The postwar story of Johanna Langefeld is both confusing and contains little accurate information.
Johanna Langefeld was Oberaufseherin at Frauenkonzentrationslger Ravensbrück until 1942 when she was appointed to the same position at the completely new Women's Camp at KL Auschwitz. She only lasted until later in 1942 when after hospitalization she was suspended from the KZ service and threatened with SS court proceedings. This never took place and Langefeld went to work for BMW in Munich.
Langefeld came into American arrest in 1945 and despite the British authorities wanting her for their Ravensbrück Trial, the Americans extradited her to Poland.
In Poland Langefeld did not face trial, though apparently interrogated many times.
There are stories that she was in a prison, in a convent and in a hospital before "escaping" from Poland and returning to Munich.
Can anyone add any documented or archival sources about her period under postwar arrest in Poland and "escape" from the country?
Johanna Langefeld, Oberaufseherin Ravensbrück & Auschwitz
Re: Johanna Langefeld, Oberaufseherin Ravensbrück & Auschwit
from Wikipedia.....
Arrest and death[edit]
On December 20, 1945, Langefeld was arrested by the U.S. Army, and in September 1946, was extradited to the Polish judiciary preparing a trial in Kraków against SS personnel in Auschwitz. On December 23, 1946, Johanna Langefeld escaped from prison. Due to her relatively positive treatment of concentration camp inmates, the escape was organized by the Polish staff of the prison where she was kept.[2] After the escape she hid in a convent, working in a private home.
Sometime around 1957, she returned illegally to live with her sister in Munich. She died in Augsburg, Germany on January 26, 1974, at the age of 73.
Arrest and death[edit]
On December 20, 1945, Langefeld was arrested by the U.S. Army, and in September 1946, was extradited to the Polish judiciary preparing a trial in Kraków against SS personnel in Auschwitz. On December 23, 1946, Johanna Langefeld escaped from prison. Due to her relatively positive treatment of concentration camp inmates, the escape was organized by the Polish staff of the prison where she was kept.[2] After the escape she hid in a convent, working in a private home.
Sometime around 1957, she returned illegally to live with her sister in Munich. She died in Augsburg, Germany on January 26, 1974, at the age of 73.
Re: Johanna Langefeld, Oberaufseherin Ravensbrück & Auschwit
Just because this is on wikipedia does not necessarily mean it is true.
I am looking for an archival reference to ascertain its accuracy.
I am looking for an archival reference to ascertain its accuracy.
Re: Johanna Langefeld, Oberaufseherin Ravensbrück & Auschwit
I suppose the definitive answer will be provided by the to be released in spring documentary about Langefeld's escape Johanna's Secret by Gerburg Rohde-Dahl and Władysław Jurkow.
The wikipedia cite is from Langefeld's acquaintance from Ravensbruck who later lived in the same city at the same time when the escape took place. The already available info about the documentary supports that. She escaped being on her way to work outside the prison, a homeless woman was found in her cell instead of her, arrived in Germany in 1957 (presumably after the stalinist era strict border controls were eased).
The wikipedia cite is from Langefeld's acquaintance from Ravensbruck who later lived in the same city at the same time when the escape took place. The already available info about the documentary supports that. She escaped being on her way to work outside the prison, a homeless woman was found in her cell instead of her, arrived in Germany in 1957 (presumably after the stalinist era strict border controls were eased).
Re: Johanna Langefeld, Oberaufseherin Ravensbrück & Auschwit
steve248 wrote:Just because this is on wikipedia does not necessarily mean it is true.
I am looking for an archival reference to ascertain its accuracy.
Granted......just thought it might be of interest