Note: As we now know, Hitler's attack on Russia was a preemptive strike due to the fact that Stalin was preparing to invade Germany.
In the beginning, the good relations between the Wehrrnacht and
the
civilian population was doubtlessly also fostered by the orders
issued by
the Army leaderships. As an example, here are excerpts from those
given by
Field Marshal General von Manstein to his troops:
"Avoid being arrogant. True authority comes from superior
achievement and
exemplary bearing. Be just - the Russian hates nothing more than
injustice..." And further: "Treat the Russian with calm
and decency. Avoid
suggesting that the German belongs to a better race than the
Russian. The
Russians, especially the Ruthenians, the (Ukrainians and the
Byelorussians)
are part of the same ethnic family as the Aryans. Treat the
Russian women
and girls the same as you would treat the German women and
girls..."
(Huttenbriefe Feb. /March 1997)
In the first half of October, an unexpected, early cold spell
brought the
German armies in the North and Central to a temporary halt.
Temperatures
dropped to -20 degrees, a catastrophe for the men and army
vehicles for
which they were not prepared. The collection of warm clothing,
skis and the
like, which was immediately begun in the Reich, barely made a
difference.
Tens of thousands of German soldiers suffered frostbite; the
cooling
systems of the tanks froze, making them useless.
Even though this act of nature provided the Soviets with an
invaluable
respite, the German march-in had taken place so quickly and
successfully
that Stalin resorted to a satanic plan to incite the population
against
Germans.
On November 17, 1941 he issued Directive No. 04218, also known as
the
"Torch-Men Order", which decreed that Russian partisans
wearing German
uniforms - especially uniforms of the Waffen-SS - "... shall
destroy and
set on fire all settlements where German troops are located, to
40-60 km
from the main battle front, (namely) 20 to 30 km to both the left
and right
of the roads ... This incites the people's hatred of the Fascist
occupiers
and makes it easier to recruit partisans in the Fascists'
hinterland. It is
important to ensure that there are survivors that can report
about the
'German' atrocities. Among the people the report is to be put
about that
the Germans set towns and villages on fire in order to punish the
partisans."...(Source: Archives Series 429, Roll 461... 3/70
Fr. 6439568,
Washington National Archives.)
No doubt this Stalinist plan must also be regarded as a reaction
to the
volunteer corps which were springing up, constituted of members
of nations
oppressed by the Soviet Union, as well as of Ukrainians and
Greater
Russians. These corps ultimately comprised more than one million
members.
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