Page 90]
DOCUMENT TO Case 020
Court of the 79th Division
Reserve Auxiliary List, no. 88/41
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 15 August 1941
Field post number 16089
Present: 1) martial court advisor Kurh as examining magistrate
2) Corporal Schumach as Recording Secretary
In response to an order, the following persons appeared as witnesses or experts:
The appearing persons were familiarized with the object of the interrogation and the significance of the oath to be sworn. In this regard, they were interrogated as follows, both individually and in the presence of the witnesses to be interrogated later.
ONE Witness and expert. Dr. Stankeit
My name is Dr. Emil Stankeit, I am44 years old, of the Catholic faith, Surgeon Major, regimental physician with the 208th regiment, and answer the other credibility questions in the negative.
I declare to the object of my interrogation:
During the night of 30 June - 1 July 1941, the fortification of Skomorochy, approximately 8-10 km north of Sokal on the Bug, which had already been overrun by other units before, was searched and mopped up by the 1st Infantry Regiment 208, under First Lieutenant Dietrich, the 13th (J.G.) [?] Infantry Regiment 208, under First Lieutenant Jordan, and the 14th Anti-Tank Company, 208th Infantry Regiment, under Lieutenant Augustin.
Early on 1 July 1941, about 5:00 A.M. I received the order from the 208th Regiment to make a detailed investigation of the mutilations of German soldiers which had been become known there. For that purpose I visited the scene, together with Second Lieutenant (Medical Corps) and Medical Orderly Feldwebel Muller, I visited the Skomororochy fortifications, and made the following discoveries there in the early hours of the morning:
II. Expert report:
The examination showed that all bodies, with the exception of Corporal P. in addition to their wounds -- which would have been fatal in themselves -- also exhibited injuries which could only have been caused by mutilation. Whether the mutilations were inflicted before or after death
Page 91]
could not [?] be determined with certainty. That the mutilations were inflicted before death is indicated by the fact that severe bleeding was discernible from the eye sockets in all cases. The wounded or dead men were presumably dragged from the site where they had been wounded, and only then mutilated, as indicated by the fact that no pools of blood from the wounds were found at the scene. The bodies had lain where they were found for approximately 2-3 days in the described condition.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed Dr. Emil Stankeit.
The oath was administered to the witnesses and experts by Captain (Medical Corps) Dr. Stankeit according to Section 32 of the Criminal Code.
2nd witness: Medical NCO Wendler
My name is Georg Wendler, I am 23 years old, of Evangelical faith, Medical NCO, Ist Battalion, 208th Infantry Regiment, answer the other credibility questions in the negative.
I declare the following to the subject of interrogation:
I made the same findings on the scene as Captain (Medical Corps) Dr. Stankeit.
After reading the testimony of the Captain (Medical Corps) Dr. Stankeit under paragraph [Ziffer] I, the witness, declare:
This information is correct, I make the same an integral part of my interrogation.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed Georg Wendler
The witness was legally sworn.
3rd witness: Medical orderly Feldwebel Muller.
My name is Wilhelm Müller, I am 28 years old, of Evangelical faith, Medical Orderly, Feldwebel, Staff of the 208th Infantry Regiment, I answer the other credibility questions in the negative.
I declare the following as to the subject of my interrogation.
Surgeon Major Dr. Stankeit informed me of findings made by us together on the site.
After reading of the testimony of the Captain (Medical Corps) Dr. Stankeit under paragraph [Ziffer] I, the witness, declare as follows:
The above information is correct, and is to be included in the body my interrogation.
Read out, approved and signed Wilh. Müller
The witness was properly sworn.
Signed Kurh, Judge Advocate, Certified: Secretary.
Case 021
Near Sobrasl, on 28 June 1941, the bodies of approximately twenty severely mutilated German soldiers were found, after being wounded in combat and attempting to bandage themselves with their field pack bandages, but were then captured by the Russians. Some of these wounded German soldiers had their eyes poked out, one of them was castrated, and, others were stabbed to death with their own bayonets.
Case 022
On 28 June 1941, Gunner K. was wounded in battle near Lemiezow. During an enemy advance, he was captured together with other German soldiers. While the captives were being taken away, it was found that Gunner K, as a result of his wound, was no longer able to walk. A Russian told the wounded man to lie down. Immediately afterwards, his comrades saw a Russian approach the wounded man and fire two shots at him from his pistol. K died as a result of these shots. The Russians also later pointed their weapons at the other POWs when they expected to have to withdraw as the result of a German attack.
Page 92]
Several of the other prisoners were killed by gun shots or hand grenades.
Case 023
On 28 June 1941, north of Bialystok, at least eighteen wounded German soldiers who had been left behind by retreating German troops were murdered by Russian troops by means of gunshot wounds to the head, blows with cudgels, and stab wounds with their own bayonets.
Case 024
In the fighting near Mosty and Rozanka on 27 June 1941, four German officers and soldiers who fell into Russian hands in a wounded and defenseless condition were also cruelly murdered. Proof of this was provided, not only by members of the German unit involved, but by Russian or Polish civilians who were eyewitnesses to these events. Russian POWs from the 20th Infantry Regiment, opposite the German 7th Infantry Regiment, explained to Lieutenant Radeck that they had received an order to shoot all captured or wounded German soldiers. This order had been obeyed.
The farmer Stefan Bawinski, according to his sworn statement, had seen two German soldiers being led to a high-ranking Russian officer with their hands tied and crossed behind their backs, after which the officer shot them at point-blank range, one after another, with three shots each, each time walking away about ten meters, then approaching once again and firing another shot. These torments were witnessed by a great many high and low-ranking officers, including a major and commissar. As the German soldiers fell to the ground, all the Russians nearby, including the officers, stomped on them with their boots.
Case 025
The tragic death of the four German fliers is reported in the record on the examination of the bodies dated 5 July 1941. The record shows that the four German fliers, most of whom were obviously seriously injured during their emergency landing, but who had succeeded in bandaging each other in a provisional manner, were then captured by the Russians, cruelly mistreated and then shot by the Russians in Drohobycz. One of these four fliers bore a provisional splint on the left leg, while another bore a so-called Kramer splint on the broken upper arm. The field pack bandage wrapped around the arm was German. Both his thighs had been provisionally splinted with box slats, the bandages around his thighs were also German. All four, including the most seriously injured, had had their hands tied behind their backs.
Page 93]
All four fliers were killed by the Russians by means of gunshots to the back of the head. Two of them had also suffered other wounds.
Case 026
On 29 June 1941, two German dispatch riders attempting to bring assistance to the wounded Gefreiter H. fell into the hands of the Russians and were killed south of the Luck-Rowno road. The defenseless three dispatch riders had had their mouths and noses filled with a sticky sawdust-type of mass, obviously to prevent them from calling for help. The record on the expert medical opinions of the Surgeon Major Dr. Kelyser contains exact detailed descriptions of the condition of the three dead men.
Document to Case 026
Court of the 14th Tank Division
Local Bivouac, 17 August 1941
Present:
Judge Advocate Herrmann, acting judge
Gefreiter Sauer as Recording Secretary
In response to an order, Surgeon Major Dr. Kleyser appeared, and declared as follows after being informed of the liabilities imposed by oath:
As to my person: My name is Dr. Hermann Kleyser, I am 30 years old, of the Evangelical faith, presently Surgeon Major with the IInd Battalion 108th Rifle Regiment.
As to the facts: On 29. July 1941 the IInd Battalion 108th Rifle Regiment had the mission of combing a forested area 10 km south east of Luck, immediately south of the big Luck Rowno road, and securing the same after reaching the eastern and southern edge of it. In the early hours of the afternoon the companies involved, the 6th Rifle Regiment 108 and the 5th Company, 108th Rifle Regiment, attempted to make contact with each other by means of Dispatch rider. When the dispatch riders didn’t return to their Company, after a few hours, the Captain Chief of the 8th Company, sent out a reconnaissance troop, who found the three Company, dispatch riders, Gefreiter H. Gefreiter E and Gefreiter M, approximately in the middle of the forest, together with Gefreiter H. dispatch rider of the 6th Company, 108th Rifle Regiment. The dead men were taken to the Company, command post of the 8th Company, at the southern end of the forest. There an autopsy was performed by myself on 29 July 1941, at approximately 6 o’clock in the evening. This resulted in the following findings:
The same observations were made on all 4 dead men:
Gefreiter H. 8th Company, 108th Rifle Regiment: shot in the heart: entry wounds over the sternum at the height of the 4th costal interstice. Exit wound beneath the tip of the left shoulder blade (pistol).
Head-shots: gunshot entry wound above the attachment of the right ear (pistol).
Head shots: gunshot entry wound above the right cheek bone (pistol).
