MR. DENNEY: There is an illegible signature for the Captain and Commander of the Third Battalion. They don't in their order, of course, suggest how the inhabitants could know that the car was coming in or how they could have warned them. The attitude toward the priests and the mayor of the village certainly needs no comment.
We will pass Document NOKW 901 and the next document will be NOKW 455 which we offer as Exhibit 33. If your Honors please, perhaps with reference to the comment which Dr. Laternser just made, we could give this paragraph to the interpreter and let them read it into the record as they translate it.
THE PRESIDENT: The interpreters which have been appointed for this court?
MR. DENNEY: Those are the interpreters for this court, yes, Your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Laternser, does that meet with your approval? Do you have any comments to make concerning it?
DR. LATERNSER: I don't think I understood you correctly-whether it should be done now or in the future in connection with the correction of the mistakes in translation. Is this to be done in the future or is this to be done right away?
THE PRESIDENT: It would be my personal suggestion that if the Tribunal is to receive any benefit from it, it should be done now. Is that agreeable with you, Mr. Denney?
MR. DENNEY: Yes, Your Honor.
DR. LATERNSER: Yes, indeed.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well then, those matters which seem to be in controversy may be handed to the official translators for their translation at this time and for the benefit of this Tribunal.
MR. DENNEY: If I may mark the paragraph on the document--Dr. Laternser is here.
THE PRESIDENT: Just a minute, please. Is it agreed by counsel for the prosecution and Dr. Laternser, representing counsel for the defendants, and the defendants that the document as marked is the portion which is in controversy.
MR. DENNEY: Yes, your Honor.
DR. LATERNSER: Yes, quite.
JUDGE BURKE: Mr. Denney, are the first four lines on page 113 the subject matter of possible dispute as to interpretation?
MR. DENNEY: The first four lines of the report, your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: It being agreed that the document, as marked is the matter in controversy, it may be handed to the interpreter to be read.
THE INTERPRETER: The transition of this paragraph reads as follows: On the 16th of August, 1941, the commander in Serbia made known by wireless that a village in which a Wehrmacht car had been shot at was levelled to the ground and that inhabitants had been shot at and hanged. I agree with this translation.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
MR. DENNEY: Document 445 which has been offered as Exhibit 33 is in order from the corps command, the 65th in Serbia which was serving under the defendant List dated 19 August 1941. It applies to an operation called "Geier" and the order was to be sent to those units appearing in the distribution list on the second page.
Paragraph 1, "The village of Grabovac, presumably the Communist center of the district of Obrenovac, will be surrounded and searched on Saturday 23rd of August 1941 in a surprise attack."
Paragraph 6, the translation of which does not appear in your Honor's copy, gives orders to the troops, the Wehrmacht in connection with this, and reads as follows: "At 4 a.m. on 23 August 1941, all sections will go from their points of departure on a wide front, using as many separate routes as possible, concentrating on Grabovac.
The reinforced 5th Company of the 750th Regiment coming from Bajani, Grabenow-Folji, before Grabenow-Folji will swerve in a northwesterly direction and will march above the village Jem on Grabovac, Kreba, Dor; meanwhile the approaching infantry command of the 704th Infantry Division will break up over the Bajani, Grabenow-Jolji at 4:15 23 August 1941, and advance southeastward on the road Bajani, Grabovac, on Grabovac."
Paragraph 7 provides that "Grabovac must be surrounded from all sides by 0530 o'clock on 23.8.41. The village is to be entered from all sides. The male population of over 14 years of age is to be arrested, collected at the church of Grabovac and handed over to the police. People who resist, who are in possession of arms, or who take flight are to be shot. The farms are to be searched for men only. The search of the houses for arms, etc., will take place only by order of the men in charge after all men have been rounded up."
Then Paragraph 11, an order with reference to the other units which are to participate in it for the operation planned at Grabovac, the following are available:
"1) 40 gendarmes of the gendarmerie station Obrenovac.
