"Skorzeny at Dachau" Topic

"At the Dachau trials, Otto Skorzeny and officers of Panzer Brigade 150 successfully used tu quoque evidence to be acquitted of violating the laws of war by using American uniforms to infiltrate Allied lines in the false flag Operation Greif in the Battle of the Bulge. Evidence was introduced that the Allies themselves had on at least one occasion worn German uniforms,[citation needed] demonstrating that the prosecution was not clean with regards to this particular crime."

--Wikipedia, for what it's worth

Anyone know more about this?

News to me!

Sidestepping history according to Wiki for a moment (please excuse lengthy quotation and take particular note of final sentence…):

The crimes alleged by the prosecution in the four-charge indictment were all violations of the laws and usages of war. Charge I asserted that Skorzeny and his men participated in combat wearing U.S. uniforms. Although most interpreters of international law agree that wearing of enemy uniforms is permissible in carrying out a ruse, it is unlawful to be uniformed in the garb of the enemy during actual combat. Therefore, it was crucial for the prosecution to prove that the defendants participated in combat wearing U.S. uniforms. Charge II alleged that the defendants tortured and killed more than 100 U.S. prisoners of war. Charge III stated that Skorzeny and his co-defendants removed, used, and appropriated insignia of rank, decorations, uniforms, identification documents, and other effects and objects of personal use in the possession of U.S. prisoners of war. Charge IV alleged misappropriation of Red Cross food and clothing parcels consigned to U.S. prisoners of war.

All of the defendants pleaded not guilty. …The court dismissed Charge II for lack of evidence. The court granted a motion by the prosecution to find de Bruin not guilty and granted a similar motion by the defense for Maus. All other defendants were eventually acquitted. The court did not render an opinion explaining its reasons for the acquittals, contrary to procedure set by Nuernberg courts.

Registers of the Records of the Proceedings of the U.S. Army General Courts-Martial 1809-1890

Here ya go,

LAW REPORTS
OF
TRIALS OF
..
WAR CRIMINALS
Selected and prepared by
THE UNITED NATIONS
WAR CRIMES COMMISSION
VOLUME IX
LONDON
.' PUBLISHED FOR THE UNITED NATIONS WAR CRIMES COMMISSION BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE 1949

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And,
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And,
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Found this too. Though how much to believe is up to you,

"The Trial

After two years in various internment camps, Skorzeny was to face charges of war crimes for his actions in the Battle of the Bulge. Characterized at his arraignment as "the most dangerous man in Europe," (11) Skorzeny was brought before a US military court in Dachau on August 18, 1947. He and nine fellow officers of the 150th Panzer Brigade would face charges of improper use of military insignia, theft of US uniforms, and theft of Red Cross parcels from American prisoners of war.

The trial lasted over three weeks. The charge of stealing Red Cross parcels was dropped for lack of evidence, but Skorzeny did admit to ordering his men to wear American uniforms, and a conviction by the American court seemed eminent. But on September 9, the last day of the trial, a British officer testified that he and his men had engaged in similar tactics during the war. Realizing that to convict Skorzeny would be hypocrisy, the tribunal acquitted the ten defendants.

The Escape

Despite his acquittal by the Americans, Skorzeny remained a prisoner, as other nations wished to try him for war crimes. During his internment, both before and after the Dachau trial, Skorzeny continued his clandestine activities. An informant for Army Counterintelligence discovered a vast underground network known as ODESSA, (12) which helped Nazi prisoners escape and secure false identity papers. Otto Skorzeny was identified as a leader of this movement, though very little concrete evidence existed.

Meanwhile, while in prison, Skorzeny received offers of employment from the Soviets. He refused all of these, but said nothing of such overtures until early 1948, when he told his American captors, perhaps to prevent his extradition for another trial. In fact, the US had been blocking his extradition to Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia since his acquittal. Unfortunately, by midsummer of 1948 it looked like the Czechs would succeed, as they were now working through the United Nations. By that time, both the US and Skorzeny knew something had to be done to keep him out of Soviet hands.

On July 27, 1948, a car bearing American military license plates arrived at the Darmstadt internment camp where the infamous commando was being held. Three US Army police-one captain and two enlisted men-exited the vehicle and entered the detention center. "We are here to take prisoner Otto Skorzeny to Nuremburg for his scheduled hearing tomorrow," (13) the captain announced. Within minutes, Skorzeny was handed over to the "police"-who were actually SS veterans-and vanished from the camp forever. When questioned years later about the escape, Skorzeny claimed that the license plates and uniforms were supplied by the Americans."

link

Robert

…a British officer testified that he and his men had engaged in similar tactics during the war. Realizing that to convict Skorzeny would be hypocrisy, the tribunal acquitted the ten defendants.

That is a common version of events. I also believe that Skorzeny's defence based part of its argument on citations from US Army field manuals.

However, per the quote that I furnished, it is a grey area of international law as to whether actual combat in US Army uniforms had to be proven, and the assertion of "hypocrisy" as basis can only be conjecture since the court (unusually) did not render an opinion explaining its reasons for the acquittals.

