The Nizkor Project: Remembering the Holocaust (Shoah)

Shofar FTP Archive File: imt/tgmwc//tgmwc-06/tgmwc-06-57.06


Archive/File: imt/tgmwc/tgmwc-06-57.06
Last-Modified: 1997/10/26

                                                  [Page 267]
                                                            
BY DR. FRITZ (counsel for defendant Fritzsche):

Q. Witness, do you know the defendant Fritzsche?

                                                  [Page 268]
                                                            
A. Yes, I do.

Q. Are you aware of the fact that during the summer and
autumn of 1942 he was with your army?

A. Yes.

Q. Witness, in the course of this trial there was a
discussion about the command of the O.K.W., which, I gather,
was also sharply criticised by you, according to which all
the captured Commissars of the Russian Army were to be shot.
Are you aware of that order?

A. Yes. It came to my knowledge.

Q. Do you recollect that the defendant Fritzsche, after he
learned of this order in the course of his duties, suggested
to you and your second-in-command that this order should be
disregarded in your sphere of activity?

A. I cannot recollect that incident. I think it is perfectly
possible that Herr Fritzsche did discuss this question with
the Supreme Command of the Army, but when I became an Army
Commander on 20th January, 1942, that order was not carried
out in my zone. As far as I know, this order, which in
practice did not become operative, was in fact cancelled
later on.

Q. So as to refresh your memory, I might ask another
question: Do you recollect, perhaps, that Fritzsche
suggested to you or your Intelligence officers that leaflets
giving that information be dropped over the Russian front?

A. I certainly cannot recollect that, but I consider it
perfectly possible that such a discussion with the
Intelligence, who were responsible for that sort of thing,
took place.

Q. Then one last question: As far as you know the character
of the defendant Fritzsche, would you consider it entirely
possible and probable that he made this suggestion?

A. Yes, indeed I do.


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