English Translation

19 _A_b_s_c_h_r_i_f_t_.-- Secret! The commander-in-chief of Berlin, 1l.Dec.1939. of the army. No. 6630/39 PA (2) Pa. The hostile propaganda and also the neutral press has already been against the popular theme of the opposition between leaders in the last years. The party and the Wehrmacht (especially the army) have been taken up on a large scale.In these publications, reference is made to alleged statements by German officers. The internal and extra-political damage of such rumors is great.Inwardly, unjustified suspicion receives food,inwardly the German leadership does not appear as uniform and firmly closed as it is necessary in war more than in peace. I know that these rumors are invented in skmu- pellæesterform by the unfriendly foreign country, to which also a large part of the press of neutral states belongs.The reports carry the stamp of the forgery already by the foolish nature of the content on the forehead. I am not sure, however, whether not misverted maintenances in supposedly familiar circles on detours get to personalities, who then carry the meanwhile mostly still disfigured exteriors abroad. Each officer must do his utmost to give such rumors under no circumstances any negation. The often observed need for communication, the addiction to know about things and contexts with which the officer has nothing to do with, and then to carry on this knowledge under the seal of secrecy, must always be combated by each individual. Difficulties, which the war inevitably brings in every field of work, must be overcome by the performance of the personality, if necessary, superiors are presented; but they may not be communicated to wide circles,possibly from the army. To the outside - and this already begins in the own family - there is only one attitude: the firm conviction of the victory of German weapons and complete unanimity over the path leading to this goal. e.g. by Brauchitsch. The Wehrmacht authorized by the Preg, the 10.1.1940. Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia Abbot I cNo. 574/39 go. 4716/39. The above command of Ob.d.H. is to be announced to all officers. For the Wehrmacht authorized officer the chief of the staff.