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Last-Modified: 1997/12/11

         Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression, Supplement B
        Use of Russian P/W's Behind the Russian Lines
                              
     Excerpts from Testimony of Walter Schellenberg,
     taken at Nurnberg, Germany, 13 November 1945, 1445-
     1710, by Lt. Col. Smith W. Brookhart, Jr., IGD.
     Also present: George A. Sakheim, Interpreter;
     S/Sgt. William A. Weigel, Reporter.
     
                                                 [Page 1623]
                                                            
Q. You have mentioned the operation Zeppelin. Will you tell
us about your participation in this?

A. The operation Zeppelin was initiated in 1942. The purpose
of this organization was to choose from a selection of
Russian prisoners intelligent and suitable men to be
deployed on the eastern front behind the Russian lines. This
work was done by our own Commandos of the operation
Zeppelin. The PW's thus selected were turned over to
Commandos in the rear, who trained the prisoners. They were
trained in assignments of the secret messenger service and
in wireless communications. In order to furnish these
prisoners with a motive for work, they were treated
extremely well. They were shown the best possible kind of
Germany. This was accomplished by trips around Germany where
they were shown industry and farms, and super-highways.

Q. What was your particular function in connection with the
training of these units?

A. I laid down the policy for the training, but did not
myself participate in the execution of the plan. I remember
only that one time in 1943 I called a meeting of the
Commando leaders at Breslau. This was necessary because
after Stalingrad and the general withdrawal in Russia, the
influencing of the Russian prisoners had become increasingly
difficult. Therefore, it became necessary to change from a
mass deployment of Russian prisoners, such as dropping them
by parachute, to using a few highly skilled, intelligent
Russians who were with us because of thier conviction.

A. At approximately what period of time was this change
noticeable?

A. That was in January 1943.

Q. Thereafter, you were confined to the very limited group
that you have just described?

A. Yes. Thereafter we attempted to select prisoners from the
larger PW camps where every kind of category had been thrown
together. We tried to select those who would be valuable to
us and confine them to one special camp.

                                                 [Page 1624]
                                                            
Q. Are you still speaking about Russian prisoners for use on
the Eastern front?

A. Yes.

Q. As far as the operation Zeppelin is concerned, that was
limited entirely to the Eastern front?

A. Yes, only to the Eastern front. From the wireless reports
of these Commandos behind the Russian lines and the special
reports of those Russian prisoners confined to the highly
selected camps, we made reports.




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