Brigadefuhrer Richard Wendler

[norman]

Hello All,
I am wondering if anyone knows of any information or articles on Brigadefuhrer (Dr) Richard Wendler (b 22/1/!898.I have most of the dates relating to his posts and rank within the party and the SS but am looking for more biographical details.He was appointed Komissar of Kielce in Poland where he set up the ghetto in that city.He did survive the war and died in 1972.Anything anyone can add or any pointers will be gratefully recieved.
Norman

[Rick Research]

Have you got the bio and photo of him from page 119 of Mark Yerger's book on Allgemeine SS commanders?

How he escaped being executed is beyond me!

[norman]

Richard Wendler

Hello Rick,
I dont think I have anything like that and am most interested.Is this work accessable on the webb? Information I have obtained via others is as I say literally to do with his ranks and positions and the relevant dates. Once I found out his part in establishing the ghetto in Kielce as well as administration in various other places and his position within the police I was wondering if he was ever tried after the war.I have quite a bit of his mail,(much of it personal) which one day I would like to get translated.It would prove very interesting.I will be happy for whatever leads you can give me on this one Rick.
Regards
Norman

[David S]

I've got it . . .

From ALLGEMEINE-SS by Mark Yerger. Bio by Phil Nix. A great book.

Dr. Richard Wendler was born in Oberndorf on January 22, 1898, the son of a customs official. He joined the army in October 1916. serving with signal units and then a Freikorps before leaving the army in 1920. After the war he attended the University of Munich and received a doctorate in law then practiced as a lawyer. He joined the NSDAP and SA in 1928. Leaving the SA, he joined the SS as a Sturmbannführer on April 1, 1933 and served in the SD Hauptamt and finally the RSHA UNTIL May 1945. As a civil servant he was mayor of Hof from 1933 to 1942. Promoted to SS-Obersturnbannfü hrer on April 30, 1934 and to SS-Standartenführer April 20, 1935, he went to Poland in September 1939, as commissioner for Kielce until 1940, then moved to a similar post in Radom until August 1941, during which he was promoted to SS-Oberführer on August 1, 1941. While serving as SSPF “Stanislav-Rostow” (later titled “Rostow-Andrejewka”) from early April 1941, to late May, 1942, he was temporary governor of the Lublin district in Poland from mid-February, 1942 to April, 1942, and then held the same post in Krakau district from January, 1942, to May, 1943. From June, 1943 to July, 1944, he was governor of the Lublin district and managed to effect the escape of most of his staff in the face of the Russian advance after transporting massive quantities of confiscated goods to the Reich. Promoted to SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Polizei on September 27, 1941, then to SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei on June 21, 1943. Wendler was awarded the Gold Party Badge, both Classes of the War Service Cross, the NSDAP Long Service Award in Silver and the Social Welfare Decoration 3rd Class. He died in Prien, Bavaria on August 24, 1972.

Rick is right, he was one lucky SOB

[norman]

Wendler

Thank you David for that.This is just the sort of thing I was after.Strange though that it made no mention of his setting up the ghetto in Kielce which eventually housed around 48000 jews.
As you say,he was very lucky to get away so lightly.I dont know how long he was imprisoned for though.Any such information, should it exist is most welcome.Thanks for your time in helping me with the above.
Regards
Norman

[Thierry Tixier]

Hello,
Richard Wendler won KVK-II and KVK-I ohne Schwertern.
(source : Dienstaltersliste d. Schutzstaffel d. NSDAP, stand vom 9. November 1944)

Thierry

[norman]

Wendler Enquiery

Thierry,
Thanks for your contribution and taking the time to reply to me.
Regards
Norman

[Packard1807]

More questions about Wendler

A few web sites indicate Richard Wendler was Heinrich Himmler's brother-in-law. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, did Wendler marry a sister of Himmler or did Himmler marry a sister of Wendler?

I, too, am surprised that Wendler did not end up in prison or worse. This makes me wonder: Could he have been part of the Gehlen Organization?