"The Hitlerites come and go, but the German people, but the German state remains" . Stalin
At the end of January 1945, the Red Army entered the territory of Germany. The officers and soldiers, burning with the desire to take revenge on the Nazis, met with the civilian population - the Germans, who in the minds of Soviet people were associated with the image of the "enemy".
The chapter includes about three dozen declassified documents from the former Main Political Directorate of the Red Army, mainly devoted to the attitude of Soviet soldiers to the German population and German citizens to the soldiers of the Red Army.
No. 167. Information summary of the 7th department of the political administration of the 1st Belorussian Front on the situation in Berlin, moods among the German population and the activities of various anti-fascist groups
On anti-fascist leaflets and newspapers published in Berlin before its occupation by the Red Army
In the district of Neu-Cologne, our workers were presented with a copy of the leaflet-newspaper No. 112 entitled "Free Berlin" - an organ of the National Committee "Free Germany". The newspaper contains an appeal to all Berliners. It states that the Red Army is 40 kilometers from the Brandenburg Gate and that only 100 kilometers separate the Red Army from the Anglo-American armies. The appeal goes on to say: "Either we will perish together with the Hitlerite bandits under the ruins and ruins of Berlin, or we will fight against the Nazis who were dragging out the war and save ourselves and our children from death." In the next article, Berliners are invited to observe the Nazis and, to the best of their ability, prevent them from preparing underground Nazi organizations. The article ends with the words: “The period of suffering of the German people will not end, unless we put an end to the Werewolf bandits in a timely manner." An article titled "What Nazi Propaganda is Silent About" provides news from the fronts and notes the successes of the Red Army and the Allies. The newspaper ends with a chronicle - "Izvestia from Berlin".
A resident of Berlin Shulypen, who presented the mentioned newspaper, stated that the newspaper was printed on a glass-printing machine with a circulation of 3,000 copies and was pasted on the walls of houses. She indicated the address of the center that published the newspaper Free Berlin.
In Berlin, various leaflets were found, pasted on the walls of houses before the occupation of the city by our troops and during the city battles. Leaflets called on German soldiers to end their resistance and oppose the Nazis, and Berliners to protect industrial enterprises from subversive Nazi teams. One of these leaflets has the following signature: “United Communist Party of Germany. On behalf of: Manngart. " The other is signed like this - “Resistance group. Berlin, Ernst ".
On the surrender of the deputy. Commandant of Berlin, Major General Bremer
On 7.5.45, Major General Walter Bremer appeared and surrendered to the commandant's office of the Zelendorf district (Berlin). Major General Bremer testified: “I served as deputy. Commandant of Berlin. In recent days, I received an order with my group of 600 people soldiers make their way to the western outskirts of Berlin. The order of surrender did not reach me. During the fighting, I lost almost all of my soldiers and, at the end of one, two days hid in the dungeons, and upon learning of the surrender, I decided to surrender to the Soviet military authorities. " Bremer further revealed that Goering and Grand Admiral Raeder were hiding in Berlin.
About Berlin hospitals with Russian citizens
In the districts of Prenzlauerberg and Spandau, 4 hospitals with Russian citizens seriously ill with tuberculosis were found. Patients are provided with assistance, enhanced nutrition is organized.
About terrorist attacks in Berlin
In recent days, 13 terrorist attacks have been committed in the Weissensee area. 7 terrorists were detained. There were cases of open agitation against the Red Army on the streets of the city. In the Mitte area, a Red Army major was wounded by a terrorist.
On underground fascist organizations in Berlin
In Berlin, two fascist underground groups have been uncovered: one of 5 people and the other of 7 people. In the Friedrichsfelde area, a weapons depot of an underground fascist group was found. The warehouse revealed: 80 rifles, 56 faust cartridges, 10 machine guns, 205 grenades, 400,000 rounds.
On the identification of the leaders of the National Socialist organizations in Berlin
The identification of the National Socialist leaders is not going well enough. Population registration has yielded insignificant results so far, as the majority of National Socialist leaders are hiding and avoiding registration. So, the commandant's office of the Charlottenburg district, as of May 5, registered: policemen - 24, SS men - 1, SA employees - 1 and not a single leader. The population still does little to help our bodies in this and, apparently, adhere to a wait-and-see policy. The former communists are also not yet sufficiently helpful in identifying the National Socialist leaders.
