SS-Hauptsturmführer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

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itaiv40
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SS-Hauptsturmführer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#1

Post by itaiv40 » 07 Feb 2008, 22:04

This is a pic from the ushmm collection on Auschwitz previously discussed here. The officer on the right (holding the camera) was unidentified for a while, but has recently been named on the website as Walter Schmidetzki, an officer in the camp administration office. Anyone have more info on him? (The search engine does not provide a lot, except for him being tried at the Natzweiler trial).
thanks.
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Jeremy Dixon
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#2

Post by Jeremy Dixon » 08 Mar 2008, 13:33

This is what I have on him. From my book "Commanders of Auschwitz"

Walter SCHMIDETZKI
SS-Obersturmfuhrer

Director of administration department at Auschwitz III – Monowitz from 15th August 1944 until 19th January 1945

SS#: 224 469
NSDAP#: Non Member

Ranks:
SS-Mann – 1st August 1934
SS-Untersturmführer der Waffen-SS – 18th February 1943
SS-Obersturmführer der Waffen-SS – 21st June 1944

Walter Schmidetzki was born on 5th January 1913, in Schran near Rybnik, Upper Silesia. He joined the Allgemeine-SS in August 1934, and in September 1939 he was drafted into the Waffen-SS. He took part in active service at the front before joining the SS-Totenkopfverbände at the beginning of 1942. On 1st August 1942 he was assigned to Dachau concentration camp where he served in the guard units until December. He attended officer training school until February 1943, and was commissioned as SS-Untersturmführer on 18th February. He was then transferred to the administration department of Hinzert concentration camp situated about 18 miles from Trier. On 14th February 1944 he was transferred to Flossenburg concentration camp where he served in a similar capacity as head of the administration department.
<indnt>On 12th May 1944 he was transferred to Auschwitz concentration camp where he was appointed head of the disinfection chambers at Auschwitz II – Birkenau. In June he was promoted to SS-Obersturmfuhrer, and took over as head of the group of barracks known to the prisoners as “Canada”. These barracks were used as depots where all the property, which included high value items, such as jewellery, watches and money that had been taken from the prisoners were stored, sorted, and then shipped to Berlin. From 15th August 1944 he was made simultaneously the Director of the camp administration at Auschwitz III – Monowitz.
In January 1945 the camp was liquidated and Schmidetzki left Auschwitz with a small convoy heading towards Natzweiler concentration camp. He remained here as head of administration until the camp was liberated in April 1945 by American troops. He was captured, and after being interrogated he was handed over to the Polish authorities for trial. He was tried in Poland for crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed while at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. He was found guilty and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on 28th July 1948.


TH Albright
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#3

Post by TH Albright » 08 Mar 2008, 15:05

Hi TR...do you have any info on his Waffen SS service for my database? thanks in advance

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Jeremy Dixon
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#4

Post by Jeremy Dixon » 08 Mar 2008, 15:09

sorry thats all i have

Mikedc
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#5

Post by Mikedc » 08 Mar 2008, 17:16

Hello TR,

Very nice summory, thanks for sharing it with us.

Do you know what his final rank in the Allgemeine SS was???
And do you know by any chance his DoD/place of death??

Greetings,
Mike

Taunide
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#6

Post by Taunide » 10 Mar 2008, 17:25

Correction: Walter Robert Schmidetzki was born in Sohrau (I do not have his fathers Name but his Mother was Hedel)

He was incarcerated in Karlsruhe

In his Later (post-war) life he became a Art Painter and Sculpturer. He lived near Walsrode. Married and had one Son.

Date and Place of Death yet unknown. I'll have to ask my aunt for it.

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Jeremy Dixon
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#7

Post by Jeremy Dixon » 10 Mar 2008, 18:48

Thats interesting about his place of birth I got the informaiton direct from his SS file - interesting thanks

Taunide
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#8

Post by Taunide » 10 Mar 2008, 18:56

I do not have his birth certificate, but I am trying to get the informations verified. But this could take a while.

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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#9

Post by Mikedc » 10 Mar 2008, 19:10

Hello Taunide,

Thanks for the info on Schmidetzki, that's highly appreciate.
Apparently even SS-files are not always 100% accurate....

I typed in Schran on Google and no link to a place with that name.
But when I typed in Sohrau I got a link immediately, also in Upper Silezia....


Greetings,
Mike

Taunide
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#10

Post by Taunide » 10 Mar 2008, 19:22

well if you retrieve the infos from hand-written files Schran might come from a disfiguered o and an upside-down u. And I am quite sure about most of the informations.. I am into Genealogy and he popped up quite close to my family.

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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#11

Post by danyb » 10 Mar 2008, 19:58

hello !

schmidetzki walter:
born on the 5.1.1913 at sohrau (haute-silésie)
son of robert schmidetzki and edwig foitzig
married , 1 child
occupation (job): agricultural worker
sentence to 20 years hard-labor (rastatt.1.2.1947)
relesead.13.7.1953

it this your man ?

danyb

Taunide
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#12

Post by Taunide » 10 Mar 2008, 21:28

That seems to be him. But then it is not Edwig but Hedwig (wich is the longer form of Hedel)

But I am adamant with the painting. I have several Pictures in my possesion.

But thanks for his fathers first Name

itaiv40
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#13

Post by itaiv40 » 10 Mar 2008, 23:35

Taunide,
Thank you for the info on Schmidetzki. It would be great if you would post some of those photos!

Taunide
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#14

Post by Taunide » 10 Mar 2008, 23:51

Pictures of his paintings?? Need to scan them

itaiv40
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Re: Hauptsturmfuhrer Walter Schmidetzki - Auschwitz

#15

Post by itaiv40 » 11 Mar 2008, 00:27

Oops, sorry. i thought you meant "pictures", as in photos of him.

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