The Case Against Nazi Generals

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1948, Page 5

The Case Against Nazi Generals

LONDOIs, Nov. 3. A iffiotographie copy of a German order of*the day, signed by FieldMarshal von Runstedt, was held aloft by the Lord Chancellor, Yiscount Jowitt, in the House of Lords last night. It ordered that captured eommando troops and parachutists should immediately be hancled over to the Gestapo. It was issued some months before Hitler's commando order which figured so prominently in the Nuremberg trials. At that time its existence was not known and Yiscount Jowitt said he produced it only to show the seriousness of eharges now being laid against the three ' German generals (Field Marshals von Rundstedt and von Manstein and General Strauss). He was not prepared to say at this moment that any partieular person had been put to death as the result of von Rundstedt's order. "But, my Lords," he said, "being handed to the Gestapo meant that, though death came ultimately, death was a relief when it did come in only too many cases. ' ' Yiseo-unt Jowitt was answering eritictsm by Lord Reading against the decision ' to try the three generals after such a long delay. Viscount Jowitt pointed out that up to quite reeently they had been trying in Germany, men charged with murdering commando troops and the defendfients had pleaded ' ' superior orders. "If we are trying these men who acted on orders, we should try the men who gave the orders," he said amid general cheers. He could not pledge himself to a definite^ date for the trial .but haped they would be able to hold it in Mareh.