 |
| DECLARATION ON GERMAN ATROCITIES |
| [Moscow
Declaration] |
| Released November 1, 1943 |
| |
THE
UNITED KINGDOM, the United States and the Soviet Union have received from many
quarters evidence of atrocities, massacres and cold-blooded mass executions
which are being perpetrated by the Hitlerite forces in the many countries they
have overrun and from which they are now being steadily expelled. The
brutalities of Hitlerite domination are no new thing and all the peoples or
territories in their grip have suffered from the worst form of government by
terror. What is new is that many of these territories are now being redeemed by
the advancing armies of the liberating Powers and that in their desperation,
the recoiling Hitlerite Huns are redoubling their ruthless cruelties. This is
now evidenced with particular clearness by monstrous crimes of the Hitlerites
on the territory of the Soviet Union which is being liberated from the
Hitlerites, and on French and Italian territory.
Accordingly, the
aforesaid three allied Powers, speaking in the interests of the thirty-two
[thirty-three] United Nations, hereby solemnly declare and give full warning of
their declaration as follows:
At the time of the granting of any
armistice to any government which may be set up in Germany, those German
officers and men and members of the Nazi party who have been responsible for,
or have taken a consenting part in the above atrocities, massacres, and
executions, will be sent back to the countries in which their abominable deeds
were done in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws
of these liberated countries and of the free governments which will be created
therein. Lists will be compiled in all possible detail from all of these
countries having regard especially to the invaded parts of the Soviet Union, to
Poland and Czechoslovakia, to Yugoslavia and Greece, including Crete and other
islands, to Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, France and
Italy.
Thus, the Germans who take part in wholesale shootings of
Italian officers or in the execution of French, Dutch, Belgian, or Norwegian
hostages or of Cretan peasants, or who have shared in the slaughters inflicted
on the people of Poland or in territories of the Soviet Union which are now
being swept clear of the enemy, will know that they will be brought back to the
scene of their crimes and judged on the spot by the peoples whom they have
outraged. Let those who have hitherto not imbrued their hands with innocent
blood beware lest they join the ranks of the guilty, for most assuredly the
three allied Powers will pursue them to the uttermost ends of the earth and
will deliver them to their accusers in order that justice may be done.
The above declaration is without prejudice to the case of the major
criminals, whose offences have no particular geographical localisation and who
will be punished by the joint decision of the Governments of the Allies. |
| |
| [Signed] |
Roosevelt
Churchill
Stalin |
| |
| EXECUTIVE ORDER 9547 |
| |
| PROVIDING
FOR REPRESENTATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN PREPARING AND PROSECUTING CHARGES OF
ATROCITIES AND WAR CRIMES AGAINST THE LEADERS OF THE EUROPEAN AXIS POWERS AND
THEIR PRINCIPAL AGENTS AND ACCESSORIES |
X |
. 
