“The Naval Commander, West France, has ordered that both soldiers be shot immediately for attempted sabotage if their interrogation, which has been begun, confirms what has so far been discovered; their execution has, however, been postponed in order to obtain more information.
“According to a Wehrmacht report”—I think that is a mistranslation; it should be “According to the Wehrmacht communiqué”—“both soldiers had meanwhile been shot. The measure would be in accordance with the Führer’s special order, but is nevertheless something new in international law, since the soldiers were in uniform.”
That is from the SKL War Diary, is it not?
WAGNER: I do not think that this is the War Diary of the SKL; but rather it would seem to be the war diary of the Naval Group Command, West, or the Commanding Admiral in France.
COL. PHILLIMORE: Well, I will get the original here and clear the matter up later, but I suggest to you that this is the SKL War Diary, which at the time...
WAGNER: I cannot recognize that assertion until it is proved by the original.
COL. PHILLIMORE: And I suggest to you that you, who were Chief of Staff Operations at the time, must have been fully aware of that incident. Do you deny that?
WAGNER: I deny—I maintain that I do not remember that affair.
COL. PHILLIMORE: Do you say that a matter of that sort would not be reported to you?
WAGNER: I have been told here that the order to shoot these people was obtained from headquarters directly by the SD.