Nazi conspiracy and aggression, Volume 03 (of 11)

Chapter XVI: Letter 19: April 1941 from the Office for Jewish and Masonic Problems (9)

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After the crossing of the Reich Frontier by the troops, the security of the old frontier will be taken over by the Customs-Frontier Guard at whose disposal the supreme commander of the armed forces will put the necessary personnel.

The supreme command of the armed forces will arrange the guarding of the front lines of the area to be occupied (as to collection of duties) with the Inspector General of Customs. The Liaison officials according to Nr 15 of the regulations pertaining to the VGAD will continue to be at the disposal of the Corps Hqs.

Shipments to armed forces authorities as well as members of the armed forces are not subject to customs inspection.

8. _Administrative Directives_:

The armed Hqs will administer the occupied areas on their own responsibilities. The CdZ with their staff of experts are at their disposal in an advisory capacity (see H. Dv 90, Nr 20 etc.). In all matters of a police nature, the Reichsfuehrer SS is to be consulted.

The Chief of the Supreme Command
of the Armed Forces

(signed) Keitel

Distribution: Overleaf

DISTRIBUTION

The Fuehrer's deputy for the attention of SS-Oberfuehrer Knoblauch--1st copy

Reichminister and Chief of the Reich Chancellery for the attention of Reichminister Dr. Lammers--2nd copy

Foreign Office for the attention of Leg. Rat. Freiherr v. d. Heyden-Rynsch--3rd copy

Reichminister of the Interior for the attention of Min. Div. Dr. Danckwerts--4th copy

Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police--Reich Defence (RV) Section--for the attention of SS-Brigadefuehrer Petri--5th copy

Reich Minister for Enlightenment and Propaganda for the attention of Major (Reserve) Wentscher--6th copy

Reich Minister of Justice for the attention of Min. Rat. Haastert--7th copy

Reich Finance Minister for the attention of Min. Rat. Geh. Rat. Dr. Bender--8th copy

Reich Finance Minister for the attention of Min. Rat. Dr. Mitze--9th copy

Reich Minister of Communications--Motor Transport Service, Shipping Hydraulic Structures--for the attention of Min. Rat. Pigge--10th copy

Reich Minister of Transport--Railroad Dept.--for the attention of Div. Dr. Ebeling--11th copy

Reich Minister for Science, Education--National Culture for the attention of Min. Div. Prof. Dr. Krummel--12th copy

Reich Postal Minister for the attention of Min. Rat. Honold--13th copy

General Inspector for German Roadways for the attention of Reg. Baurat Schaeffler--14th copy

Minister President General Fieldmarshall Goering, Director of the Four Year Plan and the Prussian State Ministry for the attention of Min. Rat. Bergbohm--15th & 16th copy

Operational Staff G B for the attention of Ministerial Director Sarnow--17th & 18th copies

Reich Minister of Economies for the attention of Ob. Reg. Rat. Dr. Burandt--19th copy

Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture for the attention of Min. Rat. Dr. Dietrich--20th copy

Reich Labour Minister for the attention of Min. Rat. Schroeder--21st copy

Directorate of the Reichsbank for the attention of the Reichsbank dir. Dr. Mueller--22nd copy

Reich Conservator of Forests for the attention of Oberlandforstmeister Hausmann--23rd copy

Reich Office for long range regional planning (Raunoreburg) for the attention of Reg. Rat. Dr. Schepers--24th copy

President of the Secret Cabinet Council Reich Minister Freiherr von Neurath--25th copy

Reich Minister Frank for the attention of Oberstaatsanwalt Dr. Buhler--26th copy

Head of Reich Labour Service for the attention of Oberarbeitsfuehrer Richter--27th copy

_OKH_ (2nd Div. Army General Staff) (80X)--28th-107th copy

_Reich Minister for Air and C-in-C Air Force_ (2nd Div. Air Force General Staff) (30X)--108th-137th copy

