The decree of the OKW which was read as a top secret military document, was presented on 3.6.1944.
Acknowledgement is requested.
The head of the SD Section Koblenz
(SS) Lieutenant-Colonel
[sig. illegible]
Wiesbaden, 21 April 1944
Top Secret
9 copies
9th copy
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 754-PS
WFSt/Op (Army Command Staff) [Wehrmachts Fuehrungstab]
TOP SECRET
[pencilled notes illegible]
28 Oct 1944
6 copies
5th Copy
KR—Teletype
1. Geb [?] AOK (Army Supreme Command) 20 2. For information: (WB) Armed Forces Commander in Chief, Norway 3. For information: Reich Commissioner for the Occupied Norwegian Territories 4. OKM (Supreme Command, Navy) /1. Skl. (Koralle)
Because of the unwillingness of the north Norwegian population to voluntarily evacuate, the Fuehrer has agreed to the proposals of the commissioner for the occupied Norwegian territories, and has ordered, that the entire Norwegian population east of fjord of Lyngen be evacuated by force in the interest of their own security, and that all homes are to be burned down or destroyed.
The supreme commander, Northern Finland, is responsible, that the Fuehrer's order is carried out without consideration. Only by this method can it be prevented, that the Russians with strong forces, aided by these homes and the people, familiar with the terrain, follow our withdrawal operations during this winter and shortly appear in front of our position in Lyngen. This is not the place for sympathy for the civilian population.