“In the case of all other towns, too”—states the order—“the rule should hold that, prior to their occupation, they should be reduced to ruins by artillery fire and by air raids. It is inadmissible that a German soldier’s life should be risked in order that Russian towns be saved from fire.”
These directives of central German authorities were widely applied by military commanders of all ranks. Thus an order to the 512th German Infantry Regiment, signed by Colonel Schittnig, prescribes that the regions and districts conquered by the Hitlerites be turned into a desert area. In order that this crime should lead to the most destructive results, the order gives a detailed plan for the annihilation of inhabited localities.
“Preparations for the destruction of inhabited localities”—the order states—“should be made in such a manner that: (a) No suspicion be aroused among the civilian population, prior to announcement; (b) it should be possible to start the destructions at once, by one blow, at an appointed time. . . . On the day designated, particularly strict watch should be kept on inhabited localities so as not to allow any civilians to leave them, especially from the moment the announcement regarding the destruction is made.”
An order by the commander of the 98th German Infantry Division, dated 24 December 1941, is even entitled, “Program of Destruction.” This order gives concrete directions regarding the destruction of a number of inhabited localities and suggests that:
“Available stocks of hay, straw, food supplies, et cetera, are to be burnt. All stoves in homes should be put out of action by hand grenades so that their further use be made impossible. On no account is this order to fall into the hands of the enemy.”
Special squads of fire raisers (torch bearers) were formed, which set fire to the treasures created by the labor of generations.
Your Honors, I wish to draw your attention to the document known as “Directives for the Control of Economy in the Newly Occupied Eastern Territories”—the “Green File.” Göring is the author of these directives. This secret document is dated “Berlin, June 1941.” I will quote only a few excerpts from it. The first quotation is:
“Pursuant to the Führer’s”—Hitler’s—“orders, it is necessary to take all measures for the immediate and full exploitation of the occupied territories for Germany’s benefit. To obtain for Germany the largest possible amount of food supplies and crude oil—such is the main economic objective of the campaign. At the same time German industry must also be supplied with other kinds of raw materials from the occupied territories. The first task is to supply the German armies with the utmost speed entirely from the resources of the occupied territories.”
Second quotation:
“The opinion that the occupied territories should be restored to order as soon as possible, and their economy re-established, is quite out of place. . . . The . . . restoration of order must take place only in those areas from which we can obtain considerable supplies of agricultural products and crude oil; in others . . . economic activity must be limited to the exploitation of such stocks as are discovered.”