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Majdanek trials

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Majdanek trials
Former SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Anton Thernes (standing, left) in front of a penal court on trial for crimes committed at Majdanek, 1944, Lublin, Poland
SubmittedNovember 27, 1944
DecidedJune 30, 1981, Düsseldorf
The case of the Majdanek death camp
Majdanek concentration camp (June 24, 1944) from the collections of the Majdanek Museum, lower half: the barracks under deconstruction; in the upper half, functioning barracks
Preserved original ovens in the second Crematorium at Majdanek, built in 1943 by Heinrich Kori.[1]
Original gas chamber with visible Zyklon B blue stain on the back wall, permanently burned into the cement

The Majdanek trials were a series of consecutive war-crime trials held in Poland and in Germany during and after World War II, constituting the overall longest Nazi war crimes trial in history spanning over 30 years.[2] The first judicial trial of Majdanek extermination camp officials took place from November 27, 1944, to December 2, 1944, in Lublin, Poland.[3][4] The last one, held at the District Court of Düsseldorf began on November 26, 1975, and concluded on June 30, 1981. It was West Germany's longest and most expensive trial, lasting 474 sessions.[5][6]

A number of former high ranking SS men, camp officials, camp guards, and SS staff were arraigned before the courts on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed at Majdanek in the period between October 1, 1941, and July 22, 1944. Notably, only 170 Nazis who served at Majdanek had been prosecuted at all, of the 1,037 camp personnel known by name. Half of the defendants charged by the West German justice system were acquitted of killing. By contrast, those tried earlier by Poland were usually found guilty. During the 34 months of camp operation, more than 79,000 people were murdered at Majdanek main camp alone (59,000 of them Polish Jews) and between 95,000 and 130,000 people in the entire Majdanek, system including several subcamps.[7] Some 18,000 Jews were killed at Majdanek on November 3, 1943, during the largest single-day, single-camp massacre of the Holocaust,[6] named Harvest Festival (totalling 43,000 with 2 subcamps).[8]

Notably, two KL Majdanek concentration camp commandants were put on trial by the SS themselves in the course of the camp operation partly because of what Majdanek was initially, merely a storage depot for gold, money and furs stolen from trainloads of Holocaust victims at murder factories in Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka.[9] Both SS men were charged with wholesale stealing from the Third Reich to become rich. Karl-Otto Koch (serving at Majdanek from July 1941 till August 24, 1942) was executed by firing squad on April 5, 1945; Hermann Florstedt, the third chief of Majdanek (from October 1942 on) was executed by the SS on April 15, 1945.[10]

First Majdanek trial

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Retreating Germans did not have time to destroy the facility. It remained the best preserved example of a Holocaust death camp in history, with intact gas chambers and crematoria.[11] The advancing Soviets were the first Allied soldiers to see the gas chambers, and initially overestimated the total number of victims.[12]

A group of six members of Majdanek personnel – who had not managed to escape – were arraigned before the Soviet-Polish Special Criminal Court immediately following the camp's liberation of July 23, 1944. They were SS-Obersturmführer Anton Thernes, SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Gerstenmeier, SS-Oberscharführer Hermann Vögel, Kapo Edmund Pohlmann, SS-Rottenführer Theodor Schöllen and Kapo Heinrich Stalp, After the trial, and deliberations which lasted from November 27, 1944 to December 2, 1944 all of accused, except for Pohlmann, who had committed suicide on November 28, were found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to death by hanging.[6][11][13] They were all hanged on December 3, 1944.[14]

Second Majdanek trial (1946–1948)

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The series of trials which took place between 1946 and 1948 in Poland – usually referred to as the Second trial of Majdanek – consisted of trials of many kinds. Some 95 SS-men, mostly guards (including those apprehended hiding in postwar Germany), were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Seven of the defendants were given the death penalty. The most prominent of them was Elsa Ehrich, Oberaufseherin of the women and children camp division (liquidated in spring of 1944). She was responsible for the selections to gas chambers. Ehrich was found guilty of all charges, and hanged in July 1948. Apparently, Ehrich made an attempt to launch a Nazi brothel in 1943, but the project was abandoned before fruition after one of her slave sex-workers was diagnosed with typhus.[15]

Most other SS men were sentenced from 2 to 12 years' imprisonment.[16] Some of the more prominent defendants in the 1946–1948 series of trials included over 60 SS-Schütze camp guards. The multiple proceedings were held in Lublin, as well as in Radom and Świdnica (1947), Kraków, Wadowice, and Toruń (1948) and in Warsaw (1948), where the last appellate court case of Jacob Gemmel took place in November 1950.[10]

