furnished to Henlein, mostly haversacks, cooking utensils, and blankets, were supplied by the SA.
3. In the days preceding the conclusion of the four-power pact at Munich I heard of numerous occasions on which the Henlein Free Corps was engaged in skirmishes with Czech patrols along the border of the Sudetenland. These operations were under the direction of Henlein, who went forward from his Headquarters repeatedly in order to take direct command of his men.
The facts stated above are true; this declaration is made by me voluntarily and without compulsion; after reading over this statement I have signed and executed the same.
[Signed] Gottlob Berger
* (Rifles and machine guns were of doubtful serviceability due to inferior ammunition.)
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Nürnberg, Germany, this 22nd day of November 1945. '
[Signed] Smith W. Brookhart, Jr.
SMITH W. BROOKHART, JR.
Lt. Col., IGD