Hitler's Bandit Hunters (77 page)

103
. Ibid, 95.

104
. TVDB, 115. The discrepancy in the figures, Borowiec indicated 974,745 in 1943; indicating a total of 528,994 missing people.

105
. TVDB, 107.

106
. Noakes & Pridham, III, 952.

107
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3345-OSS-231, Heinz Reinefarth., October 1944.

108
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP61, October 25, 1944.

109
. BA R19/321 Schnellbrief on the activities of bandits, October 14, 1944.

110
. BA R19/328, CdO, Schnellbrief, Aufstellung der SS-Pol Abt. Z.b.V. (mot) beim BdO Krakau, 12 December 1944.

111
. Refer to Mark C. Yerger,
Allgemeine-SS
, for a more detailed study of the SS commanders in retirement. Sereny,
Into That Darkness
, commented that Globocnik took Franz Stangl and his team of killers to Trieste. This compares with Sporrenberg and his team of killers who were sent to Norway. The reasoning behind these postings remains unexplained.

1
. Walter Manoschek, “The Extermination of the Jews in Serbia,” in Herbert,
National Socialist Extermination Policies
.

2
. Cf. Mazower,
Inside Hitler’s Greece
.

3
. IWM, IMT-7, 24-65.

4
. Fitzroy MacLean,
Eastern Approaches
(S.I., Cape, 1949), 275, PRO, HW16/6-MSGP 56, May 8, 1944, and PRO, HW16/6-MSGP 54, March 14, 1944.

5
. NCA, document PS-508, various correspondence concerning allied incursions in Norway including: the landing of British Freight Gliders in Norway (November 21, 1942), confirmation of the October 18, 1942 order (December 4, 1942), sparing captured commandos for interrogation (December 13, 1942), reference to a formal complaint by the Red Cross over German policy (December 14, 1942). Warlimont signed off all of these orders into OKW regulation as well as confirming the execution (special treatment) of three captured commandos (November 7, 1943) none of which was mentioned in his memoirs.

6
. NCA, document PS-7276, Commando operations, March 21, 1944.

7
. NCA document RF411, Bandenbekämpfung: Instructional pamphlet 69/2 comes into force for the Wehrmacht on 1 April 1944. Instructional pamphlet, for service use only 69/1 “Combat instructions for the Combating of Bands in the East.”

8
. NCA, document PS-532, Treatment of commandos, June 23, 1944.

9
. NCA, document PS-537, Treatment of members of foreign “military missions,” captured together with partisans, July 30, 1944. The order included the soldiers from British, American, and Soviet missions.

10
. NCA, document D-762, Combating of terrorists and saboteurs in the occupied territories, July 30, 1944.

11
. CMH,
German antiguerrilla operations in the Balkans (1941–1944
) (Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, 1954), referred to here as the Gaisser study.

12
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP 49, September 9, 1943.

13
. TVDB, 89.

14
. TVDB and NARA, RG242, T175/222/2759241-50, papers referring to the transfer from the east to Salzburg.

15
. NARA, RG238, M1270/26/798, Ernst Rode interrogation report, October 22, 1945.

16
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP 59, August 8, 1944.

17
. IWM, USMT-7, 8917.

18
. Trevor-Roper,
Hitler’s War Directives
, 214–6.

19
. TVDB, 106.

20
. Wilhelm Hoettl,
The Secret Front: The Inside Story of Nazi Political Espionage
(London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1953), 318. Hoettl was scathing about Skorzeny’s taking the laurels for the raid. The planning according to Hoettl was conducted by his adjutants Radl and Folckersam, while there is evidence the original plan was drawn up by Luftwaffe parachute Gen. Kurt Student.

21
. NARA, RG338, FMS, B289, Alfred Zerbel, November 18, 1950. Zerbel almost certainly confused the title of the GBA with its function of rounding up labor.

22
. Trevor-Roper,
Hitler’s War Directives
, 255–62.

23
. NARA, RG242, T175/81/2601886, declaration of Upper and Middle Italy, April 3, 1944.

24
. TVDB, 97.

25
. NARA BDC, A3343-SS0-010c Karl Wolff. He suffered Nephrotomie, Pyetomie, and heart disease and, like Bach-Zelewski, underwent convalescence in Hohenlychen and Karlsbad. Right up to the very last days, Wolff ensured he was fully paid-up for all his benefits and entitlements.

26
. NCA, document UK-66, “New Measures in connection with operations against Partisans” June 17, 1944, 576–80; and Gerhard Schreiber, “Partisanenkrieg und Kriegsverbrechen der Wehrmacht in Italien 1943 bis 1945,” in
Beiträge zur Nationalsozialistichen Gesundheits-und Sozialpolitik, Band 14, Repression und Kriegsverbrechen: Die Bekämpfung von Widerstand und Partisanenbewegungen gegen die deutsche Besatzung in West-und Südeuropa
(Berlin: Schwarze Risse, 1997), 93–129. Schreiber referred to the original title “Neuregelung in der Bandenbekämpfung,” 107.

27
. NCA, document UK-66, combating partisans, June 20, 1944, 581.

28
. NCA, document UK-66, Commander Covolo area headquarters, July 11, 1944, 582.

29
. PRO, WO311–359, Statements of German Generals in Italy, September 17, 1946.

30
. NARA, RG319, IRR, overheard prison cell conversation Karl Wolff, July 7, 1945.

31
. PRO, WO 311/28, Allied Force Headquarters (British Section). Report on German Reprisals for Partisan Activity in Italy, July 9, 1945. The report considered 20 cases, “The Special Position of the SS,” 21.

32
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-010C, Karl Wolff. Führungsstab BB-Ia-Nr.3096/ 44 g: Betr.: Abschlussmeldung in der “Bandenbekämpfungswoche.”

