I called Obersturmbannführer Hermann, the replacement for Dr. Müller, who had left the week before, and explained the matter to him: Bierkamp was arriving within the hour, he told me, and invited me to come down to the Kommando. Bierkamp already knew: “That’s absolutely inadmissible!” he shouted. “The Wehrmacht is really going too far. Protecting Jews is a direct violation of the will of the Führer.”—“If you will allow me, Oberführer, I thought I understood that the Wehrmacht was not convinced that these people should be considered Jews. If it is demonstrated that they are, the OKHG should not have any objections to the SP proceeding with the necessary measures.” Bierkamp shrugged his shoulders: “You are naïve, Hauptsturmführer. The Wehrmacht will demonstrate what it wants to demonstrate. This is nothing but one more pretext to oppose the work of the Sicherheitspolizei.”—“Excuse me,” interrupted Hermann, a man with delicate features and a severe but rather dreamy aspect, “have we already had similar cases?”—“To my knowledge,” I replied, “only individual cases. We’ll have to check.”—“That’s not all,” Bierkamp added. “The OKHG wrote to me that according to Shadov we have liquidated an entire village of these Bergjuden near Mozdok. They’re asking me to send them a report justifying it.” Hermann seemed to be having trouble following. “Is it true?” I asked.—“Listen, if you think I know the list of our actions by heart…I’ll ask Sturmbannführer Persterer, that must be his sector.”—“Anyway,” Hermann said, “if they were Jews, he can’t be reproached for anything.”—“You don’t know the Wehrmacht here yet, Obersturmbannführer. They’ll take any chance they can get to pick a quarrel with us.”—“What does Brigadeführer Korsemann think?” I hazarded. Bierkamp shrugged his shoulders again. “The Brigadeführer says we shouldn’t stir up useless friction with the Wehrmacht. That’s his obsession, now.”—“We could launch a counterassessment,” Hermann suggested.—“That’s a good idea,” Bierkamp said. “Hauptsturmführer, what do you think?”—“The SS has ample documentation on the subject,” I replied. “And of course, if we have to, we can have our own experts come.” Bierkamp shook his head. “If I am not mistaken, Hauptsturmführer, you carried out some research on the Caucasus for my predecessor?” “That is correct, Oberführer. But it didn’t exactly concern these Bergjuden.”—“Yes, but at least you already know the documentation. And it’s obvious from your reports that you understand these nationality questions. Could you take charge of this question for us? Centralize all the information and prepare our replies to the Wehrmacht. I’ll write you a mission order to show them. Of course, you will consult with me, or with Dr. Leetsch, at every stage.”—“Zu Befehl, Oberführer. I’ll do my best.”—“Fine. And, Hauptsturmführer?”—“Yes, Oberführer?”—“In your research, not too much theory, all right? Try not to lose sight of the interests of the SP.”—“Zu Befehl, Oberführer.”
