The Commander of the Combat Troop General Bader (Signature) Bader General of Artillery It is signed, "The Commander of the Combat Troop, General Bader" and "Bader, General of Artillery."
Turning next to page 7 of the English, and page 6 of the German document book, Document NOKW 1028, which is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 197, this is an operation order dated four days later than the previous order, from General Bader to the 71st Infantry Division. This is the passing on by the 718th Infantry Division, on 14 April 1942 of the previous operational order. It is, however, a more detailed order which the Division received from General Bader.
Operational Order No. 4 I think we need not read the first two paragraphs on "Enemy" and "Missions". They are primarily of an operational nature.
Beginning with paragraph 3:
"Own forces:
Participating in the operation:
German, Italian and Croatian units.
Pursuant to the directive of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, Lt. General Artillery, Bader, all troops of the 718th Infantry Division, troops of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia arriving in the area described above, units of the Croatian Wehrmacht and the Ustasha units are under my Command. These troops will be organized in groups according to enclosure 1."
"The subordinate troops of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, of the Ustasha and of the Croatian Wehrmacht will be subordinate to the 718th Infantry Division tactically and for rations and quarters.
All measures concerning equipment and ammunition supply for these troop units are regulated by 718th Infantry Division via their respective offices.
The groups will be issued orders directly by me.
Tactical Reports of one groups are also transferred to me directly."
It is signed, "Fortner". I believe in the German, the signature is "Tatner" which is in error. It should be changed to "Fortner" in the German document books.
The enclosures are listed and the distribution is listed.
Turning next to enclosure No. 3, page 9 of the English, and page 8 of the German, this is an enclosure to the order handed down by the 718th Infantry Division on the 14th of April 1942:
C o m b a t D i r e c t i v e (For the instructions of the troops)
1) Enemy To be treated and to be considered as enemy are:
a) Partisans - Communist insurgents External marks of identification:
Uniforms: German, Italian, Serbian or peasant clothing with rank insignia: Soviet Star on the cap, rank insignia on sleeve.
Political Commissars: Sickle and hammer superimposed on star.
b) Chetnik - Nationalists - Serbian insurgents (in as far as they offer resistance) Marks of identification:
Mostly brown National dress. Officers in Serbian uniform, black fur cap with Serbian Coat of Arms and National colors.
Dangic - Chetniks (in as far as they offer resistance) All non-residents and residents who, according to statements, have returned just recently.
Refugees are to be pursued immediately, particularly since they will mostly be leaders.
1) Not to be treated as the enemy are Soldiers of the Italian Wehrmacht in uniform, soldiers of the Croatian Wehrmacht in uniform (cap insignia large badge) Soldiers of the Croatian Ustasha in uniform (cap insignia "U"), civilians, partly with military overcoats with a permit for carrying arms issued by the Croatian Wehrmacht or with blue white brassards on their civilian clothing (voluntary militia).
3) Treatment of the insurgents:
a) Insurgents captured while carrying arms as well as all their followers and supporters or whoever owns ammunition are to be shot to death.
b) Chetniks who do not offer resistance are not to be treated as insurgents. They are at first to be sent in a group under guard as prisoners to the prisoner collecting point.
x) In searching the villages which were in the hands of the insurgents, the inhabitants, in particular the village elder are to be asked to state the names of those families whose men have taken "to the woods" and who have co-operated with the insurgents.
4) Negotiations with the insurgents:
Troops are to be prohibited from all negotiations on principle. Should the insurgents offer to negotiate, the Regimental Commander is to be informed immediately and action is to be taken according to his orders.
5) Procedure during capture:
During the preceding operations, it has been found that all persons present during the search of houses or villages were driven together by the troops and taken away as prisoners. During interrogations difficulties arose in the effort to find out under just what circumstances the capture was made.
That is why each sergeant has to give a slip to a prisoner describing briefly how the capture was made. For instance; "Taken in house while working in stable" Signature and Unit. The use of prisoners for carrying wounded is prohibited as a matter of principle.
6) Interrogation of prisoners:
In order to make possible exploitation of prisoner statements, the following facts to be exploited by the troops are of value:
a) What are the names of the leaders and where are the leaders including those of smaller insurgent units?
b) Where are the depots for arms, ammunition and food?
c) Where are family members of the insurgents leaders?
d) An investigation is to be carried out to determine whether the prisoners include such as might be used as guides to hide outs and depots."
