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| SS-Standarte Totenkopf |
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| SS-Totenkopf-Aufklärungs-Abteilung |
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| Leichter Panzerspähwagen Sd.kfz.222 of the Totenkopf |
The only documented example of war crimes against the Totenkopf were committed over a span of a few weeks during May-June 1940. The Le Paradis massacre committed by a company of SS-Standarte Totenkopf took place on May 27 1940 during the Battle of France, at a time when the British Expeditionary Force was attempting to retreat through the Pas-de-Calais region during the
Battle of Dunkirk. The 14.Kompanie under the command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein executed 97 British prisoners of the Royal Norfolk Regiment at the town of Le Paradis. News of the massacre spread to neighbouring German divisions and General Erich Höpner, commander of the German forces in France, was determined to have Fritz Knöchlein dismissed if charges of mistreatment or killing of prisoners could be brought. However none of these investigations were ever successful, possibly because Fritz Knöchlein stated that the British had been using dumdum bullets, thus violating the Hague Convention of 1899. In that case, the British soldiers no longer had any rights as prisoners of war, but were illegal combatants who could be treated accordingly. Regardless, many Waffen-SS officers were appalled by the massacre; some reportedly challenged Fritz Knöchlein to a duel, although none were ever fought. After World War II, Fritz Knöchlein was located, tried and convicted by a war crimes court. Knöchlein was executed by the British in 1949 in Hamelin at the age of 37. Following the campaign in France, the Totenkopf would be refitted with new personnel, who served with distinction on the Eastern Front. Top clip showing the tactical marking of the Totenkopf. Bottom images: an SS-Untersturmführer and his driver in a light armoured reconnaissance vehicle wearing early Panzer uniforms. The men belonged to the SS-Totenkopf-Aufklärungs-Abteilung, later redesigned as SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3
Totenkopf. Note pink Waffenfarbe and collar patches. Source: collection of David Williams. Fair use.
What’s far less and unknown is all the US/Allied killing incidents of German POW’s, and particular of German SS soldiers trying to surrender in 1944/1945.
ReplyDeleteIt was to an extent, pretty normal just to gun them down. Several stories exist from US soldiers telling exactly this.
The true figure will never be known as there was no will at all on the US/Allied side to investigate any of these incidents. And certainly not to prosecute and punish any US/Allied soldier for such.
While the story - and justice - was plain opposite when it came to Germans…
Not to mention the starvation and mistreatment of German pows after the war. And the murderous assaults on German civilians, often with incendiary bombs and the gang rape of German women and girls by the red army of rapists.
DeleteI just want to remind you who started the war and caused all the bloodshed including allied air bombings and soviet criminal acts of vengeance as consequences of the allied war effort.
DeleteWell, mr. or miss Anonymous, you seem to forget that the french and british started the war.
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DeleteOne is surprised that "war crimes" or allegations thereof (even benign ones) are only listed under German (or Axis) units, while you'd never read that under Allied units. Now what conclusion is that suggesting? Somehow it's not a mark of objectivity.
ReplyDeleteKnoechlein was awarded the German Cross in Gold and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, but will always be remembered as "The Butcher of Le Paradis." He became commander of No 36 Regiment of the newly formed 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division and was promoted to Obersturmbannfuhrer and appointed commander of a Norwegian SS volunteer unit from March 1944 to January 1945.
ReplyDeleteOfficially, Waffen-SS officers wore aluminum piping around the collar of the tankers' jacket. However, the Untersturmfuhrer in the picture wear colored piping. This may well be due to the fact that he is wearing army-model tanker jacket, which were widely worn in the SS. These had collar piping in branch color for all ranks (until the piping was discontinued in 1942).
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