Stab wound with large weapon, running from the left side of the neck at the height of the edge of the upper larynx to the corner of the right jaw, with very ragged edges to the wound, with a dessication of folds of skin (wound opening approximately 5 to 6 cm). This wound appears only to have inflicted after death, since there was no indication of bleeding.
Gefreiter E. 8th Company, 108th Rifle Regiment: shot through the heart: entry wound approximately 0.75 cm in 4th costal interstice right next to the sternum, no exit wound (pistol).
Gunshot wound to head: gunshot entry wound above left temple, exit wound the distance of a good 5-Mark piece above large crushing wound beneath the outer corner of the right eye (pistol).
Page 94]
Gefreiter Me 8th Company, 108th Rifle Regiment: bullet wound to rear abdomen, entry wound beneath the tip of the right shoulder blade, exit wound approximately 12 cm above umbilicus, shifted approximately 6 cm to the left. Wound a hand’s breadth wide with prolapse of the omentum and loop of the small intestine.
Throat shot: Entry wound under corner of left jaw, exit wound under the tip of the right clavicle (pistol).
Gefreiter H. 6th Company, 108th Rifle Regiment: Through and through gunshot wound to right thigh, entry wound on the right-hand side. This was bandaged with severely blood-drenched German field pack bandages. He had obviously bandaged himself, before falling into the hands of the Russians (Infantry artillery fire). Wound to abdomen, right, above the umbilicus. Infantry projectile projecting somewhat from the abdominal wall.
Gunshot wound in face, entry wound right above the right cheek bone. The exit wound exhibited a wound 6 cm long 2 cm wide, leading from Cheek bone to the lower jaw.
The first body I examined was that of Leading Aircraftman (Luftwaffe) [Obergefreiter] H. I established that the mouth and nostrils had been filled with a sticky, ligneous mass. The comrades who found the body indicated, in reply to my question as to whether or not he had been lying on his stomach or with his head in the swamp, stated that they had found him lying on his back. When I found the next dead man with his mouth and nostrils filled in the same manner with the same above described mass and the comrades referred to it, they remembered seeing rotten tree parts immediately next to the site where the bodies were found, which were, in color and consistency, similar to that found in the upper respiratory tract of the dead men. This mass had obviously been stuffed into the mouths of the dead men while they were still alive, to prevent them from calling for help. This is indicated by the fact that the mass, as a result of coughing and irritation to the nasal passages, had been driven further inwards, and were also found distributed in the nasal passages. Another remarkable fact that the gunshot wounds causing death and observed on the dead men were fired from point-blank range. There were mainly shots to the heart and head. The edges of the gunshot entry wounds or the articles of clothing were blackened with gunpowder deposits. In one case, on Leading Aircraftman (Luftwaffe) [Obergefreiter] H. who had traversed the forest, a large stab wound to the throat was also found, which obviously must have been inflicted after death, since there was no evidence of bleeding, despite the injuries to the throat vessels. Gefreiter H, who was the only dispatch rider to have traversed the forest with the 6th Rifle Regiment, exhibited a through and through long-distance wound (infantry shell) through the right thigh. He had obviously bandaged this wound himself, as it was bandaged with severely blood-drenched field pack bandage, before he fell into enemy hands. It is assumed that H. while traversing the forest, was fired upon, and was initially able to conceal himself from the Russians and was later captured by the Russians, with three comrades from the 8th Company, who may have stopped upon hearing his cried for help. In the evening, a few Russian vehicles were observed breaking out of the forest by the 8th Rifle Regiment. In following them, a few dead and wounded fell into the hands of the 8th Company, in whose pockets a wrist watch, a pencil case, with pen holder, automatic pencil and amateur photographs, were found, later identified as having belonged to some of the murdered men. The wounded Russians no doubt included the murderers of the 4th Battalion. I believe I remember hearing from the wounded Russians we captured that, among the 30 to 40 Russians who still remained in the forest, there was one commissar.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed Dr. Kleyser, Surgeon Major
Surgeon Major Dr. Kleyser was properly sworn.
Signed Herrmann, signed Sauer, Certified: Secretary.
Case 027
Lieutenant Czaplinski of the 206th Anti-Tank Division reports the following on another case of bestial cruelty of Russian troops against German soldiers:
“On 29 June 1941, a fire-fight occurred between a German advance division, including the third platoon of my Company, under the leadership of the Stabsfeldwebel Marquardt, and a Russian division near the locality of Mitkiskes, south west of Vilna. During the fire-fight, twelve members
Page 95]
of the third platoon were found to be missing. In addition, the 206th Reconnaissance Squadron, which also belonged to the advance division, also had two men missing. On 1 July, we found, in searching the battle field, one of our soldiers, whose own bayonet been stuck into his buttock up to the handle. We also found, on the same day the Leading Aircraftman (Luftwaffe) [Obergefreiter] G. who had been wounded with a shot in the leg, and who had several bayonet stab wounds in the chest. The body also exhibited cutting wounds to the wrists. Another German soldier, whose identity we were unable to determine, was tied to a tree. The skull had obviously been split open with an axe. Two days later, that is, on 3 July, approximately three kilometers west of Mitkiskes, off the battlefield, we found the bodies of our missing comrades, who had all been covered with earth. Russian local residents and an official of the Heimat vehicle fleet showed us the place. Based on the pay books and identity tags, we could determine the identity of the dead, who had been mutilated beyond recognition. Corporal Sch had obviously been buried alive, since the body showed no exterior wounds, but was blue all over. Corporal K had his entire chest ripped open. Rifleman F. was missing the upper part of his head, while Rifleman W had had his entire head smashed flat, Gefreiter 2n D had part of the head smashed away, and one soldier from the reconnaissance squadron was completely lacking his chin. The bodies of Riflemen K and W also exhibited severe cranial injuries, which were doubtless inflicted with blows with hard objects. Gefreiter H had had obviously had his eye poked out with a sharp object. Almost all the dead men had bayonet wounds in the chest, some had multiple fractures to the arms. That the comrades might have been honorably killed in battle is impossible, since the horrible mutilations indicate, beyond doubt, that they were bestially murdered. This is revealed, most significantly, by the fact that we didn’t find the bodies on the battlefield, but rather, some distance away. I assume that a higher-ranking staff had been located here, since we found a radio device, telephone lines and writing booth material lying around.
Any doubt as to the identity of the dead must be rule out, since it has been determined with the greatest exactitude based on pay books and identity tags.
Case 028
In the night of 28th - 29th June 1941, an anti-tank platoon was compelled to take evasive action due to overwhelming Russian superiority. In so doing, a severely wounded soldier who, at first could not be found, was left behind. On the next day, he was found in a rifle pit. The testimonies in this regard are as follows:
Court of the 111th Infantry Division
Divisional Staff Headquarters 30 September 1941
DOCUMENTS TO Case 028
Present:
Judge Advocate, Dr. Wimmer, acting judge
Corporal Roschy, Recording Secretary
There appeared Lieutenant Georg Klümpel,1st Company, 111th Anti-Tank Division, born 12 July 1914, and stated as follows:
During the night of 28-29 June 1941 I led the 3rd platoon of the 1st Company, 111st Anti-Tank [Division] near Dubno. We then had to withdraw due to the overwhelming superiority of a Russian tank attack, with the exception of the severely wounded Z, whom we could not find. He was at an artillery emplacement which had received a direct hit. On the evening of the 29 June, we were advancing again to retrieve the artillery gun and, on the morning of 30 June we found Z, in a rifle pit almost as deep as a man. The dead man’s thigh had been torn off by a grenade fragment. A reconnaissance troop which had been sent forward during the afternoon under Feldwebel Buchold was unable to retrieve either Z or the artillery gun. When we found Z in the early hours of the morning of 30 June, in addition to serious wounds to the thigh, the right half of his face had been split in half with an axe other sharp object, and the forehead had been crushed inwards with a blunt object or the heel of a boot. The corpse also exhibited a through-and-through bullet wound to the left hand. It must therefore be assumed
Page 96]
that the severely wounded man had lain in the rifle pit and was murdered by the Russians while he was bandaged and unable to defend himself. Z must have been bandaged by third parties, since he would have been unable to bandage himself since the thigh was completely severed. On the other hand, the other wounds were not bandaged. The thigh had been bandaged to keep him from bleeding to death. The Hitler Youth insignia which he wore had been violently torn off of the left breast pocket. The rifle pit was so deep and undamaged that the already seriously wounded man could not have been struck by grenades or rifle or machine gun fire in the rifle pit, but, rather, must have been murdered by the Russians.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Klümpel Lt.
The witness was legally sworn.
Signed Dr. Wimmer, signed Roscher, Certified: Ministerial Registrar.
