Adolf Hitler's directives

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Adolf Hitler's directives, or Führer directives (Führerbefehle), were instructions and strategic plans issued by Adolf Hitler himself over the course of World War II. The directives covered a wide range of subjects, from detailed direction of the Armed Forces' operations during World War II, to the governance of occupied territories and their populations. In addition to being a reflection of his personality and strategic interests, they were also a reflection of the larger philosophy of the Nazi regime.

The directives were absolutely binding and were to be followed to the letter without question. The directives also superseded all other laws in the country, including the Constitution. However, they should not be confused with the Führer's Orders that Hitler began to issue later in the war, which were more precise and low-level, could be written or oral and were as binding as the more general directives.

Many of them are direct evidence of the commission of war crimes^[1] such as the notorious Commando Order. Other orders provide evidence of crimes against humanity, such as the Hitler order establishing forced euthanasia of disabled people in 1939 under Aktion T4, and the Nacht und Nebel order for eliminating civilian resisters in occupied countries.