"2) 30 gendarmes of the gendarmerie station Ub.
"3) 10 agents of the Belgrade Serbian special police.
"4) 2 leaders, 10 men of the Belgrade Einstazkommando of the security police."
In this order the commander of the 65th Corps has a combined operation against a town for the purpose of arresting the male population and collecting them. The provision saying that anyone who takes flight will be shot and the order goes not only to troop units but also to the Gendarmerie and also to the Einsatzkommando of the security police.
The next document is NOKW 1487 which is offered as Exhibit 34 and is a letter from the Serbian Minister of the Interior to the Military Commander in Serbia enclosing a report with reference to German actions against communists and others. The letter is dated 20 August 1941, Belgrade. It is addressed to the Military Commander in Serbia.
"I have the honor of enclosing the report of the District Head in Arandjelovac for your information.
"The report shows clearly the urgent necessity of the closest cooperation between agencies of the German Military Authorities and agencies of the civil administration since only in this manner can the combatting of the common enemy, the Communists, be successful."
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Laternser, do you have some matter to present to the court?
DR. LATERNSER: Yes, Mr. President. I object to the introduction of this document for the following reason: I certainly see that a capture of a great number of documents, the prosecution cannot be asked to prove details regarding these documents but one thing is certain, Mr. President, that not everything that has been found also represents a document, and I maintain this is so governing this document. This is a document of three pages which are merely written in typescript, and which is expressly at the beginning marked as copy, that is, as a subsequent copy. In order that a documentary character can be presented, it must have certain prerequisites which must be met in case of a document of this kind. I cannot see that even a single prerequisite is present in this document. It is not a document and for this reason I object to its introduction.
MR. DENNEY: If Your Honor please, this is all that we have. We submit that it is complete on its face with the original and the enclosed copy. That is the letter with the enclosure; we don't know where the original is. It is here as it has been photostated. We didn't make the copy.
MR. PRESIDENT: This Tribunal is conscious of the fact that these documents which are presented here are documents which have been obtained through capture at the close of the war or during the war, and that they will have to be considered as documents of that character and their value appraised by the Tribunal in its consideration of the case as a whole. The objection will be overruled.
MR. DENNEY: Continuing with the fourth line of the second paragraph on page 118 of Document Book 1, Exhibit 34 in evidence:
The Servian Administrative agencies know all the details concerning any persons under the slightest suspicion of Communism. However, they can bear full responsibility for the entire anti-Communist action in the country only if they are enabled to apply the methods in the country, which have proved their efficacy in activity over many years.
However, if such cooperation is lacking and if the German agencies proceed independently, it achieves, beyond doubt, the opposite result, that is the result which the Communists themselves wish to bring about by all means. Therefore, I request urgently that an authoritative office issues directives to all German Wehrmacht agencies concerned as soon as possible, pointing out the necessity for cooperation as it is being practiced, with the greatest success, here in Belgrade.
A German officer - a Captain - was killed from ambush on the road Arnadjelovac-Topola, 4 kilometers from Arandjelovac near the village of Banja on the morning of 16 August. The officer was going on duty by car to Belgrade. The offense wars committed by a Communist who has remained unknown. This Communist had been lying in ambush in the corn field and had fled through the corn to the woods after committing the deed.
Eleven young farmers working in the fields were captured and shot for this murder by the Germans at the place of the incident, a state of siege was declared for the entire district.
In order to combat Communist operations which had got out of hand during the last few days, the German headquarters sent a motorized assault troop which is at present going through all the villages, making arrests and - due to ignorance of the situation - is killing innocent men, women and children. All this is done on their own initiative, without inquiries and without any kind of close cooperation with the Administrative authorities and the Gendarmerie, although such cooperation is an absolute necessity for the combating of the Communist action and for exterminating the Communists in the woods.
