Majdanek trials

The Majdanek trials were a series of consecutive war-crime trials held in Poland and in Germany during and after World War II, constituting the overall longest Nazi war crimes trial in history spanning over 30 years.[2] The first judicial trial of Majdanek extermination camp officials took place from November 27, 1944, to December 2, 1944, in Lublin, Poland.[3][4] The last one, held at the District Court of Düsseldorf began on November 26, 1975, and concluded on June 30, 1981. It was West Germany's longest and most expensive trial, lasting 474 sessions.[5][6]

Majdanek trials
Former SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Anton Thernes (standing, left) in front of a penal court on trial for crimes committed at Majdanek, 1944, Lublin, Poland
SubmittedNovember 27, 1944
DecidedJune 30, 1981, Düsseldorf
The case of the Majdanek death camp
Majdanek concentration camp (June 24, 1944) from the collections of the Majdanek Museum, lower half: the barracks under deconstruction; in the upper half, functioning barracks
Preserved original ovens in the second Crematorium at Majdanek, built in 1943 by Heinrich Kori.[1]
Original gas chamber with visible Zyklon B blue stain on the back wall, permanently burned into the cement

A number of former high ranking SS men, camp officials, camp guards, and SS staff were arraigned before the courts on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed at Majdanek in the period between October 1, 1941, and July 22, 1944. Notably, only 170 Nazis who served at Majdanek had been prosecuted at all, of the 1,037 camp personnel known by name. Half of the defendants charged by the West German justice system were set free after complaining of aches and pains in detention, acquitted of killing. By contrast, those tried earlier by Poland were usually found guilty. During the 34 months of camp operation, more than 79,000 people were murdered at Majdanek main camp alone (59,000 of them Polish Jews) and between 95,000 and 130,000 people in the entire Majdanek, system including several subcamps.[7] Some 18,000 Jews were killed at Majdanek on November 3, 1943, during the largest single-day, single-camp massacre of the Holocaust,[6] named Harvest Festival (totalling 43,000 with 2 subcamps).[8]

Notably, two KL Majdanek concentration camp commandants were put on trial by the SS themselves in the course of the camp operation partly because of what Majdanek was initially, merely a storage depot for gold, money and furs stolen from trainloads of Holocaust victims at murder factories in Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka.[9] Both SS men were charged with wholesale stealing from the Third Reich to become rich. Karl-Otto Koch (serving at Majdanek from July 1941 till August 24, 1942) was executed by firing squad on April 5, 1945; Hermann Florstedt, the third chief of Majdanek (from October 1942 on) was executed by the SS on April 15, 1945.[10]

First Majdanek trial

Retreating Germans did not have time to destroy the facility. It remained the best preserved example of a Holocaust death camp in history, with intact gas chambers and crematoria.[11] The advancing Soviets were shocked into disbelief after discovering it, and initially overestimated the total number of victims.[12]

A group of six members of Majdanek personnel – who had not managed to escape – were arraigned before the Soviet-Polish Special Criminal Court immediately following the camp's liberation of July 23, 1944. After the trial, and deliberations which lasted from November 27, 1944 to December 2, 1944 all accused were found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and sentenced to death by hanging.[6][11] They included SS-Obersturmführer Anton Thernes, SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Gerstenmeier, SS-Oberscharführer Hermann Vögel, Kapo Edmund Pohlmann, SS-Rottenführer Theodor Schöllen and Kapo Heinrich Stalp,[13] all of whom were executed by hanging on December 3, 1944 except for Pohlmann, who had committed suicide the night before.[14]

Second Majdanek trial (1946–1948)

The series of trials which took place between 1946 and 1948 in Poland – usually referred to as the Second trial of Majdanek – consisted of trials of many kinds. Some 95 SS-men, mostly guards (including those apprehended hiding in postwar Germany), were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Seven of the defendants were given the death penalty. The most prominent of them was Elsa Ehrich, Oberaufseherin of the women and children camp division (liquidated in spring of 1944). She was responsible for the selections to gas chambers. Ehrich was found guilty of all charges, and hanged in July 1948. Apparently, Ehrich made an attempt to launch a Nazi brothel in 1943, but the project was abandoned before fruition after one of her slave sex-workers was diagnosed with typhus.[15]

Most other SS men were sentenced from 2 to 12 years' imprisonment.[16] Some of the more prominent defendants in the 1946–1948 series of trials included over 60 SS-Schütze camp guards. The multiple proceedings were held in Lublin, as well as in Radom and Świdnica (1947), Kraków, Wadowice, and Toruń (1948) and in Warsaw (1948), where the last appellate court case of Jacob Gemmel took place in November 1950.[10]