Court martial of the 111th Infantry Division
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 30 September 1941
General List-41
Present:
Judge Advocate Dr. Wimmer, acting judge
Corporal Roschy, Recording Secretary.
There appeared Captain Fritz Heinrich Musculus, born 8.October 1899, 1st Company, 3rd Anti-Tank Division, and testified as follows:
During the night of 28th - 29th June 1941, my 3rd platoon of the 1st Company, headed by myself at that time, had to withdraw after a fire fight with Russian tanks southwest of Dubno. The platoon leader Lt. Klünpel [sic] reported to me that Rifleman Z of the 1st Company was seriously wounded. The Company, advanced again towards morning, in order to defend itself against renewed tank attacks. The fire-fights ended on the afternoon of the 29th, at which time it was reported to me that the seriously wounded Z had been left behind in a rifle pit near Palestyna (northern exit from the village) during the night between the 28th and the 29th of June. His left lower leg was said to have been shattered by grenade fragments. He was said to have been bandaged and cared for and left in the rifle pit, since it was impossible to take him away with them, due to the advancing Russian tanks. At this point, I ordered a reconnaissance troop under the leadership of Feldwebel Buchhold to rescue Z in the late afternoon of the 29th June. But they couldn’t reach him. On the very early morning of the 30th, it was reported to me that they had found him dead, the right side of his face split in half by a blow with a an axe, or a similar heavy sharp object, and the forehead crushed by blows with a blunt object or the heel of a boot. The body was brought to me and I convinced myself of the condition described to me. In addition there was also a through and through bullet wound in the left hand. According to this the seriously wounded Rifleman Z must have concealed himself in the rifle pit and been murdered by the Russians in a condition unable to fight. The Hitler Youth insignia which we wore had been violently torn out off his breast pocket and taken away. I reported this event to the division. The committee consisting of the Divisional Physician and the Judge Advocate, established in my presence on the next day that the rifle pit in which Rifleman A had concealed himself was so deep and undamaged that he could neither be hit by rifle or machine gun fire or grenades, and that he must have been murdered in the hole.
During this investigation, the body of the Gefreiter P. from the 14th Company, 117th Infantry Regiment was found, who had four large stab wounds, all the same size, in both thighs; the left testicle was injured, and there was a dent on the right side of the forehead, the size of a five-Mark piece, caused either by a blow with a cudgel or by a kick with the heel of a boot. It was therefore obviously had not therefore been put out of action in the manner normal in combat but was rather murdered. The man was either already out of action due to the blow on the forehead or after the bayonet stab wound. As a result, either the additional bayonet wounds or the blow with the cudgel or the kick on the forehead were inflicted upon the already seriously wounded man in order to kill him.
Both dead men were buried on the evening of the 30th June in the Ukrainian cemetery in Dubno.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed Musculus, Captain.
The witness was legally sworn.
Signed: Dr. Wimmer. Signed Roschy. Certified: Ministerial Registrar
Page 97]
Rifleman Z fell into the hands of the Russians in a seriously wounded condition. On the next day, he was found in a rifle pit. The right side of his face was split by a blow with an axe or the like, the forehead crush by a blunt object or the heel of a boot.
Page 98]
Court of the 111th Infantry Division
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 30 Sept 41
Present :
Judge Advocate Dr.Wimmer, acting judge
Corporal Roschy, recording secretary.
There appeared the Feldwebel Kurt Buchold, born 19 May 1914, 1st Company, 111th Anti-Tank Division, unmarried, and states as follows:
When darkness fell on the afternoon of the 28th June during the tank attack on Dubno, an artillery piece received direct hit and we had to withdraw. Rifleman Z was missing. A reconnaissance troop was sent out in the afternoon for the purpose of rescuing the artillery piece as well as Rifleman Z. But we could not retrieve the artillery piece and we could not find Z. We found Z 15-20 km away from the artillery gun, in a rifle pit almost as deep as a man is high. A grenade fragment had smashed his thigh. This severe wound had been carefully bandaged, and the thigh bound to prevent him from bleeding to death. It may further be assumed, and this is also heard from comrades from my platoon whose names I am unable to give, however, that infantrymen had bandaged Z and had laid him in the rifle pit. Our people were also there when he was being bandaged. When he found Z, he was dead. The right side of his face had been split and the forehead crushed by blows, presumably with a rifle butt. In addition, he had a bullet wound in the left hand. Accordingly, the seriously wounded man, concealed in the rifle pit, must have been murdered by the Russians in a condition unable to fight. The hole was so deep and undamaged that he could not have been by grenades, or by rifle or machine gun fire there. The Hitler Youth insignia that we wore had been violently torn off the left breast pocket and taken away.
Gefreiter P was at an anti-tank gun of the 14th Company, 117th Infantry Regiment, and I saw how a grenade hit the ground just in front of the artillery gun, damaging the artillery gun. I saw Rifleman P fall down over the cross beam of the artillery piece, and I heard him call for a medic. His comrades had to withdraw before the Russians. When we retrieved Z, we also found Rifleman P. He had been mutilated as described by Captain Musculus in his testimony today, which was read out to me. I made a photograph of Rifleman P, which I have handed over.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed Buchold, Feldwebel
The witness was legally sworn.
Signed Dr. Wimmer. Signed Roschy, Certified: Ministerial Registrar
Court martial, 111th Division
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 30 September 1941
Relating to the mutilation of German wounded
The man was either already unable to fight after the blow on the forehead or after the first bayonet stab wounds. As a result, the seriously wounded men suffered either the additional bayonet stab wounds or the blows with the cudgel or kick on the forehead in order to kill him when he were already seriously wounded.
Signed Dr. Wimmer, Judge Advocate, signed Dr. Schwarz, Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps). Signed: Kothe, Corporal.
Page 99]
Medical findings of the Divisional Physician
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 30 September 1941
Skull in the region of the frontal bone severely crushed inwards, the wound being the diameter of the palm of one’s hand. The skin in this region is completely unwounded. All bones of the skull in the region crushed. Deep wound right side of face, penetrating to the vertebrae of the neck; upper jaw completely crushed on the right side. The wound begins on the outside of the right cheek bones, quite flat, and gradually goes downward deeper. The edges of the wound in the upper section are completely smooth, and bright red for the width of 1 mm. The lower jawbones exhibited a completely smooth area of separation, gaping open approximately 5 cm. The upper jaw is completely fractured, approximately in the middle, the right half is flapped upwards and projects approximately 3 cm [outwards] in front.
The left lower leg is cut through below the knee, and hangs only by a piece of skin. The wound is completely torn and ragged in the lower part, and continues on the outer side upwards approximately 6 cm. Approximately 4 cm above this wound an entry wound about the size of a penny.
The left lower arm, approximately 3 cm above the wrist, exhibits a smooth through-and-through bullet wound about 8 mm diameter.
2nd Chief Rifleman 2 P, 14th Company, 117 Rifle Regiment, identity tag: 1st Company, 31st Anti-Tank Infantry Division [?], 31 no. 808.
Right side of frontal bone smashed in, impression about the size of a 5-Mark piece. The skin above it shows in the middle a quite superficial abrasion about 1 cm wide.
On the left knee, as well as on the inner side of the left thigh, in addition to the front side of the right thigh, slightly ragged wounds. The left testicle is wounded.
The wounds are all approximately of the same size, about 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. According to the findings, these are probably bayonet stab wounds.
Signed Dr. Schwarz, Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps)
Divisional Field Headquarters, 1 October 1941
The divisional physician Dr. Schwarz, born on 30 August 1898, Staff of the 11th Infantry Division, states as follows:
Above medical findings correspond to the truth.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed Dr. Schwarz
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 1 October 1941
Sworn as expert according to Section 32 of the Military Criminal Code.
Signed Dr. Wimmer, Judge Advocate, Certified: Ministerial Registrar.
Case 029
The annex provides renewed proof of the murder according to orders of German POWs by Russian troops. The Russian POW Alexander Bonder declares in this record to have seen personally, how, during a German attack on 29 or 30 June 1941, near Swiniuchy, a young political commissar shot three defenseless German soldiers lying on the ground with his pistol. The commissar is said to have fired about two or three rounds at point-blank range at each of the German soldiers.
Bonder further declares that the political commissar had ordered, in front of the assembled Russian troops, that unwounded POWs were to be shot immediately in the event of a
withdrawal, while the wounded POWs were to left to their fate.
Page 100]
DOCUMENT TO Case 029
79th Infantry Division Divisional Command Post, Horochow, 3 July 41
Third General Staff Officer [Ic]
Interrogation of Russian POW Alexander Bonder, 19 years of age, a Ukrainian from the Harkow district, a soldier for 6 months with the 622nd Infantry Regiment. Bonder testified as follows:
“During a German attack on the 29 or 30 June, near Swiniuchy, I saw a young political commissar shoot three wounded, unarmed German soldiers, lying on the ground, with his pistol. The Commissar fired 2-3 shots at point-blank range at each German soldier. The name [of the Commissar] is unknown to me. It must, however, be assumed that the Commissar is still in the forests near Swiniuchy, Horytnitza, etc.
