Axis soldiers shot by Western Allies for sabotage 1940-1947
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:46 pm
Hello
Does anyone know any incidents where German or other Axis soldiers/officers were executed for sabotage/espionage/reprisal shootings by the Western Allies? The one that is well-known is the execution of 3 German commandos by American Army (Manfred Pernass, I recalled this name from memory) captured during Operation Greif for wearing US uniforms and thus violating the Hague rules of land warfare. I recalled that these 3 commandos petitioned General Eisenhower for clemency but unfortunately Eisenhower was in no mood for mercy and rejected the petition.
Here are some examples
1. A German fifth columnist (captured during the German advance to Dunkirk - probably with civilian clothig) were shot by a British firing squad. Just before he was executed, the German shouted - "I died once for myself and twice for my Fuehrer!" (source: Hugh Sebag Montefiore's Dunkirk: Fight To the Last Man - sorry I can't recalled which page as it is from memory)
2. Execution of Obergefreiter Richard Jarcyzk at Kitzingen, 23rd April 1945 for attempting sabotage in civilian clothing. Found guilty by the US 7th Army Military Commission. (source: Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947. A set of 4 pictures showing Jarcyzk was led to a pole, given absolution and then were shot - picture 37)
3. A German colonel, Erich Hammon was executed by the British in Kiel on 1st July 1945. Reasons are not given but Biddiscombe mentioned that the Western Allies proclaimed publicly that any resistance activites such as sniping at Allied troops or possessing weapons would be dealt by execution (page 244, Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947)
4. Execution of two adolescent boys, Heinz Petry and Josef Schorner by the Western Allies. No reason is given (page 244, Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947)
5. Execution of two former members of Hitlerjugend, Werner Reisdorf and Walter Spruenger for maintaining weapons dump in secluded hills in spring 1946 ((page 244, Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947))
Does anyone know any incidents where German or other Axis soldiers/officers were executed for sabotage/espionage/reprisal shootings by the Western Allies? The one that is well-known is the execution of 3 German commandos by American Army (Manfred Pernass, I recalled this name from memory) captured during Operation Greif for wearing US uniforms and thus violating the Hague rules of land warfare. I recalled that these 3 commandos petitioned General Eisenhower for clemency but unfortunately Eisenhower was in no mood for mercy and rejected the petition.
Here are some examples
1. A German fifth columnist (captured during the German advance to Dunkirk - probably with civilian clothig) were shot by a British firing squad. Just before he was executed, the German shouted - "I died once for myself and twice for my Fuehrer!" (source: Hugh Sebag Montefiore's Dunkirk: Fight To the Last Man - sorry I can't recalled which page as it is from memory)
2. Execution of Obergefreiter Richard Jarcyzk at Kitzingen, 23rd April 1945 for attempting sabotage in civilian clothing. Found guilty by the US 7th Army Military Commission. (source: Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947. A set of 4 pictures showing Jarcyzk was led to a pole, given absolution and then were shot - picture 37)
3. A German colonel, Erich Hammon was executed by the British in Kiel on 1st July 1945. Reasons are not given but Biddiscombe mentioned that the Western Allies proclaimed publicly that any resistance activites such as sniping at Allied troops or possessing weapons would be dealt by execution (page 244, Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947)
4. Execution of two adolescent boys, Heinz Petry and Josef Schorner by the Western Allies. No reason is given (page 244, Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947)
5. Execution of two former members of Hitlerjugend, Werner Reisdorf and Walter Spruenger for maintaining weapons dump in secluded hills in spring 1946 ((page 244, Perry Biddiscombe's The Last Nazis: SS Werewolf Guerilla Resistance in Europe 1944-1947))