FILE NOTE OF DEFENDANT VON AMMON, 7 OCTOBER 1943, CONCERNING DEFENDANT LAUTZ’ QUESTION AS TO GIVING DEFENDANTS TRANSLATIONS OF THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST THEM IN NIGHT AND FOG CASES

1. Note—Chief Reich Prosecutor Lautz asked me whether there were any objections to translations of indictments in NN proceedings being handed over to the defendants. It has turned out to be inconvenient that the defendants learned the details of the charges raised against them only during the trial. Also the interpretation by the defense counsel is not always sufficient, since their French mostly is not good enough and since the defendants were brought to the place of the trial only shortly before it was held.

The procedure adopted for Czech defendants, viz, having the indictment translated to them orally by a Czech-speaking sergeant, is not possible here since French-speaking sergeants are not available.

After having given a report to Ministerialdirektor of Department IV and to the Minister, I informed Chief Reich Prosecutor Lautz on 6 October 1943 that there were no objections whatever to the intended procedure.

2. Ad procedures of office a 3.—“Prosecution of criminal acts against the Reich or the occupying power in the occupied territories.”

Berlin, 7 October 1943

IVa 2369/43 g

[Initial] A [von Ammon]