Defendant [10] Born Rank Function Sentence
Elsa Ehrich Mar. 8, 1914 Oberaufseherin Senior Overseer     Death by hanging (carried out, Oct. 26, 1948)
Friedrich Gebhardt Feb. 26, 1899 SS-Unterscharf. Camp guard     Death by hanging (carried out, Nov. 15, 1948)
Kurt Möller (Moeller) Jan. 11, 1918 SS-Oberscharf. Squad leader     Death by hanging (carried out, Oct. 6, 1948)
Jacob Niessner Jan. 19, 1908 SS-Schütze Camp guard     Death by hanging (carried out, Jul. 14, 1948)
Michael Pelger Mar. 27, 1908 SS-Rottenf. Squad leader     Death by hanging (carried out, Jun. 18, 1948)
Peter Reiss Feb. 22, 1901 SS-Sturmmann Stormtrooper     Death by hanging (carried out, Jun. 23, 1948)
Franz Söss (Süss) Nov. 30, 1912 SS-Rottenf. Squad leader     Death by hanging (carried out, Sept. 20, 1949)
Friedrich Buschbaum Sept. 14, 1904 SS-Schütze Camp guard     Death by hanging (commuted to 15 years imprisonment, rel. May 31, 1956)
Johann Weiss Feb. 24, 1915 SS-Schütze Camp guard     Death by hanging (commuted to 10 years imprisonment)
Johann Vormittag Aug. 5, 1904 SS-Schütze Camp guard     life imprisonment (released Mar. 11, 1959)
Jacob Gemmel May 27, 1913 SS-Schütze Camp guard     life (commuted to 12 years imprisonment)
Robert Frick Oct. 15, 1918 SS-Unterscharf. Camp guard     15 years imprisonment (released May 2, 1956)
Georg Fleischer Nov. 24, 1911 SS-Schütze Camp guard     12 years imprisonment (released May 2, 1956)
Johann Kessler Feb. 28, 1910 SS-Sturmmann Stormtrooper     12 years imprisonment (died in prison, Feb. 25, 1951)
Hans Kottre (Kotre) Aug. 22, 1912 SS-Sturmmann Stormtrooper     12 years imprisonment (released May 9, 1956)
Andreas Lahner Dec. 10, 1921 SS-Sturmmann Stormtrooper     12 years imprisonment (released May 2, 1956)
Georg Neu Aug. 1, 1921 SS-Schütze Camp guard     12 years imprisonment (released May 9, 1956)
Franz Wirth Nov. 8, 1909 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     12 years imprisonment
Andreas Buttinger May 29, 1910 SS-Schütze Camp guard     10 years imprisonment (died in prison, Apr. 26, 1949)
Jacob Jost Oct. 6, 1895 SS-Oberscharf. Camp guard     10 years imprisonment (released Apr. 30, 1956)
Martin Löx Feb. 7, 1908 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     10 years imprisonment (died in prison, Jun. 26, 1949)
Kasper Marksteiner Nov. 1, 1913 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     10 years imprisonment (died in prison, Jun. 20, 1949)
Hans Aufmuth Jan. 18, 1905 SS-Schütze Camp guard     8 years imprisonment (released Mar. 17, 1954)
Johann Betz Dec. 18, 1906 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     8 years imprisonment (released Jul. 3, 1955)
Anton Hoffmann Sept. 17, 1910 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     8 years imprisonment (released Dec. 17, 1954)
Johann Radler Sept. 9, 1909 SS-Schütze Camp guard     8 years imprisonment (released Mar. 1, 1955)
Thomas Radrich Oct. 19, 1912 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     8 years imprisonment
Johann Setz Jun. 26, 1907 SS-Sturmman Camp guard     8 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Feb. 28, 1955)
Michael Bertl Jun. 23, 1909 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     7 years imprisonment (released Jul. 15, 1954)
Paul Keller Oct. 16, 1910 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     7 years imprisonment (released Jul. 15, 1954)
Karl Müller Mar. 10, 1907 SS-Sturmmann Block leader     7 years imprisonment
