840.48 Refugees/10–3044: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan)
2563. From Department and War Refugee Board.
Reliable information has been received recently by this Government that the Germans are preparing a last minute slaughter in forced labor and concentration camps, of thousands of United Nations nationals and stateless Jews held by them. This plan is a final step in the program of mass murder and terror which the Germans have visited upon the peoples of the world. The United Nations are of course determined to see that the perpetrators of all of these crimes receive just punishment but it is also felt that every possible step should be taken to prevent these last minute atrocities.
President Roosevelt, with this in view, has requested the issuance of a statement of warning by General Eisenhower35 and word has just been received that the British Government concurs in the issuance of such a statement. Consequently arrangements are now being made for General Eisenhower to issue a statement in the following sense: [Page 1175]
“Attention Germans! There are large numbers of persons in labor battalions and in concentration camps in your midst. Germans, these are my orders. You shall disregard any order from whatever source to molest or otherwise harm or prosecute any of these people regardless of their nationality or religious faith. The Allied armies are already firmly on German soil. As they advance we shall expect to find these persons unharmed and alive. Any one who is responsible directly or indirectly in large measure or in small for their mistreatment will be subject to severe penalties. Those now exercising authority, heed this warning!”
This Government considers it extremely important that the Soviet Government make a similar statement either directly or through appropriate military officials. While there is no assurance that words will save the innocent lives which are threatened the voice of the military forces encircling Germany may prove effective.
It is sincerely hoped that the Soviet Government will find it possible to cooperate in this most important effort. In view of the urgency of the situation this Government feels that the Soviet statement should be issued as soon as possible, not necessarily making its release simultaneous with that of the statement by General Eisenhower.36
- General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.↩
- Telegram 4206, November 2, 1944, noon, from Moscow, reported that a note in the sense of this telegram had been delivered to the Foreign Office (840.48–Refugees/11–244); no further telegram on the subject was received in the Department. General Eisenhower’s statement was issued on November 7.↩