Did any of Germany's allies commit warcrimes?

John H. · Post by **John H.** » 20 Jul 2003 05:09

While evreyone knows about the german holocaust, did any of germany's allies in EUROPE commit war crimes. I know Mussolini was to be tried as a war criminal but he was killed by partisans, but what about anyone else. Did any foreign countries have any holocaust type genocide.

Penn44 · Post by **Penn44** » 20 Jul 2003 05:23

In know that the Hungarians were frequently very brutal against downed Allied airmen. There are several cases of Hungarians murdering or beating these airmen.

Hungarian propaganda stirred the sentiments of the Hungarian civilians. For example, American airmen were protrayed as "Chicago gangsters." One former American POW [airmen] told me that after his capture a Hungarian girl went through the lining of his coat looking for the $50,000 the Hungarian propaganda said that the American govenment paid every American airman for each mission flown. In many instances, the Hungarian population did not take much mercy on these down "Chicago gangsters."

John H. · Post by **John H.** » 20 Jul 2003 05:31

Thank You for your information. I Guess I was wrong thinking that germany's european allies were so innocent as I thought. Do you know if any of Hungarians Leaders were tried for there treatment of the airmen.

Penn44 · Post by **Penn44** » 20 Jul 2003 05:37

Of the 10-12 US war crimes cases involving the alleged Hungarian mistreatment of Allied airmen that I reviewed, none of the alleged perpretators were brought to justice, even in cases where the names of the alleged perpretators were known.

Whisper · Post by **Whisper** » 20 Jul 2003 07:14

I dont think there was any country in WWII no matter if axis or allied that did not have some in their lines that did commit war crimes!
(Even if some people dont want to hear that)

Penn44 · Post by **Penn44** » 20 Jul 2003 07:32

Whisper wrote:I dont think there was any country in WWII no matter if axis or allied that did not have some in their lines that did commit war crimes!
(Even if some people dont want to hear that)

Given the nature of war, war crimes are not an uncommon occurence in any army.

What differiates these crimes are several factors, to include to what degree the crimes are sanctioned or condoned by the army involved.

David Thompson · Post by **David Thompson** » 20 Jul 2003 07:52

vcarter706 -- You asked:

(1) "did any of germany's allies in EUROPE commit war crimes?"

Yes. Hungarian and Italian troops were accused of committing war crimes in Yugoslavia; Italian and Bulgarian troops were accused of committing war crimes in Greece; Hungarian, Italian, French, Norwegian, Dutch, Belgian and Romanian military and paramilitary units were accused of committing war crimes in their own countries; and Hungarian, Finnish and Romanian troops were accused of committing war crimes in the USSR. Captured allied airmen were mistreated and sometimes murdered in Hungary and Italy.

(2) "Did any foreign countries have any holocaust type genocide?"

Almost every country Germany occupied or allied itself with had holocaust-type genocide. The exceptions are Finland and Denmark, and to a lesser extent, perhaps Bulgaria.

KalaVelka · Post by **KalaVelka** » 20 Jul 2003 07:55

David, with no offense, can you tell me what kind of warcrimes did Finland admid?

David Thompson · Post by **David Thompson** » 20 Jul 2003 08:36

KalaVelka -- After Finland withdrew from the axis alliance, the Finnish government arrested some military and police figures and put several of its military officers on trial in at least one war crime proceeding. There was also a "war guilt" trial of a group of Finnish cabinet ministers in 1945. Also, the Soviet authorities named a collection of Finnish officers as war criminals and demanded their arrests. The only reason I know anything about it is from having read the 1944-1946 newspapers, which reported the trials. Here are the names I've got (excluding those in the "war guilt" trial):

Antholi, Arno – chief of the Finnish Police {arrested c. 25 Apr 1945 by Finnish authorities for questioning on collaboration charges (NYT 26 Apr 1945:5:3); placement in a concentration camp announced 14 May 1945 by Finnish authorities (NYT 14 May 1945:9:4); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Arajuuri, John Viktor (c. 1894-?) [Finnish Major General] -- commander, Finnish Police {arrest as a war criminal at the insistence of Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Kotilainen, Kalle (c. 1887-?) -- Finnish industrialist {arrest as a war criminal at the insistence of Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Kotilainen, Vainoe -- Finnish Supply Minister {demand for arrest as a war criminal by Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Kurrema, _____ [Finnish Major] -- {demand by Soviet authorities for arrest as a war criminal reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Lairikainen, _____ [Finnish Captain] -- {demand for arrest as a war criminal by Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Nuotto, _____ [Finnish Lieutenant] -- {demand for arrest as a war criminal by Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Oesch, Karl Lennart (1892-1978) [Finnish Lieutenant-General] -- commander, Finnish 18th Jäger Battalion 1918; Chief of the Finnish Army General Staff 1930-1940; commander, Finnish Army of Karelian Isthmus 1940; commander, Finnish IV Corps 1941-1942; commander, Finnish Army of Karelia 1942; commander, Finnish Aunus Force 1942-1944; commander, Finnish Army of Karelian Isthmus 1944 {put on trial by the Supreme Military Court of Finland for complicity in the killings of 17 Russian POWs; convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment 19 Jul 1946 (LT 20 Jul 1946:3c; NYT 20 Jul 1946:3:4); died 1978 (Steen Ammentorp, "Generals of WWII: Finnish Generals," http://www.generals.dk/Finland.htm).}