"7) Treatment of the Civilian Population:
"a) The evacuation of the civilian population from entire areas in the villages is to be carried out only by special order of the Combat Group General Bader.
"b) Villages and houses in which arms and ammunition have been found, from which shots have been fired, or the residents of which have aided and abetted insurgents are to be burned down. Other than that the burning down of villages is to cease in consideration of the necessity for troop billets.
"c) Village residents whose relatives are with the insurgents or who have supported the activities are to be taken away as prisoners.
"d) The approach to villages which are to be searched is as a matter of principle to be made under the protection of heavy weapons.
"e) A just and understanding treatment of the population by the troops must show that they are only fighting the insurgents and that the peaceful population has nothing to fear.
"8) Executive Power:
"The executive power in the operation area is in the hands of the Commander of Combat Group General Bader and is carried out according to his directive by the divisional commanders. Until the employment of the civilian Croatian authorities, they will be available along with the troop units, the Croatian gendarmerie units, the Croatian police units, and the Croatian administrative officials who remained in the area.
"9) Croatia is a Friendly Country:
"Troops must be conscious of this fact and are to avoid transgressing the prescribed limits of their duties. Regarding food taken from the country attention is called to the directive issued via Branch IB of the division.
"For the Division Command Ic (signed) "Lieutenant" Turning next to page 14 of the English document book and page 11 of the German, Document No. NOKW-1218, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 198.
These are various reports sent during the month of April 1942 by the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, General Bader, to General Kuntze as Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. First is a Daily Report of the 8th of April 1942:
"Area 714th Infantry Division: In Kloka (five kilometers northnortheast Natalinci) ammunition confiscated, owner shot to death... Thirty-four arrested in Belgrade."
Next is the Daily Report of the 18th of April 1942; the extract which we are using begins on page 15 of the English and page 12 of the German under Serbia:
"704th Infantry Division: 1st Company, 447th Ls. Battalion, skirmish with insurgents near Vlaska. One enemy dead, three prisoners shot after interrogation."
Next, the Daily Report of the 20th of April 1942, found at the bottom of page 15 of the English and page 13 of the German, the report for the 714th Infantry Division:
"As reprisal measure for one wounded German guard in Topola, 85 residents were turned in." This report, as were the other two, is signed by the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, by his Ia Operations Officer.
Turning next to page 17 of the English, page 14 of the German document book, is Document No. NOKW-914, which is offered in evidence as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 199. This is a situation report of General Kuntze as the Armed Forces Commander Southeast to Berlin - OKW and OKH headquarters in Berlin. This particular report is a review of the situation in the area of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast up to and including the 22nd of April 1942. Your Honors will note that the distribution list on this report is the same as it was on the report we looked at a few minutes ago. Again paragraph 3 is all that is important to the prosecution:
"Losses during the period from 6 to 20 April 1942 inclusive:
Dead Wounded Missing "A) Own:
German 2 9 Croatian 23 23 61 Serbian Auxiliary 69 18 Police "B) Insurgents:
1612 shot to death in combat. Three reprisal measures."
Again, I direct Your Honors' attention to a comparison of the losses suffered by the insurgents and those suffered by the Germans and their allies. On page 18 of the English and 18 of the German the report is signed "For the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, The Chief of General Staff", the defendant Foertsch. And I think, if Your Honors will look at the original document, you will see Foertsch's signature spelled out in his own handwriting.
Turning next to page 19 of the English and page 19 of the German document book is Document No. NOKW-1444, which is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 200. This is a series of reports - of 10-day reports - of the Commanding General in Serbia, General Bader, to the defendants Kuntze and Foertsch, the headquarters of the Armed Forces Commander Southeast in Greece. The first report is dated 20 April 1942:
"Enemy Situation.
"Serbian Area.
"In Belgrade quiet. The seizure according to plan of communists and persons closely associated with insurgents led to further arrests.
"VI. Losses and Booty for the Period from 6 to 15 April 42.
"In Serbia: 343 enemy dead "In Belgrade:
201 arrests "Booty:
Three pistols, 10 light machine guns, 67 rifles and ammunition.
"One own dead and three wounded of the 714 Infantry Division at the bridgehead Zvornik.