# Defendant [10] Born Rank Function Sentence
1Elsa EhrichMar. 8, 1914OberaufseherinSenior Overseer    death by hanging (carried out, Oct. 26, 1948)
2Friedrich GebhardtFeb. 26, 1899SS-Unterscharf.Camp guard    death by hanging (carried out, Nov. 15, 1948)
3Kurt Möller (Moeller)Jan. 11, 1918SS-Oberscharf.Squad leader    death by hanging (carried out, Oct. 6, 1948)
4Jacob NiessnerJan. 19, 1908SS-SchützeCamp guard    death by hanging (carried out, Jul. 14, 1948)
5Michael PelgerMar. 27, 1908SS-Rottenf.Squad leader    death by hanging (carried out)
6Peter ReissFeb. 22, 1901SS-SturmmannStormtrooper    death by hanging (carried out, Jun. 23, 1948)
7Franz Söss (Süss)Nov. 30, 1912SS-Rottenf.Squad leader    death by hanging (carried out, Sept. 20, 1949)
8Friedrich BuschbaumSept. 14, 1904SS-SchützeCamp guard    death (commuted to 15 years imprisonment, rel. May 31, 1956)
9Johann WeissFeb. 24, 1915SS-SchützeCamp guard    death (commuted to 10 years imprisonment)
10Wilhelm ReinartzMar. 17, 1910SS-Unterscharf.Infirmary    death (commuted to 2 years by reason of terminal illness)
11Johann VormittagAug. 5, 1904SS-SchützeCamp guard    life imprisonment (released Mar. 11, 1953)
12Jacob GemmelMay 27, 1913SS-SchützeCamp guard    life (commuted to 12 years imprisonment)
13Robert FrickOct. 15, 1918SS-Unterscharf.Camp guard    15 years imprisonment (released May 2, 1956)
14Georg FleischerNov. 24, 1911SS-SchützeCamp guard    12 years imprisonment (released May 2, 1956)
15Johann KesslerFeb. 28, 1910SS-SturmmannStormtrooper    12 years imprisonment (died Feb. 25, 1950)
16Hans Kottre (Kotre)Aug. 22, 1912SS-SturmmannStormtrooper    12 years imprisonment (released May 9, 1956)
17Andreas LahnerDec. 10, 1921SS-SturmmannStormtrooper    12 years imprisonment (released May 2, 1956)
18Georg NeuAug. 1, 1921SS-SchützeCamp guard    12 years imprisonment (released May 9, 1956)
19Franz WirthNov. 8, 1909SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    12 years imprisonment
20Andreas ButtingerMay 29, 1910SS-SchützeCamp guard    10 years imprisonment (died Apr. 26, 1949)
21Jacob JostOct. 6, 1895SS-Oberscharf.Camp guard    10 years imprisonment (released Apr. 30, 1956)
22Martin LöxFeb. 7, 1908SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    10 years imprisonment (died Jun. 26, 1949)
23Kasper MarksteinerNov. 1, 1913SS-SturmmannCamp guard    10 years imprisonment (died Jun. 20, 1949)
24Hans AufmuthJan. 18, 1905SS-SchützeCamp guard    8 years imprisonment (released Mar. 17, 1954)
25Johann BetzDec. 18, 1906SS-SturmmannCamp guard    8 years imprisonment (released Jul. 3, 1955)
26Anton HoffmannSept. 17, 1910SS-SturmmannCamp guard    8 years imprisonment (released Dec. 17, 1954)
27Johann RadlerSept. 9, 1909SS-SchützeCamp guard    8 years imprisonment (released Mar. 1, 1955)
28Thomas RadrichOct. 19, 1912SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    8 years imprisonment
29Johann SetzJun. 26, 1907SS-SturmmanCamp guard    8 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Feb. 28, 1955)
30Michael BertlJun. 23, 1909SS-SturmmannCamp guard    7 years imprisonment (released Jul. 15, 1954)
31Paul KellerOct. 16, 1910SS-SturmmannCamp guard    7 years imprisonment (released Jul. 15, 1954)