The District Office has available reports from which the movements of the Communists could be established and it also has at its disposal all personal date of the individual Communists. However, the German headquarters does not request anything nor does it ask the District Administration for any information and is opposed to any suggestion. -246 The consequence of the procedure of the German assault troops will be that a large number of innocent people will be slaughtered and that the Communists in the woods not only will not be exterminated but will increase in numbers.
Because many farmers, even entire villages - even though up to now, they had no connection with the Communists will flee into the woods only out of fear and will be received there by the Communists. They will be provided with arms and used for combat and for open revolt against the German Wehrmacht. This insurrection will develop on a large scale and will have incalculable and terrible consequences for the entire population.
Because of this procedure by the German Wehrmacht and the lack of the necessary cooperation with the Administrative authorities and the Gendarmerie, the position of a District Head is untenable and untolerable.
Up to now, the Gendarmerie was powerless and avoided all fighting. Now after such procedure by the German Wehrmacht, there is a danger that all gendarmes will fell into the woods because they do not wish to participate in such murders. It is true that the German soldiers on their patrols take along gendarmes and district officials but only to have them show the way and take hostages. Otherwise, they reject any suggestion by the officials or the gendarmes.
The population, however, sees German soldiers coming accompanied by officials, of the district administration and by gendarmes and assumes that the necessary cooperation exists between these agencies of the native authorities. This assumption will make the situation of the district head and of the officials even worse, as that not only their remaining on their part but also their lives are endangered.
On the basis of the above report, I request that suitable steps will be taken in order to bring about speedily the necessary cooperation of the German Military Authorities with the Administrative Authorities and the agencies of public security.
Returning for a moment to the first page of the enclosure, it says that the person that shot the officer was a communist; yet they cite he was unknown; that he fled, they failed to indicate how they identified him; in retaliation they take 11 young farmers from the fields who were working near the place and shoot them; there has been some cooperation between the Germans and the police but only to the extent of using the police apparently to take hostages. The same recitation is here made which was made earlier in Exhibit 30, that the continued shooting of innocent people is driving more and more people who are otherwise passive, into the woods.
The next document is NOKW 529 which is offered as Exhibit 35. This is an order of the Commander of Serbia dated 21 August 1941. The subject is "Transfer to Security Police of Bandits captured in Combat."
1. In regard to the capture of bandits captured in combat vagueness exists in almost all authorities, which eminates from the delays of the interrogation and the proper treatment of the people.
2. As a matter of principle all bandits are to be transferred to the "Einsatzgruppe of the Security Police and of the SD" - in the following designated by the official abbreviation "SP".
3. Prisoners made in Belgrade are to be delivered to the Security Police in the Police Prison Alexandrova 5.
4. If prisoners are made they are to be transferred as rapidly as possible to the nearest Administrative Sub-area Headquarters or District Headquarters. If possible prior announcement should be made, that preparations can be made. Telephone discipline is to be observed thereby.
5. They are experts of the Security Police attached to the Administrative Sub-area Headquarters who can give information in case of doubt.
6. Together with the prisoners to be delivered, a brief report is to be sent regarding the circumstances of the capture. As a matter of principle protracted proceedings by the unit, etc. are to be avoided, except in special individual cases.
7. It has happened that units and organs of the Ordnungs Service have retained prisoners and exposed them to long interrogations without enabling the security police to get hold of these people. Such interrogations are, as stated above, the affair of the security police.
8. In this connection, attention is to be called expressly to the fact that the unit is authorized to shoot down any prisoner attempting to escape.
9. This explanation pertains accordingly to all other political prisoners.
Distribution & Draft For Commander Serbia The Chief of the General Staff (initial) fe (signed) Gravenhorst The other political prisoners, of course, would apply to any other prisoners or bandits they take.
NOKW 1209 is offered as Exhibit 36. This is a report by teletype from the Corps Headquarters of the XVIIIth Corps commanded by the deceased Boehme which is sent to 12th Army Headquarters on 5 August 1941.