Oinonen, _____ [Finnish Colonel] – {arrested and put on trial by the military high court of Finland for complicity in the killings of 17 Russian POWs; convicted and sentenced to 11 years and four months imprisonment 19 Jul 1946 (LT 20 Jul 1946:3c).}

Pajari, Aaro O. [Finnish Major-General] -- commander, Finnish 18th Division 1942-1943 {arrest as a war criminal at the insistence of Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown. (Steen Ammentorp, "Generals of WWII: Finnish Generals," http://www.generals.dk/Finland.htm).}

Paloheimo, Ollavi [Finnish Colonel] -- Finnish Assistant Finance Minister {arrest as a war criminal at the insistence of Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Palojaervi, Vaine [Finnish Major General] -- Finnish military attaché, Stockholm {arrest as a war criminal at the insistence of Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Raunio, Jaakko – Finnish tailor {extradition to the Soviet Union on war crimes charges of being "guilty of particularly great crimes against the Soviet Union" announced by Finland 6 May 1950 (NYT 7 May 1950:60:5); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Salovaara, _____ [Finnish Lieutenant] -- {demand by Soviet authorities for arrest by Finnish government as a war criminal reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Scildt, Rolf [Finnish Colonel] -- {demand for arrest as a war criminal by Soviet authorities reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent disposition unknown.}

Suomio, _____ [Finnish Major] -- {arrested and put on trial by the military high court of Finland for complicity in the killings of 17 Russian POWs; convicted and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment 19 Jul 1946 (LT 20 Jul 1946:3c).}

Tolonen, _____ [Finnish Lieutenant] -- {demand by Soviet authorities for arrest as a war criminal reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent fate unknown.}

Wistra, _____ [Finnish Major General] -- {demand by Soviet authorities for arrest as a war criminal reported 26 Oct 1944 (NYT 27 Oct 1944:6:3); subsequent fate unknown.}

KalaVelka · Post by **KalaVelka** » 20 Jul 2003 08:50

Thanks for the facts.

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » 20 Jul 2003 09:06

David Thompson wrote:Yes. Hungarian and Italian troops were accused of committing war crimes in Yugoslavia; Italian and Bulgarian troops were accused of committing war crimes in Greece; Hungarian, Italian, French, Norwegian, Dutch, Belgian and Romanian military and paramilitary units were accused of committing war crimes in their own countries; and Hungarian, Finnish and Romanian troops were accused of committing war crimes in the USSR. Captured allied airmen were mistreated and sometimes murdered in Hungary and Italy.

Nothing on the Slovakian forces?

The below is from the unit history of the Slovak Security Division from my site:

Following an ambush that killed eight Slovak soldiers, a group (named Perun) commanded by First Lieutenant K. was sent from the 102. Regiment to Maloduse. The fighter squadron attacked the village and when the Perun group arrived it gathered some civilians (women, children and old men) and had them shot in retaliation. Officers from the Combined Reconnaissance Group (most of whom were anti-fascists) became witness to these events and reported them to the HQ, but were reprimanded for "hindering the fight against the partisans" by Colonel Pilfousek, commander of the division and very pro-German (he later joined the Waffen-SS).

/Marcus

David Thompson · Post by **David Thompson** » 20 Jul 2003 09:21

Thanks, Marcus -- that's one I missed!

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » 20 Jul 2003 09:30

Glad to be of help.
I'll take a look in my books on the Slovak forces and see if I can find some additional details.

/Marcus

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » 20 Jul 2003 09:57

On August 1 [1942], the partisans ambushed three truchs with Slovak infantry near Maloduse, and killed eight of them. The 102nd Regiment dispatched to Maloduse an assault group "Perun", commanded by First Lieutenant K [Kleinert]. Preceding its arrival was a raid by the Fighter Squadron. Its aircraft bombed and strafed the village, starting fires and wounding many inhabitants. The German Field Police alarmed the Combined Group, whose commander sent to Maloduse an assistance group with a fire engine and a doctor, together with a platoon of armored cars.
Lieutenant G. [Gas], commander of the armored car platoon, encountered First Lieutenant K., whom he knew from high scoool, and asked him for an explanation of what was happening. K. told him outright that he was conducting a raid as a reprisal for the killing of his soldiers. His troops collected a group of local inhabitants to be executed. As the group consisted only of women, children and old men, G. and the other officers asked K. not to go ahead with the executions, but to no avail. The group was collected together in one house, slaughtered and the house was set of fire.
After their return the officers of the Combined Group reported to their commander [Lieutenant Colonel Kmicikiewic] what they had seen, who asked them to make a written report, which he forwarded to the Division's headquarters. His actions had the unexpected result that his officers were officially reprimanded for "hindering the fight against partisans".

This rapport [between the Slovak sooldiers and Ukrainian civilians] was occasionally marred by brutal excesses and even executions of civilians, carried on mostly by units of the 102nd regiment.

Quotes from "Germany's First Ally: Armed Forces of the Sloavk State 1939-1945" by Charles K. Kliment & Bretislav Nakládal, page 87.

/Marcus

Marcus · Post by **Marcus** » 20 Jul 2003 10:05

"Axis Slovakia: Hitler's Slavic Wedge 1938-1945" by Mark W. A. Axworthy, gives gives the name of the village as Maladusa.

/Marcus