_OKM_ (A II) (15 x)--138th-152nd copy

_Adjutant to the Fuehrer_--153rd copy

OKW: Chief of OKW--154th copy

WZ--155th copy

Ausl/Abwehr (with NA for Foreign Abwehr I, II & III) (5 X)--156th-160th copy

General Armed Forces Office (with NA for J. Pressegr. Vers.) (4X)--161st-164th copy

Armed Forces Staff (with NA for WWi, WRo, WRue) (4X)--165th-168th copy

Armed Forces Communications (WNV) (2X)--169th-170th copy

L (Chief, Ia, Ib, Ic, II, IVa, IVb, IVc, IVd, K)--171st-180th copy

WH--181st copy

WR--182nd copy

Special Staff W--183rd copy

Stock kept at L IV--184th-200th copy

* * * * *

[ITEM 42] [_Typescript_]
200 copies, 153rd copy
Supreme Command of the Armed Forces
L. No. 2385/38 Most Secret IV A

_Subject_: Occupation of the Sudeten-German area.

Berlin, 30.9.38
[STAMP]
Office of the Armed Forces Adjutant
attached to the Fuehrer & Reich Chancellor
Rec. 3 Oct 1938
Enclosures: Reg. No. 267138
Dispatched--
Clerk

1. By order of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the occupation of the Sudeten-German areas by the Armed Forces will be executed in a manner which will allow a changeover to military operations at any time.

For the advance of the troops to coincide with the withdrawal of the Czechs, particularly in the fortified zones, and on account of the possibility of local resistance, it is necessary for the march in to be arranged in a way suited to the conduct of military operations.

2. The military occupation also necessitates the settling of economic conditions in the Sudeten-German area. Assimilation can only be brought about gradually. For this transition period the rate of exchange has been fixed at 100 Czech crowns to 10.00 Reichmarks so as to enable the retail trade to function. It is a pre-condition of this temporary settlement, however, that, until a final settlement is made with regard to economics and currency, and in order to avoid placing the Sudeten-German population at a disadvantage, only those things are bought in the open market which come in the category of goods which fill the immediate needs of life. _Any exploitation of the present economic situation is a serious offense._

3. For the above stated reasons, travel into the Sudetenland from the old Reich will be confined to those officials and authorities who have been given specific tasks in the Sudeten-German area. It is requested that all civil authorities and all organizations of the Party be instructed without delay that it is essential to obtain the previous approval of the military authorities charged with the exercise of executive power (C-in-C of the Army, Army HQ) for the transfer of departments and units of any kind into the Sudeten-German area which is under military authorities.

The Chief of the Supreme Command
of the Armed Forces

Keitel

[Distribution for Item 42 identical to that of Item 41]

* * * * *

[ITEM 43 is seven pages of handwritten notes too illegible to translate.]

* * * * *

[ITEM 44] [_Typescript_]

MOST SECRET

Supreme Command of the Armed Forces
No. 2400/38 Most Secret LIa
Top Secret

Berlin, 1st October 1938
150 copies, 18th copy
[Stamp]

Office of the Armed Forces Adjutant attached to the
Fuehrer & Reich Chancellor.

Rec. Oct. 3rd 1938, Encl. 2-30
Reg. No. 268338 Secret
Dispatched--
Check--

SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 3 to DIRECTIVE No. 1

_Parts of the Army Employed._

In addition to the Sections of the Army whose employment has been approved (See Directive 1, Section 2a), the following units will also be used for the occupation:

Command (Generalkommando) III
10th Inf Regiment (4th Inf. Div)

The Chief of Supreme Command of the Army
By direction

Jodl

_Distribution_: III and special distribution

* * * * *

[ITEM 45] [_Telegram_]

Army Teleprint Network
Teleprint Office Notes
Received from

HDZG Pass to Date Time Re. No. by
9.10 Dept 9.10 Schm. [?]
Klimnisch [?]

