On 27 April 1943, when one Stahms indicated that concentration camp inmates are almost 3,000 strong, Milch declares that against a withdrawal of 3,000 foreign workers from the Luftwaffe industry, he attached importance to the assignment of these 3,000 concentration camp inmates to the Luftwaffe. (NOKW-413.)
At the GL meeting of 4 August 1942, someone reported that the French might strike in the event of a British attack. This provoked Milch into the thunderous outburst—
“In such a case I would ask to be appointed military commander myself. I would band the workers together and have fifty percent of them shot; I would then publish this fact and compel the other fifty percent to work by beating if necessary. If they don’t work, then they, too, will be shot. I would get the necessary replacement somehow. But I hope the military commander will do his duty. I’m not worried about it. The word ‘strike’ must never be used. For us there is only ‘living or dying’ but not ‘striking’. That goes for the educated man as well as for the worker, for the German as well as for the foreigner. The word ‘strike’ means death for the man who uses it.” (T-2121-2122.)
On this quotation in court the following colloquy occurred between a member of the Tribunal and the witness [Milch]:
Judge Musmanno: Curiosity consumes me as to what would happen if an officer inferior in rank to yourself took you at your word and actually executed a number of these workers or prisoners of war. Would that officer then be punished?
The Witness: No one was there who would have been in a position to do so. Apart from that, all those who were under my orders knew me and my way of handling things. They knew exactly that I didn’t mean it the way I said it, and apart from that they always laughed about my remarks when I used such strong words.
Judge Musmanno: In other words, the comment of a field marshal in a matter of this seriousness was really of no value?
The Witness: Because the people knew that I got excited very easily about certain things, and these incidents here have been selected and submitted of course. From every one of these meetings, which took place twice a month, there was a report—about this thick—and perhaps, at some time or another, sometimes once, sometimes twice, due to the many reports which I received, there was a certain outburst, and then I would lose my temper as we soldiers used to. However, I didn’t intend to do anything about it and I spoke to those under my orders once in a while. They pointed out to me that I used such strong words, and they knew exactly that this was not meant seriously. They knew exactly that no such order had been given and that I myself would never cause anybody to be punished, not even when it would have been justified, for the very simple reason that I did not have the power to give punishments. (T-2124-2125.)
Then Judge Phillips inquired—
Judge Phillips: Well, now, whether you meant it or not, you would say these things, and by so doing you counselled and advised others under you at a meeting which you presided over to do such things. Whether you meant it or not, you did that, didn’t you?