"VII. Administration Sector.
"In the concentration camps there are 182 hostages, 3266 reprisal prisoners and 4005 Jews.
"For the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia "The Chief of the General Staff."
The report is signed for the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, the Chief of General Staff, a Colonel Kewisch.
Turning next to page 20 of the English and page 20 of the German is a 10-day report to the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast. Under "Enemy Situation":
"Serbian Area.
"In Belgrade the seizure according to plan of communists and insurgents is being continued. On 22 April, 128 Yugoslav former professional officers were arrested and deported to Germany to a prisoner of war camp.
"VI. Administration Sector.
"In the concentration camps there are 189 hostages, 3503 reprisal prisoners, 2974 Jews."
I ask Your Honors to note the distribution list on this, as on the preceding report:
"Wehrmacht Commander Southeast (with two enclosures) "Combat Group General Bader "Plenipotentiary of the German Foreign Office "Plenipotentiary General of Economy "Higher SS and Police Leader "German Liaison Staff at the Italian Second Army "Intelligence Office, Belgrade "German Liaison Officer with the Royal Bulgarian Corps of Occupation "Administration Staff" On page 22 of the English and page 21 of the German, the prosecution's next document is No. NOKW-1126, which becomes Prosecution's Exhibit No. 201.
This document consists of two reports which are extracts from enemy news bulletins, issued by the combat team Bader and the 718th Infantry Division, with respect to the organization and insignia of the enemy against whom the Germans were fighting. The first report is dated 2 May 1942, from the Division Battle Headquarters of the 718th Infantry Division, Section Ic, which is the Intelligence Section of the division:
"Report about the Enemy No. 1 "Area:
Mesici, Gorazde, Ustiprace, Mesici.
"I. In General: With the departure of the partisans and Montenegro nationals from eastern Bosnia and from around Rogatica the battalions and units of partisans plundering in this area increased in strength. It was a kind of winding-up position, for partisans as well as for Chetniks. However, there is a report that the Montenegro nationals have withdrawn further to Foca via Gorazde and that only local partisans are holding the positions. Some Chetniks who had changed to this side were either driven away by the partisans or won over to their party and added to their battalions. Careful with Dangic passes!
"Moreover there exists here also the great contrast between Chetniks and Mohammedans. For protection against the Chetniks many of these Moslems (who almost exclusively inhabit the villages here) have gone over to the partisans. Prisoners' statements agree that the partisans are determined to make a stand here. Above all they want to ward off all attacks from ambushes with tricks and cunning, as well as from freed position of a primitive type."
In paragraph II the leaders of the partisan units are named. I think we can skip that paragraph by just noting what it contains. And turning to paragraph VII, "Clothing", which appears on page 23 of the English and page 21 of the German:
"Clothing: Serbian uniforms or the well-known black uniforms and civilian clothing of the partisans. Almost everybody wears the badge of the partisans on his black cap, the Soviet star."
Signed "For Division Headquarters "The Ia" (Operations Officer) The next report on the enemy, No. 2, which is on the bottom of page 23 of the English and page 22 of the German--
DR. HINDEMITH: Dr. Hindemith, deputy for Dr. Rauschenbach, defense counsel for defendant Foertsch.
I object to the document which has just been presented, No. NOKW-1126. I don't think the translation was right. The German document which the defense has begins with page 1 and page 2. I would like to point out that from the photostat copy of the original it can be seen that this is only a part of the document. The first page of this document is marked 6; the next page is 6a.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If Your Honors please, I think I can clear this matter up. The numbers which appear on the bottom of the various documents which we have been introducing are numbers which were placed on the document in Washington in order to facilitate the photostating of these documents. They have nothing to do with the trinsic pagination of the documents themselves. The page 1 which is referred to in the translation as page 1 is the top page of the document. Page 2 which is indicated from the German document book as page two is clearly indicated on the top of the photostatic copy of the document. The pagination on the bottom of the document written in pencil, not typed as are the pages at the top of the document, have nothing to do with the nature of the documents themselves, and were only for administrative purposes placed on the documents when they were originally photostated.
THE PRESIDENT: Does the explanation as given sufficiently clarify the situation?