Some residents fear reprisals from underground fascist organizations. Thus, in the village of Hosenfeld, passing Germans were handed out leaflets "German generals against Hitler". At this time, the photographer of one of our units clicked the shutter of the camera. One German woman, who was reading the leaflet, got scared, threw the leaflet down and ran away. When the rest were asked why she was scared, they replied: "She is afraid that her photograph will be printed on the flyer, and her name will be known to everyone."
About cases of suicide among the population
Some part of the population still does not get rid of the fear of "Bolshevik horrors." There have been several cases of suicide. So, on the way from Fürstenwalde to Tsigiley, a German woman opened her veins on her arm. In the village. Damsdorf committed suicide by two Germans - a husband and a wife. At number 5 on Bergmanstrasse (Berlin), some women carry poison with them, which they are going to take when they are sent to Siberia. Greta Berg from the same house says: "I am very afraid that my three-year-old son will be taken away from me."
Organizations formed in Berlin by former communists
In the district of Lichtenberg, the commandant's office disbanded the "District Communist Party Center". The leaders and organizers of this center, the former communists Bauer and Duvel, expressed dissatisfaction with the newly appointed burgomaster of the district, because he is a social democrat, and began to organize the population to disrupt the burgomaster's events. Bauer and Duvelle were summoned to the commandant's office; they were asked to hand over all cases and lists to the organization, and to liquidate the organization. The "People's Committee" was dissolved in the Pankow region. A group headed by a certain Spalinger, who called himself the Commissioner of Berlin, was also disbanded. The group issued the following notice in typography: “The Berlin Committee of Socialist German Workers 'and Soldiers' Councils is the highest institution. The Berlin magistrate, the police and all state institutions are subordinate to him. Whoever sabotages the military institutions of the Soviet Union will be punished. Also, persons who harbor persons accused of espionage and sabotage in favor of the NSDAP will be severely punished. " The Spalinger group had an official seal, stamped forms, forms of certificates, which they were going to issue to persons who were not members of the NSDAP.
On some facts hindering the work of military commandant's offices
Military commanders are still understaffed. Thus, the staff of the Wedding commandant's office consists of 9 officers and 9 fighters, while the area has about 300 thousand inhabitants.
Head of the 7th Department of the Political Directorate of the 1st Belorussian Front Colonel Melnikov
... F. 32. Op. 11306. D. 623. L. 159 - 163. Original.
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No. 259. Instructions of the Military Council and Political Administration of the 1st Ukrainian Front to the military commandants of German cities on the organization of local administration and work with the German population
May 13, 1945
The Military Council proposes to be guided by the following guidelines when organizing the local German administration and in relations with the local German population:
1. In relations with the Germans, proceed from the instructions of Comrade Stalin, made by him during the Patriotic War. Comrade Stalin teaches to distinguish the German people from the Hitlerite state: "The Hitlerites come and go, but the German people, but the German state remains" .
You cannot measure all Germans by one yardstick. You cannot imagine Germany as one colossal gang. It is necessary to distinguish the Germans who support fascism, who were and are its stronghold, from the Germans who became disillusioned with the war, disillusioned with Hitler and his regime, suffered from the Hitler regime, etc.
In Order No. 20 of May 1, 1945, Comrade Stalin defined our attitude towards the Germans: “False fascist propaganda intimidates the German population with absurd tales - as if the armies of the United Nations want to exterminate the German people. It is not the task of the United Nations to destroy the German people. The United Nations will destroy fascism and German militarism, punish the criminals of war severely and force the Germans to repair the damage they have caused to other countries. But the United Nations does not touch and will not touch the civilian population of Germany, if it loyally fulfills the demands of the allied military authorities. "
2. A just desire to take revenge on the Germans for the atrocities committed by the Hitlerite army and for the war unleashed by the Nazis, which brought so much disaster and suffering to our homeland, does not at all mean that violence, robbery and other lawlessness are allowed in relation to the Germans.
