WH prisons (Feldstraflager / Wehrmachtsgefängnisse)

[Oberbootsmann]

Page 5:

At the end of 1942, the field detention camp - on 08.01.1942 was a third one was added - deducted from the polar front in order to be laid next to the Eastern Front. They came to the German Army Group North in the Greater Leningrad-Narva Novgorod. The performance was also held by filling compiled in Torgau-Fort Zinna replacement transport. Werner Krauss, who was a member of the resistance group "Red Orchestra" imprisoned in Torgau-Fort Zinna and through his work as a writer was able to gain insight into different files noted in this context. "Even worse was the treatment of nationals of the prison camp These were by malnutrition and ill systematically eradicated. For return transport from Finland 'lost' such a camp about 75% of its population. "

II prison camp for the field can be used for this first period, ie the period from the end of May 1942 until December of that year, draw a fairly accurate account of the losses incurred. There are various documents, including a medical examination report. Surgeon-Dr divers who examined all detainees of the camp for two days, wrote on 12/23/1942:

"The overall impression was shocking bad. All the more so when the people for well over 4 weeks are no longer working, but to rail transport were or (1st and 2nd Company) were in Reval alone. (...) To the knowledge of Regulations for a detention camp can you expect from the detainee's not fat, but such levels of malnutrition (...) have surprised. (...) Very great was (...) the number of those on the black before the eyes and dizziness upon standing or stooping complained or shortness of breath and chest pain. These claims are credible as a result of emaciation. the investigation showed a very marked slowing of the pulse and very low blood pressure. (...) The heart action was very slow, the sounds muffled , weak and often unclean. (...) The complexion was pale and sallow. (...) It should be noted, especially that among the detainees are very many young people, the need for food is known to be greater than that of the older people . (...) A number of detainee suffering from 2nd and 3rd degree frostbite on his toes. "

If one add other sources, it is evident that on the 600 "detainees" the criminal field camp II, the end of May 1942 had left the Wehrmacht prison Torgau-bridgehead towards the polar region, 22 December of that year at least 21%, but possibly was all, even though already died. Of the surviving or vegetating 401 detainees who examined Dr. divers were at the same time for health reasons only 82 man "used to work" in the usual way. "Similar conditions", it says in a letter dated 20 December 1942 subject, even when the "field penal camps I and III."

[Oberbootsmann]

Page 6:

Thus, the evidence suggests that at least in the period covered here in the field of the Wehrmacht prison camps in the core, the same was practiced, what you in the concentration camps of the SS called "extermination through work". If Judge Advocate Fritz Hodes had a regular contributor to the "Journal of Military Law," the prison camps as early as 1940 "the character of a 'concentration camp for the armed forces'" granted, this name was given at the latest with the installation of field punishment camps completely justified.

Towards the end of 1942, some changes in the system of field punishment camps came into force. These changes were first together with the finding that the adopted rate of "extermination through work", as we have the example of the reconstructed field penal camp II, ultimately, in a military sense was counterproductive. The delivered human wrecks, but that also had to be fed and guarded somehow could, for example, significant progress the fortifications barely. Sun announced the Army Group North OKH on 6 January 1943 with: "Under the above circumstances, the supply of this prison camp is not a subsidy on labor but only a charge, the army group asks therefore, to refrain from the supply of field punishment camps I and III."

To avoid jeopardizing the projected military construction projects and other projects, was seen forced to secure "the alsbaldige full readiness to work the camp II" in that its use should only be ordered "if a) lifted the state of health of the detainees fairly and b) on-site appropriate accommodation for the winter had been created. " At the concentration camp character that changed just as the end of 1942 granted to the concentration of SS onslagern food supplements with which increasingly required manpower of certain groups of prisoners should be secured in the short and medium term.

Towards the end of 1942, finally, a fundamental change in power, which affected all three field penal camps. Until that time, the Wehrmacht's maxim had been considered, "Who is brought to a detention camp should basically remain for the entire duration of the war, there is only in exceptional cases, the detention should be repealed in prison camps to the condemned an opportunity for parole at the. Front to give. "

Now, however, in October 1942, it was decreed that the stay in the field of detention in general should be six to nine months. This limitation was the growing shortage of staff of the armed forces based on that led to the attempt, last reserves, if possible, still win from the circle of the field penal camps "detainees". On the linguistic level that the absurd appearance brought with it, that of the "Unerziehbaren" and "incorrigible" now the "completely Unerziehbaren" and "utterly incorrigible" were distinguished.

From now on, check within six to nine months if the offender for the purpose of "probation" of the custody in a prison camp field to serve their sentences in one of the prisoners box departments (FGA) was transferred. With appropriate leadership within the FGA should then after a reasonable time for the purpose of the suspension is "front probation" are pronounced. Where but in six to nine months, a rendition inopportune in a field convict department, appeared in its place came the "Referral to the police" for admission to a "real" concentration camp of the SS.

[Oberbootsmann]

Page 7:

It remains that even with the so-defined task of extended field detention camp at their camp-character hardly changed. This emphasizes inter alia Report of Robert Stone. As a recognized political opponents of the Nazi regime was Robert Stone following a conviction for "unlawful removal" of the troops (one year in jail) on the field until the prison camp I September 1943. He was then taken to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. On the use on the eastern front, he writes:

