SS-Brigadeführer Jürgen Wagner

[Seyffardt]

Hi all,

I like to have some specified info on Jürgen Wagner, Kdr. SS-Div. "Nederland", who surrendered mai 4th 1945 to US troops.
How did he get in Yugoslavian hands after the war and what exactly has he been accused of, beeing executed in 1947? Is there anyone who has some details?
I also would like to see some pictures of him. I do have some but they are low quality scans.

Regards,
Seyffardt

[PK]

Jurgen Wagner was accused for crimes while in charge of SS-Infanterie Regiment 11 as part of the Reich division during the occupation of Yugoslavia in 1941.

/PK

[Seyffardt]

Thanks, but are you sure about this?

I thought Wagner started his carreer with the LAH , shortly served in the Rgt. Deutschland in '39, then became Kdr. of the Rgt. Germania until he was transferred into command of the Brigade Nederland in 1943. This unit was in Yugoslavia for a few months, before going into action near Oranienbaum.
If your info is correct, Wagner should have been in Yugoslavia twice, am I right?

Regards,
Seyffardt

[PK]

Hi Seyffardt,

Wagner served with LAH from 33 - 39, then Rgt "Deutschland" and SS-Rgt. 11 in SS-Divison "Reich" until may 1942. Then he became Kdr. of SS-Rgt. "Germania", he held this position to October 1943 when he became Kdr of 4. SS-Frw.Pz.Brigade "Nederland". And yes, it seems so that he was in Yugoslavia twice.

Regards
/PK

[Seyffardt]

Thank you very much Best wishes,

Seyffardt

[VJK]

Hi Seyffardt !
I just came across this fine portrait of J. Wagner.
Regards,
VJK

[Seyffardt]

This is a beautiful photo. Thank you very much!
Regards,
Seyffardt

[Peter]

That is a superb photo my friend, are there any others where that came from ? Hans Dorr perhaps ? (not the usual photos)
Cheers
Peter

[Georg_S]

Hallo,

Wagner with the Nederland and other parts of SS-Division Nordland was in former Yugoslawia during 1943. It was when the III. (Germanische) SS-Pz.Korps was raised. During the training elements of the Nordland and Nederland was send soldiers for searching partisans and fight against them. That was some of the reasons Wagner was charged with Warcrimes from the Serbian authorities. But I have heard several times that the family of Wagner have tried after the war, that his name would be cleared from Warcrimes.
He was handed over by the US after the war (end may) it´s a lot of photos when Wagner is standing with other soldeirs from Nederland talking to US troops.

mfg.
Georg

[General]

Hi all,
How did he get in Yugoslavian hands after the war...

He was captured by the Americans and handed over to the Britisch, who sended him to Yugoslavia.
Did you read Perry Pierik's book?

[Ivan Ž.]

I've noticed that Jürgen Wagner's indictment and reasons for his execution aren't really known today, at least not online. First of all, he was not charged (at least not primarily) for his actions while he commanded the "Nederland" Brigade during its formation in Croatia in 1943. He was charged for his (today forgotten) involvement in war crimes committed right after the very invasion of Yugoslavia, in April 1941, while he was a short-term city commander in the Banat capital, Petrovgrad (Zrenjanin) - which is also why he was tried and executed (by firing squad) in that city. At the time, Wagner was an SS-Ostubaf. and commander of the II Batl./ SS-Regt. "Deutschland"/ SS-Div. "Reich".

These were the main reasons Wagner was tried and executed (a quote from the 1987 book "Zrenjaninske vatre" by Đ. Momčilović; the text was originally published in the "Slobodna Vojvodina" newspapers in 1947):

The accused SS Major General of the German Army Jürgen Wagner, a hardcore Nazi and a former SS-Brigadeführer, entered the Banat with his troops on the first day after the Yugoslav collapse in 1941. He immediately gave orders for the execution of the population, without thinking for one moment that he would ever be held responsible for his criminal actions. The mass graves in Alibunar and Petrovgrad confirm his involvement in these, up until then unheard of, crimes in the Banat.

Wagner was also heavily involved in the persecution of the local Jews (who were all soon exterminated - not by him though - he "only" rounded them up and placed in a camp until their extermination), from day one, and he actually ordered the destruction of the huge city synagogue from 1896 (the building was completely disassembled, brick by brick, and the building material, the same as everything valuable inside the temple, was then "confiscated" by the Germans). Note: Jürgen Wagner was the Petrovgrad commander for only two weeks! ...but two really "busy weeks".

Ivan

The Petrovgrad Synagogue before and after the arrival of Jürgen Wagner:

PetrSin.jpg

[/size]
One of Jürgen Wagner's men with imprisoned Petrovgrad Jews, right after the invasion:

petrwss2.jpg

[/size]
Photo sources: 1) "Zrenjaninske vatre", Đ. Momčilović 2) partially published in Momčilović's book, original in the Archives of Yugoslavia; unit ID: Ivan Ž.
Text sources: Momčilović, Đorđe: "Zrenjaninske vatre" (SUBNOR, Zrenjanin, 1987); Njegovan, Drago: Zločini okupatora i njihovih pomagača u Vojvodini (Prometej, N. Sad, 2009–2012); Kovač, Teodor: "Banatski Nemci i Jevreji" (article; Lamed, Aug. 2009); Lexikon der Wehrmacht [Wagner, Jürgen]; NARA, 2. SS-Pz.-Div. "Das Reich".

[seaburn]

In Volume II of Lehmann's divisional history of the LSSAH he states that Wagner was 'The leader of the Stab in charge of new units' in Sennelager. This was in February/March 1942. Does anyone have any further details on this as it's not mentioned in the thread.

[George_W]

According to my info Wagner was extradited to Yugoslavia by the British probably in February 1947.

George

[Pena V]

Wagner was WIA as the CO of SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Deutschland" on 22 November 1941. He returned to duty in the end of February 1942 as the CO of the Aufstellungsstab of "LSSAH". He was the CO there at least to the start of June 1942 and was then transferred to "Wiking" where he became the CO of SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Germania" on 15 June 1942.

Pena V

[seaburn]

Thanks Pena V. What's the source of that ?