Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

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Griffin brigade
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Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#1

Post by Griffin brigade » 01 Feb 2017, 19:56

As part of an investigation into the executions of British Prisoners or War on or about the 28th May 1940 i am interested in more information regarding the units and personnel of Regiment Germania of the then SS VT Division who may habve been directly inolved or in command of the Troops responsible at the time.

The perpetrators appear to be from a Coy in the II Battalion of SS Germania of which Laubscheer was the Kompanie Chef and Doerfler-Schuband was Bn. Cmd.

Has anyone any information on the exact unit and / or the two Officers mentione above ?

Many thanks

Paul

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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#2

Post by Griffin brigade » 01 Feb 2017, 21:19

It looks like it was Heinz Laubscheer commanding 5 / Germania in May 1940

Heinz Laubscheer
SS-Obersturmbannführer
Born: 23.02.1913 in Marburg / Lahn
NSDAP Nr.: 2 858 122 (joined 01.05.1933)
SS Nr.: 67 324
SS-Ustuf: 20.04.1936; SS-Ostuf: 30.01.1938; SS-Hstuf: 01.07.1940; SS-Stubaf: 20.04.1943; SS-Ostubaf: 21.12.1944

Hitler Jugend: 01.03.1932 - 01.03.1933
SS-Junkerschule Braunschweig: 1935 - 1936
Stab O.A.Elbe: 30.04.1936
SS-Hauptamt: 15.04.1937
Zugführer 7.Kp., II./SS-"Germania": 01.05.1938
zum I.R.116 kommandiert: 25.09.1938
5./SS-"Germania": 19.09.1939
Chef 5./Pz.GR.9: 05.1940
Taktiklehrer, SS-Junkerschule Tölz : 06.01.1941
SS-Wach-Btl.Berlin LSSAH (Versetzung u.m.d.F.beauftragt): 01.12.1942
Btl.Kdr."Kampfgruppe Schuldt": 01.1943
III./1.Pz.GR./10.SS-Pz.Gren.Div.: 01.02.1943
Kdr.I./ Pz.GR.21: 04.04.1944
SS-Fhr.Hauptamt, Fhr.Res.d.W-SS: 15.04.1944
SS-Junkerschule Tölz: 26.07.1944
Kdr.,Pz.GR.21./10.SS-Pz.Gren.Div."Frundsberg": 25.09.1944

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz: 24.05.1940
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse: 24.05.1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse: 20.08.1940
Infanterie Sturmabzeichen: 19.09.1940
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse: 01.09.1942
Panzerkampfabzeichen - Silber: 10.10.1944
Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold: 20.01.1945 (as SS-Stubaf., Kdr.SS-Pz.GR.21)
Ehrendegen des Reichsführers-SS
SS-Ehrenring
Bronzes SA-Sportabzeichen
Reichssportabzeichen in Bronze
Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft Abzeichen
Julleuchter der SS

Married, 1 child


Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#3

Post by Peter » 02 Feb 2017, 14:10

I have never heard of this allegation before and would like to know who the alleged victims (or units) were.

I believe that these soldiers were serving with 5/Germania at about this time :

SS-Ustuf Josef Krieger (Gefallen 24 Mai 1940)
SS-Ustuf Willi Krumbach (Gefallen 24 Mai 1940)
SS-Ustuf Willi Baier
SS-Oscha Heinrich Appel
SS-Oscha Willi Lösken
SS-Oscha Kurt Marschner
SS-Scharf Alfons Arnold
SS-Uscha Heinz Götte
SS-Uscha Horst Bretthauer
Last edited by Peter on 02 Feb 2017, 14:33, edited 1 time in total.

steve248
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#4

Post by steve248 » 02 Feb 2017, 14:29

Several files about this available at UK National Archives:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.u ... =St+Venant

The WO 309 reference will be the postwar war crimes investigation file.
A British survivor shown in the last reference, shows he was with DLI" - Durham Light Infantry?

Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#5

Post by Peter » 02 Feb 2017, 14:52

Thanks Steve

I had a quick look and can see that the Durham Light Infantry seem to have suffered about 40 casualties on 27 May 1940, many being buried at St Venant or neighbouring Haverskerque with others commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial for soldiers who could not be identified and have no known grave, and one at Longuenesse, almost all of these men were 2nd Battalion with just three from 8th and 9th Battalions.

They include :

Captain Gerard B Roberts
Lieut John R Gregson
2nd Lieut Roy B Phillips
2nd Lieut John F Ashburner
WO3 Stanley J McGuire

There are also several more men from 2nd Battalion/DLI who are recorded as died on 28 May or in the week that followed, some buried at St Venant or listed on the Dunkirk Memorial.

I had no idea that 5/Germania are said to have been involved.

Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#6

Post by Peter » 02 Feb 2017, 15:14

The DLI appear to have suffered 10 casualties on 28 May, soldiers from 2nd, 8th, 10th and 11th Battalions including 2nd Lieut Ernest W Harrison and Sergeant John G Morton, six of them were from 2nd Battalion. They are buried in various sites at St Pol, Pornic, Hazebrouck, Longueness and one is at St Venant.

