Oskar Dirlewanger and Friedrich Jackeln [<-- JEckeln]

phil102 · #1

Hi,

Im a new poster to the forum. I've searched on the above two individuals and I have found much interesting info on Dirlewanger, less (nothing in fact) on Jackeln. The info I got from the search unfortunately does not answer my basic question.

SS Brigadefuhrer Oskar Dirlewanger and SS Obergruppenfuhrer Friedrich Jackeln were two notoriously brutal war criminals operating on the Eastern Front. Dirlewanger commanded Sonderkommando Dirlewanger which, in my understanding, was basically a murder squad used in "anti partisan" operations, including the supression of the Warsaw uprising. To my knowledge the Sonderkommando was one of the most brutal and criminal groups active on the eastern front. Much of its assigned work was in support of Einsatzgruppe B and Order Police "aktionen" against Jews in Byelorussia (Rhodes, "Masters of Death").

Jackeln was Higher SS and Police Leader for the Ukraine in 1941. Amoungst other crimes he was also responsible for the actions of the Einsatzgruppen within the Ukraine, actions which resulted in the murder of at least several tens of thousand people.

In "Slaughter at Halbe" by Tony Le Tissier the commander of V SS Mountain Corps of the 9th Army is listed as SS-Gen Friedrich Jackeln. Does anyone know if this is the same individual who was Higher SS and Police Leader in the Ukraine? Rhodes lists Jackeln as being executed in the Soviet Union in 1946. This would tie in with him being captured around Halbe in April/May 1945. Was this the case?

Le Tissier also lists SS-Maj Gen Dirlewanger as commander of 36th SS Grendier Division, part of V Corp of the 9th Army at Halbe. Is this the same Oskar Dirlewanger, commander of SK Dirlewanger? In "Barbarossa", Clark says that Dirlewanger escaped captivity and in 1963 was living in Egypt. However Rhodes in "Masters of Death" lists Dirlewanger as having been beaten to death by guards at Altshauser Detention Centre on 7th June 1945.

Anyone know what happened with these individuals and if they are the same people?

If they are the same people, was it common for these type of Higher SS criminals directly involved in the Holocaust to end up commanding "ordinary" Waffen SS Units? I have been told that it is a common misconception to assume that there was any difference between "ordinary" SS units and those actively and directly involved in the Holocaust. Is this a genuine misconception? Was there any difference?

Thank you for any response.

stcamp · #2

Jackeln was brutal mass murder. He personally supervised over 30,000 deaths by 1941. He was also the inventor or at least the one who used it so much that it began known as his. This was the sardine packing method of mass murder. Lead them in shoot them. Then stack another crew on top. He also commanded at least 2 kampfgruppes that I know of. One in 1942 near Leningrad, the other -- well I need to look it up but it was 1944. I think he also supervised the first 5 figure SS massacare of the war.

Regards,

Steve

David Thompson · #3

phil102 -- Here's some bio information on Dr. Dirlewanger and Friedrich Jeckeln:

DIRLEWANGER, Dr. Oskar (RK; DKiG)
(1895 - 1945)
SS-Oberfuhrer d.R. (W-SS):
Born: 26. Sep. 1895 in Würzburg/Franken.
Killed: 7. Jun. 1945 in Altshausen, apparently beaten to death by French soldiers.
NSDAP-Nr.: 1 098 716/SS-Nr.: 357 267
Promotions:
SS-Oberf.d.R.: 12. Aug. 1944; SS-Staf.d.R.: ; SS-OStubaf.d.R.: ; SS-Stubaf.d.R.: ;
Assignments:
Decorations & Awards:
Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 30. Sep. 1944 as SS-Oberf. d.R. and Kdr., SS-Sturmbrigade "Dirlewanger" on the Eastern Front;
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold: 5. Dec. 1943;
1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I: 16. Sep. 1942; 1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II: 24. May 1942; Nahkampfspange in Bronze; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold; Ehrenkreuz fur Frontkampfer; Landesorden.

