|
Headquarters Concerns: the treatment of prisoners of war and conduct in occupied territories July 8, 1941 Ordered to bring to the officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers the following: 1. When Soviet units are captured, officers must be immediately separated from soldiers, as well as the Karelians from the Russians. Prisoners must be guarded vigilantly, unnecessary conversations with them are prohibited. 2. If contacts with the local population are necessary, great care must be taken to disclose military secrets. Enemy reconnaissance is actively and skillfully working also on the territory we have occupied. 3. Food, received in the form of trophies, shall be used with caution. It can be poisoned, like wells, for example. In addition, there may be present epidemics in the occupied territories. 4. Eastern Karelians must be treated friendly, but with caution. The Russian population is interned and taken to concentration camps. Russians should not include Russian-speaking people with Finnish and Karelian roots who want to join the Karelian population. 5. Women must be treated impeccable, whatever which groups of the population they belong to. 6. The soldiers must be made aware that the population belongs to the Orthodox religion. Orthodox clergy must be treated tactfully but carefully. Church rituals and church objects of the local population should be treated with respect. 7. Every effort should be made to preserve grain and fodder stocks, as well as livestock. Local food stocks need to be protected. Attempts by the local population, for example, to destroy, hide or steal stocks must be suppress by a firm hand. Agricultural machinery and equipment must be protected from destruction. 8. The combat units must properly demonstrate the dignity of the Finnish warrior, maintaining the requirements of discipline and order in all situations. Commander-in-Chief of Defence Forces Chief of General Staff |