Einsatzgruppen Operational Directives and Execution Reports – 1941 (Barbarossa Files) (Irving File 3H)

This is a compilation of Nazi operational orders, directives, and reports from 1941, focused on the activities of the Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing units) during Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union). It includes:

• Official memoranda, directives and operational instructions for Einsatzgruppen and Einsatzkommandos (security police & SD units).

• Detailed execution reports summarizing mass shootings and killings of Jews, Soviet POWs, communists, partisans, and others deemed “undesirable.”

It is an extensive file (over 700 pages) that includes original German documents, many stamped “Geheime Reichssache!” (Secret Reich Matter).

This file is a primary historical record of genocide planning and execution during Operation Barbarossa. It is stark evidence of how systematically mass killings were organized and bureaucratically recorded by Nazi authorities.

• Disclaimer
• This document contains historical records of extreme violence, state-sponsored genocide, and crimes against humanity, as committed by the Nazi regime during World War II. It includes graphic descriptions, execution statistics, and official orders related to the activities of the Einsatzgruppen and associated entities.
• The material is preserved and presented solely for the purposes of scholarly research, historical documentation, education, and remembrance. Its inclusion in any archive, academic work, or educational platform does not imply endorsement or validation of the ideology, policies, or actions contained within.
• Some content may be disturbing or traumatizing. Reader discretion is strongly advised, particularly for survivors, descendants of victims, and those sensitive to accounts of mass violence and racial persecution.

The archival custodian and any associated institutions reject antisemitism, racism, and all forms of hate, and affirm the importance of confronting and understanding this history to prevent future atrocities.

Condition Note

Legibility:
Overall, the scanned pages are legible and well-aligned. Text is clearly rendered with high contrast. Most typewritten entries and official forms are sharp and readable.

• Completeness:
  The document appears substantially complete, but shows:

  • Some pages partially obscured due to overexposure or edge fading (especially carbon copies).

  • Missing sequences or numbered pages (e.g., pages with placeholders or large gaps in content indexing).

  • Potential loss of original covers or colophons, if present in physical copy.

• Annotations:
  Occasional handwritten notes appear in margins—primarily in Cyrillic script, likely post-war or archival processing. These do not obscure the main content.

• Visual Quality:

  • Diagrams and tables are intact, though some seals and stamped impressions are faint.

  • A few pages contain ghosting or bleed-through from the reverse side, typical of mimeographed WWII-era paper.

• Binding & Structure (Implied):
  The scanned file replicates a multi-section folio format, including cover letters, tables of execution data, typed reports, and directives arranged chronologically.

• Condition: 🟩 Very Good (Digital Surrogate)

  • The PDF is in very good archival condition as a digital copy. Text is mostly clean and stable.

  • Minor image degradation on select pages does not affect overall readability or historical interpretation.

  • Recommended for academic, institutional, or publication use with minimal remediation.