Human Game: The True Story of the 'Great Escape' Murders and the Hunt for the Gestapo Gunmen (43 page)

173
“You know darling, I still haven’t got over the idea…” Letter reproduced in Gill, pg. 255.

173
Luftwaffe
transports four flight lieutenants back to Stalag Luft III. War Crimes Report: August 7, 1945. Air 40/2486/032.

173
“I remained at Görlitz…” Cameron statement. Air 40/2492/008.

173
Threats of decapitation, airmen told they would never see their wives again, bodies burned in Breslau. War Crimes Report: August 7, 1945. Air 40/2486/032.

173
“the work of the Gestapo…” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/147.

173
“ailing, elderly, and female members of the office.” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/147.

173
Forty officers for a population of a hundred thousand. Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/147.

173
Scharpwinkel creates his own unit. Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/147.

175
Weather and enemy fire kill the majority of men at the front. Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/147-148.

175
“I cannot imagine Scharpwinkel…” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/148.

175
“partisan activity, treason…” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/148.

175
Killing ten to thirty people a week; murder made easy after experiences on Eastern Front. Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/148.

175
“Frequently, mothers brought…” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/148.

175
“gas lorries.” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/148.

175
“Death occurred instantaneously…” Schumacher statement. Air 40/2487/148.

176
“I want you to tell me…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“Yes, they escaped from Sagan.” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“And how many officers were recaptured?” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“I do not know. I did not hear.” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“You do know…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“Six or seven…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“What time of day did they arrive?” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“I saw them about 19:30 hours…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“What happened then?” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“All the prisoners were taken into my office…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/027.

176
“Who carried out the interrogations…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/028.

176
“Dr. Scharpwinkel…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/028.

176
Questions put to the airmen and their refusal to answer. Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/016-017.

177
“Who are the persons…” Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/016.

177
“Take care they don’t get away…” Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/017.

177
“
geheime reichssache.
” Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/017.

177
Details of journey taken by six prisoners to the site of execution. Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/017.

177
“Scharpwinkel announced that a short break…” Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/017.

178
Hansel eats snack in car, hears gunshots, sees the bodies lying in the woods. Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/017.

178
“Did you believe that?” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/031.

178
“No. They would have been crazy…” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/031.

178
Hansel makes arrangements with undertaker. Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/017.

178
Bodies taken away to be destroyed and shipped to Breslau. Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/018.

178
“Who paid the cost of the cremations?” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/032.

178
“The Breslau office.” Hansel interrogation. Air 40/2493/032.

179
Scharpwinkel coordinates cover stories. Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/018.

179
“I wish only that Scharpwinkel…” Hansel statement. Air 40/2493/018.

179
Flying Officer Harrison joins the team. Andrews, pgs. 187–189.

179
“People would recognize…” Andrews, pg. 188.

179
Harrison shot at while driving. Andrews, pg. 188.

180
“One was shot at…” Andrews, pg. 188.

180
“tended to look on life…” Andrews, pg. 188.

180
Rumor the Russians hanged Scharpwinkel. Investigation progress report: March 31, 1946. Air 40/2286/019.

180
Rumor the Russians arrested Scharpwinkel but did not kill him. Investigation progress report: June 13, 1946. Air 40/2286/016.

180
“three Germans accused of war crimes…” FO 371/57595/025.

180
“large number of Germans suspected of war crimes…” FO 371/57595/025.

180
Arranging food, fuel, and quarters poses significant logistical challenge. Investigation progress report: January 24, 1986. Air 40/2286/047.

181
Nebe background information. Davies, pgs. 154–155; Andrews, pgs. 113–114.

181
Nebe commands
Einsatzgruppen
B. Davies, pg. 154.

182
Daniel interviews Babette Helmut’s brothers, tracks down Frau Müller, learns of Anny Schmid. Andrew, pgs. 162–163; Investigation progress report: September 24, 1946. Air 40/2272/065.

182
Information provided by Reinhardt Müller. Andrews, pg. 165.

183
Daniel questions Müller’s father, reads embarrassing letter. Andrews, pgs. 163–164.

183
“My relations have told me…” from letter reproduced in Andrews, pg. 163.

184
“We were together…” Andrews, pg. 165.

184
Daniel orders surveillance, doubts Schmid would confess to ruse. Andrews, pg. 165.

184
“an expert.” Foreign Office memo: June 17, 1946. FO 371/57595/040.

184
“Should Captain C. wear mufti or uniform?” Foreign Office telegram: July 2, 1946. FO 371/57595/044. (Official records do not record the response.)

184
Interview witnessed by four Russian soldiers, Cornish warned intimidation of Scharpwinkel will not be tolerated. Andrews, pg. 217.

185
Scharpwinkel implicates Wielen, says Breslau
Kripo
chief wanted to oversee executions. FO 371/57595/056.

185
“come across with some admission…” Scotland, pg. 137.

185
“It’s a damn swindle…” Scotland, pg. 137.

185
“Look at the signature…” Scotland, pg. 137.

185
“I don’t believe you…” Scotland, pg. 137.

185
“If you were not the old man that you are…” Scotland, pg. 137.

185
“I believe that in my district…” Scharpwinkel statement. Air 40/2487/143.

185
“in order to carry out his mission.” Scharpwinkel statement. Air 40/2487/143.

185
“The first six were shot…” Scharpwinkel statement. Air 40/2487/143.

186
“My driver was Schröder.” Andrews, pg. 239.

186
Names of the first six men shot. Air 40/2487/022.

186
“As regards my activities…” Scharpwinkel statement. Air 40/2487/144.

