KEITEL: No, I should like to add that I regret that any families were held responsible for the misdeeds of their sons.
SIR DAVID MAXWELL-FYFE: Well, I will not waste the time by taking up the word “misdeed.” If you think that is a misdeed it is not worth our discussing it further. I just want to protest against your word.
Now, let us see; that was not an isolated case. Just look at Page 110 (a) of the document book which you have, Page 122. This is an order quite early on 1 October 1941.
“Attacks committed on members of the Armed Forces lately in the occupied territories give reason to point out that it is advisable that military commanders always have at their disposal a number of hostages of different political tendencies, namely:
“(1) Nationalists,
“(2) Democratic-bourgeois, and
“(3) Communists.
“It is important that these should include well-known leading personalities, or members of their families whose names are to be made public.
“Hostages belonging to the same group as the culprit are to be shot in case of attacks.
“It is asked that commanders be instructed accordingly.—Signed—Keitel.” (Document 1590-PS).