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Order of the Fuehrer on |
Demolitions on Reich Territory |
| Teleprint | |
| High Command of the Armed Forces |
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| (Operations Staff) | March 20, 1945 |
The Fuhrer issued the following order on March 19, 1945. |
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Subject: Demolitions on Reich territory. |
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The struggle for the existence of our people compels us, even within the territory of the Reich, to exploit every means of weakening the fighting strength of our enemy, and impeding his further advance. Every opportunity must be taken of inflicting, directly or indirectly, the utmost lasting damage on the striking power of the enemy. It is a mistake to think that transport and communication facilities, industrial establishments and supply depots, which have not been destroyed, or have only been temporarily put out of action, can be used again for our own ends when the lost territory has been recovered. The enemy will leave us nothing but scorched earth when he withdraws, without paying the slightest regard to the population. I therefore order:
1. All military transport, and communication, facilities, industrial establishments and supply depots, as well as anything else of value within Reich territory, which could in any way be used by the enemy immediately or within the foreseeable future for the prosecution of the war, will be destroyed.
2. The following are responsible for carrying out these demolitions:
The military commanders, for all military establishments, including the transport and communications network; the Gauleiters and Reich Commissioners for Defense, for all industrial establishments and supply depots, and anything else of value. The troops are to give to Gauleiters and Reich Commissioners for Defense such help as they require to carry out their tasks.
3. This order will be made known to all officers commanding troops as quickly as possible. Directives to the contrary are invalid.
signed: ADOLF HITLER
Back to Operational Directives from the Fuehrer Headquarters
Revised: January 21, 1999