164th Infantry Division: Renewed acts of sabotage committed against the telephone line in the area of Florina on 4 August 1941. Increased guard by civilians. Fixing monetary fines and arrest of hostages was ordered.
Activity by Bulgarian agents under Communist influence in the area of Florina. According to statements by Greed authorities, within the next days attacks from the area of Bitolje on Greek territory are to be expected. The troops have been ordered to maintain increased guard and to take ruthless measures.
5th Mountain Division: A Greek civilian detained by rear elements of the 1st Battalion 100th Mountain Infantry Regiment was shot by the guard while escaping.
Report follows.
. . . . .
Corps Headquarters XVIIIth Corps.
And then another report, still part of this same exhibit, from the same Corps, the 18th, to the same addressee, the 12th Army, commanded by the defendant List, dated 29 August 1941. The daily report recites that an "Army wire circuit was cut in three places at Chalkis in the night 25-26 August 1941. The perpetrator as yet unknown. Three suspects arrested by the Greek police. 15 hostages taken. By order of the Greek Prefecture about 15,000 people not formerly resident in this area who had migrated thither are to be expelled from Euboea." And again it is from the 18th Corps.
The next document is NOKW-1387, which is offered as Exhibit 37, which is a report from the Commander in Serbia to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, and Headquarters 12th Army, dated 6 August 1941. It is a daily report and recites: "Train collision reported yesterday was not due to sabotage. Losses: 8 dead, 8 seriously wounded, 5 slightly wounded. Interruption of traffic for about 36 hours. Tonight 6 communists arrested at Petrovgrad with arms and incendiary material, 1 communist shot while escaping; at Mokrin, 10 miles north of Kikinda, 70 loads of wheat was burned, the perpetrator who was recognized escaped after disarming the custodian. At Zagreb 4 perpetrators, as well as 98 communists and Jewish hostages, were shot. New communist sabotage device: three pointed wire hook, 7 centimeters high, placed on roads, so far damaged 22 tires, according to reports. Forward directing center 'Jug' departed for Bucharest." And it is from the commander in Serbia.
And follows a daily report for the 15th of August 1941 to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, Headquarters 12th Army, again from the Commander in Serbia: "While proceeding to Sabac, car from 3rd Company 64th Police Reserve Battalion (passengers; 1st Lt. Ehrmann, 3 sergeants) subjected to machine gun fire by bandits in the vicinity of Skela. Patrol found the burned-out car. A company of the Police Battalion sent from Belgrade recovered the corpses of 1st Lt. Ehrmann and 1 sergeant out of the Save; 2 sergeants are missing. On 15 August, Skela will be burned and 50 communists from Belgrade hanged there.
Public informed through radio, newspapers and posters. On 14 August, in the vicinity of Lazarevac, 30 kilometers northeast of Valjevo, Telephone Operation Squad fired on by band. At Darosava, 20 kilometers northwest of Topola mines caused derailment of three railroad cars and engine; relief train coming from Lajkovac fired on by bandits; wire were cut. During the night 14-15 August, an ammunition train was attacked at Lajkovac railway station. Infantry Regiment 7 24 suffered 5 dead and 7 wounded, special force sent to the scene of the occurrence. 14 August, 4 band attacks on communities." From the Commander in Serbia.