DR. HINDEMITH: Your Honors, I would like to ask you to look once again at the previous document. Perhaps it could be seen from the previous document whether there are different paginations. Your Honor, I would like to ask that the previous document NOKW - 1444 - in this document, I noticed too, at the bottom on the first page there the number six. Yes, from this document can be seen that there are two different paginations. At the top there is the original pagination of the document --1,2,3,4,etc. and then at the bottom there are various numbers --4,5,6. I consider my objection dealt with.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If the Court please, the pagination on the top of the page -
THE PRESIDENT: Top of what page, please?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: This is the previous document, Your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: It is NOKW - 1444?
MR. FENSTERMACHER:NOKW -1444, which is Exhibit 200. If you will turn to page 19 of the English document book, at the top of the page you will see a page 1, which refers to the top page of the exhibit. About in the middle of page 19 of the English, still on page 19 of the German, you will see the indication "page 3 of original " which means that the extract which appears below is taken from page 3 of the photostat copy of the document, and that page number appears at the bottom of the photostatic copy of the document.
Now, as I understand Dr. Hindemith's objection, it is that at the bottom of the pages on the photostatic copy of the document there appears another set of numbers which in this case is page 4, corresponding to page 1 at the top. Page 5 written in pencil at the bottom of the document, when page 2 is typed at the top of the document, and so on. Now in photostating those various documents in Washington and in assembling them in the proper order, a different numbering system had to be used. I thought that was clear earlier but if not I make this statement for the record and for defense counsel now: that the number system on the bottom of the documents should be completely disregarded, it is merely for a deminstrative purpose.
THE PRESIDENT: Is any evidentiary value claimed for it?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: None whatever, Your Honor.
THE PRESIDENT: Does the explanation cover the situation?
DR. HINDEMITH: Yes, I understand it. I only noticed that because the first page of this document has only got numbers at the bottom. But now I can see from the document that there are two paginations, one done with a typewriter beginning on the second page with 2,3,and so on, and another written with pencil at the bottom, 4, 5, etc.
I thank you very much, Your Honor. I consider my objection dealt with.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well, you may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, we were on page 23 of the English, page 22 of the German, looking at the report on the enemy No. 2 as of 28 April 1942, paragraph 1; the various insurgent groups in the Southeastern Bosnian area. Then subparagraph c: area south of Sarajevo, various units are listed which pertain to units of the enemy. The staff is mentioned, and finally the leader. This is on page 24 of the English, page 22 of the German.
Leader: of the group (band): Major Dickie from Trnovo and Sava Tosic, further Dr. Valado and Miso Jokanovic. Political Commissar Sareme.
Activity: Pillaging raids on villages Southwest and South of Ilidza.
(Members of the bands) wear the Soviet star or an arm band with the imprint; Death to Fascism - Freedom to the People. Members of the bands mainly Serbs from the Igman area.
Next on page 25 of the English and page 23 of the German is Document NOKW - 1142, which becomes prosecution Exhibit 202. This is an order of the Commanding General in Serbia, General Bader, dated 10 May 1942 sent to the 714th Infantry Division and the 717th I believe Your Honors have a repeat on the 714th. It should be changed to read the 717th Infantry Division.
"The aggravation of the situation in the area of Sjenica-Novi Pazar Kos. Mitrovica obliges us to reinforce the German troops kept in readiness in the Southern part of the area held by the 717th Infantry Division. Our orders to the above subject are:
...................
Crossing of the border of insurgents and disturbances of all kinds are to be combatted by most severe means.
The insurrectionists are to be exterminated wherever found. Leniency toward these elements is uncalled for.
Disarming is to be carried out continuously.
................
(Signed) For the Commanding General and Commander-in-Chief in Serbia The Chief of the General Staff Colonel Kewisch" Next on page 27 of the English, 24 of the German, Document NOKW- 1139, which is offered as prosecution Exhibit 203, these again are situation reports sent from the Armed Forces Commander Southeast Headquarters by the defendants Kuntze and Foertsch to higher headquarters of the OKW and OKH in Berlin.
The first report is a review of the situation in the area of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast concluded 7 May 1942.
"Losses during the period 21.4 to..." I believe this must be a mistake. May I see the original document, Major Hatfield? The error seems to be in the original as well.
