15 October 1942,
WFSt/Qu. [Administration]
Re: Fight against enemy sabotage troops.
[In Handwriting] : Reexamine Distribution (WR and Abw.)
Warlimont, Oct 15
Note
Following the radio announcement of Oct 7, 42, WFSt has requested proposals from Foreign Office/Abw. and from WR for an executive order.
The proposal of the Foreign Office Abw will be submitted as Appendix 1.
Opinion of WFSt:
The proposal is not in accordance with the above mentioned radio announcement and is too strongly influenced by considera-
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tions of the own interests of the Foreign Office/Abw. and particularly Abw. II, sections.
The Chief of WR has made a statement to the effect that the order was to be drawn up in such a way that it will take into account the own interests while considering the future conduct of the war. In this way he wanted to avoid repercussions which would counteract our further intentions. Sabotage is an essential part of conducting war at a time of total warfare; we ourselves have strongly developed this method of fighting.
[Handwritten remark: "But the English are much more in need of it." Jodi]
However, to draw up such an order it is necessary to clarify preliminary questions which he could bring up in oral discussions only; if possible, in the presence of the Chief of the Foreign Office/Abw. at WFSt. A telephonic discussion would be out of question because of the necessary treatment of future intentions.
Only then could a statement be issued to the troops as to which . sabotage troops should be regarded as bandits.
Opinion of WFSt:
The intention to dispose in the future of all terroristic and sabotage troops which behave like bandits has been already made public over the radio.
The task of the WFSt therefore consist only of giving such directives for execution as to how the units should deal with terroristic and sabotage units.
The question of the promulgation of this qrder, as it was brought up by the WR, needs not be followed further, since the announcement of the basic principle in the Wehrmacht report of Oct 7 should already be sufficient for purpose of intimidation.
WFSt therefore suggests the order appearing under Appendix 2.
To WFSt
Re: Treatment of British terroristic and sabotage units.
A' Members of terroristic and sabotage troops of the British Army who are found, contrarily to the rules of warfare, without uniform or in German uniform will be treated as bandits. During
Warlimont.
Appendix 1
Copy by way of Extract
From Teletype KR GWOKA 02822
10 Oct. 42, 14.30 o'clock arr.: 10 Oct, 16.25
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fight and when fleeing, they are to be shot without mercy. If military necessities will call for their temporary arrest or if they fall into German hands outside of military actions, they are to be led at once before an officer for interrogation. Thereafter they are to be court-martialed. [Jodi's handwritten remark: "No".]
B. Members of terroristic and sabotage units of the British Army who, in uniform, are, in the opinion of the unit guilty of dishonorable activities or of activities contrary to international law, are to be put under military confinement after their capture. WFSt has to be immediately notified about their actions. Directives about their treatment will be issued by WFSt in accordance with WR and the Foreign Office/Abw. [Handwritten remark: "That doesn't go either. Jodi".]
OKW Foreign Office/Abw.
No. 00381/42 Top Secret Copy 1 G 1 b(5).
Top Secret *
Appendix 2 Fuehrer Hq, the Oct. 1942
Chief of the High Command of the Army. Copies
No. 00 /42 top secret WFSt/Qu. (Adm.) .Copy
1. In the x- appendix to the -x Wehrmacht report of Oct 7, 42 it has /already/ been announced that in the future all terroristic and sabotage units of the British and of their associates who do not act like soldiers but like bandits will be mercilessly exterminated in fight.
2. The behavior x- of terroristic and sabotage units -x has to be x- always -x assumed to be contrary to the rules of warfare when /attacks of/ single x- aggressors as -x saboteurs /take place who, contrarily to the basic rules of warfare, while killing single persons or annihilating property of high value/ or agents, regardless whether as soldiers and irrespective of the kind of uniform, commit attacks of acts of violence which, in the judgment of the unit, differ from the basic rules of warfare and thus place themselves outside of the rules of warfare.