Walter Biernat Mar. 28, 1920 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     6 years imprisonment (died in prison, Feb. 6, 1952)
Josef Hartmann Mar. 22, 1918 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     6 years imprisonment (released Jan. 5, 1954)
Hans Georg Hess Jun. 17, 1910 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     6 years imprisonment
Heinrich Kühn Dec. 16, 1909 SS-Sturmmann Guard (Auschwitz)     6 years imprisonment (died in prison, Apr. 16, 1951)
Franz Vormittag Jan. 23, 1920 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     6 years imprisonment
Helmut Zach Aug. 19, 1909 SS-Unterscharf. Camp guard     6 years imprisonment
Jacob Dialler Dec. 8, 1913 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     5 years imprisonment (released Dec. 23, 1951)
Hans Durst Nov. 23, 1909 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     5 years imprisonment
Franz Kaufmann Jul. 23, 1908 SS-Unterscharf. Camp guard     5 years imprisonment
Paul Kiss Jul. 13, 1902 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     5 years imprisonment (died Apr. 26, 1950)
Johann Kubasak Dec. 31, 1909 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     5 years imprisonment
Johann Lassner Jul. 26, 1909 SS-Schütze Camp guard     5 years imprisonment
Johann Lienert Aug. 5, 1915 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     5 years imprisonment (died Jun. 16, 1949)
Stefan Mantsch Sept. 24, 1922 SS-Schütze Camp guard     5 years imprisonment (released Apr. 12, 1951)
Hans Merle May 15, 1914 SS-Schütze Camp guard     5 years imprisonment (released Jan. 2, 1953)
Kurt Erwin Ohnweiler Mar. 25, 1913 SS-Schütze Camp guard     5 years imprisonment (released Mar. 1, 1952)
Michael Thal Jan. 16, 1910 SS-Schütze Camp guard     5 years imprisonment
Jacob Vormittag Mar. 8, 1909 SS-Sturmman Camp guard     5 years imprisonment
Martin Berger Jan. 18, 1910 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     4 years imprisonment (died in prison, Oct. 15, 1948)
Michael Fleischer Aug. 18, 1912 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     4 years imprisonment
Franz Habel May 31, 1912 SS-Rottenf. Camp guard     4 years imprisonment
Karl Brückner May 5, 1904 SS-Unterscharf. Camp guard     4 years imprisonment (released Feb. 28, 1951)
Josef Janowitsch Aug. 22, 1910 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     4 years imprisonment
Johann Günesch May 17, 1913 SS-Schütze Camp guard     3.5 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Feb. 9, 1951)
Fritz Frischolz Oct. 5, 1911 SS-Oberscharf. Camp guard     8 years imprisonment (released Mar. 10, 1955)
Michael Gall Jul. 22, 1902 SS-Schütze Camp guard     3 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Jan. 15, 1951)
Hans Grabert May 31, 1907 SS-Oberscharf Administration     3 years imprisonment (extradited to Germany, Jun. 16, 1950)
Stefan Mantsch Sept. 24, 1922 SS-Schütze Camp guard     3 years imprisonment (released Apr. 12, 1951)
Josef Moos Jan. 24, 1904 SS-Rottenf. Infirmary (selections)     3 years imprisonment (died in prison, Apr. 20, 1950)
Konrad Anacker Feb. 13, 1892 SS-Schütze Camp guard     3 years imprisonment (released Jun. 26, 1950)
Wilhelm Reinartz Mar. 17, 1910 SS-Unterscharf. Infirmary     2 years imprisonment
Wilhelm Petrak Feb. 14, 1909 SS-Sturmmann Camp guard     8 years (died Jul. 28, 1948 of disease after 2 years)