Losses during the period 21.4. to 3.3.42 inclusive in Serbia and Croatia (exclusive of Eastern Bosnia number II/1) Dead Wounded Missing
A. Own:
Germans 6 5 ---
Croats 46 45 80 Serbian Auxiliary 3 ---- ---Police
B. Insurgents:
321 killed in action 404 arrested 82 shot as reprisal measures".Signed in draft, Kuntze and General, Engineers, Wehrmacht Commander Southeast.
Turning next to page 28 of the English, page 26 of the German the situation report of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast concluded 23 May 1942, again the losses are listed. We call Your Honor's attention to the losses of the insurgents: 165 killed in action, 51 wounded, 237 temporarily arrested. Again the report is signed in draft by the defendant Kuntze.
Turning now to page 30 of the English and page 28 of the German, Document NOKW-894, which becomes prosecution Exhibit 204, we call Your Honors' particular attention to this document which is an order of the Commanding General and Commander in Serbia, General Bader to his subordinate units. This, if your Honors please, outlines the procedure for the taking of hostages, and you will note the various criticisms which General Bader offers regarding the way the matter has been handled up until now. The order is dated Belgrade 21 June 1942. I think this is important enough to be read in its entirety. The subject is "Taking of Hostages".
1. Owing to special occurrences, I must state that my order concerning the taking of hostages, of 20 Feb. 42, was either not sufficiently published or not sufficiently understood.
Casel: An administrative Sub-area Headquarters reports, as an arrest of hostages ordered by the Sector Commander of a Division and also submits a letter of this Commander of the Sector addressed to the competent Serbian District head and the mayor of the town asking them to name hostages and to make them available.
Furthermore, the Administrative Sub-area Headquarters reports, that persons were arrested who, with few exceptions were known as "Active Communists". One hostage was arrested because he was known as a follower of Fraja Mihailovic.
These measures were taken on account of a raid on Serbian volunteers.
On principle it must be said with respect to this case, that the Field Administrative Sub-area Headquarters are competent for the taking care of the arrest of hostages, the final decision according to my order of 20 February '42 remains with me, unless a delay would entail danger. The latter was not the case, my decision could easily have been obtained by telephone or teletype. It is absolutely wrong to order Serbian offices to collect hostages. If my order of 20 Feb. 42 had been followed, the arrest of hostages would have had to have been arranged by the Field and Administrative Sub-area Headquarters and there would have been no difficulties for immediate action.
Furthermore it is surprising, that men are arrested as hostages, who are known as active Communists or as followers of Draja Mihailovic. These men should have been delivered to the Commander-in-Chief of the Security Police and the SD for further treatment a long time ago. Case 2: An Administrative Sub-area Headquarters punished various districts with fines and arrest of hostages because the marked was insufficiently stocked with goods. Here too the idea of taking hostages was completely misunderstood. To me it is nonsensical to apply these most drastic measures which will inevitably lead to execution in case of a reprisal."
I call your Honor's attention to that language:
"Which will inevitably lead to execution in case of a reprisal" because a marked was insufficiently stocked with goods.
As in Case 1 it was completely wrong to order a Serbian authority to nominate hostages. Moreover, in this instance too, my orders were not followed, in so far as my decision was not asked for.
II. In order to avoid the occurrence of similar cases in the future, I shall again make known the most important points concerning the arrest of hostages:
1. Purpose The hostages guarantee with their lives for the maintenance of public quiet and security in the circles from which they are taken.
By the taking of hostages the whole population is to be taught, to actively prevent acts of sabotage and terror out of consideration for the lives of the hostages.
2. Preparation The arrest of hostages is to be prepared by the Field and Administrative Sub-area Headquarters in such a manner as to enable the persons ordered to carry out the arrests to act quickly and also so that the monthly exchange which is provide for" We will see what is meant by the exchange paragraph 4 later.
"(paragraph 4) can be carried out without difficulties. Only in exceptional cases and even then, only in close collaboration with the Field and Administrative Sub-area and indigenous local Headquarters, does the troop have to concern itself with the seizure of hostages; in general the troops will collaborate only when requested by the indigenous Administration offices.
The hostages are to be taken from all circles of the population in the first place men from 16 years upwards are to be considered. Inhabitants whose activity serves important tasks of the occupation, may only be taken in special cases.
