R.A.F. SHOOTINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 84, 11 April 1946, Page 5

R.A.F. SHOOTINGS

KEITEL QUESTIONED UNALTERABLE ORDER Nuremberg, April 3. Under cross-examination at the War Crimes Tribunal to-day, Field-Marshal Keitel said that tire conference at which Hitler ordered that the 50 recaptured R.A.F. officers were not to returned to the Wehrmacht but by the police, occurred the day after the escapes. Keitel admitted having given orders that details of the shooting of the recaptured men should be posted in the prison camp as a deterrent. He also admitted that General von Gravenitz, inspector of the German war prisoners' organisation, said to him: ‘Escape isn't dishonourable; it is laid v down in the Geneva Convention." Sir David Maxwell Fyfe asked: Did you say “I don’t care a damn. We discussed it in the Fufirer’s presence. It cannot be altered"? Keitel replied: "No, though I believe I said something similar.” He added that he had not heard that the R.A.F. officers were shot in the back of the head with a revolver. He first heard of the shooting from Hitler's adjutant about March 30. Sir David Maxwell Fyfe said that all the prisoners were not shot until April 13. Keitel said that no special order was given to the Wehrmacht to deal with so-called Allied terror flyers who crashed. The orders were that they should be handed over to the security police. Sir David Maxwell Fyfe asked: You knew, didn’t you, that if the airmen handed over their chance of would be one in a million? Keitel answered: "I didnt’ know that at the time. I’ve learnt about it here. Asked if he knew what ‘‘special treatment" for captured airmen meant. Keitel replied: ‘‘Yes, it was generally known.* IF THEY HAD KNOWN Sir David Maxwell Fyfes' last question was: ‘‘You told us you knew nothing of the concentration camps, mass murder, and the misery of millions of people. Would you, if you had known all you know now, have refused to continue these actions?” Keitel said: “I am convinced that if the generals of the armed forces had known, they would have fought against these things.” a finai brief speech, Keitel said: 'You may say that I made mistakes, committed wrong actions, and showed weakness in following the Fuhrer, but you cannot acruse me of being cowardly, dishonourable and faithless. I have stated the facts and admitted that I often fel‘: compunction, but I never thought of refusing to obey the Fuhrer.” Dr. Hans Lammers, former chief of the Reich Chancellery, and an associate and friend of Hitler for many years, said that Keitel had no consti- ■- authority. There was no Reich Government from 1936, and all its powers had slipped into Hitler’s hanas. Hitler, before the war, regarded the Cabinet as a “defeatist cluh He even forbade them to meet for ‘some beer-drmkmg and occasional informal chats. • . P.r* Lammers disclaimed the responsibility of the former tdinisters for the Reich policy; he fixed it on the Fuhrer.