Colonel-General Johannes Blaskowitz

[Silviu]

Hello all,

If you have any details regarding the death of gen. Blaskowitz, please post them. I have read contradictory articles about that. He had enemies, including Hitler and SS, after his protests of the atrocities in occupied Poland. Thanks,

Silviu

[David Thompson]

Here's a contemporaneous account of Blaskowitz's death from the New York Times 6 Feb 1948:13. I'll see if I can find my copy of the London Times report and post it as well.

[David Thompson]

Part 2 (last of the NYT 6 Feb 1948 article; and the London Times, 8 Feb 1948 p. 3 article):

[Silviu]

Thanks, David.
Silviu

[Panzermahn]

Johannes Blaskowitz is a field marshal? Isn't he a colonel general? Is the americans wrongly reported his rank?

[Gareth Collins]

Yes it's wrong. The Press at that time got a lot of things wrong, even names. You should see the official papers of the Nuremberg Trials, so many inaccuracies. His Ultimate was was Generaloberst.
Regards,
Gareth

[Molobo]

Regarding his death. I heard rumours that he was in fact murdered by other prisoners instead of commiting suicide.Does anybody have any more info on this theory ? Blaskowitz sure looks like decent enough German officer from what I learned about him and I would like to know more.

[Steen Ammentorp]

Anybody interested in Blaskowitz should read Richard Giziowski's The Enigma of General Blaskowitz which I think is an excellent book. His chapter on Blaskowitz's death does not reach a conclusion on the circumstances of his death, he may have committed suicide, have had an accident or have been murdered. There is no clear evidence.

Personally I think that suicide is the most plausible course of death as I see no real motive for anyone killing him. Yes – he crossed the SS during the war and may have distanced himself from other hardliner officers during prison hood. But I don't that this would lead to him being murdered in 1948 three years after the war.

I rather think that the lack of clear evidence of him committing suicide started the rumours of him being murdered by the SS, and nobody had any real interested in saying otherwise. Considered the following:

Family/Friends: It sounds better that a decent general has been murdered by the SS rather than a depressed general commits suicide after been charge with war crimes.

Hardliners/SS: Free PR – They got the message out: Do not cross with us – we will get you wherever you are. Properly a good message in those days. (I don't think that they existed).

The only ones that had any thing to gain by dispelling the murder theories were the allied authorities, and they did of course also say suicide but then again wouldn't they say that? Covering up their own incompetence protecting a prisoner under their protection? Or just a part in the master plan?

Kind Regards
Steen Ammentorp aka Oliver Stone
The Generals of World War II

[Molobo]

Or just a part in the master plan?

Like said I only heard it as a rumour that he was murdered by SSmen, I wanted more knowledge about the allegations.So no need for the ironic tone, really.

[Steen Ammentorp]

Molobo.

I wasn't trying to be ironic on your question just conspiracy theories in general. Sorry if it came off wrong.

Kind Regards
Steen Ammentorp
The Generals of World War II

[Benoit Douville]

Blaskowitz was never a Field Marshall because he didn't received huge promotion after he reported the atrocities commited by the Waffen-SS in Poland in september 1939...

Regards