32Karl MüllerMar. 10, 1907SS-SturmmannBlock leader    7 years imprisonment
33Walter BiernatMar. 28, 1920SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    6 years imprisonment (died Feb. 6, 1952)
34Josef HartmannMar. 22, 1918SS-SturmmannCamp guard    6 years imprisonment (released Jan. 5, 1954)
35Hans Georg HessJun. 17, 1910SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    6 years imprisonment
36Heinrich KühnDec. 16, 1909SS-SturmmannGuard (Auschwitz)    6 years imprisonment (died Apr. 16, 1951)
37Franz VormittagJan. 23, 1920SS-SturmmannCamp guard    6 years imprisonment
38Helmut ZachAug. 19, 1909SS-Unterscharf.Camp guard    6 years imprisonment
39Jacob DiallerDec. 8, 1913SS-SturmmannCamp guard    5 years imprisonment (released Dec. 23, 1951)
40Hans DurstNov. 23, 1909SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    5 years imprisonment
41Franz KaufmannJul. 23, 1908SS-Unterscharf.Camp guard    5 years imprisonment
42Paul KissJul. 13, 1902SS-SturmmannCamp guard    5 years imprisonment (died Apr. 26, 1950)
43Johann KubasakDec. 31, 1909SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    5 years imprisonment
44Johann LassnerJul. 26, 1909SS-SchützeCamp guard    5 years imprisonment
45Johann LienertAug. 5, 1915SS-SturmmannCamp guard    5 years imprisonment (died Jun. 16, 1949)
46Stefan MantschSept. 24, 1922SS-SchützeCamp guard    5 years imprisonment (released Apr. 12, 1951)
47Hans MerleMay 15, 1914SS-SchützeCamp guard    5 years imprisonment (released Jan. 2, 1953)
48Kurt Erwin OhnweilerMar. 25, 1913SS-SchützeCamp guard    5 years imprisonment (released Mar. 1, 1952)
49Michael ThalJan. 16, 1910SS-SchützeCamp guard    5 years imprisonment
50Jacob VormittagMar. 8, 1909SS-SturmmanCamp guard    5 years imprisonment
51Martin BergerJan. 18, 1910SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    4 years imprisonment (died Oct. 15, 1948)
52Michael FleischerAug. 18, 1912SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    4 years imprisonment
53Franz HabelMay 31, 1912SS-Rottenf.Camp guard    4 years imprisonment
54Karl BrücknerMay 5, 1904SS-Unterscharf.Camp guard    4 years imprisonment (released Feb. 28, 1951)
55Josef JanowitschAug. 22, 1910SS-SturmmannCamp guard    4 years imprisonment
56Johann GüneschMay 17, 1913SS-SchützeCamp guard    3.5 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Feb. 9, 1951)
57Fritz FrischolzOct. 5, 1911SS-Oberscharf.Camp guard    8 years imprisonment (released Mar. 10, 1955)
58Michael GallJul. 22, 1902SS-SchützeCamp guard    3 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Jan. 15, 1951)
59Hans GrabertMay 31, 1907SS-OberscharfAdministration    3 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Jun. 16, 1950)
60Stefan MantschSept. 24, 1922SS-SchützeCamp guard    3 years imprisonment (released Apr. 12, 1951)
61Josef MoosJan. 24, 1904SS-Rottenf.Infirmary (selections)    3 years imprisonment (died Apr. 20, 1950)
62Konrad AnackerFeb. 13, 1892SS-SchützeCamp guard    3 years imprisonment (released Jun. 26, 1950)
63Wilhelm PetrakFeb. 14, 1909SS-SturmmannCamp guard    8 years (died Jul. 28, 1948 of disease after 2 years)