Telegram HBZG 12 9110 1304

TO LT. COL. SCHMUNDT FUEHRER'S TRAIN (FUHRERZUG)

1. IF THE OCCUPATION OF ZONE 5 IS CARRIED OUT TODAY ACCORDING TO PLAN AND WITHOUT INCIDENT OKW INTENDS TO DISSOLVE V.G.A.D. IN THE WEST AS FROM 10.10 AND TO BRING THE 5 SERVING DIVISIONS BACK TO THEIR HOME STATIONS * * *

2. ACCORDING TO TELEGRAM RECEIVED HERE POPULATION OF IGLAU VERY WORRIED AND EXCITED. COMMUNISTS THERE ARE ARMED. FOREIGN OFFICE HAS BEEN INFORMED. OKW SUGGESTS EMPLOYMENT OF ENGLISH LEGION, IF IT IS BROUGHT UP IN THIS AREA, FOR PROTECTION OF THE GERMANS. FUEHRER'S CONSENT REQUESTED FOR 1 AND 2 * * *

signed KEITEL

[Ink Notes:--] Telephoned this from Opera House in Saarbrucken at 2100 10.9 to Capt. Deyle. Fuehrer agreed to points 1 and 2. In connection with 2: if the lives of Germans threatened, troops to march in after short warning.

SCHMUNDT, Lt. Col.

* * * * *

[ITEM 46] [_Typewritten letter_]
The C-in-C of the Army

Berlin, W 35, Tirpitzufer 72-76, 10 October 1938
[Pencil notes]
11.10.38
1800 hours Schm.

My Fuehrer!

I have to report that the troops will reach the demarcation line as ordered, by this evening. In so far as further military operations are not required, the order for the occupation of the country which was given to me will thus have been fulfilled. The guarding of the new frontier line will be taken over by the reinforced frontier supervision service [Grenzaufsichtsdienst] in the next few days.

It is thus no longer a military necessity to combine the administration of the Sudetenland with the command of the troops of the army under the control of one person.

I therefore ask you, my Fuehrer, to relieve me with effect from October 15, 1938, of the charge assigned to me--that of exercising executive powers in Sudeten German territory.

Heil my Fuehrer,

VON BRAUCHITSCH

[Handwritten Note:] Submitted to Fuehrer 11 October. Agreed. Schm.

[ITEM 47] [_Telegram_]

Remarks of teleprint office
Army Telegraph Network

Pass to Date Time R. No. by
Schmundt's 10.10 1940 Schm.
Dept.

Received from HOZ6, 10.10, 1930

* * * * *

Telegram SECRET
HBZG No. 17 1915 Schm.

TELEGRAM TO FUEHRER'S TRAIN, LT. COL. SCHMUNDT IF EVENING REPORT SHOWS THAT OCCUPATION OF ZONE FIVE HAS BEEN COMPLETED WITHOUT INCIDENT OKW INTENDS TO ORDER FURTHER DEMOBILIZATION

PRINCIPLE: 1 TO SUSPEND OPERATION "GRUEN" BUT MAINTAIN A SUFFICIENT STATE OF PREPAREDNESS ON PART OF ARMY AND LUFTWAFFE TO MAKE INTERVENTION POSSIBLE IF NECESSARY.

2 ALL UNITS NOT NEEDED TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE OCCUPIED AREA AND REDUCED TO PEACETIME STATUS, AS POPULATION OF OCCUPIED AREA IS HEAVILY BURDENED BY THE MASSING OF TROOPS.

3 TO DISSOLVE TRUCK REGIMENTS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, IN THE INTERESTS OF ECONOMY.

4 IN THE WEST--GRADUAL REVERSAL OF ALL MOBILIZATION MEASURES WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE WORK ON THE LIMES.

5 INTENTION OF THE C-IN-C OF THE ARMY TO RELINQUISH HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS ON 10.15

FUEHRER'S CONSENT REQUESTED
OKW

[_Handwritten notes_]
Fuehrer's decision:

1--Agreed

2--Suggestion to be made on the 13th Oct in Essen by Gen. Keitel. Decision will then be reached.

