English Translation

Wehrmacht Plenipotentiary at the Reich Protector and Commander in the Wehrkreis Bohemia and Moravia Prague, 10 May 1943. XIX. Platz der Wehrmascht 5 telephone number 76841 secret. Abt. Ic. No. 723 / 43 g Az. l. Betr.: Czech troops in the Red Army. To the Reichsprotektor in Bohemia and Mähren, z.Hd. des Herrsministers K.H. Frank, Dear Secretary of State! At the request of W BV, the High Command of the Wehrmacht or High Command took the following decisions: 1.) W BV Prague is authorized to provide the Reich Protector with reports on the fighting with Czech legionaries and extracts from prisoners' receptions for the purpose of informing the public. 2.) The Czech prisoners of war are transferred to Prague and are at the disposal of the Reichsprotector for interrogation. A representative of the Wehrmacht is to be added. The prisoners of War remain in Wehrmascht custody. 3.) OKW intends to evaluate the new material obtained by the W BV or Reichsprotected for propaganda purposes abroad. 4.) Enemy information about a successful defense of the Czech legionaries and the considerable losses of the German attackers to humans and tanks are freely invented. At the beginning of March 43 the German troops in the area around Kharkov were under attack, the Soviet forces including the Czech units were thrown back. Three Czech prisoners were made, including a lieutenant, who is to be regarded as defectors. Prisoners have the strength of the Czechoslovak units with 900 - 1000