3. In these cases the aggressors are to be annihilated to the last man x- while fighting or fleeing -x without mercy.
4. x- If military necessities call for a temporary arrest of single participants, then, after their military questioning, they are to be handed over to the SD in principle -x. Confinement in PW camps is prohibited x- even temporarily -x.
5. This order is not to go beyond army level; from there on
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to lower echelons is to be announced verbally. The order has to be destroyed after acknowledgement.
[Note: x-~........-x indicate additions in pencil.
/..'....../ indicate word or words crossed out in pencil].
14 Oct 1942
WFSt / Qu. (Adm.)
Re: Fight against enemy sabotage troops.
Note
Following an order, a draft for an order is herewith submitted about the fight against terroristic and sabotage units. A draft about the counterproposal of the Foreign Office/Abw is contained in the teletype of Oct 10 with handwritten corrections according to the teletype of Oct 13.
In agreement with the Chief of the WR it is pointed out that attached order can have repercussions which can counteract our interest as to the future conduct of the war. ,
Reasons:
Sabotage has become an essential part ofi warfare in the age of total war. In this respect it is sufficient to point out our own attitude. Proof can be gathered by the enemy from reports of our own propaganda companies.
Therefore, in agreement with the Chief of the WR, the motion is made to hold a discussion at the WFSt, at which the Chief of the Foreign Office/Abw., the representatives of W.Pr. and WR should take part in order to ascertain in a statement to what extent can the goal be reached to fight efficiently against the sabotage warfare of the enemy without considerably impairing our own effort. In the meeting the points should be discussed which appear in the appendix. Telephonic discussion is not feasible because the answers to the questions under discussion would permit conclusions to the further intentions about the conduct of the war. The Chief of the WR does not expect any progress from a preliminary discussion with the Foreign Office/Abw.
With this view in mind to prevent the enemy's fighting the war by using sabotage troops, following questions have to be clarified before formulating an order:
(1) Do we ourselves have the intention to commit sabotage units in the zone of rear echelons of the enemy only, or also far back in the zone of interior? *
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(2) Who will commit more sabotage troops, the enemy or we?
(3) Can we establish the principle: Sabotage units do not conduct legal war; they are to be exterminated in the fighting without mercy ? '
(4) Do we attach importance to arrest first the single members of this group for interrogation by counterintelligence and not kill them immediately?
Top Secret
14 Oct 1942
WFSt / Qu. (Adm.)
Re: Fighting against enemy sabotage units.
Note
Following the radio announcement of Oct 7, 42, WFSt made proposals for an executive order of Foreign Office/Abw. and of WR.
The proposal of the Foreign Office/Abw. will be submitted as Appendix 1.
x- Opinion of WFSt: The proposal -x is not in accordance with the above mentioned radio announcement and is strongly influenced by the own interests of the Foreign Office/Abw., particularly Abw. II.
The Chief of WR has expressed the opinion that /from the standpoint of the aim to prevent the enemy warfare by use of sabotage troops/ he would /issue/ draft an order in such a way that it should /extensively/ take into account our own interests with regard to the future conduct of the war. In this way he wants to avoid repercussions which could counteract our further aims. Sabotage is an essential part of the conduct of war in the time of total war; we ourselves have strongly developed this method of warfare. Only then could /he/ one give an explanation to the troops what sabotage units should be regarded as bandits.
Opinion of WFSt:
The intention to annihilate all terrorists and sabotage units in the future which behave like bandits, has been already made public over the radio. /The deserving effect would be this basically achieved/. Therefore the task of the WFSt would be only to issue directives as to how the troops are to act against terrorists and sabotage units.
The question about the ' publication of this order which was
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raised by WR needs no further discussion since the publication of the principle x- published in the Wehrmacht report of Oct. 7. As far as the intimidating effect goes -x should already be sufficient.
WFSt therefore proposes the order as submitted in the appendix. (Appendix 2.).
W.
[Warlimont]
Note: x-......-x indicate additions in pencil.
/....../ indicate word or words crossed oüt in pencil.