Third Majdanek trial (1975–1981)

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At the Third Majdanek Trial, held between November 26, 1975, and June 30, 1981, before a West German Court at Düsseldorf, sixteen defendants were arraigned. Five were cleared of all charges, two released due to ill health, one died of old age, and eight were found guilty. They were sentenced to 3 to 12 years imprisonment.[17] The 3rd Majdanek trial was preceded by the Treblinka Trials also at Düsseldorf in 1964 and 1970.[18] The Majdanek trial lasted for six years, and concluded on June 30, 1981. There were insufficient grounds to lay charges against other suspects according to the prosecution (many of the key witnesses having died).[5][19]

Notably, the camp deputy commandant, Arnold Strippel, implicated in the torture and killing of many dozens of prisoners (including 42 Soviet POWs in July 1942), received a nominal 3+1⁄2-year sentence. He also received 121,500-Deutsche Mark reimbursement for the loss of earnings and his social security contributions, which he used to purchase a condominium in Frankfurt, which he occupied until his death.[20]

Defendant Born Rank Function Sentence
Alice Orlowski Sept. 30, 1903 SS Aufseherin Camp overseer     died of old age during the trial
Hermine Braunsteiner Jul. 16, 1919 Rapportführerin Female camp deputy     life imprisonment
Hildegard Lachert Mar. 19, 1920 Aufseherin Camp overseer     12 years imprisonment
Hermann Hackmann Nov. 11, 1913 SS-Hauptst. Camp commandant     10 years imprisonment
Emil Laurich May 21, 1921 SS-Rottenf. Ideology     8 years imprisonment
Heinz Villain Feb. 1, 1921 SS-Unterscharf. Field commandant     6 years imprisonment
Fritz-Heinrich Petrick Jan. 22, 1913 SS-Oberscharf. Camp guard     4 years imprisonment
Arnold Strippel Jun. 2, 1911 SS-Obersturm. Camp director     3.5 years imprisonment
Thomas Ellwanger Mar. 3, 1917 SS-Unterscharf. Camp guard     3 years imprisonment
Wilhelm Reinartz Mar. 17, 1910 SS-Unterscharf. Infirmary (selections)     released due to illness
Joanna (Johanna) Zelle SS-Gefolge Camp guard     released due to illness
Heinrich Schmidt Mar. 27, 1912 SS-Hauptsturmf. Medic (selections)     acquitted and released
Charlotte Mayer Feb. 7, 1918 Maintenance     acquitted and released
Rosy Suess or (Rosa) Süss Sept. 16, 1920 Maintenance     acquitted and released
Heinrich Groffmann SS-Rottenf. Field commandant     acquitted and released
Hermine Boettcher-Brueckner Apr. 26, 1918 Maintenance     acquitted and released

1988 Höcker trial

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In 1988, Karl-Friedrich Höcker was called to trial for ordering the Zyklon B used in Majdanek's gas chambers. He was sentenced to four years in prison in May 1989.[21]

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Crematorium at Majdanek". Jewish Virtual Library. 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  2. ^ Reuter (Jun 27, 1981). "Longest war crimes trial ends". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  3. ^ Jean-michel Frodon (2010). Majdanek Trial. SUNY Press. pp. 249–. ISBN 978-1438430287. Retrieved 2013-04-13. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ "Majdanek Concentration Camp". Majdanek, Poland. July 21, 2009. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  5. ^ a b "Once Upon a Time in War". Majdanek trial in West Germany. A Photographic Retrospect. 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  6. ^ a b c USHMM (May 11, 2012). "Soviet forces liberate Majdanek". Lublin/Majdanek: Chronology. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  7. ^ Reszka, Paweł (2005-12-23). "Majdanek Victims Enumerated. Changes in the history textbooks?". Gazeta Wyborcza. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  8. ^ Jennifer Rosenberg. "Aktion Erntefest". 20th Century History. About.com Education. Archived from the original on 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  9. ^ Staff Writer (2006). "Lublin/Majdanek Concentration Camp: Overview". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. ushmm.org. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  10. ^ a b c "Procesy zbrodniarzy (Trials of war criminals) 1946–1948". Wykaz sądzonych członków załogi KL Lublin/Majdanek. KL Lublin. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  11. ^ a b "Majdanek" (PDF). Majdanek concentration camp. Yad Vashem. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2007. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  12. ^ "Inside Majdanek". Nazi concentration camps. Jewish Virtual Library. 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  13. ^ Marcus Wendel (Aug 8, 2007). "SS personnel serving at Majdanek". Camp personnel. Axis History. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  14. ^ JVL (2013). "Majdanek Trial". Majdanek extermination camp. Jewish Virtual Library.org. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  15. ^ "SS-Oberaufseherinn Elsa Ehrich". Frauenkonzetrationslager. KL Lublin. 2004–2013. Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  16. ^ PMM (2006). "XX. Akta procesowe". Archiwum (in Polish). Państwowe Muzeum na Majdanku. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  17. ^ JVL (2013). "Third Majdanek Trial". Majdanek extermination camp. Jewish Virtual Library.org. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  18. ^ Christian Hofmann. "Die Treblinka-Prozesse (The Treblinka Trials)". Shoa.de (in German). Arbeitskreis Shoa.de e.V.
  19. ^ Landgericht Düsseldorf spricht Urteile im Majdanek-Prozeß Landtag Intern vom 26. Juni 2001 (Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen). (in German)
  20. ^ Thomas Schattner. "Strippels Blutspur durch Europas KZs – Sie begann vor 70 Jahren hier in Unshausen, im heutigen Schwalm-Eder-Kreis" (PDF). Archiv und Ausstellung der Universität Kassel (in German). Gedenkstätte Breitenau. pp. 57–62. Archived from the original (PDF file, direct download 78.2 KB) on 2007-07-23. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  21. ^ "SS Auschwitz album". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Archived from the original on 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-06.

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