“The political commissars assembled all the Red Army soldiers and instructed us that, in the event of withdrawal, non-wounded German prisoners were to be shot immediately, while wounded prisoners were to be left to their fate.”
Read out through an interpreter, approved and signed. Signed: signature.
As witnesses: Signed: signature, Captain and Third General Staff Officer of the 79th Division.
Signed signature. Lieutenant O3 of the 79th Division, interpreter. Authenticated: Secretary.
Case 030
A Soviet mass murder of unarmed German POWs, is described in the records of 1 and 12 July, as well as those of 12 August 1941.
”During a Russian advance of greatly superior strength in the vicinity of Rowno on 30 June 1941, a large number of men from the 35th Infantry Regiment, mostly detachments from the 5th, 6th and 7th Companies, were captured after being completely surrounded by the Russians on the Klewan-Broniki road. At the order of the Russians, the prisoners had to surrender all their equipment and undress down to the boots, field jacket, shirt and (sometimes) even their socks. The wounded, lying in ditches along the road, were killed by the Russians, chiefly by pistol or rifle shots from close range. The other prisoners were divided into groups, led to a small meadow, and murdered there.
“The summary description drawn up by Judge Advocate Schulze-Krantz on 12 August 1941, based on a visit to the scene, indicates that the Russians had arbitrarily killed a total of least 130 German POWs after the battle, including numerous wounded, in violation of international law, in a manner particularly bestial, even for the Russians.”
Documents to Case 030
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division 1 July 1941
In the presence of:
There appeared Josef Stehle, born 15 December 1920 in Irrendorf, district of Tuttlingen, soldier with the 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment. Warned to speak the truth and informed that his statements were to be sworn, Stehle testified as follows:
“Yesterday evening, our 5th and 6th Companies attacked a locality on the road along the line of advance. The name of the locality is unknown to me, but it is about 10 km northeast of Rowno. The 7th Company, to which I belong, was in reserve. The enemy was too strong and both companies withdrew early today.
Page 101]
The 7th Company, received an order to secure a part of the wood diagonally left of the road along the line of advance. We had to dig in, but no Russian attack followed. At about 13 hours we received an order to withdraw. Our entire Company, then withdrew along the road of the line of advance, together with sections of the 5th and 6th Company. We gradually came under fire from both sides of the road. We broke through about 2 km away. The hostile fire, however, increased in strength and we had numerous dead and wounded. Suddenly, a division of Russians, amounting to approximately 200-300 men, attacked us from a grain field. We were taken prisoner after heavy fighting.
“The Russians indicated to us by means of hand gestures that we were to take off our jackets, boots, shirts and belted accessories. These were thrown into the roadside ditch. We were left wearing only our trousers and underclothing on. One comrade, only slightly wounded, was unable to move quickly enough, and was stabbed with bayonets or shot with pistols; another comrade was beaten to death with a rifle. There may have been 5-6 of them. We were then led off the road into a field of clover. 15 men from the right flank were lined up to the right. The Russians immediately opened fire on these men with rifles. Shortly afterwards, the rest, approximately 140 men, including myself, were also fired upon. At this point, with a few comrades, I ran away in the direction of our advance by vehicle. We were shot at with rifles, machine guns, and, later, even artillery. After about 4-5 km, a truck found us and picked us up, as we were dressed in just underclothing and trousers.
“I don’t know what happened to the rest.”
Read out, approved and sworn, Signed: Josef Stehle, Signed: Dr. Wagner, Signed: Döss, authenticated: Secretary.
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division 1 July 1941
Present:
There appeared the rifleman Michael Beer, 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment and declared as follows, after being informed of the seriousness and sanctity of the oath.
“As to my person: my name is Michael Beer, I am 21 years old, of the Catholic faith, a rifleman with the 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: On 1 July, the Company, received the order to evacuate the position near Klewan and withdraw along the Klewan-Broniki road. We were surrounded by superior advancing Russian forces and captured after sustaining heavy losses in combat. How many of us there were, I can’t say exactly. It was almost the entire 7th Company, and detachments of the 5th and 6th Company. The Russians indicated to us that we were to lay down all our equipment, boots, field jacket, shirt and, in some cases, even our boots, in addition to our weapons. The wounded, who were lying in the ditches along the road, were killed by the Russians, according to my observations mainly by pistol and rifle shots at very close range. Together with approximately 150-200 comrades, who were not wounded, or wounded only very slightly, I was lined up approximately 20 meters to the left of the road into a field of clover. The Russians now began to shoot at us. I did not hear a Russian order to shoot. After the first few shots, we fell down on top of each other. Under constant fire from machine guns and machine pistols, I succeeded in escaping into the ditch to the left of the road. With two comrades, I reached German lines after walking approximately 4-5 km. How many comrades were actually shot and how many escaped, I cannot say. I would furthermore like to note that my watch was also taken away. My glasses and my breast bag were also confiscated.”
Read out, approved, Signed: and sworn, Signed: Michael Beer, Signed: Dr. Heinrich, Signed: Döss, authenticated: Secretary.
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division 1 July 1941
Present:
Page 102]
There appeared Rifleman Kurt Schäfer, 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment. Familiarized with the object of the interrogation, he testified as follows after being duly warned of the significance of the oath:
“As to my person: My name is Kurt Schäfer, born 3 May 1920 in Degerschlacht. I have been a soldier since 3 October 1940.
“As to the facts: In returning from Klewan to Broniki, we were surrounded and captured by superior Russian forces. We were driven onto the road from all sides. I saw how my comrades even had their belts taken away. I wanted to take mine off, too, but it remained hanging from a hook. At this point a Russian came up to me and tore it off me. We then had to take off our jackets, shirts, boots and socks. The Russians gave orders by means of gestures. As far as I know, none of them spoke German. They were mostly young people. Those who failed to take their shirts off fast enough were treated roughly. For example, I saw how one of us got a jab in the ribs with a rifle butt. Others were stabbed. I didn’t see this myself, of course, but I saw the wounds, that bled.
“I saw a Russian hit a wounded comrade lying on the ground, on the head, with his rifle butt. We always saw a Russian by every wounded man. The wounded were screaming.
We were now driven onto the field, and there, twenty were bound with their hands behind their backs. Why this occurred, I don’t know. Then they were shot down with rifles, pistols and machine guns. In the same moment, other Russians standing around us began to shoot at us. We were standing separately from the 20 who were tied up. As the first men began to fall, I jumped between two Russians into the cornfield, which was about 3 meters away, and ran away through it. A number of other comrades also jumped through and ran away. The Russians were shooting at us from behind. On the way I saw no more Russians. After 6 km, we came across men from the motorized rifleman battalion.”
Read out, approved, Signed: and sworn, Signed: Kurt Schäfer, Signed: Dr. Heinrich, Signed: Döss. Authenticated: Secretary.
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 12 July 1941
Present:
There appeared Corporal Josef Michels, 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, and declared as follows, after being familiarized with the object of the interrogation and the significance of the oath:
“As to my person: My name is Josef Michels, 26 years old, Catholic, Corporal with the 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: I was also captured by the Russians near Broniki on 1 July 1941. We were forced to take off all our equipment, jacket, shirt, in some cases even trousers and boots. I personally was permitted to keep my trousers. Since I couldn’t get my shirt off quickly enough, I was threatened with a bayonet and pushed by another. I was dragged to the northern side of the road into a clover meadow with about six comrades.
“There was one conspicuous Russian officer that I took for a commissar. He had a flat visored cap with a dark red border on his head. I personally saw this commissar kill my comrade, Gefreiter Gerard M. by pistol shots in the head as he was cried out in pain from a bullet wound in the upper thigh. He was also the first to fire at us. Another threw a hand grenade amongst us. Another Russian shot into the group of men. I succeeded in jumping into a cornfield and escaping. Three other men also escaped, Gefreiter Fechter, Gefreiter Gesell, with a bayonet wound in the right lung, and Obersoldat Hohl, with a through-and-through bullet wound to the neck, which he received while escaping.”
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Josef Michels
The witness was properly sworn.
Signed: Dr. Heinrich, Signed: Döss, Gefreiter . Authenticated: Secretary.
