War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

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agsbrunson
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War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#1

Post by agsbrunson » 23 Jan 2008, 21:48

I am seeking information regarding the War Crimes Tribunals conducted in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1945, prosecuted by one Major Josef Drab, disposition unknown.
Eight American airmen were captured 19 April 1945. They were interrogated at Konopiste Castle, near Benesov CZ, and executed the same night.
The responsible SS unit was Truppenufungplats SS, commanded by SS Brigadefuhrer Alfred Karasch. Also alleged war criminals: Sturmbahnfuhrer Otto Hauprich; Hauptsturmfuhrer Herbert Sander; Rottenfuhrer J. Baleke;
Oberscharfuhrers Albrecht, Bauer, Matausch, Alois Stiller, Kurt Kurek, Erich Merwitz; Unterscharffuhrer Durer.

Karrasche surrendered 20,000 SS troops, tanks, and artillery to American officers at the bridge in Kamyk, CZ at 9:30 am on 9 May 1945. The Americans were informed of the War Crime at Konopiste, and apparently some of the above listed SS were prosecuted in War Crimes
Tribunals in Prague.

I am asking for any information concerning this war crime and its prosecution. One of the officers executed was my father.
Thanks,
A.G.S. Brunson

ondrejk
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#2

Post by ondrejk » 24 Jan 2008, 22:02

See your box of private messages. O.K.


agsbrunson
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#3

Post by agsbrunson » 25 Jan 2008, 07:01

Thank you Ondrej, it's good of you to help with this! Hopefully we'll find others on this forum with some information on this Tribunal.
-AGSB

Rob - wssob2
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#4

Post by Rob - wssob2 » 30 Jan 2008, 06:46

SS-Brigadeführer Alfred Karrasch was the garrison commander of SS-Standortkommandantur (garrison commander) for Beneschau from November 1942 to September 1943
He was the CO of the TUP (Troop Training Ground) Böhmen-Mähren from October 1943 to May 1945.
From 1940-42 he was the CO of Amt. II, Abt 5. of the SS-Waffen-Inspektionen/SS-FHA. (i.e. he was the SS military commander inspector of engineer troops)

Who conducted the Tribunal? The US or the Czechs?

My condolences about the loss of your father.

agsbrunson
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#5

Post by agsbrunson » 30 Jan 2008, 15:00

Thanks for the info, Rob. The conduct and venue of Czech war crimes tribunals is pretty murky, primarily because of (1) Eisenhower's ordered "halt line" (2) massive German surrenders to American forces in early May '45 beyond the halt line (3) Russian interference in Czech reconstruction, and (4) breakdowns in communication between American investigations in Nuremberg and Czech investigations in Prague.

I believe the two officers were tried by an "International War Crimes Tribunal" in Prague, but I can't locate translated records or transcripts.

Ron
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#6

Post by Ron » 30 Jan 2008, 19:20

The records of trials held in Prague are in the Archives in Chodov a District in Prague.Have not got the address available but should have them somewhere.They are under MLS (mimoradny lidovy soud) or extraordinary peoples court.

Good luck
Ron

ansata1976
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#7

Post by ansata1976 » 19 Jul 2009, 17:39

I need the information about the fate of:

Sturmbahnfuhrer Otto Hauprich Ausssig
Generalmajor Alfred Karrasch (* 1889);
Untersturmführer Ernst Albrecht
Hauptsturmfuhrer Herbert Sander

David Thompson
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#8

Post by David Thompson » 19 Jul 2009, 18:40

This webpage suggests that SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS und Polizei Alfred Karrasch died or was killed 8 May 1945:

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:aN ... clnk&gl=us

Fellow moderator Michael Miller's excellent Axis Biographical Research webside has addition biographical information on Karrasch at http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/

"Sturmbahnfuhrer Otto Hauprich Ausssig" is SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Otto Hauprich. Aussig is not part of his proper name. I haven't seen any records of his trial.

Egor
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#9

Post by Egor » 04 Oct 2009, 12:56

Hi all...
I am looking for information concerning Sofie Nitsche, Anna David, Werner, Vocke, Engels and Bruckner, former SS Aufseherinnen in different concentration camps who were sentenced by the People's Tribunal in Prague (7.10.1948).

does anybody know which archive deposit these materials??? probably, some references.

