the soviet partisan movement 1941-1944 by edgar m. howell

EARLY RUSSIAN RESISTANCE AND GERMAN COUNTERMEASURES 55
Laxity in the Rear
The lack of general security consciousness in all the German units
heavily accentuated the shortcomings of the security units and made their
work increasingly more difficult. The XXXIII Panzer Corps
admitted that its troops were "too softhearted and trusting" toward the
indigenous population and that as far as 13-14 miles behind the front
lines suspicious individuals continually roamed the highways without
check.'' Officers often demonstrated extreme carelessness regarding
the protection of troop installations. 53
Passes and identification papers were continually counterfeited and
successfully used. 54 A number of captured partisans obtained safe conduct
passes from local administrative commanders merely by stating that
they were liberated Soviet political prisoners. 55 The political commissar
of the 1st Partisan Regiment reported to Moscow: "Several of
our partisans, when captured by the Germans, identified themselves as
escapees from the Russian regime or prisons. After obtaining identification
papers from the German headquarteis in Yemilchino in this manner,
they reconnoitered the area and returned to the Russian lines." 56
Legal identification papers were issued civilians without termination
dates which made it easy for irregulars to use them in carrying on their
activities for long periods of time without hindrance; partisan reconnaissance
missions became more uniformly successful and messenger
service improved when it was discovered that Nazi troops would not stop
or harm elderly, well-dressed people. 57 Even after considerable casualties,
single vehicles continued on the road and German soldiers still
roamed the countryside alone or in groups of only two or three, a condition
not ordered corrected until late in September. Even then, convoys
continued to travel at night when they were more vulnerable to partisan
action. 58 Considerable trust was placed in village elders and mayors
who were often informed of impending antipartisan operations and as
often passed the information along to irregular groups. The elders were
entrusted with the task of collecting all firearms from the people under
their jurisdiction and only after some time was it discovered that while
52
Bericht, XXXXIII Pz Corps, Ic, 29.IX.41., Anl. z. KTB, 112 Inf. Div.
19643/24.
53
Gen.St.d.H./Ausb. Abt., Nr. 2200/41 geh., 22.IX.41., Anl. z. KTB, H. Geb.
Nord. 14768/3.
54
H. Geb. Nord. Nr. 153/41, q.VIII.41. 14768/5; AOK 18, OQu KTB, 3.VI.-
8.X.41., Anl. 11a, quoting AOK l8, Ic, Nr. 1047/41, 31.VIII.41. 13787/20; H.
Geb. Mitte Nr. 51/41, 11.IX.41., in Tgb., Ic, H. Geb. Sued, KTB 1, l.IX.-31.XII.41.,
Teil 3. 16407/18.
55
Anl. z. KTB, Wi Stab Qst, 16.IX-30.IX.41. Wi/ID 2.345.
56
Tgb., Ic, XXX Corps, 7.X.41. Himmler collection, footlocker 57, folder 15.
57
KTB, 281 Sich. Div., 24.XI.41. 15954/2; Tgb., Ic, H. Geb. Sued, Okt 41, Teil
3 z. KTB 1, H. Geb. Sued, I .IX.-31 .XII.41. 16407/18.
58
KTB, 281 Sich. Div., 19.IX.41. 15954/2.