Then follows a daily report for the 17th of August to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, and the Commander of the 12th Army again from the Commander in Serbia. "During the night 14-15, a train carrying a detail transporting arms was attacked by a light machine gun, a heavy machine gun, and with hand grenades in the vicinity of Lejkovac, Wehrmacht losses: 3 dead, 4 wounded, 1 missing. The transport reached its destination after defending itself. According to traces of blood the enemy suffered losses. At 0230, 16 August, the Lejkovac railway station was attacked by unknown persons. Wehrmacht losses: 5 dead, 3 seriously wounded. 1313 hours, 16 August 'S.F.860' fired on by machine gun between Bralina and Stalac. 1330, 16 August, 1 member of Organization Todt shot on the road Cuprja - Jagodina, two kilometers southwest of Jagodina. 2030, 16 August, explosive sabotage on Tunnel No. 10 in the vicinity of Uzica railway station. No considerable damage. Own activities: In the evening of 16 August a fighter detachment of 704th Infantry Division located band 100 men strong in the vicinity of Mionica. Three missing German soldiers and 1 missing German police sergeant were liberated, two communists captured. Pursuit continues, Own losses: 1 missing. A further fighter detachment en route towards Pozega shot three communists and captured three of a band. At Banja, three kilometers north west of Topola, an army car was fired on. Thereupon, a fighter detach ment shot 11 communists and set a number of houses on fire.
16 August, farmhouse in the vicinity of the village of Kikinda burned down, presumably on account of arson. 16 August, band attacks on 5 communities. On 17 August, Sunday morning, five communists convicted of acts of terror and sabotage were publicly hanged in the main street of the city and left there until 1900 today."
The daily report for the 19th of August, again from the Commander in Serbia to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, and also head of the 12th Army. "On 16 and 17 August, 6th Company 920th Regiment sent out a fighter detachment in return for band attack on a German bicycle patrol on 16 August in the vicinity of Milanovac. Two bandits were shot, 6 captured, 4 houses set afire. On 18 August, a fighter detachment from of Pozega. Thirty-eight bandits were shot, 2 machine guns, typewriters and camp library were seized. 1800, 17 August, band attack on Serbian Gendarmerie Station between Zavor and Cuzica, as well as on Gendarmerie Station Cuca. In the morning of 18 August, band attack on Serbian Gendarmerie patrol at Mokrin. 17-18 August, band attacks on 6 community offices."
And the last daily report, the one for 29 of August, again to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast and 12 Army from the Commander in Serbia. "Kraljevo airfield threatened by bands on 22 August, 24 August, 28 August, airfield troops were committed. Two Serbian gendarmes were killed, 1 communist was shot. Two 12-kilogram bombs were eliminated. On 28 August, troops operating in the area of Sabac dispersed bands. On 27 August at Kopljaro 3 houses were burned as reprisal measure. Ammunition was found. Between 22 - 28 August, 5 acts of sabotage in railway installations at Knjazevac, Paracin, Adrani, Vruzi, Darosava. Between 23-28 August, 5 further attacks in the Area Ivanjica-Mionica-Sabac. Files of the community were burned. On 28 August, near Stave, engagement between Serbian gendarmes and communists. Three communists dead, 2 wounded.
One Serbian gendarme wounded. On 26 August, band attack on Serbian gendarme Station. Seven Serbian gendarmes disarmed. On 27 August, Serbian Red Cross car fired on at Topola; driver dead, passenger wounded." The next recites of telephone lines being interrupted. "28 August, strong concentration of insurgents in the area east of Kos. Mitrovica. 28 August, again band attack on railway station at Umkare driven off. 28 August, Wehrmacht patrol shot at railway line Padej-Potiski. One wounded. 29 August, 6.45, truck from Organization Todt fired on 8 kilometers south of Kragujevac. One dead, 1 wounded." And it is from the Commander in Serbia.
These reports that are submitted are a fair example of the kind of opposition they were meeting down there, and there certainly is nothing to warrant the frightful ratio of executions of 100 to 1 and 50 to 1.
DR. LATERNSER: Mr. President, I have just understood that these exhibits, are to prove that such information was sent out. I cannot see any proof in that, and I would subsequently like to contradict the introduction of these things. It is quite clear from the photostat it is a common draft, the preparation for reports of which I don't know whether these reports later on went out like this. We see this from looking at the documents which are, incidentally, not signed. They don't bear any heading. They are again, as so many documents, submitted here, merely sheets of paper which have been written on with a typewriter. From the contents and from the corrections, we can see that they are drafts. The prosecution should at least prove from the evidence which it submits that it was actually valid and had some effect. For this reason, I object to the introduction of this exhibit NOKW-1387.
