SD and Gestapo in Croatia

[shootar401]

We're there any SD or Gestapo officers in Croatia, If so where were they based out of? I was guessing Zagreb, but I'm sure some of them were there covertly if there was not a central office somewhere.

[Ian Mc]

This thread has some information on SD activity in Croatia that might be of interest to you.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=94442

[Georges JEROME]

up to 1943 you have a Polizei-Attaché next to german ambassador at Agram (Beisner then Helm). Simply because State of Croatia was under italian rules.

After 1943 and germany influence. an Einsatzgruppe der SIPO SD was organised . see link for datas

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einsatzgr ... und_des_SD

Georges

[shootar401]

Thanks!

[Mckinney]

Does anyone know who exactly was head of the Gestapo in Zagreb and in which building the offices were located? I have seen some references to Hans Helm, who apparently survived the war. I have seen other references to 'Major Helm' (first name always omitted), who was apparently assassinated near the central square in July 1942 after which 700 people were killed in reprisal.

As to the building, I have seen references to the Esplanade Hotel as HQ for both the Wehrmacht and Gestapo. There is a short film on youtube which shows German officers entering the Esplanade, so it must have at least been a military HQ. (Search for Zagreb 1941 on youtube. The officers walking into the Esplanade appear at about 00:45 in this excellent quality film by a German officer). I have also seen references to the 'Nasticke building', which I believe is the National Theater in the city center, perhaps a mile or two from the Esplanade.

I'd be grateful if anyone could shed light on these questions and I'd be overjoyed to find wartime photos or film of the Esplanade or Glavni Kolidvor (main train station).

Thanks!

[Georges JEROME]

on 1941 Beisner was appointed Polizeiverbindungsoffizier next to the Deutsche Gesandschaft Agram.
then SS-Stubaf. Kriminalrat Hans Helm was Polizeiattaché next to Deutsche Gesandschaft Agram from 1942 to 1943 until Kammerhofer was appointed as Beauftragter der RFSS Kroatien .

Georges

[G. Trifkovic]

Does anyone know who exactly was head of the Gestapo in Zagreb and in which building the offices were located?

Hi Mckinney and

Gestapo HQ was located on Trg Kralja Petra Krešimira IV, in the building occupied today by Republic of Croatia's Ministry of Defense:

http://www.kartografija-otpora.org/hr/

I have seen some references to Hans Helm, who apparently survived the war. I have seen other references to 'Major Helm' (first name always omitted), who was apparently assassinated near the central square in July 1942 after which 700 people were killed in reprisal.

Helm survived the war, but not the Yugoslav captivity (do a forum search for more details). Could you please post your source for the alleged assassination?

Cheers,

G.

[Mckinney]

G., thanks for the welcome and the information!

The information about "Major Helm" appears in sketchy newspaper reports like this one:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2568244

There is also a story in Time Magazine from around 1942 which looks like it would be very interesting, but I'm not willing (yet) to pay the USD 30 subscription fee to access it.

[G. Trifkovic]

G., thanks for the welcome and the information!

The information about "Major Helm" appears in sketchy newspaper reports like this one:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2568244

There is also a story in Time Magazine from around 1942 which looks like it would be very interesting, but I'm not willing (yet) to pay the USD 30 subscription fee to access it.

Hi Mckinney,

A wartime rumor, originating from god-knows-where (I guess Allied newspapers were simply in need of good news in summer of 1942).

The Yugoslav Partisans did, however, kill SS-Brigadeführer Willi Brandner, district police chief for Zagreb, in an ambush north of the city on 28 December 1944, for which the Axis retaliated by hanging at least 100 hostages:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... r#p1874093

(see also Zbornik NOR/V/38/440, Main HQ for Croatia to Supreme HQ, 2.2.1945).

Cheers,

G.

[Georges JEROME]

SS-Sturmbannführer Helm (Not Major rank. He held the police rank of Kriminalrat) was sentenced to death and executed. See post of of David with link.

David Thompson wrote:
Helm, Hans (? -24.01.47 [SS-Obersturmbannführer] -- German police attache to Croatia in Agram (Zagreb) {arrested and put on trial 9 Dec 1946 by the Supreme Military Court of Yugoslavia at Belgrade on war crimes charges; convicted and sentenced to death by hanging 22 Dec 1946 (NYT 23 Dec 1946:2:3 & 8:3; LT 23 Dec 1946:3e); executed at Belgrade 24 Jan 1947 (NYT 25 Jan 1947:2:3).(Eichmann Trial Exhibit T/892; Exhibit T/893, Statement of Hans Helm dated 18 Sept 1946; Octavianus post in Third Reich Forum: "Yugoslav War Crimes Proceedings," http://keywest.dnsvault.com/~forum3rd/p ... php?t=7980).}


Hans HELM SS-Nr.77179 geb.30.06.09 executed at Belgrade 24.01.47. NSDAP-Nr.3204999
SS-Stubaf.: 01.03.41; SS-Obersturmbannführer: 30.01.44

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... m#p1794007

[Mckinney]

Thanks Gents,

I now have some appreciation of the difficulty separating fact from fiction when it comes to WWII news stories. Interesting that even Time magazine (which was better journalism then than it is now) picked up the Helm "assassination" story. However, they too failed to mention a first name, referring only to "Major Helm".

G., do you know if wartime photos of the Esplanade Hotel exist? I have been able to find only one photo which shows tanks in the street directly in front of the hotel, but the hotel is not visible other than the edge of the terrace. Only the large building directly across the street (now painted yellow and I believe related to the Croatian railway) is visible, together with some apartment blocks in the background (still there today).

[G. Trifkovic]

Hi Mckinney,

G., do you know if wartime photos of the Esplanade Hotel exist?

I would be surprised if they don't; I would bet, for instance, that Croatian History Museum has some:

http://www.hismus.hr/hr/zbirke/izbor-iz ... -negativa/

Cheers,

G.

[filigranofil]

Hello,

photo of Hans Helm (left):



Hans Helm was before ww2 Atasche in Belgrade, after begin of WW2 was he Chef of Abt. IV (Gestapo) in Belgrade.
In spring 1942 Beisner left Agram/Zagreb as Chef of Einsatzkommando and Hans Helm was his successor some time.
Afterwards was he Polizeiattaché next to Deutsche Gesandschaft Agram.

source: NEMAČKA OBAVEŠTAJNA SLUŽBA U OKUPIRANOJ JUGOSLAVIJI, interna publikacija III odeljenja UPRAVE DRŽAVNE BEZBEDNOSTI; V knjiga: Nemačka obaveštajna služba u ustaškoj NDH
http://www.znaci.net/00003/511.pdf

regards
Darko

[Mckinney]

Thanks for this Darko.

G., I will visit the museum when I am in Zagreb later this month and let you know what I find.

[DoctorS]

One question about Hans Helm: what was his official position after Police Attaché in Zagreb 1942-43? He was arrested there and I assume he stayed in Zagreb in his mistress's apartment. Did he retain his position as Chief of Amt IV in Belgrade? I have read he was the senior Gestapo official in Croatia, but no mention of his title after 1943. I also read that Constantin Canaris was sent as an RHSA representative to Croatia after his service in Belgium, but I can't seem to confirm this.