JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
This is one of the few remnants that I have of a larger collection of surrender and various sorts of propaganda leaflets dropped on the Wehrmacht and Germany in general in the last two years of World War II. (A longer post on this collection can be found elsewhere on this blog.) This leaflet, the "dissemination" of which was orchestrated by the R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) and the U.S.A.A.F. (United States Army Air Force) and were literally dropped in the tens of thousands on the remaining troops in the final weeks of the war, with the document dated 25 April 1945. (Mussolini was killed on this day, the German forces in Italy would surrender on 29 April, Hitler would commit suicide on 30 April, and the Battle for Berlin would be over on 2 May, with the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich coming in the middle of the night at SHAEF HQ at Reims.)
This leaflet is particularly strong, warning that mistreatment of Allied prisoners in any way or form by Gestapo and its agents would not be tolerated and that if there was mistreatment then those responsible would "be ruthlessly pursued and brought to punishment".
This warning comes weeks after the liberations and "discoveries" of various concentration and death camps, the truths found in those places definitely helping to form bloody-minded warnings to anyone in Germany committing crimes against Allied POWs.
Even though the propaganda bombing no doubt involved millions of pieces of paper, only a tiny fraction seem to have survived.
Here's the original along (and transcription) with a government-sponsored translation of the leaflet
"W a r n i n g
The Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on behalf of all. the United Nations at war with Germany, hereby issue a solemn warning to all Commandants and guards in charge of Allied prisoners of war in Germany and German occupied territory and to members of the Gestapo and other persons of whatsoever service or rank in whose charge Allied prisoners of war have been placed, whether in the battle zones, on the lines of communication or in the rear areas. They declare that they will hold all such persons, no less than the German High Command and the competent German military, naval and air authorities, individually responsible for the safety and welfare of all allied prisoners of war in their charge.
Any person guilty of maltreating or allowing any Allied prisoners of war to be maltreated whether in the the battle zone, lines of communication, in a camp, hospital, prison or elsewhere will be ruthlessly pursued and brought to punishment.
They give notice that they will regard this responsibility as binding in all circumstances and one which cannot be transferred to any other authorities or individuals whatsoever.
Dissemination: R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F.
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