Operational Situation Report USSR No. 19

(July 11, 1941)

The Chief of the Security Police and the SD Berlin,
July 11, 1941 32 copies
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(19th copy) Operational Situation Report USSR No. 19 ............... For organizational reasons the designations for the Einsatzgruppen is changed, effective immediately, as follows:

Einsatzgruppe Dr. Stachlecker -- Einsatzgruppe A
Einsatzgruppe Nebe -- Einsatzgruppe B, up to now C
Einsatzgruppe Dr. Rasch -- Einsatzgruppe C, up to now B
Einsatzgruppe Ohlendorf -- Einsatzgruppe D

For technical reasons the designations of the Einsatzkommandos remain unchanged.

In the border region of Lithuania, the Stapo Tilsit carried out further large-scale operations. Thus, on July 2, 133 persons were shot in Tauroggen; on July 3, 322 persons (among them 5 women) in Georgenburg; in Augustowo 316 persons (among them 10 women); and in Mariampol 68 persons.

I addition, the following executions were carried out:

1. GPP. Schirwindt

in Wladislawo (Newstadt) and vicinity 192 persons

2. GPP. Laugszargen

in Tauroggen and vicinity 122 persons

3. GPK. Memel or GPP. Bajohren

in Krottingen and vicinity 63 persons

4. GPP Schmalleningken 1 person

Thus, till now a total of 1743 persons have been shot.

The higher SS and Police Commander, the commander of the Army's Rear Area North, SS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant (Lieutant General) of the Police Preutzmann reports:

The commander of the Army Area North offered to take over security in the area from the border of the Reich to the line Grodna-Kaunas-Jubarkas-Tauroggen-Rietavas-Darbona-Baltic Sea to the temporary Corps Headquarters 1, together with his forces. The commander of the Army Rear Area has proposed a corresponding motion to the Quartermaster General. The area to be covered has become too large, as a consequence of the fact that the eastern boundary of the Army's Rear Area has been moved forward.

Thus, I have ordered the commander of the ORPO in Königsberg/Prussia, in accordance with the authorization given by the Reichsführer-SS and Chief of the German Police and Chief of the ORPO, to take over the area of Lake Wystit-Mariampol-Kaunas-Jurbarkas-Tauroggen-Tietaveas-Barbenai-Baltic Sea with his own forces. An agreement with the commander of the Army Rear Area North and the commander of the ORPO Köningsberg/Prussia, the forces needed have been determined. The area will probably be taken over on July 12 or 13, 1941.

Otherwise the situation in the area of Kaunas is quiet. Only in isolated cases members of the Red Army who had been separated from their units were lying in ambush and shooting at units. This is the reason why up to now the Wehrmacht and the Police did not carry out more severe measures.

The members of the Red Army who were hidden in the woods and in other hiding places, driven by hunger, surface and surrender, in most cases by showing the white flag. The attitude of the Lithuanian population is friendly towards the Germans so far. They help the German soldiers, the police officials, and the other organizations already functioning in this area as much as possible. Their cooperation consists chiefly in looking for and turning over Lithuanian Communists, dispersed Red Army soldiers, and Jews. After the retreat of the Red Army, the population of Kaunas killed about 2,500 Jews during a spontaneous uprising. In addition, a rather large number of Jews was shot by the Auxiliary Police Service.

Einsatzgruppe A

Location: Riga

1. In Kaunas, up to now a total of 7,800 Jews have been liquidated partly through pogroms and partly through shooting by Lithuanian Kommandos. All of the corpses have been removed. Further mass shootings are no longer possible. Therefore, I summoned a Jewish committee and explained that up to now we had no reason to interfere with the internal arrangements between Lithuanians and the Jews. Foundations for a "New Order":

The establishment of a Jewish ghetto; identifying all the Jews with a yellow Star of David, 8 by 10 cm. in size, to be worn on the left breast; and the separate housing of women and children, for possible release on our orders by the Lithuanians and by a Jewish Relief Committee in the new ghetto. The town of Viliampol was designated as the location of the ghetto.

The resettlement must be carried out within 4 weeks. Prisons now are being searched once more. Some Jews, for special reasons, are being arrested and shot. This will involve a minor number of executions, only 50 to 100 persons. To prevent Jews from returning to Kaunas, an agreement was made with the Higher SS and Police Leader that the ORPO draw a cordon around Kaunas not allowing any Jews to enter the town. If necessary, Jews will be fired upon. All Wehrmacht agencies were informed of the directives.

About 250 men of the Lithuanian [anti-Soviet] partisans were left and are being sustained by us as a Sonderkommando and are being employed for future executions outside the town.

2. Units of Einsatzkommando 3 are presently working at Mariampol and Raseinial. After finishing their tasks, they will rejoin the Hauptkommando.

3. The Wehrmacht has received a new directive ordering it not to recognize the newly formed Lithuanian Government, but to make use of it.

4. In Riga, Metropolitan Sergei of the Russian Orthodox Church for the Baltic countries is prepared to make a proclamation against Communism to the believers in Russia. Sergei has been in Riga since 1941 and was in Moscow for 23 years before that. He is a Great-Russian. Civilian name: Voskresensky. Draft of the proclamation is now being prepared.

Einsatzgruppe B

Location: Minsk

No special reports received.

Einsatzgruppe C

Location: Rovno

Einsatzkommando 4a is still in Rovno where executions of 240 Bolsheviks, predominantly Jewish, officials, agents, etc. took place. Vorkommando of 4a, set to march via Chudnov to Zhitomir as soon as that area is secure to some extent. Another section of 4a, in accordance with a wish expressed by Army Headquarters, takes over the area south of Rovno, in an area 20 kilometers wide, to the East, as a security measure. One section of the Special Task Commando from Lublin has arrived.

: Einsatzkommando 4b

has finished its activity in Tarnopol. 127 executions. Parallel to that, liquidation of 600 Jews in the course of persecutions of Jews as inspired by the Einsatzkommando. In Zborov, 600 Jews liquidated by the Waffen-SS as retaliation measures for Soviet atrocities.

Einsatzkommando 6:

On July 8, 1941 at Zlochev, 16 Communist officials and informers, among them 3 Jewesses, executed. Group staff will proceed to Zhitomir.

Einsatzgruppe D

Location: Piatra

Einsatzkommando 10a

Location: Paleski, north of Jassy

Vorkommando had already reached Belci; however, was forced to leave again because Soviet forces counter-attacked and re-occupied the place. Vorkommando was under fire. No casualties. Bolshevization not conducted extensively.

: Einsatzkommando 10b; Location: Chernowitz

Einsatzkommando was fired upon in the center of the town. No casualties. Vorkommando made an attempt to reach Khotin. Contrary to statements by the Rumanian Army, the place was still occupied by Soviet forces. Vorkommando fell back under fire causing no casualties. Good cooperation with the Rumanian Gendarmerie. Rumanians have taken over the civil administration at Chernovtsy. Action against Jews until the arrival of the Einsatzkommando spotty. Rumanian soldiers looted all the houses. Above all, Ukrainians were ill-treated. The city is destroyed. The ghetto, including most of the Jews, is completely destroyed by Red artillery. Einsatzkommando stopped harassing of Ukrainians, and contacted the National Ukrainian Organization (OUN).

Einsatzkommando 11

Location: Barlad

Good cooperation with the Rumanian Army.
(The Einsatzgruppen Reports by Yitzak Arad, Shmuel Krakowski and Shmuel Spector, editors. p. 16-19)

Source: The Nizkor Project