Friedrich Jeckeln on Riga Trial, 1946

[askropp]

PS: The Soviet files (according to Bezborodova) say that Küpper was captured after the Kurland surrender on May 9.

[johnnyfarragut]

Regarding Friedrich Jeckeln's interrogation and trial: Almost all of his interrogation sessions were conducted by a Major Zwetajew, a section head in the NKVD intelligence service. A Soviet interpreter was also in attendance. Physical torture does not obviously appear to have been used to elicit statements from Jeckeln. At the end of each session Jeckeln would carefully sign the agreed minutes of interrogation. The steadiness of the signatures throughout pages of interrogation does not suggest the prisoner’s significant physical or mental deterioration. However, photographs at Jeckeln’s trial show that cold and hunger had clearly taken a toll on his physique, and the pattern of interrogations was intended to break down his resistance. Between 13 December 1945 and 21 January 1946 Jeckeln was interrogated 29 times, the majority of interrogations occurring between 22 December and 4 January. Interrogations could begin at almost any time day or night and last from 45 min to almost 11 h. Sleep deprivation and constant pressure applied during 13 days of intensive interrogations, backed by the near certainty in Jeckeln’s mind that his execution was a certainty no matter what he did or said, were sufficient to ensure the compliance of the former SS officer.

At his trial on 3 February Jeckeln appeared in the dock with a number of other German officers. His officer’s uniform had been shorn of all decoration and symbol. In the dock alongside Jeckeln were some of the leading figures in the German occupation of North Russia: Generalleutnant Siegfried Ruff, Generalleutnant Wolfgang von Ditfurth, Generalleutnant Albrecht Baron Digeon von Monteton, Generalmajor Friedrich Werther, General Bronislaw Pawel and Generalmajor Hans Kupper. The courtroom examination of each was cursory, and their guilt was quickly pronounced. They were led away and hung publicly before an audience of several thousand soldiers and civilians. Jeckeln’s boots were taken as a souvenir by one of the onlookers.

(Source: G. H. Bennett: Exploring the World of the Second and Third Tier Men in the Holocaust: The Interrogation of Friedrich Jeckeln: Engineer and Executioner; Liverpool Law Rev (2011) 32:1–18)

[ansata1976]

Hi Ansata,

are you sure about Georg Sauer as commander of KL Kaiserwald? According to my information the commander of Kaiserwald was SS-Stubaf. Albert Sauer.

Greetings from
Ludger

[steve248]

Definitely Albert Sauer not Georg Sauer at KL Kaiserwald.
see earlier posts /viewtopic.php?t=135409

The fact that Jeckeln's uniform was bereft of all insignia appears to have been 'de rigeur' across all the Allied nations who captured Germans in uniform. Whether an enlisted man or a General.

[Max Williams]

I believe Karl Wolff was an exception. He was allowed to wear his General rank epaulettes in court.
Max.

[trespasser07]

Does anyone know where Jeckeln had his headquarters in Riga during his role there?

[von thoma]

The historic Ritterhaus in Riga; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_ ... orporation

[trespasser07]

Thank you sir, dont suppose you know about Prutzmann’s in Kiev also?

[AJK]

Regarding Generalleutnatnt Wolfgang von Ditfurth: today I heard an anecdote from someone who has a friend who works as a guide at the Museum of Occupation in Riga. This guide told my friend that apparently one of the generals who was condemned to death during the Riga Trial was too ill to be executed, so the Russians selected someone else (apparently at random), dressed him in the general's uniform and hanged him in his stead. Since it now appears that von Ditfurth was not actually hanged but died from illness, if there is any truth to this anecdote then it would be him who was hanged "in effigy". I have no way of determining the accuracy of this account, but am sharing this in case anyone else has any input.

Thanks,

AJK

[trespasser07]

Where there any images taken of Jeckeln’s capture by the Russians and was he immediately moved to Riga?

[steve248]

There is a Russian "mugshot" of Jeckeln following his capture on the cover of "Verhört. Die Befragungen deutscher Generale und Offiziere durch die sowjetischen Geheimdienste 1945-1952" eds. Wassili S. Christoforow, Wladimir G Makarow. Matthias Uhl, publ. de Gruyter, Oldenburg, 2015. The cover has a an orange tint but I have seen the same photo in other publications.
Between pp 233-267 are seven interrogation reports of Jeckeln (in German) in Riga between 13 Dec 1945 and 2 Jan 1946.
It does not say where he was held between May 1945 and Dec 1945.

[Andrey]

There is a Russian "mugshot" of Jeckeln following his capture on the cover of "Verhört. Die Befragungen deutscher Generale und Offiziere durch die sowjetischen Geheimdienste 1945-1952" eds. Wassili S. Christoforow, Wladimir G Makarow. Matthias Uhl, publ. de Gruyter, Oldenburg, 2015. The cover has a an orange tint but I have seen the same photo in other publications.
Between pp 233-267 are seven interrogation reports of Jeckeln (in German) in Riga between 13 Dec 1945 and 2 Jan 1946.
It does not say where he was held between May 1945 and Dec 1945.

No. It`s Ferdinand Schörner photo.

Andrey.

[trespasser07]

Thanks for the insight I think Kleinheisterkamp was captured with Jeckeln but used a capsule not sure why Jeckeln did not do the same.

[steve248]

Let's try the correct book cover, from Bohlau Verlag, Köln, 2001:

IMG_0085a.png (240.8 KiB) Viewed 485 times

[Andrey]

On this book is Hans Rattenhuber photo.

Andrey.