From co-moderator Michael Miller's excellent Axis Biographical Research website at
http://www.geocities.com/%7Eorion47/

From my own notes on Jeckeln:

Jeckeln, Friedrich (2.2.1895-3.2.1946) [SS-Obergruppenfűhrer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS und Polizei] -- NSDAP: 163348; SS: 4367; Senior SS and Police Commander "Center" at Brunswick (HSSPF "Mitte") (Braunschweig) 28 Jun 1938-11 Jul 1940; commander of Ist Battalion in the 2nd SS "Death's Head" Infantry Regiment of the 2nd SS "Death's Head" Division on the western front (Kdr. I./SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 2/SS-Totenkopf-Division [Westfront]) May-Jun 1940; Senior SS and Police Commander "West" (HSSPF "West") at Düsseldorf 12 July 1940-29 Jun 1941; Senior SS and Police Commander "South Russia/ Ukraine" (HSSPF "Russland-Sued/Ukraine") at Kiev 23 Jun 1941-1 Nov 1941); Senior SS and Police Commander "Eastern Lands and North Russia" (HSSPF "Ostland und Russland-Nord") at Riga 1 Nov 1941-May 1945; Senior SS and Police Commander "Belgium and Northern France" (HSSPF "Belgien-Nordfrankreich") at Brussels 22 Sept 1944-18 Jan 1945; Reichstag deputy [Knights Cross 1944; Oakleaves 1945] {taken prisoner by Soviet troops; put on trial by a Soviet tribunal at Riga, Latvia for war crimes; convicted and sentenced to death by hanging; executed 3 Feb 1946 (Waffen-SS Commanders I, p. 276; ABR-SS; SS: Roll of Infamy p. 81; History of the United Nations War Crimes Commission and the Development of the Laws of War p. 530, United Nations War Crimes Commission, London: HMSO, 1948; see also NYT 4 Feb 1946:2:4; Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP [9 Nov 1944]).}

You also asked:

If they are the same people, was it common for these type of Higher SS criminals directly involved in the Holocaust to end up commanding "ordinary" Waffen SS Units? I have been told that it is a common misconception to assume that there was any difference between "ordinary" SS units and those actively and directly involved in the Holocaust. Is this a genuine misconception? Was there any difference?

A number of "Higher SS criminals directly involved in the Holocaust" ended up commanding "ordinary" Waffen SS Units. They were, however, a minority of the total number of Waffen-SS commanders. The criminality of any military unit should be assessed on the basis of its record and leadership, rather than on the basis of broad generalizations.

Michael Miller · #4

A little more on their promotions and awards:

Dr. phil.
Oskar Dirlewanger
SS-Oberführer d. R. der Waffen-SS

* 26.09.1895 in Würzburg / Franken.
+ 07.06.1945 in Altshausen / Kreis Saulgau / Württemberg (beaten to death in French captivity). Gravesite: The local cemetery in Altshausen.

NSDAP-Nr.: 1 098 716 (Joined 01.03.1932)
SS-Nr.: 357 267 (Joined 01.07.1940)

Promotions:
01.10.1913 Einjährig-Freiwilliger
27.07.1914 Unteroffizier
24.12.1914 Vizefeldwebel
14.04.1915 Leutnant d. R.
30.12.1918 Oberleutnant d. R. a. D.
02.08.1933 SA-Scharführer
04.08.1933 SA-Truppführer
09.11.1933 SA-Sturmführer
24.06.1940 SS-Mann (mit Wirkung vom 01.07.1940)
01.07.1940 SS-Obersturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
19.08.1940 SS-Hauptsturmführer d. R. der Waffen-SS (mit Wirkung vom 01.08.1940)
08.02.1942 SS-Sturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS (mit Wirkung vom 09.11.1941)
12.05.1943 SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
19.03.1944 SS-Standartenführer d. R. der Waffen-SS
12.08.1944 SS-Oberführer d. R. der Waffen-SS (mit RDA vom 10.08.1944)