33
. NARA, BDC, A3343-SS0–090C, Willi Tensfeld, February 24, 1945.

34
. Hoettl,
The Secret Front
, 157.

35
. Brunner und Voigt,
Deutscher Handelsschulatlas
, (Berlin: B. G. Teubner, 1925), 14–15.

36
. HSta Düsseldorf Regierung Aachen, file 22757, document 57, letter March 7, 1933. Rösener wrote to himself confirming his promotion to SS-Sturmbannführer. He also instructed himself to remain in the same office, no.257, from where he sent the letter.

37
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2511956, Zusatzbefehl 1, October 5, 1942.

38
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-285A, SS-Standartenführer Otto Lurker (
Hitler hinter Festungsmauern
, Berlin, 1933).

39
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2511958, regular five-day reports for all Alpenland activities.

40
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2511824-5, Energieversorgung Südsteiermark, October 17, 1942.

41
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP 33, March 17, 1942.

42
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512274, BdO Alpenland in Marburg, Stabsbefehl 20, December 17, 1942.

43
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP53, January 12, 1943.

44
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512023, Bandentätigkeit, SD report, Lurker, March 22, 1943.

45
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP54, March 14, 1944.

46
. NARA, RG242, T175/81//2601501-2034, Bandenlage im Bereich des HSSPF im Wehrkreis XVIII Veldes, May 1943.

47
. NARA, RG242, T175/81/2601501-2034, Message from Rösener to Himmler, May 19, 1943. The stenographer made several errors in the message not least the salutation “heil titler.”

48
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512025, BdO Marburg, June 19, 1943.

49
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP 47, July 9, 1943.

50
. NARA, RG242, T175/81//2601501-2034, Oberkrain and Untersteiermark declared Bandenkampfgebiet.

51
. NARA, RG242, T175/81//2601501-2034, collection of papers concerning the raising of forces for HSSPF Alpenland.

52
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-042B, Erwin Rösener, correspondence July 1–23, 1943.

53
. BA R19/305, CdO, Schnellbrief Betr. Aufstellung der Polizei Infanterie Geschützkompanie “Alpenland,” August 6, 1943.

54
. BA, R19/305, Schenllbrief, Betr. Heimatstandort der Pol. Inf. Gesch Komp “Alpenland,” September 25, 1943.

55
. Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain,
Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the Third Reich
(London: Macdonald and Janes’, 1978), 286.

56
. NARA, RG242, T175/81//2601501-2034, letter to Winkelmann, May 29, 1943.

57
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512021–2. Landrat Kreis Cilli to SD Untersteiermark, July 7, 1943.

58
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512154, Vorfälle durch Banden in der Umgebung Warasdin-Toplitz, September 12, 1943.

59
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512171, Fernschreiben from 19th SS-Police Regiment, September 14, 1943.

60
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512641-3, Gefechtsstand 19th SS-Polizei Regiment, September 30, 1943.

61
. PRO, HW16/6, part two, MSGP50, October 7, 1943.

62
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512183, Gendarmerieposten Friedau, Untersteiermark, October 1, 1943.

63
. TVDB, 86.

64
. NARA, RG242, T175/10/2512100-3, Befehl zur Säuberung des Grenzraumes südlich der Save im Abschnitt Ratschach-Steinbrück-Trifail-Sava, Führungstab für Bandenbekämpfung, October 15, 1943.

65
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP52, December 15, 1943.

66
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-042B, Erwin Rösener. Gauleiter Uiberreither to Himmler October 28, 1943.

67
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP60, September 7, 1944.

68
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP58, July 3, 1944.PRO, PRO, HW16/6, MSGP59, August 8, 1944, PRO, HW16/6, MSGP61, November 5, 1944, and HW16/6, MSGP62, December 31, 1944.

69
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP61, November 5, 1944.

70
. PRO, HW16/6, MSGP62, December 31, 1944.

71
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-042B, Erwin Rösener. The document was signed but not dated by Bach-Zelewski, allowing Himmler to use the report as and when required.

72
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-042B, Erwin Rösener.

73
. Ibid, Erwin Rösener. Report by Dr. Braitmair, May 29, 1944 and Dr. Fahrenkamp, November 1944.

74
. PRO, HW16/98, “History of the German Police W/T Network,” July 1945, 21.

75
. NS19/1165, KSRFSS to Der Höhere SS-und Polizeiführer Alpenland, October 8, 1943.

76
. PRO, CAB 120-732, Recent Activities and Present Strengths (July 1943) of Opposing Forces in Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece, Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee for the War Cabinet.

77
. NARA, RG242, BDC, A3343-SSO-378A, Artur Phleps, letter to Himmler, May 7, 1944.

78
. Lepre,
Himmler’s Bosnian Division
, 187–94.

79
. Ibid, 198.

80
. BBC series, SOE: the interview with Bill Deakin former mission commander with Tito. Michael McConville, “Knight’s Move in Bosnia and the British rescue of Tito: 1944,”
RUSI Journal
, December 1997, 61–9.

81
. Otto Kumm,
Prinz Eugen: The History of the 7. SS-Mountain Division “Prinz Eugen”
(Winnipeg: J. J. Fedorowicz, 1995), 117–48.

82
. Ibid, 117–21.

83
. S. Kunzmann-Milius,
Fallschirmjäger der Waffen-SS
(Osnabrück: Munin Verlag, 1986), 77.

84
. Kumm,
Prinz Eugen
, 123–7.

85
. Maclean,
Eastern Approaches
, 450–1.

86
. McConville, “Knight’s Move in Bosnia,” 61–9.

87
. Kumm,
Prinz Eugen
, 129–38.