To the German Armistice Commission re letter of 10.8.44 Az. 630/44.
For information to: OKW/WFSt/Qu/Verw.1, WFSt/Foreign Office Group.
Concerns: Status of Political Prisoners.
Reference: Fuehrer decree of 30.7.44 (OKW/WFSt/Qu 2/Verw.1 Nr. 009169 g.K.) and decree OKW of 18.2.44 (WFSt/Qu 2/Verw.1 Nr. 009169 g.K.) WR 1/3 Nr. 79/44 g.K.
Conforming to the decrees, all non-German civilians in occupied territory who have endangered the security and readiness for action of the occupying power by acts of terror and sabotage or in other ways are to be surrendered to the security police and to the security service (SD). Only those prisoners are excepted who were legally sentenced to death or were serving a sentence of confinement prior to the announcement of these decrees. Included in the punishable acts which endanger the security or readiness of action of the garrison power are also those of a political nature. The declaration of the senior office of the SS [Protection Corps] and Police with the Military Commander of France that he cannot answer questions about political prisoners during Anglo-American operations, includes therefore all political prisoners in the occupied French territories seized recently or to be seized in the near future.
The treatment of prisoners who are condemned according to the decree of the Fuehrer of December 7, 1941 OKW/WR (I/3/4 14 n 16 Nr. 165/41 g) and who have no communication with the outer world, will soon be discussed with all interested officers.
By order
Sig. Dr. Lehmann
For correctness
BDC—OKW—1643 [Signature illegible.]
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 837-PS
SECRET
National Socialist German Labour Party
Fuehrer's Deputy.
The Brown House,
Munich-33, February 3rd 1939
SECRET
Order No. 5/39 g
(Not for Publication)