Decorations & Awards:
30.09.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Oberführer d. R. and Kdr. SS-Sturmbrigade “Dirlewanger” / Kampfgruppe Reinefarth / Kommandierender General des Raumes Warschau / Heeresgruppe Mitte, Eastern Front (based on a recommendation dated 10.09.1944 and signed by Heinz Reinefarth; approved same date by Kom. Gen. Erich von dem Bach)
05.12.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as SS-Obersturmbannführer d. R. and Kdr. SS-Sonder-Bataillon Dirlewanger /
Höhere SS- und Polizeiführer Rußland-Mitte und Weißruthenien (based on a recommendation dated 15.08.1943 and signed by the HSSPF, Erich von dem Bach)
16.09.1942 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
24.05.1942 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
13.07.1916 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
28.08.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
04.10.1915 Kgl. Württembergische Goldenes Tapferkeitsmedaille
10.11.1942 Tapferkeitsauszeichnung für Ostvölker I. Klasse in Silber mit Schwertern
09.10.1942 Tapferkeitsauszeichnung für Ostvölker II. Klasse in Silber mit Schwertern
19.03.1944 Nahkampfspange I. Stufe (Bronze)
00.00.1939 Deutsches Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwertern
00.00.1944 Bandenkampfabzeichen in Silber
00.06.1943 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
09.07.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Gold
30.04.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
ca. 1934 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze
00.00.19__ Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer
00.00.1944 (?) Order of the War Victory Cross (Slovakia)
00.00.193_ Military Service Cross (Spain)
00.00.193_ Medalla de la Campaña de España

Friedrich August Jeckeln
SS-Obergruppenführer und
General der Waffen-SS und der Polizei

* 02.02.1895 in Hornberg im Schwarzwald / Baden.
+ 03.02.1946 in Riga (Executed by hanging after sentence of death from a Soviet court).

NSDAP-Nr.: 163 348 (Joined 01.10.1929)
SS-Nr.: 4 367 (Joined 01.12.1930)

Promotions:
01.10.1913 Einjährig-Freiwilliger
00.03.1915 Leutnant d. R.
01.12.1930 SS-Anwärter
05.01.1931 SS-Mann
31.03.1931 SS-Sturmbannführer (mit Wirkung vom 15.03.1930)
22.06.1931 SS-Standartenführer
25.09.1931 SS-Oberführer (mit Wirkung vom 20.09.1931)
04.02.1933 SS-Gruppenführer
20.06.1933 Regierungsrat
01.10.1933 Major der Schutzpolizei
01.11.1933 Oberstleutnant der Schutzpolizei
13.09.1936 SS-Obergruppenführer
01.04.1941 General der Polizei
01.07.1944 General der Waffen-SS

Decorations & Awards:
08.03.1945 Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (802.) as SS-Obergruppenführer und General
der Waffen-SS und Polizei and Kom. Gen. V.SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Korps / Heeresgruppe Mitte (based on a recommendation dated 14.02.1945 and signed by Heeresgruppe OB Generaloberst Ferdinand Schörner)
27.08.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuz as SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und Polizei,
HSSPF "Ostland und Russland-Nord", and Kdr. Kampfgruppe “Jeckeln” / 18.Armee / Heeresgruppe Nord (based on a recommendation submitted via telegram, 17.08.1944, by Chef des Stabes 18.Armee, Generalmajor Friedrich Foertsch; approved by Heeresgruppe OB Generaloberst Ferdinand Schörner)
19.12.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei, HSSPF "Ostland und
Russland-Nord”, and Kdr. Kampfgruppe “Jeckeln” / Heeresgruppe Nord, Eastern Front (retroactive justification for award submitted 23.05.1944 by Heeresgruppe OB Generaloberst Georg Lindemann)
12.05.1942 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse
00.10.1941 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
00.00.191_ 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse
27.01.1942 Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern
28.09.1940 Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern
27.06.1942 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Silber
ca. 1918 Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Schwarz
29.07.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
00.00.19__ Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
00.00.19__ Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
00.00.193_ Ehrenkreuz fur Frontkampfer
00.00.191_ Badischen Verdienst-Medaille
00.00.191_ Hohenzollernsches Ehrenkreuz
00.00.191_ Placed on Ehrenblatt (Honor Roll) of the Imperial German Army
30.01.1939 Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
ca. 1931 Abzeichen des SA-Treffens Braunschweig 1931
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber
00.00.194_ Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze
21.08.1940 Polizei Dienstauszeichnung III. Klasse
[01.12.1937] SA-Sportabzeichen in Bronze
00.00.193_ Ehrendolch der SS
[01.12.1937] Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
[01.12.1937] Totenkopfring der SS
00.00.19__ SS-Zivilabzeichen (Nr. 1 981)
16.12.1935 Julleuchter der SS
00.00.1933 Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer

phil102 · #5

Thank you for your replies

David, I found your point that "The criminality of any military unit should be assessed on the basis of its record and leadership, rather than on the basis of broad generalizations." to be an interesting one. I agree with the principle. However is there a case to be made that the SS was a criminal organisation and that, as such, its members regardless of their actions, could be considered as criminals simply by being members?

David Thompson · #6

phil102 -- The question of whether the IMT declared the SS a criminal organization is discussed at:

The IMT Judgment on the Waffen-SS
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=46013

pp 7-8 of:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=14506

p.1 of:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=32847

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=30087 and

Judgment on the SS as a Criminal Organization
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=15476

Rob - wssob2 · #7

Hi David and Phil102:

I too paused before that David's comment "The criminality of any military unit should be assessed on the basis of its record and leadership, rather than on the basis of broad generalizations."

David, I agree with you in principle but disagree with you in this specific case of the antipartisan war on the Eastern Front 1941-44.

SS Brigadefuhrer Oskar Dirlewanger and HSSPF SS Obergruppenfuhrer Friedrich Jackeln didn't commit crimes just out of some personal failing or deviency. (although Dirlewanger was without question a sociopath). They committed criminal actions that were either Third Reich state policy or were based on directives from Third Reich leaders. Jackeln didn't control the Einsatzgruppen out of some crazed personal notion to be a mass-murder like Ted Bundy on a grand-scale - he did so to implement Heydrich, Himmlers and Hitler's directive to eliminate the "Jewish=Bolshevist" threat.

Direlewanger's unit press-ganged civilians as slave labor and executed reprisal hostages in ratios of 10:1 or 100:1 not because Dirlewanger got some sadistic glee out of base-10 massacres, but because the WVHA and Nazi party specifically asked for slave laborers and that the reprisal rations were an official part of Wehrmacht military policy in the WWII. (Dirlewanger's unit gets a bad reputation but its important to point out that there were plentry of "ordinary men" German police battalions with a murder record just as horrendous.)

My perspective is that it was the inherent amorality and criminality of the Third Reich that was the "prime mover" responsible for the excesses of the Eastern Front. Claiming that criminal actions were simply the byproduct of bad commanders or indisciplined units just distorts the scale and range of the crimes. As books like The Good Old Days and the recent exhibit The German Army and Genocide points out, the entire Wehrmacht participated particiapated. Genocide and war crime was not the exception, it was the norm.

Rob - wssob2 · #8

Le Tissier also lists SS-Maj Gen Dirlewanger as commander of 36th SS Grendier Division, part of V Corp of the 9th Army at Halbe. Is this the same Oskar Dirlewanger, commander of SK Dirlewanger?

Yes. The sonderkommando was eventually upgraded to a division

Does anyone know if this is the same individual who was Higher SS and Police Leader in the Ukraine? Rhodes lists Jackeln as being executed in the Soviet Union in 1946.

