KB Film/Foto

WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES

As a history account all aspects of #GD’s actions are told.
This is a thread on civilian executions undertaken by elements of the Division, in #Yugoslavia, 1941.

#History #SWW #WW2 #Pancevo

1/

#GD were transferred from France to Yugoslavia 5-10 April 1941.

They fought 11-12 April from Werschetz to the Danube.

13 April saw occupation of Belgrade & 14 April to 15 May, as security of the newly won territory (surrender was 18 April).

#History #SWW #WW2 #Pancevo

2/

#Pancevo was where the main elements of the Rgt were located.

It was under command of IV Btl C/O Obstlt Bandelow.

There appeared Waffen SS elements attached to #GD from Das Reich, too.

Pic of Bandelow commandeered villa with officers/ethnic Germans.

#History #SWW #WW2

3)

Später makes no direct reference to the executions in ‘History of the Panzerkorps Großdeutschland Vol 1.

But notes the following;

‘Snipers in rooftops....Draconian measures to halt looting.....ambushed motorcyclists, ethnic Germans & civilians.’

#History #SWW #Pancevo

4/

He goes on;

‘In #Pancevo there was no peace....almost 2 people daily, usually ethnic Germans were disappearing/killed by the partisans....it wasn’t for some time that peace was restored to the City’.

The catalyst for the executions isn’t exactly clear.

#History #SWW #WW2

5/

So apologies as I can’t be confident of the precise cause. But it’s reasonable to suggest it was apparent retaliation for deaths of German soldiers/ethnic Germans.

This followed an incident from the Orthodox cemetery, where shots were fired.

#History #SWW #WW2 #Pancevo

6/

As a result, men of #GD searched the cemetery and surrounding buildings.

Eventually 35 men & 1 woman were arrested & found guilty under a German military court, led by Sturmbannführer Rudolph Hoffmann of the WSS Das Reich.

#History #SWW #WW2 #Pancevo

7/

The sentence was 18 death by hanging & 18 death by firing squad.

The place of execution was the cemetery where the alleged shooting occurred.

It seems the men who undertook the hangings were an ethic German - Hermann Brumm & a Hungarian.

#History #SWW #WW2 #Pancevo

8/

It appears the firing squad was the Pionierezug of III Btl #GD.

The photos were taken by Gerhard Gronefeld of the Rgts Kriegsberichterzug.

It seems he never handed the imagery to his C/O. Revealing them post-War as a memorial to those who were executed.

#Pancevo

9/

WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES

I genuinely wasn’t sure I should post these, but it’s important to remember that these civilians were murdered by these executioners.

An example of how the Heer was used as an extension of an abhorrently evil regime.

10/

#History #Pancevo

Post-War, Germany investigated the executions & the case vs Rudolph Hollmann/ #GD, but was closed in 1973.

It was deemed the civilians were partisans & could be killed under International Law.

The Yugoslav Army surrendering on 17 April 1941, the killings on 22 April.

End/