Thank you very much.

egor

ansata1976
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#10

Post by ansata1976 » 24 Oct 2009, 22:10

Do you have the sentences of their trial ?

ansata1976
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#11

Post by ansata1976 » 03 Dec 2009, 02:59

Egor wrote:Hi all...
I am looking for information concerning Sofie Nitsche, Anna David, Werner, Vocke, Engels and Bruckner, former SS Aufseherinnen in different concentration camps who were sentenced by the People's Tribunal in Prague (7.10.1948).

does anybody know which archive deposit these materials??? probably, some references.

Thank you very much.

egor
Anna David ( Anna Davidová) 01.09.1921 in Bukovice executed 08.10.1948 in Prague-Pankrác
Sofie Nitsche 01.11.1912 in Jesenik executed 12.01.1948 in Prague-Pankrác

wasp68
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#12

Post by wasp68 » 13 Jul 2010, 22:55

agsbrunson wrote:I am seeking information regarding the War Crimes Tribunals conducted in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1945, prosecuted by one Major Josef Drab, disposition unknown.
Eight American airmen were captured 19 April 1945. They were interrogated at Konopiste Castle, near Benesov CZ, and executed the same night.
The responsible SS unit was Truppenufungplats SS, commanded by SS Brigadefuhrer Alfred Karasch. Also alleged war criminals: Sturmbahnfuhrer Otto Hauprich; Hauptsturmfuhrer Herbert Sander; Rottenfuhrer J. Baleke;
Oberscharfuhrers Albrecht, Bauer, Matausch, Alois Stiller, Kurt Kurek, Erich Merwitz; Unterscharffuhrer Durer.

Karrasche surrendered 20,000 SS troops, tanks, and artillery to American officers at the bridge in Kamyk, CZ at 9:30 am on 9 May 1945. The Americans were informed of the War Crime at Konopiste, and apparently some of the above listed SS were prosecuted in War Crimes
Tribunals in Prague.

I am asking for any information concerning this war crime and its prosecution. One of the officers executed was my father.
Thanks,
A.G.S. Brunson
Hi, maybe I could help you: I dont have info abouth trials, but, I found investigation documentation of this causa in Prag archives, protocols of whitnesses, photos, etc. from investigation of czech Investigation commission, 1945-47. Details via e-mail, [email protected] Regards, Pavel

wasp68
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#13

Post by wasp68 » 13 Jul 2010, 23:11

David Thompson wrote:This webpage suggests that SS-Brigadefuehrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS und Polizei Alfred Karrasch died or was killed 8 May 1945:

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:aN ... clnk&gl=us

Fellow moderator Michael Miller's excellent Axis Biographical Research webside has addition biographical information on Karrasch at http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/

"Sturmbahnfuhrer Otto Hauprich Ausssig" is SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Otto Hauprich. Aussig is not part of his proper name. I haven't seen any records of his trial.
Aussig is a city in Czech republic, Sudetengau in those times. Hauprich lived there, and, had a familly in the city. That was the reason of the assasination; after some nervous interrogation he asked flyers, what was their mission. They said bombing Aussig.

ansata1976
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#14

Post by ansata1976 » 17 Feb 2011, 16:00

Egor wrote:Hi all...
I am looking for information concerning Sofie Nitsche, Anna David, Werner, Vocke, Engels and Bruckner, former SS Aufseherinnen in different concentration camps who were sentenced by the People's Tribunal in Prague (7.10.1948).

does anybody know which archive deposit these materials??? probably, some references.

Thank you very much.

egor
Anna David ( Anna Davidová) 01.09.1921 in Bukovice executed 08.10.1948 in Prague-Pankrác
Sofie Nitsche 01.11.1912 in Jesenik executed 12.01.1948 in Prague-Pankrác

Hermine Brückner 26.4.1918 in Wustung Sachsenhausen sentence: ????
Wilhelmine Engels 1910 sentence: ????
Vocke unknown
Werner unknown

jared53402
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Re: War Crimes Tribunals in Prague 1945