Yes its the same guy. Jackeln commanded both the IV and V SS Corps in 1944-45.

phil102 · #9

David - thank you for the links, I found them very informative and interesting. It has greatly improved my understanding of the nature of the criminality of the SS and the way that the crimes of individual members were prosecuted by the Tribunal.

Rob - thank you also for your reply. The fact that SK Dirlewanger was upgraded to 36th SS Grendier Division is very interesting. It demonstrates that what can appear to casual observers (such as me) to be "ordinary" Waffen SS divisions can in fact be divisions composed (partially at least) of murderous criminals such as the members of SK Dirlewanger. I do appreciate that generalisations should be avoided, however in the case of SK Direlwanger I find it difficult to believe (in the absense of evidence to the contrary) that any members of that SK were not criminals. All of the members must have had knowledge of the murderous activities being carried out.

On Jeckeln - Thanks for the info. It seems likely then that he was captured near Halbe and sent to Riga to stand trial.

All very interesting and informative - I appreciate the effort taken to post replies.

ToKu · #10

Very good site on Dirlewanger, focused on his participation in massacre of Warsaw, but contains some other facts from his life as a background. In polish only.

http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/cv_dirlewang.htm

snookie · #11

Rob - wssob2 wrote: SS Brigadefuhrer Oskar Dirlewanger and HSSPF SS Obergruppenfuhrer Friedrich Jackeln didn't commit crimes just out of some personal failing or deviency. (although Dirlewanger was without question a sociopath). They committed criminal actions that were either Third Reich state policy or were based on directives from Third Reich leaders.

People seem to leave out of the discussion how blood thirsty the partisans were that Dirlewanger was fighting. In "The Cruel Hunters" it states on more than one occasion that Dirlewangers 'actions' were in direct response to Partisan attacks.

Page 69 states that the 'partisans almost always killed captured German soldiers, frequently after inflicting horrible torture'.

It seems Dirlewanger's men were not the only 'criminals' on the eastern front.

ToKu · #12

Aahhh!

That would explain why he actively participated in pacification of Warsaw - for him it was just another rebelious village, crawling with subhumans - the verdict shall then be - not guilty!

Poles should only blame themselves for 200.000 casualties, cause they were killed in direct response to partisan attack.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
SS-Brigadeführer Ernst Rode: (about Dirlewanger's brigade): they were rather "Schweinehaufen" (bunch of pigs?) then soldiers.

I hope that Dirlewanger is burning in hell.
I hope those flames are eternal for him.

snookie · #13

ToKu wrote:Aahhh!

That would explain why he actively participated in pacification of Warsaw - for him it was just another rebelious village, crawling with subhumans - the verdict shall then be - not guilty!

Poles should only blame themselves for 200.000 casualties, cause they were killed in direct response to partisan attack.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
SS-Brigadeführer Ernst Rode: (about Dirlewanger's brigade): they were rather "Schweinehaufen" (bunch of pigs?) then soldiers.

I hope that Dirlewanger is burning in hell.
I hope those flames are eternal for him.

I believe Dirlewanger was ordered to Warsaw to put down the rebellion. It is not as if he heard there was a big Polish/Jew burning party and hitch-hiked there on his day off to participate. If it was not Dirlewanger, it would have been someone else AND there were plenty of other units there doing the same as he, although not with his particular 'flair'.

It is a what came first, the chicken or the egg type of thing now isn't it?
Would there be a 'notorious' Dirlewanger if there was no murderous Partisan type activity for the Germans to 'need' him?

And Toku are we excusing Polish crimes just because we were on the 'good side'?

Torture is torture.
Murder is Murder.
A criminal is a criminal...no matter what flag you may be fighting under.

David Thompson · #14

snookie and To Ku -- Drop the personal comments.

snookie · #15

David Thompson wrote:snookie and To Ku -- Drop the personal comments.

There was nothing personal in my post