LAH Lago Maggiore

[HouweTrouwe]

I just picked up some photographs from the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler". Some of the photographs were taken near or at Lago Maggiore, in 1943. Most of the times following names are mentioned: Bremer; Wander; Neitzel; Leithe; Schulz. Due some of the officer ranks (seen on the photographs) it is possible to find more about the names?

According to photographs (as time of taking '43):

(a) Bremer seems to be an Obersturmführer
(b) Schulz seems to be an Untersturmführer
(c) Wander (I can see his rank better on a photograph of 1941 where he is Uscha)
(d) Leithe seems to be Uscha/Oscha (?) (not certain)
(e) Neitzel also seems to be Uscha/ Oscha (?) (not certain)

Does anyone know more about the listed names? From when to when was the Leibstandarte Adolf HItler in Italy, '43 near ot at Lago Maggiore?

I've got following in formation on Schulz and Leithe (thanks to AHF and other sources)

Sergeant Oscar Schultz and sergeant Ludwig Leithe,two of the perpetrators,were sentenced to 3 years.
All the perpetrators were released 630 days later: on 2nd April 1970 the Court of Appeals of Berlin canceled the precedent judgement with this motivation : " the crimes have to be considered prescribed."

Case Nr. 685
Crime Category: Other Mass Extermination Crimes
Accused:
Krü., Hans Willi Walter Proceeding suspended
Lei., Ludwig Otto Proceeding suspended
Röh., Hans Friedrich Proceeding suspended
Schn., Karl Reinhold Herbert Proceeding suspended
Schu., Oskar Proceeding suspended
Court:
LG Osnabrück 680705
BGH 700317
Country where the crime was committed: Italy
Crime Location: Arona, Baveno, Meina, Mergozzo, Orta, Stresa
Crime Date: 4309
Victims: Jews
Nationality: Italian
Agency: Waffen-SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
Subject of the proceeding: Arrest and execution of a total of 22 Italian Jews in several actions at the Lago Maggiore


Published in Justiz und NS-Verbrechen Vol. XXX

Many thanks in advance

-----------------------------------


<a href="http://www.ipernity.com/doc/198517/10776948"><img src="http://u1.ipernity.com/19/69/48/10776948.e7275d0c.1024.jpg" width="800" height="555" alt="LSSAH - Lago Maggiore 2" border="0"/></a>

[HouweTrouwe]

1. WANDER: Unknown

2. LEITHE, Ludwig:

Lei., Ludwig Otto Proceeding suspended

Court:
LG Osnabrück 680705
BGH 700317
Country where the crime was committed: Italy
Crime Location: Arona, Baveno, Meina, Mergozzo, Orta, Stresa
Crime Date: 4309
Victims: Jews
Nationality: Italian
Agency: Waffen-SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler
Subject of the proceeding: Arrest and execution of a total of 22 Italian Jews in several actions at the Lago Maggiore


Published in Justiz und NS-Verbrechen Vol. XXX

According to John Moore's Führerliste, Leithe was a Standartenoberjunker at the JS-Klagenfurt in March 1945. He was born on June 19, 1920. I presume he was an NCO platoon leader under Krüger or Schnelle.

Thanks to AHF

Sergeant Oscar Schultz and sergeant Ludwig Leithe,two of the perpetrators,were sentenced to 3 years.
All the perpetrators were released 630 days later: on 2nd April 1970 the Court of Appeals of Berlin canceled the precedent judgement with this motivation : " the crimes have to be considered prescribed."

Thanks to AHF

<a href="http://www.ipernity.com/doc/198517/10777254"><img src="http://u1.ipernity.com/19/72/54/10777254.7ad94c32.560.jpg" width="700" height="487" alt="LSSAH - Lago Maggiore 3" border="0"/></a>

[HouweTrouwe]

<a href="http://www.ipernity.com/doc/198517/10776948"><img src="http://u1.ipernity.com/19/69/48/10776948.e7275d0c.1024.jpg" width="800" height="555" alt="LSSAH - Lago Maggiore 2" border="0"/></a>

I searched the entire internet and I think the little mountain on the photograph could be the following (taken from other side, not visible on the picture)

[markus]

To the best of my knowledge, the individuals you mention were all members of the II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 "LSSAH" (Becker).