3. Arrest of hostages
a) General remarks: The arrest of hostages is permissable only in case no other means are available. The efficacy of these measures is questionable, if the hostages are not closely connected to the circles of persons which are to be intimidated, Fanatics and criminals, as is known by experience, do not take any consideration of the lives of hostages. Any haphazard arrest of hos tages pushes loyal and hitherto inactive circles of the population into the enemy camp and strengthens the enemy's force of resistance.
b) Competency: On principle the arrest of hostages is only carried out on special order of the Commanding General Plenipotentiary in Serbia (officer in charge Administration Staff in cooperation with Ic Department). In case of danger the Field and Administrative Sub-area Headquarters are authorized to arrest hostages: the arrest however is to be reported to me immediately.
The seizure of hostages involves extreme responsibility, because already at the time of the seizure one has to count on the possibility that an execution will be carried out. If this conclusion can not be drawn from the arrest of hostages the measure, because it remains without effect, is a mistake.
The troop has to aid in the seizure of hostages if it is requested to do so.
c) Notice: When hostages are seized the population is to be notified with regard to the purpose for the seizure of hostages; attention is to be drawn to the fact that the lives of the hostages depend upon the maintenance of quiet and order in the respective districts.
4. Exchange and dismissal: This, if Your Honors please, is the exchange talked about under paragraph 2, on page 32, of the English and page 30 of the German.
"In order to rotate the responsibility of the whole population for the maintenance of public order and security, the hostages are to be exchanged as a rule every month.
Competent for the exchange and the dismissal of hostages are:
The Field Administrative Headquarters (Administration group) and in the area of the Field Administrative Headquarters 599 the Commander of the Security Police and the SD.
Dismissal may be allowed only in cases for which reasons are given and after having conferred with the competent SS Officer. In case the arrest of new hostages to replace those dismissed is decreed, they are to be taken from the same circles of the population as those that the hostages dismissed belonged to.
"These principles are to be observed closely; in case of infringement I will punish the guilty." Signed Bader, General in the Artillery.
May I ask your Honors to note the wide distribution this order was given. You will note on page 36 of the English and page 33 of the German that a total of 340 copies were sent out to various subordinate units. You will note too the Higher SS and Police leaders received a copy.
Turning now to page 37 of the English and page 34 of the German, Document NOKW-927, is offered as Prosecution Exhibit 205. Again, we have two situations reports of the Armed Forces Commander Southeast sent by the defendant Kuntze and Foertsch to higher headquarters of OKW and OKH in Berlin.
The first is:
Survey of the situation in the area of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast (Terminated on 7 June 1942)
A) SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION In Serbia.
In general without change quiet. Small bands were fought with success.
In Croatia. Great activity of the insurgents in west Bosnia and in the Italian occupied area. Stronger uprisings in the new-Italian area around Laibach. Pacification in Eastbosnia progressing.
In Greece. Isolated cases of sabotage were met by immediate shooting of the guilty. Numerous arrests of persons suspected of having aided and abetted the enemy.
I call your Honors' attention to paragraph 3, Losses listed by the Germans, Croatians. Serbian State Guards, and finally the losses of the insurgents:
"1085 shot in combat; 79 wounded; 1745 arrest, large majority held for transportation to Northern Norway; 3 shot to death as reprisals."
I call your Honors' particular attention to paragraph 4 of this report:
"In Athens 2 explosive attacks on army cars. An attempt on railway line north of Athens. The guilty, i.c, hostages were shot. Strict warning was published.
"In Crete several of the mayors appointed by the occupation authorities were murdered. Participants in the crime and a number of hostages were shot to death."
Signed in draft by the defendant Foertsch, Brigadier General.
If Your Honors will keep in mind that this particular report is signed in draft by the defendant Foertsch.
The next report, still in the same document, is a survey of the situation in the area of the Wehrmacht Commander Southeast, terminated 23 June 1942, which is roughly two weeks later than the report which we have just seen:
SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION "In Serbia:
In general situation unchanged. Only local disturbances.
"In Croatia: In the part of west Bosnia occupied by German troops, German-Croatian troops met with stubborn resistance when cleaning up the Kozara-Planina area.
"In the Italian area the disturbances in the Slovenian frontier area were increased.
A new development is being created in the Italian area by the fact that the Italian troops are being taken away from the areas next to the line of demarkation towards the coastal area.