On the contrary, a decisive struggle must be waged against these iniquities, since they embitter the entire German people against us and, moreover, dishonor the honor of the Red Army and corrupt it morally.
We must understand that a correct attitude towards the German population and winning its sympathies help to consolidate our victory over Nazi Germany and ensure peace.
To consolidate the victory over the enemy, won, first of all, by weapons and equipment used by the united and inspired by the noble goals of defending the Motherland by the Soviet people, it is necessary to destroy everything fascist, to destroy the Hitler state, to liquidate the Nazi party and the order created by it. And this can be done only through appropriate, correctly conducted political work among the population and correct relationships with it.
3. At the same time, one must remember Stalin's instructions that an improvement in attitudes towards the Germans should not lead to a decrease in vigilance and to familiarity with the Germans. In his May Day order, Comrade Stalin demands: "When you are outside your native land, be especially vigilant."
Hitler's leaders, active fascists must be identified and neutralized.
But ordinary members of the National Socialist Party, if they are loyal to the Red Army, do not need to be touched.
4. At a number of points, some soldiers and commanders continue to commit atrocities against the German population.
The military commanders are obliged to take decisive measures to protect the German population from violence, outrage and arbitrariness.
5. In the regions of Germany west of the Zap. Neisse (that is, on the territory that remains German, not passing to Poland), a limited German administration is created.
The organization of a limited German administration in the territory occupied by the Red Army and control over its work are the most important tasks of the military commandants and their deputies for political affairs.
6. The military commandants, together with those authorized by the deputy front commander for civil administration, must establish the following bodies of German administration:
In cities and urban-type settlements, appoint burgomasters and approve advisers ("staff") who are in charge of individual branches of the city administration (departments): 1) industry and crafts; 2) trade and supply; 3) utilities, municipal services and landscaping; 4) finance, taxes and fees; 5) health care; 6) education; 7) social security; 8) for the maintenance of order and personnel.
In large cities (like Dresden, Görlitz), appoint chief burgomasters and one or three burgomasters (who are deputy chief burgomasters who manage individual branches of work or departments).
7. One of the most important tasks facing the troops of the Red Army, who occupied the territory of Germany, is the organization of local self-government from among the German population.
To this end, the government established the post of deputy commander for civil affairs with a special institute of commissioners under the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front.
Deputy Front Commander for Civil Affairs and his delegates:
a) Assist the population in organizing limited power on the territory of Germany, occupied by the Red Army, and, above all, take measures to select and appoint burgomasters, chiefs of the police, chiefs of the police, chiefs of justice, and judicial prosecutorial bodies from the local civilian population.
b) Exercise control over the activities of the German authorities, including in the field of maintaining public order, and over the implementation by these bodies of all orders and assignments of the Soviet military command.
This work will be carried out both through the military commandants of the spacecraft, and through specially designated authorized by the deputy front commander.
8. The military commandants, together with the authorized deputy front commander for civil affairs, should establish the following authorities:
I.
In the villages - to appoint community leaders in charge of all the affairs of the rural community.
II.
In large villages - to help the headmen of the communities select one or several village advisers in charge of individual branches of work (agriculture, school, labor service). Subordinate the heads of rural communities to the district authorities.
III.
In the counties - to appoint the heads of the counties with the apparatus of councilors - the heads of the departments of the county administration:
1. Industry and crafts
2. Trade and supply
3. Utilities and improvement
4. Agriculture and forests
5. Finance, taxes and fees 6 County doctor
7. County veterinarian
8. County school councilor
9. Social security
10. Administrative.
IV.
In cities and urban-type settlements - to appoint burgomasters with a staff of advisers who make up the city's magistracy, in charge of individual branches of city management (departments):
1. Industry and crafts
2. Trade and supply
3. Municipal utilities and improvement
4. Finance, taxes and fees
5. Health
6. Education
7. Social security.
V.
In large cities (such as Dresden, Görlitz, Cottbus) - appoint chief burgomasters and from 1 to 3 burgomasters, who are deputy chief burgomasters and supervise individual branches of work or departments according to the above scheme of departments of the city magistrate.
