DR. LATERNSER: Before the beginning of the Eastern campaign did you give special instructions to your company commanders?
WESTHOFF: In what respect?
DR. LATERNSER: After you had received the order to attack, I assume you must have gathered your company commanders together as battalion commander and discussed some orders with them before the beginning of the campaign.
WESTHOFF: I told them how they had to conduct themselves during the battle, how they had to behave toward the Russian population, and how they had to act toward the prisoners of war.
DR. LATERNSER: Yes, and what kind of instructions did you give your company commanders?
WESTHOFF: I very briefly gave the company commanders instructions that every prisoner-of-war was to be treated as he would like to be treated himself were he to become a prisoner.
DR. LATERNSER: You said that specifically?
WESTHOFF: Yes, that was ordered.
DR. LATERNSER: How did the troops behave when they marched in?
WESTHOFF: We fought practically all the way to Kiev, and were marching, and had hardly any contact with the civilian population.