MR. DENNEY: Of course, Your Honors, we admit that the drafts of documents only go to the weight and are to be given such consideration as the Tribunal sees fit. However, we will have occasion later to show similar drafts where we will also be able to show orders and the finished product based on these drafts. Now, in this case, the only thing we found was these drafts and they are submitted for such weight as the Tribunal sees fit to give them.
THE PRESIDENT: The objection will be overruled. The Tribunal is admitting these exhibits having in mind the character of the evidence as presented, and will so consider them in its deliberation and final determination of this whole matter. It is also being admitted with the thought that the very character of the evidence as being representative of this type, defense counsel can rebut these matters and also are in a position to comment upon the character of the evidence as presented. The objection therefore will be overruled.
MR. DENNEY: The document in Document Book I is offered as Exhibit 38. It is Document NO-2838 and it is an extract from a report of the Head of the Security Police and the SD in Berlin, 30 August 1941. With reference to Jugoslavia it states that the "Einsatzgruppe Belgrade reports:
"As a reprisal measure for the continuous attempts on members of the German Wehrmacht, 50 Communists well known as functionaries and terrorists were shot to death on 29 August 41 in agreement with the Military Commander of Serbia."
Now, we have seen before other reports by the Einsatzgruppe to the Head of the Security Police and the SD in Berlin which were again issued from the Berlin office of the Security Police and the SD and here on 30 August we have another one where the Einsatzgruppe are reported as committing an act "in agreement with the Military Commander of Serbia."
We also had the earlier order offered today with reference to the operation Geier wherein the Commander of the 65th Corps gave orders to his troops as well as to the SD for the cooperation of the two units in the operation Geier.
That concludes Document Book I and Mr. Fenstermacher will take over, if your Honors, please.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Denney, I believe this would be an opportune time for our morning recess, and may I again remind counsel for Prosecution and counsel for defendants that we -- that the Tribunal are desirous that two representatives from the prosecution and defense meet in our chambers during the recess period.
The Tribunal will be in recess.
(A recess was taken).
THE MARSHAL: All persons in the courtroom will please be seated.
The Tribunal is again in session.
THE PRESIDENT: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I believe, if your Honors please, several of the documents which we have introduced up until this time have been reports from subordinate units in the field to various higher headquarters. The reports of the various armies in the field were also sent to Central Headquarters in Berlin, to the office of the OKH. The next document, which id Document No. NOKW-551, we offer as Prosecution's Exhibit 39, shows the compilation which Army Headquarters in Berlin made of the various reports which they received from the field. In order that Your Honors may have some understanding of what these OKW reports actually looked like, I would ask that the Prosecution exhibit be shown to Your Honors, so that you might have some understanding of the nature of this document. If you will turn to Page 17 in your document book, ....
THE PRESIDENT: Volume I or Volume II?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Volume II, Your Honor .......you will note that on that page we have a translation of the Morning Report, which was prepared by the Operations Department of OKH, Berlin -- a Morning Report of the 29th of July 1941--and you will note that under the Southeast, meaning the matters which follow, were reported by the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast on the 28th of July, the day previous.
The 28th of July, 1941, states as follows: 25 July, "In Belgrade Jewish attempts to burn German vehicles, 100 Jews were shot to death." There is the execution of a hundred Jews in retaliation for an attempt--an attempt! to burn a German vehicle.
On page 16 of the English document book, the daily report of the armed forces commander in Southeast for the 29th of July, "Because of sabotage acts reported previously not 100, but 122 Communists and Jews executed."
And on page 15 of the English document book the daily report of the Armed Forces Commander Southeast for the 1st of August 1941, "Telephone wires cut on the Road Mladenovac-Topola. Attack on Gendarmerie guard. Attacks of small bands on Serbian authorities without particular damage near Petrovgrad, Pancevo, Topola and Uzice."