The men involved in the Lago Maggiore incident were a disgrace to the Leibstandarte and to Germany.

[HouweTrouwe]

To the best of my knowledge, the individuals you mention were all members of the II./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2 "LSSAH" (Becker).

The men involved in the Lago Maggiore incident were a disgrace to the Leibstandarte and to Germany.

Thanks to AHF

Based on the chart at the back of The LAH III, Schnelle was commanding 5./SS-PGR 2 during the late summer of 1943. As Fred indicated, Krüger was commanding 3. Kompanie of the same regiment, and Röwehr was their battalion commander, as head of I./SS-PGR 2.

According to John Moore's Führerliste, Leithe was a Standartenoberjunker at the JS-Klagenfurt in March 1945. He was born on June 19, 1920. I presume he was an NCO platoon leader under Krüger or Schnelle.

Also in the Führerliste, I found an Oskar Schulz (not Schultz) who was born on June 18, 1922. He is shown as having been a Sturmmann in SS-PGR 2 in March of 1943, and then an Ustuf. in SS-PRG 1 as of May 1944. He had SS #449,394. I would guess he was an NCO or Offizier-Anwärter of some sort in the late summer of 1943, and perhaps also squad or platoon leader, also under Krüger or Schnelle (Schulz and Leithe could instead have been on the I. Bataillon staff, of course).

The men were tried for the killing of Jews in the Lago Maggiore area in Italy. During the nights of September 24 and 25, 1943, they rounded up Jews, and eventually killed them. The court found that the men were indeed guilty of this crime, and also concluded that they had operated against orders to leave the civilian population alone. Because of the latter detail, they had attempted to conceal their activity, but had been investigated by the divisional Judge, only to have the investigation broken off a few weeks later when the LAH returned to the Eastern Front. Though the 1968 court found the men guilty, they could not be punished because the statute of limitations had run out.

The above paragraph is based on details in The LAH III. Author Rudolph Lehmann doesn't try to whitewash the affair, he concludes that the men were indeed guilty, and that he and the surviving veterans of the LAH have to feel shame now that they know of this incident.

Markus, do you know more on the names? Hopefully we can find out more. It looks like I bought photographs from a member that was there when things occured. I think this because this is one of the writings on the back:

<a href="http://www.ipernity.com/doc/198517/10781745"><img src="http://u1.ipernity.com/19/17/45/10781745.e52d7187.jpg" width="548" height="388" alt="LSSAH-B1" border="0"/></a>

Italien 1943
road scout trip, Bremer - Leine
to the med. sea

Lago Maggiore

In diesem Wagen .... (?) Schulz und ich gefahren als der alte Herr und die Kinder erschossen würden. Weiter fahrt, ich blieb im Wagen sitzen.

[HouweTrouwe]

Found more on Friedrich Bremer (thanks to Mark Yerger)

Born 13.12.19
Joined SS 4/4/38
SS# 324 390
JST- 40/41

ustuf- 20/4/41
ostuf- 9/11/42
hstuf- 30/1/44

IC II- 22/6/42
EK I- 20/4/43
East Medal- 15/8/42
Wound Black- 1/9/43
Pz Badge- 20/4/43
single hand tank destruction- 1/7/43
Close Clasp Silver- 5/6/44

DK 27/4/44, Kp Chef 2/SS-Pz-Gren.Rgt 2 "LAH"

Killed 4/45 as Adj SS-Pz-Gren-Rgt 2

<a href="http://www.ipernity.com/doc/198517/10777745"><img src="http://u1.ipernity.com/19/77/45/10777745.e9c045f9.560.jpg" width="542" height="492" alt="LSSAH - Lago Maggiore 4b" border="0"/></a>

[HouweTrouwe]

Not a known subject or happening? If anyone has more information?

[HouweTrouwe]

Up?