Third Majdanek trial (1975–1981)

At the Third Majdanek Trial, held between November 26, 1975, and June 30, 1981, before a West German Court at Düsseldorf, sixteen defendants were arraigned. Five were cleared of all charges, two released due to ill health, one died of old age, and eight were found guilty. They were sentenced to 3 to 12 years imprisonment.[17] The 3rd Majdanek trial was preceded by the Treblinka Trials also at Düsseldorf in 1964 and 1970.[18] The Majdanek trial lasted for six years, and concluded on June 30, 1981. There were insufficient grounds to lay charges against other suspects according to the prosecution (many of the key witnesses having died).[5][19]

Notably, the camp deputy commandant, Arnold Strippel, implicated in the torture and killing of many dozens of prisoners (including 42 Soviet POWs in July 1942), received a nominal 3 12-year sentence. He also received 121,500-Deutsche Mark reimbursement for the loss of earnings and his social security contributions, which he used to purchase a condominium in Frankfurt, which he occupied until his death.[20]

# Defendant Born Rank Function Sentence
1Alice OrlowskiSept. 30, 1903SS AufseherinCamp overseer    died of old age during the trial
2Hermine BraunsteinerJul. 16, 1919RapportführerinFemale camp deputy    3 years (Vienna), life imprisonment (Düsseldorf)
3Hildegard LachertMar. 19, 1920AufseherinCamp overseer    12 years imprisonment
4Hermann HackmannNov. 11, 1913SS-Hauptst.Camp commandant    10 years imprisonment
5Emil LaurichMay 21, 1921SS-Rottenf.Ideology    8 years imprisonment
6Heinz VillainFeb. 1, 1921SS-Unterscharf.Field commandant    6 years imprisonment
7Fritz-Heinrich PetrickJan. 22, 1913SS-Oberscharf.Camp guard    4 years imprisonment
8Arnold StrippelJun. 2, 1911SS-Obersturm.Camp director    3.5 years imprisonment
9Thomas EllwangerMar. 3, 1917SS-Unterscharf.Camp guard    3 years imprisonment
10Wilhelm ReinartzMar. 17, 1910SS-Unterscharf.Infirmary (selections)    released due to illness
11Joanna (Johanna) ZelleSS-GefolgeCamp guard    released due to illness
12Heinrich SchmidtMar. 27, 1912SS-Hauptsturmf.Medic (selections)    acquitted and released
13Charlotte MayerFeb. 7, 1918Maintenance    acquitted and released
14Rosy Suess or (Rosa) SüssSept. 16, 1920Maintenance    acquitted and released
15Heinrich GroffmannSS-Rottenf.Field commandant    acquitted and released
16Hermine Boettcher-BruecknerApr. 26, 1918Maintenance    acquitted and released

Post 1981 Majdanek War Crimes Trials

In 1989 Karl-Friedrich Höcker was tried and sentenced for his actions in Majdanek.

See also

Notes and references

  1. "Crematorium at Majdanek". Jewish Virtual Library. 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  2. Reuter (Jun 27, 1981). "Longest war crimes trial ends". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  3. Jean-michel Frodon (2010). Majdanek Trial. Cinema and the Shoah. SUNY Press. pp. 249–. ISBN 978-1438430287. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  4. "Majdanek Concentration Camp". Majdanek, Poland. July 21, 2009. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  5. "Once Upon a Time in War". Majdanek trial in West Germany. A Photographic Retrospect. 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  6. USHMM (May 11, 2012). "Soviet forces liberate Majdanek". Lublin/Majdanek: Chronology. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  7. Reszka, Paweł (2005-12-23). "Majdanek Victims Enumerated. Changes in the history textbooks?". Gazeta Wyborcza. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  8. Jennifer Rosenberg. "Aktion Erntefest". 20th Century History. About.com Education. Archived from the original on 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  9. Staff Writer (2006). "Lublin/Majdanek Concentration Camp: Overview". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. ushmm.org. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  10. "Procesy zbrodniarzy (Trials of war criminals) 1946–1948". Wykaz sądzonych członków załogi KL Lublin/Majdanek. KL Lublin. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  11. "Majdanek" (PDF). Majdanek concentration camp. Yad Vashem. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2007. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  12. "Inside Majdanek". Nazi concentration camps. Jewish Virtual Library. 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  13. Marcus Wendel (Aug 8, 2007). "SS personnel serving at Majdanek". Camp personnel. Axis History. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  14. JVL (2013). "Majdanek Trial". Majdanek extermination camp. Jewish Virtual Library.org. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  15. "SS-Oberaufseherinn Elsa Ehrich". Frauenkonzetrationslager. KL Lublin. 2004–2013. Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  16. PMM (2006). "XX. Akta procesowe". Archiwum (in Polish). Państwowe Muzeum na Majdanku. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  17. JVL (2013). "Third Majdanek Trial". Majdanek extermination camp. Jewish Virtual Library.org. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  18. Christian Hofmann. "Die Treblinka-Prozesse (The Treblinka Trials)". Shoa.de (in German). Arbeitskreis Shoa.de e.V.
  19. Landgericht Düsseldorf spricht Urteile im Majdanek-Prozeß Landtag Intern vom 26. Juni 2001 (Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen). (in German)
  20. Thomas Schattner. "Strippels Blutspur durch Europas KZs – Sie begann vor 70 Jahren hier in Unshausen, im heutigen Schwalm-Eder-Kreis" (PDF). Archiv und Ausstellung der Universität Kassel (in German). Gedenkstätte Breitenau. pp. 57–62. Archived from the original (PDF file, direct download 78.2 KB) on 2007-07-23. Retrieved 2013-04-26.

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