#15

Post by jared53402 » 14 Apr 2016, 11:51

Brückner (born Böttcher), Hermine-Birthdate: April 26, 1918 Birthplace: Friedland im Isergebirge [Riesengebirge] (Frýdlant v Čechách/Krkonoších, Liberec Region, Czech Republic) SS Entry Location/Date: Ravensbrück, October 26, 1942 Camp Service: Ravensbrück (1942-1943), Majdanek-Lublin (1943-1944), Auschwitz-Birkenau (1944), Kauen (1944), Stutthof (1944), Ravensbrück (1944-1945), Sachsenhausen (1945), Neu Rohlau (1945)SS Positions: SS-Hilfsaufsehein, SS-Aufseherin Notes: Sought for investigation for war crimes at Ravensbrück and as a witness for SS-Aufseherin Sofie Nitsche-Hanel by Czech authorities. Captured by the Czechs after the war, Brückner was found guilty of war crimes at Neu Rohlau and on the march away from the camp at the end of the war-and sentenced to 15 years imprisonement by a Czech court in Prague during October 1948 (‘Prague Aufseherinnen trial’) for murder and maltreatment. Brückner was also investigated, interrogated and tried by a West German court in Düsseldorf (third ‘Majdanek trial’) between November 26, 1975 and June 30, 1981 for war crimes at Majdanek but was acquitted due to lack of evidence, and thereafter appeared as a witness along with seventeen other former SS.

David, Anni/Anna-Birthdate: August 1, 1921 Birthplace: Freiwaldau-Buchelsdorf (Jeseník/Frývaldov-Bukovice, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic) SS Entry Location/Date: Ravensbrück, April 1942 Camp Service: Ravensbrück (1942-1943), Majdanek-Lublin (1943-1944), Auschwitz-Birkenau (1944), Unknown (1944-1945) SS Positions: SS-Hilfsaufseherin, SS-Aufseherin Note: Tried by a Czech court in Prague (‘Prague Aufseherinnen trial’) on October 7, 1948 for war crimes on a death march at the end of the war and sentenced to death for murder and mistreatment of camp prisoners; David was executed by hanging at the Prague-Pankrác Prison on October 8, 1948.

Engels (born Pilz), Wilhelmine-Birthdate: 1910 Birthplace: Sudetenland (Czech Republic) SS Entry Location/Date: Ravensbrück, 1941 or 1942 Camp Service: Ravensbrück Ranks: SS-Hilfsaufseherin, SS-Aufseherin Notes: Tried during the ‘Prague Aufseherinnen’ trial and sentenced on October 7, 1948 to an unknown sentence for war crimes.

Hanel (married Nitsche), Sofie-Birthplace: Freiwaldau, Sudetenland (Jeseník, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic) Camp Service: Ravensbrück, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Unknown SS Positions: SS- Hilfsaufseherin, SS-Aufseherin, SS-Blockführerin Notes: The name ‘HANEL, Sofie,’ appeared as an ‘SS woman Overseer,’ in a file of the United Nations War Crimes Commission (UNWCC) dated March 20, 1947, ‘Personnel of the Concentration Camp in Oswiecim-Auschwitz;’ she was tried by a Czech court for war crimes at an unknown sub-camp, as well as on a death march at the closing of the war, and sentenced during the ‘Prague Aufseherinnen’ trial to death for murder and maltreatment of camp prisoners on October 7, 1948; she was hanged on January 12, 1949 (?) in the Pankrac Prison in Prague.

Vocke, Emma-Camp Service: Ravensbrück, Zwodau/Holleischen SS Positions: SS-Hilfsaufseherin, SS-Aufseherin Notes: Tried by a Czech court (‘Prague Aufseherinnen’ trial) for war crimes at Zwodau/Holleischen and on October 7, 1948 sentenced to 10 years in prison for maltreating camp prisoners.

Werner, Ingeborg-Camp Service: Ravensbrück, Zwodau/Holleischen SS Positions: SS-Hilfsaufseherin, SS-Aufseherin Notes: Tried by a Czech Extraordinary People’s Court during the ‘Prague Aufseherinnen’ trial in 1948 for war crimes at Zwodau/Holleischen and sentenced to 10 years in prison for mistreating camp prisoners. Or/and
Werner, Ingebourg-SS Entry Location: Ravensbrück Camp Service: Ravensbrück, Auschwitz SS Position: SS-Hilfsaufseherin, SS-Aufseherin Notes: Fate unknown; possibly the same as Ingeborg Werner.

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