3--Agreed

4--Agreed

5--Agreed

NB. Notice of 5 to be sent by 6th Division
Relayed to Lt. Colonel Zeitzler at 2300, 10.11

SCHMUNDT, Lt. Col.

[in Schmundt's writing]

* * * * *

[Next page contains illegible notes]
[_Handwritten notes_]

10.10.38
_What is in the Zone?_

_5_ 1 (motorized) For special duties 1 mountain
1 (light) 3 div
1 armoured 1 truck transport regt.
1 mountain
1 div.

_4_ 3 motorized div _3_ 4 div
1 light Germania
1 armoured
2 div
Liebstandarte

_1_ 1 armoured 13 div
3 div 4 div (motorized)
3 armoured
2 mountain
2 light
-------------
24 divisions

[notes in Schmundt's writing]

* * * * *

[_Telegram_]

Army Telegraph Network

Notes of Telegraph Office
Received from HOZG 11.10.10.45

Pass to Date Time R. No. by
Lt. Col. 11.10 Schm.
Schmundt

HBZG 008 1040

TO THE ARMED FORCES ADJUTANT ATTACHED TO THE FUEHRER AND SUPREME COMMANDER OF ARMED FORCES. THE C-IN-C THE ARMY REGARDS HIS DUTIES AS POSSESSOR OF EXECUTIVE POWERS IN THE SUDETEN GERMAN AREA AS FINISHED AS FROM 10.15 AND SUGGESTS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION BE TAKEN OVER ON THAT DATE BY REICH COMMISSAR HENLEIN, PROVIDING THAT FURTHER MILITARY OPERATIONS ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY. PERSONAL LETTER OF THE C-IN-C TO THE FUEHRER HAS BEEN DISPATCHED.

OKH 6th Div. (Five)
General Staff of the German Army
11.37/38

* * * * *

[ITEM 48]
[_Ink note_]

1. If advance orders, times can be shortened. Regrouping of armies.

2. If Hungary, small degree of preparedness. 2 brigades between Pressburg and Budapest. 1 brigade east of Friedl.

[Rest of note impossible to decipher completely]

* * * * *

[_Telegram_]

Army Telegraph Network

Notes of the telegraph office
Received from HBZC 11.10.1955.

Pass to Date Time R. No. by 1)4 Mot.
Lt. Col. 11.10 2030 Joe Div.
Schmundt 1 B'n
ready
to
March
[?] 1 Arm'd
Brig.
24
+5
--
29 [Undecipherable
note]

TOP SECRET

HBZG 13 1930.11.10
Lt. Col. Schmundt

Question 1: WHAT REINFORCEMENTS ARE NECESSARY IN THE PRESENT SITUATION TO BREAK ALL CZECH RESISTANCE IN BOHEMIA AND MORAVIA?

Answer: ARMY SUGGESTS:

ARMY GROUP 5: Nothing

ARMY GROUP FOR SPECIAL DUTIES: 1 Arm'd Brig., 2 Mob. Div.

ARMY GROUP 4: Nothing

ARMY GROUP 3: 1 Mobile Division

ARMY GROUP 1: 1 Division ready to march and 1 Mobile Division

B LUFTWAFFE: EMPLOYMENT NECESSARY OF ALL FORCES PROVIDED TO DATE OKW BELIEVES THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS WITHOUT THESE REINFORCEMENTS IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT SIGNS OF WEAKNESS IN CZECH RESISTANCE.

Question 2: HOW MUCH TIME IS REQUIRED FOR THE REGROUPING OR MOVING UP OF NEW FORCES?

Answer: A Army: FOR REGROUPING: 2 days. FOR MOVING UP OF NEW FORCES FROM THE REICH 4 to 5 DAYS (INCLUDING MOBILIZATION)

B Luftwaffe: OPERATIONAL DUTY POSSIBLE ANY TIME

Question 3: HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE SAME PURPOSE IF IT IS EXECUTED AFTER THE INTENDED DEMOBILIZATION AND RETURN MEASURES?

