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Extract from instructions for the conquest of Yugoslavia, and the use of its southern territory to continue the campaign against Greece

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Authors

Adolf Hitler (Fuehrer, Reich Chancellor, Supeme Commander of Wehrmacht)

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Adolf Hitler

Austrian nationalized German politician, leader of the National Socialist party and dictator of Germany (1889-1945)

Image of Adolf Hitler
  • Born: 1889-01-01 1889-04-20 (Braunau am Inn) (country: Austria-Hungary; located in the administrative territorial entity: Archduchy of Austria above the Enns; statement is subject of: Adolf-Hitler-Geburtshaus)
  • Died: 1945-04-30 (Berlin Führerbunker) (country: Nazi Germany; located in the administrative territorial entity: Berlin; statement is subject of: death of Adolf Hitler)
  • Country of citizenship: Cisleithania (period: 1889-04-20 through 1918-11-11); First Republic of Austria (period: 1919-01-01 through 1925-04-30); Nazi Germany (end cause: death of Adolf Hitler; period: 1933-01-30 through 1945-04-30); Republic of German-Austria (period: 1918-01-01 through 1919-01-01)
  • Occupation: painter (statement is subject of: paintings by Adolf Hitler); political writer; politician (reason for preferred rank: generally used form); soldier
  • Member of political party: German Workers' Party (period: 1919-09-12 through 1921-07-11); Nazi Party (series ordinal: 556)
  • Member of: Nazi Party
  • Participant in: Aktion T4; Beer Hall Putsch; The Holocaust; ethnic cleansing
  • Significant person: Albert Speer; Benito Mussolini; Eva Braun; Joseph Stalin

Date: 27 March 1941

Literal Title: Extract from "Direction No. 25."

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: C-127

Citation: IMT (page 1145)

HLSL Item No.: 450897

Trial Issues

IMT count 2: crimes against peace (wars of aggression) (IMT) Wars of aggression

Document Summary

Staff Evidence Analyses

C-127: Photostat copy of top secret instruction No. 25 sign by Hitler as fuehrer and supreme commander of Wehrmacht concerning military operations in the Balkan states

DIRECTIVE NO. 25
Fuehrer's Headquarters,
27.3.41.
(1) The military Putsch in Jugoslavia has altered the political situation in the Balkans. Jugoslavia must, in spite of her protestations of loyalty for the time being, be considered as an enemy and therefore be crushed as speedily as possible.
(2) It is my intention to force my tvay into Jugoslavia from the area comprising Fiume and Graz on the one hand and the area around Sofia on the other, moving in the general direction of Belgrade and South of this, and to contact and annihilate the Jugoslav army, also to cut off the extreme Southern part of Jugoslavia from the rest of the country, and to take it over as a base for the
C—127
C-127
continuance of the combined German and Italian offensive against Greece.
The approaching opening of the Danube to traffic, and the taking over of the copper mines at Bor are important for reasons of war economy.
An attempt will be made to persuade Hungary and Bulgaria to take part in the operations by holding out the prospect of regaining Banat and Macedonia.
The political internal crisis in Jugoslavia will be rendered more acute by the political assurances given to the Croati'ans."
A. HITLER.

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