Divide large cities into districts, headed by district burgomasters with district magistracy. [394]
Vi.
Cities with a population of up to 10 thousand are subordinate to the district authorities, cities with a population of over 10 thousand are directly subordinate to the district authorities.
The heads of the counties are also subordinate to the district authorities.
Vii.
In the districts - to appoint the presidents of the districts and, with them, directors in charge of individual branches of work (departments):
1. Industry and crafts
2. Trade and supply
3. Utilities and beautification
4. Agriculture and forestry
5. Finance, taxes and fees
6. Health
7. Education
8. District architect
9. Social security
10. Administrative.
In addition, police bodies should also be established with the following structure:
I.
In cities - a police commander, subordinate to the burgomaster of the city, while subordinate to the district police president. The city police have the following departments:
a) Criminal police
b) Order police
c) Fire brigade.
II.
In the counties, there are gendarmerie apparatuses, a county gendarmerie department headed by a commander, consisting of two departments:
a) Gendarmerie of order
b) Fire brigade.
The district commander of the gendarmerie is subordinate to the head of the district, and on the departmental line also to the district police president.
The county gendarmerie department has gendarmes who serve in the villages of the counties as separate posts and, if necessary, outposts.
III.
In the district, the entire police service is led by a police president who has an apparatus consisting of the following departments:
a) Department for the leadership of the city police
b) Department for the leadership of the gendarmerie.
The city police department, in turn, is divided into the following inspections, led by inspectors:
a) Inspector for the leadership of the criminal police
b) Inspector for the leadership of the police of order
c) Inspector of the fire department.
Police numbers should be kept to a minimum and approved by the district president.
Members of the local administration are selected and appointed by military commanders in conjunction with those authorized by the deputy front commander for civil affairs.
Mayors of cities reporting directly to the district, chiefs of counties, commanders of the city police directly reporting to the district, chiefs of the district gendarmerie, presidents of districts, directors in charge of individual branches of the district's work, as well as district police presidents can be appointed only after the candidates are personally approved by the deputy front commander for the management of civil affairs.
Materials on the listed persons must be submitted for approval to the Deputy Commander by authorized military commanders in conjunction with the authorized.
In the villages - to appoint elders ("Hemeindeforsteiner") in charge of all the affairs of the rural community. In large villages, to help the elders, approve one or several village councilors ("heminderat") in charge of individual branches of work (agriculture, school, labor service, and others).
In the counties - to appoint the chiefs of the county (in the regions of Prussia "landrat", in the regions of Saxony - "amtshauptman") and to approve the councilors who are with them, heads of the departments of the county administration: 1) industry and crafts; 2) trade and supply; 3) utilities and landscaping; 4) agriculture and forests; 5) finance, taxes and fees; 6) a county doctor ("kraisart"); 7) a county veterinarian ("kraistirart"); 8) the county school councilor ("kraisshulrat"); 9) a county architect ("kreisbaumeister"); 10) social security; 11) administrative; 12) for the maintenance of order and personnel.
In the districts - to appoint the presidents of the districts ("betsirkspresident") and with them directors ("director") in charge of individual branches of work (departments): 1) industry and crafts; 2) trade and supply; 3) utilities and landscaping; 4) agriculture and forests; 5) finance, taxes and fees; 6) health care; 7) education; 8) a district architect; 9) social security; 10) administrative; 11) for the maintenance of order and personnel.
The structure and staffs of the constituency presidents, district chiefs, burgomasters and chiefs of staff are approved by military commandants in conjunction with those authorized by the deputy front commander for civil administration on the proposal of the presidents, burgomasters and headmen themselves; the personnel of the apparatuses are selected by presidents, burgomasters and chiefs under the supervision of military commandants.
Presidents of districts, heads of counties, chief burgomasters, burgomasters, chiefs are selected and appointed by military commandants together with authorized deputy front commanders for civil administration from anti-fascists or anti-Hitler-minded local residents, energetic, popular, authoritative among the local population and loyal to the Red Army.