Page 103]
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division Divisional Staff Headquarters 12 July 1941
Present:
1 Judge Advocate Dr. Heinrich, Judge
2 Gefreiter Döss, Recording Secretary
There appeared Gefreiter Heinrich Sauter who declared as follows after being informed of the object of the interrogation and the significance of the oath:
“As to my person: my name is Heinrich Sauter, 30 years old, Catholic, Gefreiter with the 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: I was captured on 1 July 1941 near Broniki. I was allowed to keep my trousers on. After the shooting began, I succeeded in escaping. Later, during the burial of my dead comrades, I saw that one of them, whose name is unknown to me, had had his genitals cut off.”
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Heinrich Sauter
The witness was properly sworn.
Signed: Dr. Heinrich. Signed: Döss. Authenticated: Secretary.
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 12 July 1941
Present:
There appeared Gefreiter Karl Jäger, 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, who declared as follows after being informed of the object of the interrogation and the significance of the oath:
“As to my person: Karl Jäger, 29 years old, Evangelical, private with the 7th Company, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: After my capture on 1 July 1941 near Broniki, I was forced to undress down to my trousers. I also had to take off my boots and socks. I had to surrender all valuables and all the contents of our pockets. I saw others being bayoneted when they didn’t obey quickly enough. Gefreiter K. hand a wounded hand and for this reason could not remove his belt fast enough. He was stabbed in the neck from behind with a bayonet, so that the tip stuck out in front. One seriously wounded man, who still gave signs of life with his hands, was stomped on, and his skull smashed with rifle butts. As far as I could understand, a solder gave us an order to shout ‘Long live the Russkis!’ and ‘Down with Hitler!’. But no one obeyed this order.
“I was put together with a group of about 12 to 15 men north of the road. Some of the men were completely naked. We were about the third group of men from the road. The Russians then began shooting at us from behind. We stood together with our hands up. After the first shots, there was a panic, which I utilized to make my escape.
“I would like to note that the last group was tied up.”
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Gefreiter Karl Jäger
The witness was properly sworn.
Signed: Dr. Heinrich, Signed: Döss, Gefreiter . Authenticated: Secretary.
Court of the 25th Infantry Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 12 July 1941
Present:
There appeared Lieutenant Kröning, Staff, Second Battalion, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, and, after being familiarized with the object of the interrogation and the significance of the oath, declared as follows:
“As to my person: Franz Kröning, 26 years old, Catholic, Lieutenant with the Second Battalion, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: I viewed all the dead from the Second Battalion for the purpose of identifying them. I established the following with regards to particular brutalities and mutilations and hereby swear thereunto:
Page 104]
“Approximately 6 soldiers had had members, such as an arm or leg, or their heads, or half a head, chopped off with a sharp object. Many, exactly how many I could not tell, were beaten to death with rifle butts.
“12 to 14 soldiers had had their genitals cut off.
“The worst mutilations were found among a group of approximately 12 corpses, who had not been found during the first viewing, because they lay approximately 200 meters away from the road. Among them were about 3 officers and 2 Stabsfeldwebel; the rest were Corporals and particularly strong and large crews. The extraordinarily extensive mutilations of a prolonged nature made it clear that some form of explosive had been used. In the immediate vicinity of the bodies, the pins of German hand grenades were found. Traces of binding material could still be found on the arms or remains of the victims, suggesting that that three or four soldiers had first been tied together, after which hand grenades were tied to the arms, which were all tied together, after which they were detonated. It must be assumed that this was done while the men were still alive, since it can hardly be assumed that the Russians would do this to corpses. The bodies furthermore exhibited bayonet stab wounds in all possible parts of the body. These bodies were dressed only in trousers.
“One of the dead, a Stabsfeldwebel, exhibited a gaping wound, a handbreadth’s wide, approximately 2 cm deep, in the region of the heart, clearly recognizable as a sharp-edged five-pointed star. I assume that this star-shaped wound was inflicted on the Stabsfeldwebel by branding.”
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Kröning
The witness was duly sworn.
Signed: Dr. Heinrich. Signed: Döss. Authenticated: Secretary
Court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division
Divisional Staff Headquarters, 12 August 1941
Present:
[1]. Judge Advocate Schulze-Krantz, Court of the 16th Tank Division, Judge.
Judge Advocate Dr. Heinrich was interrogated as a witness to the viewing of the scene of the crime at Broniki, where captured German soldiers were shot by the Russians.
He testified as follows after being informed of the significance of the oath.
“As to my person: Dr. of Laws, Wilhelm Heinrich, 33 years old, Catholic, Judge Advocate at the court of the 25th (Motorized) Infantry Division.
“As to the facts: On 2 July 1941, at about one o’clock in the afternoon, I visited the scene where soldiers of the Second Battalion, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment were shot by the Russians after being taken prisoner.
“I observed the following state of fact:
Page 105]
“In addition to the 153 bodies established by myself, the troops more bodies were found during further search actions. Lieutenant Kröning of the Staff of the Second Battalion, 35th (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, has testified in more detail in this regard.
“During the identification and burial of the dead by the troops, considerable mutilations were observed, which I had not noticed when viewing the bodies at the scene of the crime, because I was less aware of the details than of the overall impression.
Read by myself and Signed: Signed: Dr. Heinrich
The witness was properly sworn.
Signed: Schultze-Krantz, Judge Advocate. Signed: Buchheit, Field Justice Inspector. Authenticated: Secretary.
Case 031
On 30 June 1941, near Bubnow, an officer with five of his men were captured by the Russians. After being plundered of all their belongings, at the order of a Russian major, they were lined up and shot one after the other by three men each. The officer nevertheless escaped death despite a bullet wound in the back, and was able to find his way back to his own lines.
Case 032
On the Rozana-Slonim road, on 30 June 1941, as a result of treachery, men from a signal squad were captured by Russians who had equipped themselves with German riflemen’s coats and German helmets. Shortly afterwards, 14 men from a signal squad were found with cruel mutilations: the arms were mutilated, the throats cut, the faces smashed; one severely wounded man had seven bayonet wounds, a crushed skull and a through-and-through bullet wound in the upper thigh.
Page 106]
Case 033
A severely wounded radio operator, Lehmann, was beaten about the head with a rifle butt by a Russian and then again severely wounded by another Russian with seven bayonet wounds, five of them in the back and two in the collar bone. Fourteen of his comrades were killed by stab wounds in the artery.
Case 034
Also in the record of 14 August 1941, that the shooting of a German ambulance, perfectly well marked with the Red Cross, and the killing of the driver and passenger as well as several wounded soldiers being transported in the ambulance, is reported by the witness Lieutenant Hering, who states that he found four bodies whose arteries to the hand had been severed.
Case 035
The Russian POW Petro Jaremynko, as a member of a Russian unit in the vicinity of the small city of Mikolojow, on or about 1 July 1941, during witnessed the manner in which three German soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs were led by two Russian soldiers to the column of his battalion. Behind the soldiers followed the Russian captain Malezki, the Battalion commander of his battalion. In the vicinity of the column stood captain Malezki’s grooms. As the captain passed by the grooms he was given his saber. The captain then had the three prisoners led to one of the depressions in the ground in the vicinity and had them lined up. Then the captain drew the saber and struck at the prisoners’ heads. With every blow one of the prisoners fell down. When the captain had killed the last one, he turned around and went back to his battalion.
Case 036
The record of the interrogation of Lieutenant Spengler of 1 July 1941 reports the case of the cruel murder of a German soldier.
Court of the 137th Infantry Division In the field, 1 July 1941
General List 202/41
Present: Judge Advocate Dr. Sehorz
Army Field Justice Inspector Überall as documentary official
Page 107]
Pictorial documentation to Case 036
A dead German motorized rifleman, both of whose eyes were put out. His nose and tongue were cut off. In the region of the chin were other severe cutting wounds, exposing the bone; he had a round hole in the forehead.
Page 108]
Record
There appeared Lt. Spengler Walter, 31 years old, Evangelical, 841st Heavy Artillery Division, and declared as follows:
When my division was marching northwards down the road from Dereczyn towards Kozin about 1 o’clock in the afternoon today, an officer from our staff brought my attention to a dead German soldier who appeared to have been mutilated. I viewed the dead man and observed the following injuries on the body:
“The eyes had been put out, his ears and nose had been cut off, in addition to which he exhibited such serious cutting wounds in the area of the chin that they exposed the bones. He had a round hole in his forehead, but I could not tell whether it was a bullet entry wound or some other kind of injury. He must have been wounded in the area of the breast, since his shirt was drenched with blood there. Closer examination of the pockets of the dead man showed that he only had a few screws in his pockets. In the opening of his motorized rifleman’s jacket, was a celluloid envelope with his pay book, the soldier driver’s license, some correspondence and a few photos. Around his neck was a breast bag, still containing two zlotys and 50 pennies and a message with his home address: Gerhard B. Könitz bei S. Bahnhofstrasse 4 Th. These objects are hereby placed on the record. According to the pay book, the dead man was Rifleman Gerhard B. Field Post Number 38125, obviously a member of the 29th Division. I immediately ordered two photos made of the dead man by Gefreiter Eichert and Schmidt, at Unit Field Post Office 18047, and will have the films presented to the division for development and other proceedings. The dead man must have lain there for more than 24 hours when we found him, because an odor of decomposition became perceptible upon further searching. The dead man had neither his steel helmet nor his gas mask nor any weapon, but was completely dressed, in particular, with the motorized rifleman’s coat. I had the dead man buried immediately, and drew a map showing the burial location, hereby made available to you by myself, with the request that it be forwarded to the responsible burial officer.”
