Trial of Helmut Becker

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ansata1976
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Trial of Helmut Becker

#1

Post by ansata1976 » 01 Feb 2009, 17:06

maybe someone can tell me more about the trial and the defendants in Russia:

Helmut Becker or Hellmuth Becker born 1902 Generalmajor
Ludwig Schwermann born 1916 or 1917 Sturmbanführer
Werner Mostert born 1913 Hauptwachtmeister
Hans Ackermann born ??? Unteroffizier
Hermann Merkner born ??? rank ???

they are all executed 18.02.1952

place of trial ???? place of execution ???

David Thompson
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#2

Post by David Thompson » 01 Feb 2009, 18:10

Becker, Helmuth (12.8.1902-28.2.1952) [SS-Brigadefűhrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS] -- SS-Nr. 113174; NSDAP-Nr. 1592593; service, concentration camp (Konzentrationslager - KL) Dachau 1935-1937; commander, 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Reichsfuehrer SS" (as of 21 Jun 1944); commander, 3d SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" 13 Jul 1944-8 May 1945 [Knights Cross 1943; Oak Leaves 1944] {surrendered to Russian troops 9 May 1945; sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by Soviet court for war crimes; later sentenced to death for sabotage in his work camp and shot 28 Feb 1952 (Waffen-SS Commanders I p. 75; Camp Men p. 36; SS: Roll of Infamy pps. 13-14; Dienstaltersliste der Waffen-SS [1 Juli 1944]).}

The spelling of Becker's first name is from the Dienstalterliste der Waffen-SS.

The sabotage trial apparently took place at a work camp in or near Stalingrad. See http://www.zeit.de/1955/28/Alle-muessen-zurueck

Ludwig Schwermann may be identifiable with Ludwig Schwermann (b. 30.12.1916); SS-Nr. 351239, who had been an SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer commanding the 3d Engineer Battalion in the Totenkopf division in 1944 (Dienstaltersliste der Waffen-SS [1 Juli 1944]).


ansata1976
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#3

Post by ansata1976 » 01 Feb 2009, 19:17

In your link they say: "...Tatsächlich wurden die Todesurteile nicht vollstreckt. Die Verurteilten sind zuerst im Jahre 1953 und auch später noch mehrfach in sowjetischen Strafanstalten gesehen worden. Sie dürfen nicht schreiben, aber sie erhalten Pakete. Die Aufhebung der Urteile aus dem Stalingrader Schauprozeß wäre für die Sowjets kein Problem. Man brauchte nur Berija dafür verantwortlich zu machen." In other sources about Becker they said that he was executed. Do you know which source is correct???

David Thompson
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#4

Post by David Thompson » 01 Feb 2009, 19:28

ansata1976 -- You asked:
Do you know which source is correct???
No, I don't. That's the problem when there is no reliable primary source, and the secondary sources disagree. It's particularly acute with deaths and disappearances in Soviet custody -- see the controversial case of Raoul Wallenberg, for example, or the cases listed in this thread: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18756

dylan
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#5

Post by dylan » 01 Feb 2009, 23:36

Trial Hellmuth Becker
First 25 Years 29/11/1947
Next MVD Militair Tribunal bezirk Don in Rostow 9/09/1952
sentenced to death executed 18/02/1953.

Information from Andreas Hilger in:
Sowjetische Militartribunale Band I, II
Transnationale Vergangenheitspolitik.( Norbert Frei).
Die Generale des zweiten weltkrieges in Sowjetischer Kriegsgefangenschaft ( Irina V,Bezborodova).

dylan.

David Thompson
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#6

Post by David Thompson » 02 Feb 2009, 00:56

Thanks very much, dylan. That book must have flown off the shelves -- published in 2003, there are apparently no copies available for purchase, new or used.

ansata1976
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#7

Post by ansata1976 » 26 Feb 2011, 18:05

I am interested in more information about the other defendants of this trial:


Unteroffizier Hans Ackermann????????????
Hermann Merkner or Manfred Märker????????????
Hauptwachmeister Werner Wostert/Mostert/Kostert/Hostert??? ???????????????

ansata1976
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#8

Post by ansata1976 » 29 Jun 2015, 00:28

Ludwig Schwermann
30.12.1915 in Sendenhorst
SS-Sturmbannführer, Kommandeur SS-PiBtl. 3
executed 28.02.1953

ansata1976
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Re: Trial of Helmut Becker

#9

Post by ansata1976 » 03 Sep 2017, 00:18

Trial 09.09.1952 in Rostow

1.) Hellmuth Becker 12.08.1902 in Alt Ruppin death by firing squad
2.) Ludwig Schwermann 30.12.1915 in Sendenhorst death by firing squad
3.) Werner Mostart death by firing squad
4.) Hans Ackermann death by firing squad
5.) Manfred Märker death by firing squad
6.) Georg Brenner 3x 25 years hard labour
7.) Heinz Löffler 3x 25 years hard labour
8.) ? Blaue 3x 25 years hard labour
9.) Martin Sänger3x 25 years hard labour
10.) Siegfried Weißleder 3x 25 years hard labour
11.) Herbert Sperling 3x 25 years hard labour
12.) Andrej Degner (in absence) 3x 25 years hard labour

death sentence carried out 18.02.1953 in Swerdlowsk

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