English Translation

Ha - 4 - standliche Pflieht- jeder Kriegspfarers, to meet the special religious need of the members of his confession. Soldiers must always be given the opportunity to participate voluntarily in the confessional celebrations. Pro- cessions outside the churches are not allowed. 13. Religious celebrations must in any case be conducted separately from military celebrations and events of the troops. The funeral in the field of fallen or deceased Wehrmacht members can be carried out as a uniform celebration if the use of a war priest is possible. If the person to be buried in the Christian Church does not belong and it is not clear that the person in question has wished for a religious celebration, then the appointment of a war priest to the funeral must be suspended. In these cases it is the task of the unit leader to provide fir for a solemn military funeral. 14, The use of churches of the civil society in their own or allied country requires the consent of the eigenitums. In enemy country suitable churches or rooms can be confiscated for the respective use by the troops. These buildings as well as the religious feelings of the population are to be spared as far as possible. At the same time, the use of churches as well as common religious services with the civilian population of occupied areas is prohibited. In the occupied eastern areas, the utilization of churches for field pastoral work is forbidden. 15. In occupied areas, even individual soldiers are not allowed to participate in religious celebrations of the civilian populations. IV. 16, The above guidelines apply mutatis mutandis to the Wehrmacht pastoral care in the homeland war area, opposing sentiments are thereby repealed. 88483 The head of the Oberkomandos der Wehrmight. gez. Keitel.