Answer: A Army: IN THE SOUTHEAST ABOUT 10 to 11 DAYS.--IN THE EAST 9 to 10 DAYS.

B Luftwaffe: AFTER RETURN OF FLYING UNITS TO PEACE TIME AIRFIELDS AND THEIR DEMOBILIZATION--THE AA GUNS WHICH ARE READY FOR ACTION AND THE GROUND ORGANIZATION BEING LEFT AS THEY ARE--LENGTH OF TIME IN SOUTHEASTERN AREA 12 HOURS IF WEATHER FAVORABLE. AFTER DEMOBILIZATION IS COMPLETE SEVERAL DAYS, IN ANY CASE LESS THAN IN THE CASE OF THE ARMY.

Question 4: HOW MUCH TIME WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE STATE OF READINESS OF OCT. 1st?

Answer: Army: 6 days. If the reserves are called up by radio, 3 days at least.

Luftwaffe: AIR DEFENSE WEST, BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF REORGANIZATION, WILL BE READY FOR OPERATIONS IN 24 HOURS.

(signed) KEITEL

* * * * *

[ITEM 49] [_Typewritten table_]
LI a

Berlin, 12 October 1938
3 copies, 1st copy

REFLECTIONS Of the Supreme Command of the Army on the withdrawal of Forces from the Sudeten-German Area

---------------+-------------------------------------+
| Present Strength |
|-------------------------------------|
| | Div. Nos. Earmarked |
Army Group | No. of Divs. | for |
| | Withdrawal |
---------------+---------------+---------------------+
Army Group | 5 1/3 | 1/3 44, _2 Mtn_, |
Command 5 | | _3 Mtn_, _29th_ |
| | _Mot_, 4 light, _2nd|
| | _Armoured_ |
| | |
Army Group | 4 1/3 plus | _1/3 5th_, _7th_, |
Command for | 1 SS Regt | _9th_, _45th_, _1st_|
Special Duties | | _Mtn._ |
| | |
Army Group | 7 (plus 1 | 10th, 24th, _2nd_ |
Command | SS Regt) | _(Mot)_, _13th_ |
4 | | _(Mot)_, _20th_ |
| | _(Mot)_, 1st |
| | Light, 1st Armd. |
| | |
Army Group | 3 (plus 1 | 4th, _3rd_, _18th_ |
Command | SS Regt) | |
3 | | |
| | |
Army Group | 4 | 8th, 28th, 30th, |
Command | | _3rd_ Arm'd. |
---------------+---------------+---------------------+
TOTAL | 22 2/3 (Plus | |
| 3 SS Regts) | |
| | |
| _Namely_: | |
| 11 2/3 Inf. | |
| Div | |
| 3 Mtn Divs | |
| 3 Mot Divs | |
| 3 Light Divs | |
| 3 Armd Divs | |
| | |
---------------+---------------+---------------------+

[ITEM 50] [_Telegram_]
REICH WAR MINISTRY/NAVAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
MOST SECRET
Received on 17.10 from kg at 1535 by [Indecipherable]
MBZ O 61
Telegram from MBZ 045 17/10 1525
Lt. Colonel Schmundt

OKW suggests that by 20 October about half of the Army forces still remaining in Sudeten-German Territory (14-1/3 Divs and 3 SS Regiments) should be moved out, as otherwise the orderly discharging of the old age group at the end of October--this is necessary for the building up of the Army--and the reassignment of the recruits will not be possible by 10/11. (Involved are the: 2nd Arm'd Div, 1st Mountain Div, 7th Div, 13th Motorized Div, 20th Motorized Div, 18th Div and 3rd Arm'd Div). Fuehrer's decision requested today.

Signed Keitel

[Note at bottom in Schmundt's handwriting:] The Fuehrer has given his consent 17 Oct. By telephone, 1905 hours, 17 Oct. to Capt. Vogel,

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Nazi conspiracy and aggression, Volume 03 (of 11)Chapter XVI: Letter 19: April 1941 from the Office for Jewish and Masonic Problems (9)

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