Directors and advisers, as well as officials of the apparatus, are selected by the presidents themselves, burgomasters and headmen, also from antifascists and anti-Hitler-minded local residents, energetic and having the necessary knowledge, and are approved by military commandants and authorized by the deputy front commander for civil administration.
Leaders and active members of the Nazi party and fascist organizations (Hitler Youth, the National Socialist Union of Women, etc.), SS men, Gestapo officials, police officers, senior officials of the Hitlerite government apparatus and residents known as active supporters cannot be appointed to these positions. Hitler's regime.
The military commandants and their deputies for political affairs, together with the authorized deputy front commander for civil administration, are responsible for the creation of local German administration bodies, the appointment of their leaders and the activities of these bodies, as well as for preventing fascist elements from penetrating into the latter.
9. The functions of the city and rural administration should mainly be reduced to the following:
a) taking measures to restore normal life in the city and in the countryside: restoration and resumption of work of local industrial and commercial enterprises serving the population with consumer goods, trade, transport, etc .; [396]
b) speeding up agricultural work; registration of the fund of abandoned lands, their distribution among the poor strata of the population for cultivation;
c) care for urban and rural improvement; medical services for the population, care for orphans and the elderly, schools, fire brigades, etc .;
d) registration and registration of the population;
e) identification and transfer of Nazi and war criminals into the hands of military commandants, that is, the leaders and most active members of Nazi organizations, the Hitler Youth, the Gestapo, members of the SS and SD, saboteurs, spies, police officers, etc .;
f) ensuring order. Ensuring the execution by the population of the city and village of the orders of the command of the Red Army and the occupation regime established by the latter;
g) assistance to military commandants (and where there are no military commandants, to the commanders of military units) in carrying out measures necessary for the needs of the Red Army.
The orders of the district, county, city and rural German administrations are binding on the population of the respective districts, counties, cities and villages. In particular, the authorities of the German administration have the right to involve the population on a mandatory basis for the performance of the mentioned works of public importance.
Bodies of the local German administration have the right, with the permission of the military commandant, to print, hang out, paste up notices informing the population about the mandatory orders.
Certificates are issued to the heads of the German administration by the Deputy Front Commander for Civil Administration.
10. In order to streamline economic life in the territory occupied by the Red Army, the rationing system that existed under the Hitler regime is canceled.
Military units and institutions, servicemen must pay the population for goods and products purchased from them with occupation marks.
11. The military commandants carry out all their measures concerning the normalization of life in the occupied territory through the heads of the local administration bodies.
The military commanders must observe the work of the local German administration and its leaders, suggest to them the necessary measures, advise, promote the growth of their authority and the maintenance of their power.
Military commandants should not give orders directly to the apparatus over the heads of presidents, burgomasters and chiefs.
In relations with the local administration, military commandants act as representatives of the Soviet military command correctly and firmly, ensuring on the territory under their jurisdiction a strict military order and unconditional observance by the population of the orders of the command and their own.
The military commandants, through the presidents, burgomasters and headmen, and, if necessary, by their own orders, cancel the measures of the local administration that harm the Red Army or run counter to the orders and orders issued by the Soviet military authorities.
12. Military commanders must take vigorous measures to restore normal life in the occupied territory as soon as possible. To do this, they must, through the local German administration:
a) obtain from the owners of enterprises serving the needs of the population, or, in their absence, from the appointed temporary administration, the commissioning of enterprises serving the needs of the population;
b) organize workshops to serve the needs of the Red Army and the local population;
c) ensure the performance of agricultural work;
d) resume trade, markets and bazaars;
e) restore the work of enterprises and institutions serving the cultural and everyday needs of the population;
f) take measures to gradually restore the activities of transport, communications, mail, telegraph.
13. In order to ensure strict military order, the fastest restoration of normal life and the strengthening of the local administration bodies being created in the regions of Germany occupied by the Red Army, as well as in order to correctly inform the German population and expose Nazi propaganda, it is necessary to start a systematic propaganda among the German population.
This propaganda should: incite hatred among the German population against the Hitler regime and its inspirers and leaders, give the population a correct idea of the Soviet Union, tell about the tasks of the Red Army in Germany, expose the fascist slander against the USSR and the Red Army, inform about the international situation and the most important events , to popularize the statements of Comrade Stalin about Germany and the German people.