Griffin brigade
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#7

Post by Griffin brigade » 02 Feb 2017, 15:29

2 DLI fought in the defence of St Venant together with other units of British 6 Brigade from 2nd Division , 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers and the 1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regt and as Steve has pointed out a number of files at Kew relate to St Venant and other atrocities , Wormhout etc , they are

WO 208/4648
WO 309/2220
WO 311/97

The allegation is that it was a company of II /Germania comanded by an Officer called Laubscheer that was involved so presumbaly that was Heinz Laubscheer who was Chef of 5 / Germania

Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#8

Post by Peter » 02 Feb 2017, 15:42

I am trying to get a copy of :

La Bataille de St Venant 22-27 Mai 1940 by Dominique Faivre (also published under the title Les combats de Saint-Venant 22-27 mai 1940)

apparently the author states that ...After 4 hours intense fighting, the Germans reached the Lys canal. The Battle of Saint-Venant is complete. The wounded and dead are lying in the fields. Executions are then committed. A survey conducted after the war deduce that about 60 were British murdered, but only four cases were investigated. After several days of refusals, the Germans allow the burial of the bodies of British soldiers to be buried in early June. 176 bodies will be buried on site before being deposited in 1942 within the local cemetery.
This book is made from the testimony of many civilians and military personnel and from archives

Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#9

Post by Peter » 02 Feb 2017, 15:48

from the Wormhoudt file
Although no names of perpetrators can be given as yet, it is known that these belong to a certain Company in II Battalion/Regiment Germania, of which Doerfler-Schuband was Bn. Cmd. It is quite likely that the Company in question was the one commanded by Laubscheer, who should be able to help us a great deal in the investigations. Both Doerfler-Schuband and Laubscheer were traced in American camps in Germany and Laubscheer has now arrived at the LDC.

Further progress reports will be issued at regular intervals as soon as the prisoners asked for arrive at LDC and interrogations have been started.
LDC
13 Sept 46

Griffin brigade
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#10

Post by Griffin brigade » 02 Feb 2017, 15:49

That is correct Peter , i was reading a copy of this the other day or trying to as my French is not quite up to scratch.

Also published under the title Les combats de Saint-Venant 22-27 mai 1940

Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#11

Post by Peter » 02 Feb 2017, 18:47

Junior ranking soldiers of 5/Germania (all later officers) possibly present.

Helmut Albert
Josef Angermeier
Clemens Dederichs
Siegfried Engler
Georg Eschner
Fritz Fritzsche
Fritz Guntrum
Karl Heinz Kempcke
Gunther Raasch
Willy Schumann
Wolfgang Seidenstuecker
Joachim Wilde

Griffin brigade
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#12

Post by Griffin brigade » 03 Feb 2017, 00:33

Thanks Peter , any knowlledge of Doerfler-Schuband ?

Peter
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#13

Post by Peter » 04 Feb 2017, 20:33

Hi Paul, he was a long serving officer with previous war service

Dörffler-Schuband, Werner
SS-Brigadef.
born on 15 Dec 1892 Zeitz
SS # 112 955
NSDAP # 1 427 198

Served in 1914-18 War, awarded EK2 and Wound Badge Black
Joined SS on 29 May 1933
SS-Sturm 11/III/29 from 29 May 1933 to 19 Nov 1934
Commissioned SS-Ustuf on 8 Dec 1934
Instructor at F Sch.Tölz
Promoted SS-Ostuf on 20 Apr 1935
Jul 1935 DAL = F.Sch.Tölz
Promoted SS-Hstuf on 1 Jun 1935
Promoted SS-Stubaf on 1 Jan 1936
Dec 1936 DAL = F.Sch.Tölz
Stab I/SS-Standarte Deutschland Feb - Apr 1937
Stab SS-Germania 1 Dec1937 to 1 Apr 1938
Dec 1937 DAL = SS-Sta. Germania
Promoted SS-Ostubaf on 30 Jan 1938
Führer I/SS-Germania 1 Apr 1938 to 1 May 1939
Dec 1938 DAL = F I/Germania
Führer II/SS-Germania 1 May 1939 to 12 Nov 1940
Jun 1939 DAL update = F II/Germania
Awarded Sp.z.EK2 on 3 Oct 1939
Awarded EK1 on 14 Nov 1939
Promoted SS-Staf on 9 Nov 1940
Kdr. SS-Junkerschule Tölz 12 Nov 1940 to 10 Aug 1942
Jan 1942 DAL = Kdr J.Sch.Tölz
Kdr. SS-IR 8 (mot) from 25 Aug 1942
SS-Kampfgruppe Fegelein from 24 Dec 1942
Promoted SS-Oberf. on 30 Apr 1943 (RDA 20 Apr 1943)
Kdr. SS-Junkerschule Tölz 1 Aug 1943 to 15 Mar 1944
Promoted SS-Brigf on 1 Sep 1943
Chef Amt XI SS-FHA 15 Mar 1944 to 20 Feb 1945
Jul 1944 DAL = SS-FHA Chef Amt XI
Awarded KVK1 mSchw on 1 Sep 1944
Nov 1944 DAL = SS-FHA Chef Amt XI
Chef Amt II SS-PersHA 20 Feb 1945 to 8 May 1945

Died 27 Sep 1959 Bad Tölz


Source John P Moore Führerliste, SS-DAL, SS-PA, and Die Generale der Waffen-SS und der Polizei - Vol 1)

See also Thierry's page here
http://forum.axishistory.com/download/f ... ?id=209933

Griffin brigade
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Re: Atrocity by Germania Regt at St Venant in May 1940

#14

Post by Griffin brigade » 05 Feb 2017, 18:30

Many thanks Peter , as both the named officers appaear to have been traced post war i will have to examine the files reagrding any interviews with them etc


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