 He admitted to ordering the execution but said that he could not be held responsible because he was following orders from his superiors.The execution of the prisoners of war in Italy, ordered by Dostler, was an implementation of Adolf Hitler's Commando Order of 1942, which required the immediate execution of all Allied commandos, whether they were in proper uniforms or not, without trial if they were apprehended by German forces.The tribunal rejected the defense of Superior Orders and found Dostler guilty of war crimes.