187
“account for the murder…” Foreign Office letter: November 22, 1946. FO 371/57595/091.

187
“held positions of importance on the camp staff.” Judge Advocate General letter: October 17, 1946. FO 371/57595/069.

187
“intended to set a standard for other concentration camps…” JVL.

187
Thirty thousand Russians die in camp.
New York Times,
December 17, 2001.

187
Thirty-three thousand inmates vacated on forced march. JVL.

187
Camps becomes a prison run by NKVD.
New York Times,
December 17, 2001.

187
“the former Counselor of the German Embassy in Moscow…” Foreign Office memo: December 2, 1946. FO 371/57595/094.

187
Scharpwinkel hospitalized with pneumonia and pleurisy. FO 371/57595/069.

188
Scharpwinkel orders driver to stage a breakdown. Andrews, pg. 240; Twitching lip. Air 40/2493/049.

188
Sound of screaming and machine gun fire, a scene of pandemonium. Andrews, pg. 241.

188
“The officials were running around excitedly…” Wieczorek statement reproduced in Andrews, pg. 241.

188
Death of gunmen. Investigation progress report: June 29, 1946. Air 40/2493/047.

189
Names of the ten executed airmen. Air 40/2487/022.

189
“The lorry stood forty meters behind me…” Schröder statement reproduced in Andrews, pg. 241.

190
“not only investigated the escape…” Andrews, pg. 240.

CHAPTER 12: ALONE

191
Hayter’s name on list of deceased. Andrews, pg. 246.

191
Hayter’s passion for and interest in flying. Vance, pg. 81.

191
Hayter’s biographical information and the details of his capture. Vance, pgs. 81–82.

192
Herberg interviewed a second time at the London Cage, names Hilker. Investigation progress report: November 14, 1946. Air 40/2272/60-61.

193
“should be treated with reserve.” Investigation progress report: November 14, 1946. Air 40/2272/61.

193
Details of Anthony Hayter’s arrest. Arrest report: March 31, 1944. Air 40/2278/016.

194
“It would be very useful…” Arrest report: March 31, 1944. Air 40/2278/016.

195
“executioner for the Strasbourg Gestapo.” Investigation progress report: December 16, 1946. Air 40/2272/053.

195
Gehrum would have been triggerman. Air 40/2278/019.

195
Gehrum questions Harrison’s involvement in Dresden. Andrews, pgs. 188–189.

195
Committing murder versus the following of a legitimate order. Andrews, pg. 189.

195
Interrogating members of Strasbourg Gestapo. Investigation progress report: December 16, 1946. Air 40/2272/053.

195
Schimmel denies knowledge of murder. Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/011.

196
Fear of being charged in the murder of paratroopers. Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/011.

196
“Shortly after the end of the war…” Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/011.

196
“special mission.” Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/011.

196
“a man caught on the frontier during the
Fahndung
.” Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/011.

196
“been shot by Hilker whilst trying to escape.” Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/012.

196
Hilker’s activities following Hayter affair; false papers. Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/012.

196
“In the beginning of 1945…” Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/012.

197
Description of Hilker. Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2278/012.

197
Cremation records examined at Strasbourg. Investigation progress report: December 14, 1946. Air 40/2272/053.

197
“All the entries are in name form…” Investigation progress report: December 12, 1946. Air 40/2278/019.

197
Information provided by Rudolf Peters. Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

197
“That’s an English Air Force officer.” Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

197
“In my presence…” Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

197
Hayter is questioned in Peters’s room. Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

198
Hayter is placed in a cell. Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

198
Peters sees Hayter bundled into a waiting car. Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

198
Peters told to mind his own business. Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

198
“Stop asking questions…” Peters statement. Air 40/2278/03.

198
No paperwork filed regarding Hayter’s capture. Peters statement. Air 40/2278/003.

198
Schimmel accused of being soft. Andrews, pg. 250.

199
Shooting of Hayter is based on Schimmel’s statement quoted in Andrews, pgs. 249–250.

199
Hayters’s shooting and cremation. Andrews, pgs. 249, 250.

199
Hilker’s wife and inquiries in Karlsruhe. Investigation progress report: December 14, 1946. Air 40/2272/053; Air 40/2278/020.

199
The fates of Dissner and Hilker. Andrews, pgs. 250, 260.

CHAPTER 13: THE ORDER OF THE BLOOD

201
Catanach’s love of adventure and his joining the air force. Vance, pg. 92.

202
“Take care of it…” Vance, pg. 92.

202
Catanach and crew fly against Cologne. Vance, pg. 93.

203
“Boys, I think we’d better be getting home now.” Vance, pg. 93.

203
Catanach awarded DFC, becomes squadron leader, assigned to protect arctic convoys. Vance, pg. 93.

203
Catanach and crew shot down and taken prisoner. Vance, pg. 93.

203
Details of Christensen’s wartime experiences leading up to capture. Vance, pgs. 74–75.

204
Christensen’s Danish lineage, responsible for intelligence on Denmark. Gill, pgs. 91, 147.

204
Espelid responsible for intelligence on Norway. Gill, pg. 147.

204
Espelid’s wartime service and capture; meets Fuglesang in Stalag Luft III. Vance, pgs. 175, 176.

205
Fuglesang shot down over Flushing and captured. Vance, pg. 176.

205
Lyon commences investigation with “battle order” of Kiel Gestapo. Investigation progress report: September 24, 1946. Air 40/2493/113.

205
Schafer produces cremation records. Schafer statement. Air 40/2493/156.