I have no recollection of having issued any additional orders to mitigate its severity. I may also say that I would never have issued anything without first presenting it to the Fuehrer. Q. Just let us see what you did issue. Now, that is your executive order, countersigned, I think, by the Senior Military Judge, putting forward your order based on that decree, and would you look at paragraphs 4 and 5. All legal proceedings now going on in connection with acts of terrorism, sabotage or other crimes committed by non-German civilians in the occupied territories which imperil the security or tactical preparedness of the occupying power are to be suspended.
Charges are to be dropped.
Sentences already pronounced are not to be carried out. The culprits are to be handed over with a report on the proceedings to the nearest local Security Police and S.D. office. In the case of death sentences which have already been legally passed, the regulations now in force will continue to apply. Crimes affecting German interests but which do not imperil the security or tactical preparedness of the occupying power do not justify the retention of jurisdiction over non-German civilians in the occupied territories. I authorise the Commanders of the occupied territories to draw up new regulations in agreement with the higher S.S. and Police Chiefs.