On 31, July "Petrovgrad--90 Communists executed."
Page 14 of the English document book, the daily report of the armed forces commander Southeast for the 2nd of August 1941, "144 people shot to death during search operations against former Cretan Franc tireurs near Alikianu (southwest of Chania). The village of Skines near Alikianu was burned down because shots were fired from there, on our approaching troops."
On page 12 of the English document book, the daily report of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast for 7 August, 1941, "3 more dead communists discovered after the operation Kikinda on 4.8. Meanwhile the leader of the band, a former Serbian 1st Lieutenant, was captured and shot dead." The German document itself admits that the band was led by a Serbian 1st Lieutenant. He must have been wearing a uniform or they wouldn't have known he as a Lieutenant. He was captured and he was shot dead.
On the 6th of August, eighty-seven more communists and Jewish hostages shot dead in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.
Turn to page 10 of the English document book, the daily report of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast for the 8th of August, 1941--
DR. LATERNSER: I have to ask for a slower presentation since only the pages of the English document book are mentioned and the defense has to deal with the German document book and has to follow by that. Either both pages have to be mentioned or we will have to go slower, please.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I am sorry. I will try to mention the crossGerman pagination too, Your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: All right. I think it would be adviseable if you did mention it. In fact, it is necessary that German page numbers be mentioned so that counsel can follow from it.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I will be glad to do that. The one we are on now is page 10 of the English--that is on page 6 of the German. The daily report of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast for the 10th of August, 1941. "In Uzice: Colonel von Stockhausen ordered the shooting dead of Serbs as a reprisal measure near the locality where an attack on German police drivers had occurred. The Police Company collected 81 Serbs from neighboring villages and Serbian gendarmes were forced to shoot them. The incident caused a temporary crisis in the cabinet. The matter could be settled almost immediately so that all was quiet with regard to this local incident."
Note in German sadism how they get Serbs to shoot Serbs in retaliation for attacks on German police drivers.
The next is on page 8 of the English. The daily report of the armed forces commander Southeast of the 15th of August, 1941, it is on page 8 of the German, 14 August p.m. German police guard attacked near Skela, 15 kilometers west of Pokonovac. One officer, one sergeant of police killed, three sergeants of police missing. As a reprisal, Skela burned down and 50 communists hanged on the 15th of August. Two men were killed and three were missing, but 50 com munists had to be hanged and the whole village had to be burned down.
The The next is the morning report of the 16th of August, 1941. It appears on page 6 of the English and on page 8 of the German, the political situation in the area of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast This document, if Your Honors please, will tell you exactly what the Germans themselves said was going on, what they were faced with.
1) Serbia:
Situation still tense. Acts of terror and sabotage, seemingly executed according to plan are directed also against the Wehrmacht. Lately also terrorization of the population. Attacks on soldiers have decreased, Operations almost exclusively of communist origin. Reason for this--amongst others - is mass expulsions of Serbians from Croatia. The alleged cession of the Banat which I might say parenthetically was to Hungary contributes to the unrest of the Serbian, population and also of the Germans still living there.
DR. LETERNSER: A mistake on the translation. In the German it says "for the pacification" and not as the translation says "for the unrest." That is for the future possible cession of the Banat.
THE PRESIDENT: May I suggest that the question of interpretation be handed to the official interpreter so that he may give the Tribunal his conception of this particular matter?
DR. LATERNSER: Page 6 of the English Document book, No. 1,9,8 -8 of page, it says in the English, "The alleged cession of the Ganat contributes to the unrest."
In the German document book, page 9, line from above 8. it says "to the pacification of the Serbian population." The correct translation would be to the pacification and not "to the unrest."
THE INTERPRETER: The correct translation, as Dr. Laternser has pointed out, is "to the pacification of the population",--"contributes to the unrest."