The molotov notes on german atrocities notes sent by v. m. molotov, people’s commissar for foreign affairs, to all governments with which the u.s.s.r. has diplomatic relations – Published by the Embassy of the U.S.S.R. in London – His Majesty’s Stationery Office, London 1942. Two booklets – Report No. 1 and Report No. 2.
In 1942, Vyacheslav Molotov, the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, sent a series of letters to the governments with which the Soviet Union maintained diplomatic relations, known as the “Molotov Letters on German Atrocities.” These letters document the atrocities committed by Nazi forces in the Soviet-occupied territories during World War II.
The reports detail atrocities committed by German forces, including: mass murder of Soviet civilians and prisoners of war, mass executions such as the massacre of 95,567 people in Kiev, and the destruction of villages and cities: describing operations in which entire villages were destroyed and their inhabitants murdered or burned alive. The reports include testimonies of severe torture and abuse of civilians without distinction of nationality, social status, gender, or age, as well as torture and abuse of prisoners of war. The reports were intended to inform the international community of the atrocities committed by the Nazis in the Soviet territories and to rally support for the fight against Nazi Germany. They also served as a basis for future prosecutions against war criminals.
Among other things, the report details the “Twelve Nazi Commandments” – a manual found in the clothing of many German officers, titled: “Twelve Commandments on the Behavior of Germans in the East and Their Attitude Toward Russians” – containing explicit instructions to act with unrestrained cruelty: “Since the occupied territories must be secured permanently for Germany, you must understand that you are representatives of Greater Germany and the New Europe. Therefore, you must carry out with honor even the most brutal and cruel measures dictated by German interests…”. The report describes how this directive was implemented through mass executions in Taganrog and other cities, the abuse of helpless children, the use of the civilian population for clearing mines from German attack routes resulting in their death by explosions, public humiliation of “members of inferior races, ” the erection of gallows for the hanging of collaborators while forcing the entire population to witness the horrific spectacle, German tanks crushing Red Army soldiers to death, systematic starvation, and more.
The reports were published by the Embassy of the Soviet Union in London and distributed through His Majesty’s Stationery Office. They were circulated to governments and international bodies to raise awareness of the atrocities occurring in Eastern Europe. This is a complete documentation of the war crimes committed by the Nazis in the Soviet territories, revealing for the first time the scale of atrocities perpetrated against innocent civilians during the war. The report concludes with Vyacheslav’s statement: “All these facts represent an outrageous violation by the German Government of the fundamental principles and regulations of international law and of the international agreement signed by representatives of Germany itself. By bringing these horrific facts to the attention of all the countries with which the Soviet Union maintains diplomatic relations, the Government of the Soviet Union consciously protests before the whole world against the barbaric violation by the German Government of the basic rules of international law. The Government of the Soviet Union protests in outrage against the cruel treatment by the German authorities of Red Army prisoners, a treatment that violates the most basic principles of human morality. It places full responsibility for these inhuman acts of the German military and civil authorities on the criminal Hitlerite government.”
Booklet No. 1: 20 pages.
Booklet No. 2: 26 pages.
Ex-library copies. Both booklets in good – very good condition.
