SS-Hauptsturmführer Ernst Thomas

[George_W]

1941, SS-Ostuf Thomas arrived Kielce as “Chef der Gestapo”. He is described as “60 Jahre alt, grauhaarig, dick, ca. 165 cm gross. Er war Dr der Philosophie

Thank You Steve.

Bolded part of this statement is obviously incorrect. According to his SSOA he ended his education after 4 classes of Volksschule and was "Landwirt" by profession.

George

[steve248]

Eyewitness testimony..........

[Hgh77]

However, the description does not fit to Ernst Karl Thomas, who was then in his early 40s. Other sources report such excesses by Hans Gaier, the chief of police in Kielce. The description fits better to his person.

Today I made another request to the Federal Archives in Berlin about Ernst Karl Thomas. In the department in which information about the SS is kept, further information may have been preserved. I will keep you up to date

[steve248]

As I said eyewitness testimony - but as he was suffering several heart troubles, enough to get him retired in Jan 1945, maybe he did look older than he was.

[Hgh77]

The profession of farmer before his time with the Gestapo seems secure. I found a marriage certificate of what appears to be his first marriage. Name and date of birth and place of birth match.

[George_W]

Do You maybe know the names of his parents?

George

[Hgh77]

No, unfortunately not! But there would be the possibility to request a copy of the birth certificate from the registry office in Grossenhain. Such inquiries are usually processed quickly.

[George_W]

Thank You.

It seems that Kriminalkommissar was his final rank.

George

[steve248]

BBL 1/45 lists his promotion to KR and uses his SS rank as SS-Ostuf; when he was SS-Hstuf from 9 Nov 1944.

[George_W]

Thank You Steve.

He committed suicide in Friedewald near Dresden. I am attaching a PDF from the Arolsen archive. My grandmother was questioned by the police about Ernst Karl Thomas after the war.

Do You maybe know what was the exact date of his death? May 1945?

George

[Hgh77]

Thank You.

It seems that Kriminalkommissar was his final rank.

George

No, he was a „ Kriminalrat“ with the rank of Hauptsturmfuhrer!

Kriminalrat ist the first rank in high Police service.

[Hgh77]

Thank You Steve.

He committed suicide in Friedewald near Dresden. I am attaching a PDF from the Arolsen archive. My grandmother was questioned by the police about Ernst Karl Thomas after the war.

Do You maybe know what was the exact date of his death? May 1945?

George

It must be in May 1945. In her, my grandmother spoke in her interrogation of the "Umsturz" that took place in the Dresden region around 30 April 1945.

[George_W]

Thank You.

George

[yspiotta]

Thanks for all the post relative to my question. Given the information in the string, SS-Hauptsturmführer Ernst Jacob was not my relative.
The other Ernst Thomas, born 16.04.1906 born in Züllichau, would be the correct relative of mine, I believe.
If anyone has additional information about this other Ernst Jacob, please contact me or post here.
Party Nr. 3426420, SS Nr. 154762, SS-Ustuf. 30.01.38, beim 54.-SS Standarte 1938 (DAL 1938).

[Hgh77]

Hello everyone, after a while I have completed my research on Ernst Karl Thomas, born on May 10th, 1900 in Skassa, district of Grossenhain.

Ernst Thomas was a relative of my great-uncle by marriage and appears in my family history.
For this I evaluated sources from the Federal Archives and the Evangelical Church:

Last place of residence: Friedewald, district of Buchholz (today the city of Moritzburg), Adolf-Hitler-Str. 68

Profession: Farmer
Practiced profession: Police officer from 1923

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran, later “God-believing”
Marital status: Married since 1.7.1933
Wife Johanna, born Bessler * 22.09.1895 in Dresden

Children:
Child Johanna Christiane *27.06.1936 in Dresden
n.n. (probably illegitimate)

Military career:
Army: June 3, 1918 – January 6, 1918 Replacement Pioneer Battalion 12
Freikorps: January 15, 1919 – May 31, 1919 Volunteer Regiment 18
Reichswehr:
June 1, 1919 – December 31, 1919 Infantry Regiment 56
October 23, 1923 – December 2, 1923 Infantry Regiment 10 III. Mine thrower company Last rank: sergeant

Orders and decorations:
• War veteran badge of honor
• Maltese cross II class
• Silesian eagle II class
• 8-year service award
• 18-year service award
• Sudeten medal

Police career:
Police Dresden 13.12.1923 – 01.04.1934
Gestapo 02.04.1934 – Death 1945

Member of the SS SD Gestapo Dresden from 1940
SD/Gestapo Kielce from 1941/42
SD/Gestapo Gleiwitz approx .1944


Proof d. Hereditary health:
• Issued on July 16, 1940 (hereditally healthy with the exception of the sister)
• Sister suffering on schizophrenia; died in the Arnsdorf Hospital on June 9, 1930;


Death of
Ernst Karl Thomas +21.04.1945 in the morning by suicide (shooting)
Wife Johanna, +21.04.1945 in the morning hours probably murdered by shooting
Child Johanna Christiane(???) +21.04.1945 in the morning hours probably murdered by shooting

Burial on 24.04.1945 in the afternoon around 5 p.m.
without church Assistance and without a coffin

Graves in the Reichenberg cemetery
Ernst Karl Thomas 44/11/11
Wife Johanna 49/3/29
Child Johanna Christine 8/8/24