Death of Christian Wirth
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Death of Christian Wirth
I am researching the circumstances surrounding the death of Christian Wirth. I would be grateful for any information on this subject.
Thanks,
Max.
Thanks,
Max.
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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
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
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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 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.
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...
"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...
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http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/belzec1/bel130.htmlWirth, 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.
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 ?