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11 Feb. 46
"I came to know Kronholz during the occupation period, before I became Prime Minister. As far as I can remember, he was brought to me by the Chief of the Gestapo, Dr. Kraus. . . . Then Kronholz insisted that I should accept the proposed post.
"Turner received me in the presence of Dr. Kiesel and said that he authorized me, through General Dankelmann, the German military commander in Serbia, to form an authoritarian government....
"Almost simultaneously with the creation of my government, the Germans established contact with a group of Chetniks under the command of Pecanac, who had until then been hiding In the forests., The contact was also established through the Chief of the Gestapo, Dr. Kraus. Shortly after this, Pecanac arrived in Belgrade, called to see me, and offered his services. That is how my government came to form its first armed units."
A little farther on, in the same minutes, we find the following record of Nedic's testimonies:
"As soon as the formation of my government had been proclaimed at the beginning of September 1941, a delegation with authority from Draga Michailovic called on me to start negotiations."
Nedic enumerates the terms, which are of no interest to us, and then says:
"I, for my part, accepted all these terms and offers. Draga Michailovic received money and the Germans permitted this." This is the end of the quotation.
Still another part of this record seems of importance to me; it concerns Nedic's visit to Hitler and the Defendant Ribbentrop. Nedic stated:
"I noticed that at the meeting with the Defendant Ribbentrop, a demand was made that I should place all the spiritual and material resources of Serbia at the disposal of the German Reich for the continuation of the war."
Speaking of this meeting with Hitler, Nedic stated:
"He shouted at me, emphasizing that the order concerning 100 for one not only would have to be altered, but that it should have been increased to 1000 for one. He added also that he was prepared to exterminate the entire population if the Serbians continued to act like rebels.'' '
Nuremberg Trial Proceedings Vol. 7
FIFTY-SIXTH DAY
Monday, 11 February 1946
Morning Session