Police Operation at Marseilles, France

[Luke_r86]

In one brief reference of January 22, 1943: Marseilles; 4,000 Jews are seized under ‘Action Tiger'. Marseilles was marked as being the Jerusalem of the Mediterranean. Another source briefly states: But the nazis withdraw the free zone status and occupy the Mediterranean coastline. In January 1943, Hitler personally gives the order to destroy the oldest neighbourhoods of Marseilles (north bank of the "Vieux-Port"). The nazi troops are openly aided by some of the French directors and civil servants. Twenty thousand Marseillais are forced to leave their homes (some are deported). One thousand nine hundred and eighty buildings are razed to the ground. The destruction of the historic areas.

My query, would anyone on the list know from where I can source much more detailed information on this operation? There was some considerable police involvement and I would like to find as much detail as possible about this. My thanks for your interest in this topic.

[Georges JEROME]

Hello,

The french sources I known are :
- Gérard GUICHETEAU Marseille 1943 La fin du vieux port 1972
pictorial book based upon photos of Bundesarchiv photos records(file 27)
- Jacques Delarue Trafics et crimes sous l'occupation
Fayard 1968
- André Négis "marseille sous l'occupation"

12000 french policemen police from Paris, Lyon, Vichy, Toulouse
escadrons of Gendarmerie, garde mobile
15 units of GMR (Groupes mobiles de réserve)

10 SS Polizei Régiment (5000 men)

Report of the Prefet Régional from 30 january 1943 :
40 000 controls
5956 arrested
3977 released
30 put in jail (criminals)
1979 sent in Camp of Compiègne (most where jews from eastern europe)=


JG

[Dieter Zinke]

There was a special pictorial exhibition (2000) in my hometown in the Bundesarchiv Koblenz only dedicated to the destruction of the new port of Marseille.

At the same time the following book was presented there for further information:
"Der Blick des Besatzers", Verlag Edition Temmen Bremen, 2000

You will find there a lot of information to Oberg, Walter Schimana, Bernhard Griese, Rolf Mühler, Bousquet, GdI Hans Felber and GLt Joachim von Tresckow.

Oberstab

[Georges JEROME]

thanks for infos Dieter,

I already went to Bundesarchiv Koblenz at the photos department .
Quite interesting but access (!) and reproduction are rather expensive.

It's seems to be a little more precise.

Is there pics in it.

I never seen a pic of Schimana during (short) appointment as BdO Paris.

[Georges JEROME]

Dieter,
AnDie,
Phil,
Mike,



anew this pic of Orpo general in Paris 1943

any idea

Georges

[Georges M. Croisier]

On this picture you have Carl Oberg HSSPF in France, GM der Polizei Scheer (not 100% sure) Befehlshaber der ORPO and Joseph Darnand leader of the french Milice.

The picture is cut and on the right of Darnand, you'll see Knochen

[Georges JEROME]

thanks Georges but the Orpo general hold badges of a GLt der Polizei

best

JG

[Phil Nix]

Surely ORPO general is August Meyszner.
Philmil

[Wilfried Abenaschon]

That's it!

It is Meyszner!...

What was he doing in France?

Willab

[Georges JEROME]

Meyszner was General Inspector of the Gendarmerie and SCHUPO in Orpo Hauptamt

[Dieter Zinke]

Meyszner was General Inspector of the Gendarmerie and SCHUPO in Orpo Hauptamt

Georges,

is the date 1943 in Paris confirmed ??
Then, this could not be Meyszner, he was ”Generalinspekteur der Gendarmerie und Schutzpolizei der Gemeinden” im Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei since 15.03.1944 !!
Scheer was in 1944 also GLt der Polizei.

Oberstab

[Dieter Zinke]

thanks for infos Dieter,

I already went to Bundesarchiv Koblenz at the photos department .
Quite interesting but access (!) and reproduction are rather expensive.

It's seems to be a little more precise.

Is there pics in it.

I never seen a pic of Schimana during (short) appointment as BdO Paris.

Georges,

my visit in the Bundesarchiv Koblenz for this exhibition was unfortunately before I was engaged with AnDie.
So I can merely remember a lot of pics with Bernhard Griese and Oberg (in civil clothes ( !! )). Also General Felber with both at the railway-station, dismissing the trains for deportation.
No pic with Schimana.

BTW:
I had also my problems with this office in my hometown, but when you are visiting Koblenz, we both shall overcome. Vive l' entente cordiale.

Dieter

[Georges JEROME]

I will be with great pleasure Dieter

[Phil Nix]

Georges
Dieter
Here is an enlargerment of previous picture. It is Meyszner he was HSSPF Serbien and was possibly on official business in Paris. But who is the Police officer on the left who was also in the SS
Philmil

[WojtekK]

Hi Georges, Dieter and Phil !

Maybe this Police officer was SS-Oberf. und char. Gen. Maj. d. P. (later SS-Brif. u. Gen. Maj. d. P.) Hellmut Mascus, BdO Paris ?

Who is this SS-Staf. on photo ? Knochen ?

Regards

Wojtek