The death of so many of them was not due merely to the action of individual guards, or to the exigencies of life in the camps. It was the result of systematic plans to murder. More than a month before the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the OKW were making special plans for dealing with political representatives serving with the Soviet Armed Forces who might be captured. The Defendant Keitel gave evidence that instructions incorporating this proposal were issued to the German Army. The order for ruthless and energetic action must be given at the slightest indication of insubordination, especially in the case of Bolshevist fanatics.
Prisoners of war attempting escape are to be fired on without previous challenge.
The use of arms against prisoners of war is as a rule legal. The prisoners are to be taken for special treatment if possible into the former Soviet Russian territory. The original plaintext version of this file is available via ftp.