DR. LATERNSER: During the advance into Russia did you notice considerable destruction?
WESTHOFF: Partly, yes; in part, villages had been destroyed. Also small towns had been destroyed.
DR. LATERNSER: Railways?
WESTHOFF: Railways also, yes.
DR. LATERNSER: Industrial works?
WESTHOFF: Yes—I saw that afterwards outside of Leningrad—yes indeed!
DR. LATERNSER: In your sector was the order carried out by which Soviet Russian commissars were to be shot after being taken prisoners?
WESTHOFF: We had nothing to do with that. Prisoners of war that we took were all sent back to the division right away. We ourselves, the troop commanders—regimental and battalion commanders—had nothing to do with it, had even no opportunity at all to do this.
DR. LATERNSER: Witness, you have not answered my question correctly. I have asked you whether you had applied the order.
WESTHOFF: I know nothing about it.