When was the Commissar Order issued?
The first draft of the Commissar Order appeared on the 6th of May 1941. The final version arrived on the 6th of June 1941.
Questions about Commissar Order
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who issued the Commissar Order and who enforced it?
General Eugen Müller initially issued the order while Walther von Brauchitsch amended it on the 24th of May 1941. Erich von Manstein passed the order to his subordinates who executed all captured commissars under his command.
Why did Hitler cancel the Commissar Order?
Hitler cancelled the order after one year had passed because strategic failures made the harsh tactics counterproductive for Nazi strategy. The cancellation happened on the 6th of May 1942 following repeated appeals from German commanders about resistance growing stronger among Soviet forces.
What legal arguments did Adolf Hitler use regarding the Commissar Order?
Adolf Hitler claimed the Hague Conventions of 1899 and the 1907 conventions were invalid for the war since the Soviet Union had not signed them. He argued that Germany was bound by Article 82 of the Geneva Convention of 1929 but dismissed courts-martial for felonies committed by German troops entirely.
How did the Commissar Order affect Red Army resistance?
When the Commissar Order became known among the Red Army, resistance grew stronger instead of breaking Soviet forces. Claus von Stauffenberg cited this problem during discussions with Hitler as an unwanted effect appearing repeatedly in German appeals.