The witness was sworn.
Read out, approved and sworn, Signed: Walter Spengler, Lieutenant, Signed: Dr. Sehorz, Judge Advocate. Signed: Überall, Field Justice Inspector.
Authenticated: Ministerial recorder
Court of the 137th Division In the field, 1 July 1941
General List 202/41
Present:
Record
Taken in Uhryn-Malynear Dereczcyn (large-scale map no. 344 Wokowkyskl – 100,000) with Superior Paymaster Maschek Josef, born 25June1919, Roman Catholic, 137th Engineer Battalion.
The above mentioned witness testified as follows:
“This afternoon, as I was driving from Dereczyn to Wola, next to the road, about 2 km outside Dereczyn, I saw an abandoned German motorcycle standing there. On the return from Wola to Dereczyn at about 1 o’clock this afternoon, I saw a few German soldiers standing around by a motorcycle with sidecar, examining the motorcycle to see if it could be used. So I stood around and heard from these soldiers, that the motorcycle driver lay near the road in the vicinity of Dereczyn and had been mutilated. I went to the dead man and was able to ascertain, with absolute certainty, that the motorcycle driver had had both eyes gouged out, both ears, his nose and tongue cut off. The dead man also exhibited several cutting wounds right down to the cheekbones. Whether or not the dead man had any other wounds, I cannot say, because I did not examine him further, and the dead man was still wearing his motorcycle driver’s coat. There were already many flies on the corpse, but there was no perceptible smell of decomposition. Death must therefore have occurred within the past 24 hours.
“The motorcycle driver’s coat was open in front and the pockets of the dead man had obviously been plundered.
“The soldiers who had informed me of the dead man were horribly embittered over this bestial murder of a German soldier. Since had been able capture many Russian soldiers during the past 24 hours, it must be assumed that the motorcycle driver had been murdered by Russian soldiers as he attempted to find a
Page 109]
screw which he had apparently lost. In addition to the dead man, we found, in particular, a screw which might have fitted a motorcycle. On my orders, a photograph was taken. When I returned to the dead man approximately two hours later with the photographer, the photograph could not longer taken, because the dead man had apparently been buried by his comrades in the meantime. According to the inscription on the grave, the dead man was Gerhard B. born 19 December 1920. The dead man’s motorcycle with side car bore large white letters on the gas tank. I believe the number 32. It has been impossible so far to determine the unit to which the dead man belonged.”
The above named witness was sworn to this effect.
Read out, approved and sworn, Signed: Josek Maschek Obzm, Signed: Dr. Sehors, Judge Advocate, Signed: Überall, Field Justice Inspector.
Having been summoned, there appeared Gefreiter Ferdi[n]and Horzin, 137th Engineer Battalion, born 4 March 1913, and stated as follows, to the best of his recollection:
Statements largely identical to those made by First Lieutenant (Paymaster Corps) Maschek, with the following additional remarks:
“I drove the vehicle in which First Lieutenant (Paymaster Corps) Maschek made the trip from Dereczyn to Wola and back. I expressly confirm that I made the same observations as the previous witness.
“The screw found near the dead man came, in my opinion, from a BMW or Zündapp.
”The dead man’s motorcycle was either a BMW or a Zündapp, but I have not been able to ascertain this with absolute certainty.”
The witness was sworn to the above effect.
Read out, approved and sworn, Signed: Dr. Sehorz, Judge Advocate, Signed: Überall, Field Justice Inspector, Signed: Horzin, Gefreiter.
Certified, Ministerial recorder.
Case 037
The shooting of at least nine German POWS by Russian troops in a barracks in Riga on 1 July 1941, is described in the record of interrogation of the local veterinary surgeon, Conrad Apinis, the caretaker, Adolf Zakis, the merchant, Martin Sipols, the construction worker, Janson, and the female witnesses, Anna Lapinsch and Milda Rudsit.
Case 038
The witnesses interrogated according to the following record also describe the murder of three German soldiers on 2 July 1941 in Wielec. The soldiers had surrendered to superior forces, were then tied up and shot and/or stabbed to death.
Case 038
Report of the 18th (Motorized) Infantry Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 3 August 1941.
Present:
Judge Advocate Heim, acting Judge
Gefreiter Dommert, Recording Secretary, generally obligated according to Sections 22, 104 Code of Military Criminal Justice.
Having been summoned, there appeared First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Dr. Kurt Stavenhagen, Third Battalion 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, as witness.
He was made familiar with the object of the investigation, and having been duly warned to tell the truth and informed of the seriousness of the oath.
Page 110]
The witness declared: see Annex I (transcription of shorthand record of the interrogation).
This testimony was read out to him, upon which he declared, “This declaration is correct”.
The witness then swore the oath as a witness.
Concluded. Signed: Heim, Signed: Dommert, Certified: Secretary.
Annex I
(transcription of shorthand record of interrogation)
“As to my person: My name is Kurt Stavenhagen, I am 34 years old, of the Evangelical faith, First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) with the Third Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: During the advance of my Battalion on 3 July 1941 in Wielec, we were informed by a German-speaking resident of this village that, on the previous day at around 15 hours, three German soldiers had been taken prisoner and murdered by Russian soldiers. I had these civilians to lead me to the spot where the murdered German soldiers had been found.
“We were able to observe the following:
“In the ditch along the road lay a German side car (BMW), bearing the tactical markings of the 18th Reconnaissance Division. I no longer remember the unit to which it belonged. Diagonally across from this sidecar lay a dead German soldier, on his back, his hands tied together with leather straps, whom, based on the pay book found on the body, we identified as Obergefreiter Erhard St. 18th Artillery Division. He bore a bullet entry wound the size of a lentil in the region of the left temple. On the right side of his forehead was an exit wound about the size of the head of a baby, covered with bits of brain. From this discovery, we concluded that this mutilation of the skull had been caused by a bullet fired at point-blank range.
“In the same ditch, at a distance of approximately 10 meters, lay another dead soldier who, as we could see from the pay book found on the body, had also been a member of the 18th Reconnaissance Division, named Herbert W. He lay with his back to the earth. I only took a closer look at this soldier after I had been with Obergefreiter St. and my companion had also examined W. As I came up to the body, his torso had already been laid bare. In the right side of the breast I observed three stab wounds with ragged, sharp-edges, probably caused by a Russian triangular bayonet. The corresponding stab wounds were also found in the front side of the field jacket.
“Near soldier W. lay another dead soldier on his back. We were unable to observe any indication of this unit or his name, apart from a steel helmet with the inscription ‘Henschel 10364’. The only other thing we found on him was a smooth engagement ring on the left ring finger with the engraving ‘LW 1939’. On the exposed right side of the breast, I noticed a bullet entry wound the size of a lentil. I turned him over and was unable to find any exit wound. I don’t know whether this wound entered through the front of the field jacket.
“I assume that the last named soldier, had been plundered, since, apart from the ring, there were no personal effects on the body.
“Apart from the first named motorcycle sidecar, in the ditch along the road near the last dead man, lay a second motorcycle with sidecar. Both vehicles had been put out of action by shots to the gas tanks and tires as well as the violent destruction of the ignition.
“The civilians who went with us together to this place and then helped us bury the bodies, were very shocked by this incident. The women cried continually and the men indicated by means of signs as well as through the German-speaking civilian, that we were to do the same to the Russians. The civilians also proved themselves very helpful during the erection of grave markers. We noticed especially that the German-speaking civilian, at our request, immediately prepared a beautiful wooden cross with inscription board.”
Apart from myself, the following persons were present when these observations were made:
Lieutenant Colonel Chrobek (wounded, repatriated to Germany);
Lieutenant Schlegel, Adjutant, Third Battalion 51st Infantry Regiment;
Lieutenant Wolf, at that time ordinance officer Third Battalion, 51st Infantry Regiment, at the present time platoon leader with the 9th Company, 51st Infantry Regiment;
Feldwebel (Medical Corps) Oskar Fuchs, Third Battalion, 51st Infantry Regiment,
And a number of soldiers from my battalion, now unknown to me by name.