"Right on the front we were used:.. A demining, pioneering work on Ilmensee (...) The prison camp unit was completely detached There was a barbed wire fence around it, which was pretty high, and the accommodation consisted of Finn tents that were made of plywood . They were circular buildings that were as half in the ground We were monitored perfectly, we were always in groups, there were two supervisors -. one of the pioneers - if we go to the front, had to as mines dig that of . the pioneers defused were we had to load the mines and became the Schützengrabenbau used for entrenchment work and road construction, all under guard, the front-line soldiers saw us, we were doing that sorry, they have seen what was going on. Treating the gun piston blows it was constantly beaten with rifle butts. Approximately ninety percent of our people in the field penal camps custody died. It was right behind the front, we were under attack. Many are also croak so malnourished and weak. (...) We have fungi collected and were not allowed there to be caught. There were only potatoes that we ate with Pelle. It was a real death camp. Those who had a couple of meters away out of sight, like the message kriegten for desertion. They were hanged as a deterrent, even though we had no national insignia and no longer members of the Wehrmacht were more. Even the losses were high. It went up mines at the front. "

On surviving concentration camp character also indicate the cause of death officially noted, denominated in the first half of 1943, "shot on the run" or "general exhaustion with poor circulation." How large the extent of hunger was still give an idea, the following information on causes of death: "cardiac paralysis after mushroom poisoning", "infected enteritis with poor circulation (...) to a proven benefit of shoe fat", "infected colic after eating sewer waste" . If the FSL II, based on the second half of 1942, in the records of the Wehrmacht Information Office (WASt) 128 deaths can be detected, it is for the first half of 1943, almost as many, namely 127th

An over clear parallel to the practice in the concentration camps of the SS also addresses Fritz Wüllner when he points out that two in 1943 was sentenced to death penalty camp detention were "brought to the disgraceful imaginable of execution to death," namely "by hanging himself in his own camp before the whole team. " In the same context it includes the following Bege-benheit in 1944, the reports Werner Krauss from the time of his Torgau prison: "We were in the infirmary a man from such a stock with a cut through from bloodshot welts face He was still. too scared to admit the medical officer to his questions about the origin of these abuses, which he attributed to 'an accident'. "

With the above outlined altered or expanded mission of the field detention camp related, it could also that the field has been transformed III prison camp at the beginning of 1943 in a field convict department, which was then the number 19. How "alive" despite this transformation even here the "concentration camp" tradition remained clear conclusion on this subject, the report Peter Schilling, the end of 1944, in this meantime moved to the Western Front FGA 19 to embark on a high sentence for "desertion":

[Oberbootsmann]

Page 8:

"On arrival the commander of the FGA told me, that I won't live long in his unit. In FGA 19, was the murder of prisoners an everyday thing. I saw how one of our jailers a comrade to command issued to exceed a previously marked boundary line could not exceed us, and there to pick up a leaflet that was fluttering down from a propaganda grenade. When the prisoner paused and pointed to the ban threatened the guards to shoot him for insubordination. As the prisoner opened it, he was crossing the marker line shot down from behind, ie 'shot on the run. "These and similar things were happening every day. Moreover the food was minimal, so that also speak well of the eradication of hunger could. "

During the war, not only called on the German side and criminal Bewährungsein units were set up. On 28.7.1942 Stalin ordered the he personally edited Stawka command No. 227 the War Councils and commanders of the German "army group" similar "fronts" in their sections "1-3 penal battalions in strength of 800 men formed; in this penal battalions are to put all the officers and the corresponding political leaders who have violated the discipline of cowardice and have not held up, they must be applied to the most difficult part of the front, to give them the opportunity, with their blood their crimes to the fatherland again to do well. " At the same time the war councils and commanders of the armies were instructed in their respective fields "5-10 penal companies (each in strength of 150-200 men) form, in this penal companies all Red Army soldiers and NCOs are stuck to that violated the discipline of cowardice and have not resisted, they are to be used in difficult sections of the army, to give them the opportunity, with their blood their crimes to the fatherland to make amends.

[Oberbootsmann]

While rereading the text I noticed that there are several grammar mistakes. But I think the content of the 8 pages can be understood from the context.

I have to admit that I was shocked when reading what happened in those prison camps. I knew that those prisoners were detained under bad conditions but the executions were knew to me. As well as the numbers of soldiers who starved to death.

I hope some of you will take the trouble to read the text.

Regards

[Simon O.]

Given the man's rank and service career, there must surely be a high likelyhood of his involvement in crimes.

[hucks216]

I have this Wehrpass to a soldier who seems to of served as a member of staff in a Wehrmacht prison before going to Feldstraf.Gefangenen Abt.14 - not sure if this relates to the subject matter in hand...

[Simon O.]

Out of interest, here's a few summaries from Courts martial in AOK Norwegen for the month of Sept.44, it gives you an idea of the kind of punishments given for various more serious crimes that warranted a court martial. These were the kinds of summaries that would be published to all units as a deterrent.

[Simon O.]

more...

Note for example the Oberjäger who got 1 year prison and busted for listening to a foreign radio station and the gefreiter who got drunk and attempted to rape a stabshelferin, getting 1 year.

not sure what the difference between gefängnis and zuchthaus is though.

[Gerdan]

Simon,

here the difference between Zuchthaus and Gefängnis:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuchthaus

http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tukthus

In general the most important difference was hard labour in the Zuchthaus.


Gerdan

[Oberbootsmann]

I have this Wehrpass to a soldier who seems to of served as a member of staff in a Wehrmacht prison before going to Feldstraf.Gefangenen Abt.14 - not sure if this relates to the subject matter in hand...

Of course it relates to the subject, Hucks. Many thanks for this nice addition.

Regards

[Oberbootsmann]

Out of interest, here's a few summaries from Courts martial in AOK Norwegen for the month of Sept.44, it gives you an idea of the kind of punishments given for various more serious crimes that warranted a court martial. These were the kinds of summaries that would be published to all units as a deterrent.

Great documents, Simon.

Regards

[Oberbootsmann]

I received the Wehrpass and started to do some research. I also started a thread at the Wehrpass and Soldbuch Forum with more scans.
I was surprised to see that he was KIA.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=645845

Regards