At first, propaganda work among the Germans should consist of the following:
a) distribution (by posting and free distribution) of newspapers, magazines, leaflets, brochures and other propaganda materials received from the political administration of the front;
b) oral conversations with the population, lectures, reports conducted and read by political workers who know German well, as well as German anti-fascist leaders sent by the front political administration;
c) loud reading of newspapers by readers specially selected from among anti-fascists, under the supervision of political workers who know the German language;
d) demonstration of Soviet films (for this to restore cinemas);
e) exhibiting anti-fascist posters, slogans, banners (organize showcases for stickers of newspapers, posters, etc.).
As the bodies of local administration are strengthened, it is advisable to convene for conversations: in the villages - the population of the village, in the cities - meetings of the intelligentsia, meetings of workers - to discuss issues of restoring economic life and for political work among the population. At the same time, conversations and meetings should be provided by qualified conversationalists and speakers who know German well, and anti-fascists - Germans.
14. Political work among the population of Germany in the near future is necessary to achieve the following:
a) smash the legend that the Red Army is destroying the German population;
b) to eliminate the fear of the German population before the Red Army, to calm down this population (this task must be solved by a number of practical and organizational measures, such as: establishing a normal life in cities and villages, organizing supply of the population, restoring communal services in cities and villages, establishing cultural life, etc.);
c) show that in the interests of the German population itself, every German must actively participate in exposing the fascist agents, hand over Gestapo men, saboteurs and spies to the Red Army, and cleanse German soil of the fascist filth. The task of etching the poison of Nazism from the German organism must be accomplished with the direct and active assistance of the German population itself;
d) explain to the population that the current catastrophe of Germany, its real the rout are the logical result of Hitler's predatory policy. Since the German people supported the Hitler regime, put up with this regime, they are responsible for what Germany brought peace in this war. Explain to the German population that the inconveniences associated with the military regime associated with the occupation regime are a natural result of Hitler's criminal war, and that a significant share of the blame lies with the German people as well. To remind the German population that the progressive people of Germany are anti-fascists, as well as representatives of the entire civilized world, in their speeches, they have repeatedly warned the German people about the consequences that may result from Hitler's criminal policy. However, the German people did not find the courage to suppress Hitler's criminal policies.
e) explain that the current situation for the German people is not hopeless. Hitler and his regime will be destroyed, and the German people must live. The main condition for his life is: to finally break with Hitlerism, with the ideology of world domination, racism and fascism in general. If the German people undertake energetically to eliminate the entire fascist legacy, they can accelerate their restoration as a people, equal among the other peoples of the world.
15. The deployment of political work among the German population obliges the military commandants and their deputies to carry out serious party-political work among the personnel of the military commandant's offices, rallying them into a strong collective, ensuring in the commandant's offices exemplary military order and strong military discipline.
The military commandants and especially their deputies for political affairs, as well as other employees of the military commandant's offices, must firmly know the statements of Comrade Stalin about Germany and the German people and other official party and state documents on this issue. They must study the German language, economics, history, the state system of Germany and have a particularly good knowledge of the city (region) in which they work.
Immediately begin serious training and arrange for the training of the commandant’s staff in accordance with these guidelines.
16. Inform the Deputy Front Commander and the Head of the Front Political Directorate about the organization of the local German administration once every 5 days (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 of each month).
Cases of special importance and matters requiring urgent resolution, report immediately, by express or other reliable means.
15. The military council and the political administration of the front warn the military commandants and their deputies for political affairs about the special political significance of the work entrusted to them to organize the local German administration and propaganda among the German population, as well as about the serious responsibility they bear for the exact and correct implementation of these instructions.
Member of the Military Council of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Lieutenant General Krainyukov
Deputy Commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Lieutenant General Meshik
Head of the Political Directorate of the 1st Ukrainian Front Guard Major General Yashechkin
TsAMO RF. F. 236. Op. 2727. D. 30. L. 75-87. Copy.
Translation From Russian
Svitlana M.
Svitlana M.
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