Photographs were taken of the tied up soldiers by Officer Maier, former Staff Third Battalion 51st Infantry Regiment, now wounded and repatriated to Germany).
Page 111]
Read out, The correctness of the transcription of the shorthand record of interrogation is hereby certified.
In the field, on 3 August 1941, Signed: Dommert, Gefreiter, before the court of the 18th (Motorized) Infantry Division.
Certified: Secretary.
Court of the 18th Infantry Division (Motorized) Divisional Staff Headquarters, 6 August 1941
Reserve Auxiliary List No. 42/41.
Present:
Judge Advocate Heim, acting Judge
Gefreiter Dommert, Recording Secretary, generally obligated according to Sections 22, 104 of the Military Code of Criminal Justice.
Being summoned, there appeared Lieutenant Ulrich Schlegel, Third Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, as witness.
The witness was familiarized with the subject of the investigation, warned to tell the truth and informed of the significance of the oath.
The witness declared: see Annex I (transcription of the shorthand record of the interrogation).
This testimony was read out to him, upon which he declared, “This declaration is correct”.
The witness was sworn.
Concluded. Signed: Heim, Signed: Dommert. Certified: Secretary.
Annex I
(transcription of the shorthand record of the interrogation)
“As to my person: my name is Ulrich Schlegel, I am 22 years old, of the Evangelical faith, lieutenant and adjutant with the Third Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: As our Battalion reached the village of Wielec during the advance on 3 July 41, our Battalion physician, Stavenhagen, was informed by residents of the village that, in the afternoon of the previous day, three German soldiers had been taken prisoner and murdered by Russian soldiers. He first went to the spot where these dead soldiers lay, and then brought a few officers as witnesses.
“I only saw the exterior discovery of these dead soldiers, First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Stavenhagen was responsible for establishing their personal identity.
“Before the village two motorcycle sidecars, put of action by shots to the tank, tires and motor block, lay in the ditch. The bore the tactical insignia of the Reconnaissance Division 18.
“On the passenger seat of the one machine, lay a dead German soldier, on his back, his hands bound together with a leather strap. In the area over his left ear this soldier had a bullet entry wound the size of a lentil. On the right side of the forehead, I notice an opening about the size of a fist, obviously the bullet exit wound. The skull was very badly mutilated at this place, especially, we could see parts of his brain outside the head. In my view, this shot must have been shot from point-blank range to cause such a huge exit wound.
A few meters away, in a ditch, lay another German soldier, on his back. He had three stab wounds with ragged edges in the right side of his breast. I had the impression that this wound had not been caused by smooth bayonets, but rather, by a triangular or perhaps one equipped with saw-toothed zigzag.
“Very near the last-named soldier, another dead soldier lay on his back in the ditch. This one had a bullet entry wound the size of a lentil in his exposed right side of his chest. Whether the shot penetrated the field jacket, I don’t know. I can not remember whether he had an exit wound in the back.
“The civilians who helped us find the bodies, were extremely shocked by the incident, the women were crying and the men indicated through signs that we were to treat the Russians in the same manner. In particular, they made the hand sign of a throat being cut.”
Read out, the correctness of the transcription of the shorthand record of interrogation is certified.
In the field, on 6 August 1941, Signed: Dommert, Private, before the court of the 18th (Motorized) Infantry Division.
Certified: Secretary
Page 112]
Court of the 18th Infantry Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 25 August 1941
Reserve auxiliary list No. 42/41
Present:
Judge Advocate Heim, acting Judge
Gefreiter Dommert, Recording Secretary, generally obligated according to Sections 22, 104 of the Military Code of Criminal Justice
Having been summoned, there appeared the Feldwebel (Medical Corps) Oskar Fuchs, Third Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, as witness.
He was familiarized with the object of the interrogation, warned to tell the truth and informed of the significance of the oath.
The witness declared: see Annex (transcription of the shorthand record of interrogation).
This declaration was read out, whereupon he declared “This declaration is correct”.
The witness was sworn.
Concluded. Signed: Heim, Signed: Dommert. Certified: Secretary.
Annex I
(transcription of shorthand record of interrogation)
“As to my person: My name is Oskar Fuchs, I am 30 years old, Catholic, Feldwebel (Medical Corps) with the Third Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment. As to the facts: At approximately the beginning of July our Battalion had to halt on the crossroads before Wielec, because the division was to be collected there, there came a German-speaking farmer up to us and informed us that three German soldiers (each with a motorcycle with side car) had been murdered by approximately 20 Russian solders on the previous day, at about 14:30 hours. The Russian civilian expressly mentioned that the three German soldiers had surrendered, and had approached the Russian soldiers with their hands up. One of the Russian soldiers was said to have said that the German soldiers had surrendered and should be taken away, whereupon the other 19 Russian soldiers cried out that the 3 German soldiers should be tied up and shot. At this point, the German soldiers were reported to have killed on the spot.
“I first went to the scene with the civilian and observed the following:
“In the ditches along the road, stood 3 German motorcycle with sidecar with the tactical insignia of the 3rd Battalion, 18th Reconnaissance Division. The cylinder block and tanks of the motorcycle had been shot through.
“Over the sidecar of the one motorcycle lay a dead German soldier, on his side, with his hands tied behind his back by means of a leather strap. He had, like the others, he had a rubberized motorcycle coat on. In one temple, the right temple as I recall, he had a small bullet entry wound the size of a lentil, which was obviously the entry wound. On the other side of his head was a considerable piece of his head in the region of the eyes to the nose had been torn away. In my view, that must have been the exit wound. From the type of wound I assumed that the shot must have been fired from very close range.
“Next to the second motorcycle, on his back, lay another German soldier. He had several stab wounds in his breast. The edges of the wound were torn ragged, in a very peculiar manner. We could see quite clearly that it must have been inflicted with a triangular stabbing weapon of a type similar to Russian bayonets, The soldier’s notice book and pay book, which I took out of the left breast pocket of his field jacket, showed even more clearly the triangular form of the weapon with which this soldier had been stabbed. He had no other wounds, particularly, no bullet wounds.
“Near the 3rd motorcycle, on his back, lay another German soldier. At first I could not see any bullet wounds on him. As I searched the pockets of the soldier for personal effects at the order of the First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Dr. Stavenhage, I found, in the watch pocket of the trousers, an infantry bullet, which had been crushed slightly flat, the point of which had been somewhat bent. At this point, we examined the solder more closely. Personally, I do not know where the entry wound was. Nor did I see the exit wound. But I felt it with the finger, when I stuck it into the watch pocket, and remarked that the pocket was torn. The underclothing was also torn and strongly drenched at this place.
“I collected the personal property and the pay books of this soldier and forwarded them to the baggage train of Reconnaissance Division 18.
“The Russian civilians present were very moved and embittered at the Russian soldiers. They eagerly helped us with the burial of the German soldiers.
Page 113]
Pictorial document to Case 038
Three Germen soldiers from the 18th Reconnaissance Division murdered by approximately 20 Russian soldiers. One was tied and shot by a bullet in the neck; one was killed by three stab wounds in the breast with a triangular Russian bayonet. Another was murdered by bullet wounds in the breast and plundered.
Page 114]
At the suggestion of the Battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Cherobeck, Officer Theodor Maier, Staff of the Third Battalion, 51st Infantry Regiment, took a number of photographs of theses soldiers’ wounds.
Read out, the witness was sworn.
The correctness of the transcription of the shorthand record is certified.
In the field, 25 August 1941. Signed: Dommert, Obergefreiter, before the court of the 18th (Motorized) Infantry Division.
Certified: Secretary
Court of the 19th Infantry division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 9 September 1941
Reserve auxiliary list no. 41/41
Present:
Judge Advocate Heim, acting Judge
Obergefreiter Dommert, Recording Secretary, generally obligated according to Sections 22 and 104 of the Military Code of Criminal Justice
There appeared Lieutenant Kurt Wolf of the 9th Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment, as witness.
He was familiarized with the object of the investigation, warned to tell the truth and made aware of the significance of the oath.
The witness declared: see Annex I (transcription of the shorthand record of the interrogation).
The declaration was read out to him, whereupon he declared, “This declaration is correct”.
The witness was sworn.
Concluded, Signed: Heim, Signed: Dommert, Certified: Secretary
Annex I
(transcription of the shorthand record of the interrogation)
“As to my person: My name is Kurt Wolf, I am 27 years old, of the Evangelical faith, Lieutenant with the 9th Battalion, 51st (Motorized) Infantry Regiment.
“As to the facts: In the initial period of our advance before Wielec, I came along by chance as a few members of our battalion, including lieutenant colonel Chrobeck and First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Stavenhagen, stood around by 3 dead German soldiers. In the vicinity, there were also a number of civilians. In one of the ditches stood or lay three motorcycles.
