Death of Christian Wirth

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Max Williams
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Death of Christian Wirth

#1

Post by Max Williams » 25 Feb 2007, 12:58

I am researching the circumstances surrounding the death of Christian Wirth. I would be grateful for any information on this subject.
Thanks,
Max.
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Mark V.
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#2

Post by Mark V. » 25 Feb 2007, 14:13



Rolf2
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#3

Post by Rolf2 » 25 Feb 2007, 16:05

Based in an authoritative book on the matter of the presence of German Forces in OZAK, LO STERMINIO MANCATO, by Pier Arrigo Carnier, I found an interesting story of Christian Wirth death.
The author collected evidences on these facts, receiving informations from Franz Suchomel after the war, asserting that Wirth was particularly hated by the most of the subordinates that called him `pig`. Even Globocnik had problems with him.
Suchomel affirms:´...He was killed in the morning of 10 of May 1944, during the travel from Trieste to Castelnuovo d`Istria. I was told that was killed by his driver, an ucranian: a supposition very plausible because his behavior toward the men of any nationality, was the one of a crazy... Wirth was a human beast. Because of his zeal to obtaining his Knight Cross, 11 our men died...`
Referring to Suchomel statement, is important to mention what the ex Wirth´s loving at the time of Hademar said to the men of Einheit R: `You can be happy that wirth died, otherwise you´ll be all dead since Wirth intended to kill you...`
The elimination of Wirth anyway was a restrict complot for suspectable motivation but possibly just speculations.

Rolf

Max Williams
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#4

Post by Max Williams » 25 Feb 2007, 17:33

Thank you. However, it is just because of these conflicting versions of his death that I think it needs researching.
Any other information, including specific locations, would be appreciated.
Max.

marino46
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#5

Post by marino46 » 25 Feb 2007, 19:36

A couple of photos I have but I am not sure where they come from:

This one is titled Wirth in OZAK
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marino46
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#6

Post by marino46 » 25 Feb 2007, 19:37

And this one is from Wirth burial (allegedly)..
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marino46
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#7

Post by marino46 » 25 Feb 2007, 19:56

Rolf2 wrote:Based in an authoritative book on the matter of the presence of German Forces in OZAK, LO STERMINIO MANCATO, by Pier Arrigo Carnier, I found an interesting story of Christian Wirth death.
To be honest, I do not find Carnier book very 'authoritative'. I have the feeling that the author rely too much on confidences made to him by Franz Suchomel, Ernst Lerch and Franz Hradetzky...While the book is overall rather well documented, I am rather unconfortable with Carnier anedoctical approach. He tends to take the testimony of these characters at a face value...

Rolf2
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#8

Post by Rolf2 » 25 Feb 2007, 23:19

If the second photo is really the burial of Wirth, it should be in Opicina, the German Cemetery. The grave was later moved to Costermano, but only after the war.
Anybody could confirm ?

Rolf

steve248
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#9

Post by steve248 » 26 Feb 2007, 23:51

only Wirth's ashes are at Costermano along with several Reinhardt men who were KIA in Istria

marino46
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#10

Post by marino46 » 04 Mar 2007, 13:05

An extract from an online biography:

"On the 26th May 1944 Wirth was shot and killed by Yugoslav partisans near Kozina, Istria.

He was buried with full military honours in the German Military Cemetary in Opcina, near Trieste.
His remains were transferred in 1959 to the German Military Cemetary at Costermano, near Lake Garda, northern Italy."

BTW. I have a photo of Wirth grave in Costermano that I should scan and publish very soon...

Peter
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#11

Post by Peter » 04 Mar 2007, 14:23

Thanks Marino

I believe that the grave has now been removed or the marker ?

marino46
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#12

Post by marino46 » 04 Mar 2007, 19:10

And this is the Wirth grave in Costermano sul Garda. There are 21,927 German soldiers buried there...

(From 'Lo Sterminio Mancato', Pier Arrigo Carnier)
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Max Williams
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#13

Post by Max Williams » 04 Mar 2007, 21:01

Is it still there?
Max.

steve248
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#14

Post by steve248 » 04 Mar 2007, 21:35

I was there about 3 years ago and it's still there. The Findbuch in the reception room shows the Wirth entry to be heavily fingered.

Peter
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#15

Post by Peter » 05 Mar 2007, 14:48

Wirth, Schwarz and Reichleitner all found their final resting place in the German cemetery on the hilltop town of Costermano on the slopes of Monte Baldo, between the eastern shore of Lake Garda and Verona, where they still remain.[20] Although their names have been removed from the book of memory and the register of war dead and on the gravestones, once a year, flowers are laid on the graves and unidentified visitors attend to pay homage. They have been observed giving the Nazi salute.
http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/belzec1/bel130.html

and Wikipedia.de
Nach dem Krieg wurde Wirth gemeinsam mit Franz Reichleitner, dem 2. Kommandanten des Vernichtungslager Sobibor und Gottfried Schwarz, dem Stellvertreter Wirths im Vernichtungslager Belzec, auf dem deutschen Soldatenfriedhof Costermano in der Provinz Verona bestattet. Aufgrund einer Weigerung des deutschen Generalkonsuls Manfred Steinkühler vor dem Volkstrauertag 1988, den etwa 22.000 dort begrabenen deutschen Soldaten die Ehre zu erweisen, wenn nicht die Gebeine der drei genannten SS-Leute aus dem Friedhof entfernt werden, wurden als Kompromiss die Namen der drei getöteten SS-Leute aus dem „Ehrenbuch“ des Friedhofs getilgt und ihre Dienstgrade auf den Grabsteinen entfernt.

Possibly then a procession of folks perpetuating incorrect data ?

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