“On the side car of one of motorcycles lay a dead German soldier with his back upwards. His hands were bound behind his back, fastened with a leather strap. He head a gunshot wound to the head, about which I can say no more in detail.
“On another motorcycle, another dead German soldier lay bent forward over the handlebars. I can no longer remember what kind of wounds he had.
“A short way away from there, lay a third dead German soldier in the ditch, with a stab wound in this abdomen. I cannot venture to dive more particulars on this here as well.
“I was only a short time there since I only came along later, and soon had to leave again, and therefore made very imprecise observations. For one thing, my memory has suffered due to the long time which has since elapsed and the other events which have occurred in the meantime.
“I as only informed as to the information from the civilians at a later time.
Read out. The witness was sworn.
The correctness of the transcript of the shorthand record of interrogation is certified.
In the field, 9 September 1941, Signed: Dommert, Obergefreiter, before the court of the 18th (Motorized) Infantry Division.
Certified: Secretary
Case 039
The cruel murder and mutilation of ten German soldiers on 3 July 1941 near Brzezenay is proven by the testimony and expert report of Second Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Dr. Erich Koch as well as First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Dr. Heinze Wittig, in addition to the testimony of Gefreiter Niger and the annexed photographs.
Page 115]
DOCUMENTS ON Case 039
Court of the 4th Mountain Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 9 July 1941
Re: Mutilation of German soldiers
Present:
Lieutenant Dr. Pranger, Army Judge Advocate.
Interrogation: in response to an order, Dr Erich Koch, Second Lieutenant (Medical Corps) and Divisional Physician with the 94th Artillery Regiment, born on 19 September 1906 in Dillenburg (Hessen-Nassau) presently with Unit Field Post no. 27778, and stated as follows, according to his recollection of the truth, and after being apprised on the seriousness of the oath:
“Shortly before Bryzezeny, on 3 July 1941, the Russians were withdrawing. The Reconnaissance Division was ordered to protect the right flank of the division. Upon carrying out this order our 1st Squadron came into immediate contact with the enemy. The squadron was partly cut off by the Russians. During this mission, a total of 17 members of the same squadron were killed. Of these 17, six were found in terribly mutilated condition. In detail. these six dead men exhibited the following injuries:
“Two dead men had had their hands tied behind their backs. One had had his right eye put out and the face had been smashed in, probably with a rifle butt. The victim had had his tongue cut out and his throat cut at the level of the larynx.
“The other 4 were also mutilated. One had had the right hand the right elbow hacked off, so that the hand and lower arm only hung together by a few pieces of skin. Another had had the right arm stabbed through several times with a bayonet or other stabbing weapon. The arm looked like a sieve. Another 2 soldiers exhibited stab wounds all over their bodies, inflicted with a bayonet. All 6 mutilated soldiers had been completely plundered, for example, even their pay books and identity tag had disappeared. 4 soldiers had also been plundered of their boots. The incident had taken place either during the late morning or afternoon of the. I only saw the bodies in the evening, when they were brought in. As a result of the darkness, no more photographs could be taken. Burial was urgently required. Both the soldiers found with their hands tied had fallen into enemy hands in an unwounded condition. The other 4 soldiers had obviously been wounded before being captured; one of them had even been bandaged by our people.
“I will inform the court of the names of the 6 above mentioned mutilated men and provide witnesses to the deed.”
The witness was legally sworn, and confirmed his statements under oath.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Dr. Erich Koch, concluded: Signed: Dr. Pranger, Judge Advocate.
Certified: Secretary
Copy
Army Medical Doctor, 94th Reconnaissance Division Local Bivouac, 20 July 41
To the court of the 4th Mountaineers’ Division
In annex please find the interrogations complete with signature, sent back to you.
There were no witnesses to the crime.
The names of the mutilated soldiers were as follows:
Gefreiter W. Josef, Field Post Number 30031
“ Sch. Jakob, “ 30031
“ B, Otto, “ 28497
„ B, Josef, „ 28497
„ L. Erich, “ 28497
“ N. Robert „ 28497
Annexes: Signed: Dr. Koch, Second Lieutenant (Medical Corps) and army doctor, Certified: Secretary.
Page 116]
Court of the 4th Mountaineer’s Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 13 July 1941
Present:
Lieutenant Dr. Pranger, Army Judge Advocate.
Interrogation : In response to an order, there appeared First Lieutenant (Medical Corps) Dr. Heinz Wittig, born 23 September 1905, in Jena, at the present time Divisional Physician with the 525th Anti-Tank Division, Field Post Number 11914, and stated as follows after being informed of the seriousness of the oath.
“On the morning of 3 July 1941, there was a fire fight between the 525th Anti-Tank Division and the Soviet Russians at the western exit of Brzezany. Soldiers from our division were killed during the firefight. As for 4 soldiers, it was impossible to tell where they had been wounded in battle or whether their wounds were inflicted afterwards. It should first be noted that the Anti-Tank Division during this battle only received infantry fire, no artillery fire.
“In detail, I observed the following:
“When I heard from a Rifleman whose name I can no longer remember at the moment, but whom I shall place before the court, two of the fallen men had been taken prisoner alive.
“These included Rifleman M.
The witness was legally sworn and confirmed the above statements under oath.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Dr. Wittig. Concluded: Signed: Dr. Pranger, Army Judge Advocate
Certified: Secretary
Court of the 4th Mountaineer’s Division Divisional Staff Headquarters, 13 July 1941
Present:
Lieutenant Dr. Pranger, Army Judge Advocate.
Interrogation : Upon order, there appeared Gefreiter Willi Niger, born 5 August 1914 in Eisenach, presently Gun Driver with the 2nd Battalion, 525th Anti-Tank Division, Field Post Number 23457, and stated as follows after being informed of the significance of the oath:
“On 3 July 1941, there was a battle between the 525th Anti-Tank Division and the Soviet Russians at the western exit of the Brzezany. At that time, I was rifleman with the 1st Platoon, 4th Gun [Company?].While we fought the enemy in front, I suddenly noticed that we were surrounded by the enemy. Since the Soviet Russians were much superior numerically, there was nothing to do for it but to evade. In doing so, Rifleman M was wounded on the left upper arm by a shot. Since I was just then bringing back the gunner, Corporal Just, who had just been wounded, I was momentarily unable to help M. M was obviously unable to follow as a result of the excitement. In the meantime, after I brought Corporal Just to safety in a hollow, I immediately turned back, to look after M. As I approached, M was surrounded by the enemy. I only saw, how they
Page 117]
Pictorial documentation to Case 039
Ten German soldiers were cruelly murdered and mutilated near Brzezany.
Page 118]
--
Page 119]
Page 120]
Page 121]
Page 122]
Page 123]
held their mounted bayonets against M. who was lying on the ground. Since Russians were also approaching from the right, I withdrew, but came soon came back to M, who was lying dead on the ground, when the Russians went away. M exhibited the injuries described in the eyewitness testimony of Wittig. He is from the same home district as myself back in Germany. I cannot say whether he was wounded in battle or whether the above described injuries were inflicted after capture.
“I do not know Gefreiter J and Obergefreiter N. I observed the manner in which a Russian inflicted a blow on a machine gun rifleman from behind, over the steel helmet. with an object.
“I can provide no further information on the case.”
The witness was sworn and confirmed his statements under oath.
Read out, approved and signed. Signed: Obergefreiter Niger Willi, Concluded: Signed: Dr. Prager, Army Judge Advocate.
Certified: Secretary.
Case 040
On 5 July 1941, near Traby, a Feldwebel and a Gefreiter had their eyes gouged out by Russian soldiers and a Obergefreiter had his skull smashed by blows with a rifle butt. These German soldiers, as well, were obviously murdered when wounded and unarmed. The Feldwebel still wore his German bandage on his knee and his left arm was put in a splint.
Case 041
About twenty wounded German POWs were murdered by the Russians on 5 July 1941 near Zazlaff, with bayonet stab wounds or blows with rifle butts As the witness Lieutenant Bischoff reports, some of these soldiers were still living and not seriously wounded when they fell into Russian hands, and were then systematically murdered by a coup de grace or bayonet stab wounds. All the dead men had bee plundered.
Case 042
The report of a political commissar of 27 July 1941 to the Chief of the Political Division of the Russian 28th Army contained the following sentence:
“The shooting down of fascist aircraft with 76 mm guns lead to satisfactory results. Especially successful was the shooting of three fascist aircraft at 17:50 hours. Two fliers bailed out of an aircraft near the village of Kubarka. The first parachute didn’t open, and the flier was killed. The parachute of the other flier opened, but the parachute was destroyed by heavy machine gun fire and the flier was killed. All documents found on him were sent to the Army Staff.”
This report proves that a German flier was killed after bailing out in a parachute.