I have always understood that the 'British officer' was Colonel Jack Churchill, the nephew of the British PM, and something of a hero for his exploits with the Commandos. He told the court that if they were to find Skorzeny guilty then they would have to try him too, which was clearly not acceptable, especially as the perception of a lot of the trials in UK was 'victors justice'.

I imagine the uniform issue is somewhat like the false-flag ruse du guerre much used by warships in the Napoleonic Wars. Legal to 'go in disguise' but illegal to fire on the enemy while flying his flag or wearing his uniform.

Running up the correct flag on a warship is simple enough, but stripping off enemy clothes and dressing in one's own uniform during a battle doesn't sound so practical, especially in December.

So did the Commandos do similar things?

So did the Commandos do similar things?

The dirty dozen certainly did! And yes some real life commandos did too. In his memoirs Skorzeny claims he consulted legal experts prior to the offensive and was told providing his men didn't open fire while dressed in American uniforms it would be legal. This was why his men wore German uniforms under the American ones and how a number of Grief commandos were identified having been killed when their jeep crashed a roadblock.

Does using enemy tanks in combat count? Like 19th Tank Brigade which deliberately led their column with two captured German tanks to take the bridge at Kalach.

To paraphase Sun Tzu, "War is a matter of deception …" … I believe that Skorzeny really commited NO actual war crimes. Save for serving the evil Nazi cause. If that was the only crime he was accused of, then every German who served would be guilty … whether cook or commando. I'm not making excuses or justifying the Nazis, of course … The average German soldier served an evil cause, regardless … but most never committed a war crime, per se.

He may have committed no crimes but he continued to spill his love of Nazism after 1945 by which time the average German soldier (and civilian) had long stopped.

"All war is deception."

- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Otto "Scarface" Skozeny was AFAIK an unapologetic true believer in the Nazi cause, and remained so to the end of his days.

That more than anything else IMHO speaks more about such a creature than anything else save perhaps his deeds in the service of his chosen Dear Leader and Reich.

Leland R.Erickson

The uniforms issue is small potatoes, to me.

The bigger issue is making sure that every German soldier who shot U.S. (or British, or Soviet) prisoners was hanged.

'I have always understood that the 'British officer' was Colonel Jack Churchill'

IIRC it was Wing-Commander Yeo-Thomas, AKA 'The White Rabbit', who served with SOE in France and testified about the use of German uniforms in SOE operations.

Good point Paul and Leland, but did he commit war crimes ? It appears the Allies didn't think so, or they would have attempted to tracked him down. Like a number of counties did after the war. I remember Greece executed a former Falshirmjager Commander, in the early '50s for war crimes committed on Crete during WWII. And there were many others … And yes, it appears Skorzeny was an un-repentant Nazi. But for better or worse, no one did a unsanctioned termination. And, Thanks Leland, like I said, I paraphrased Sun Tzu, I'm old, I forget things … As far as Germans(and Japs for that matter !) shooting/murdering prisoners, I'm sure some escaped justice but I'm also sure many were killed before the war ended … And some did end up on the wrong end of a rope or firing squad …

Again if most of this is true then with this from the last link I quoted above I'm not surprised at what he would do. Robert

"Fascists and Fundamentalists

Skorzeny had also been spending time in Egypt. In 1952 the country had been taken over by the CIA-backed General Mohammed Naguib, who was effectively a puppet of Egyptian Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser. Skorzeny was sent to Egypt the following year by former Nazi General Reinhard Gehlen, who was now working for the CIA, to act as Naguib's military advisor. Skorzeny recruited a staff made up of former SS officers to train the Egyptian army. Among these die-hard Nazis were General Oskar Dirlewanger, the "Butcher of Warsaw," and Adolf Eichmann, the man who engineered the Final Solution.

Many other Nazis joined Skorzeny in Egypt, attracted to the Naguib/Nasser government's tolerance for fascism and their shared hatred for the newly created state of Israel. The Nazis further fueled Arab antisemitism with translated copies of Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

In addition to training the army, Skorzeny also trained Arab volunteers in commando tactics for possible use against British troops stationed in the Suez Canal zone. Several Palestinian refugees also received commando training, and Skorzeny planned their initial strikes into Israel via the Gaza Strip in 1953-1954. One of these Palestinians was a young Yasser Arafat, who formed a long-lasting friendship with the Nazi commando.

Skorzeny and the Nazi Hunters

Unlike many of his fellow Nazis, Skorzeny never denounced Hitler or National Socialism, and remained unapologetic for his actions during the war. For nearly thirty years, he devoted much time to thwarting Nazi hunters, though Skorzeny was rarely a target himself.

In 1964, famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal located Franz Paul Stangl, former commander of the Treblinka death camp, in Brazil. However, the Brazilian police refuse to arrest him and Austrian authorities refused to extradite him. For three years, Skorzeny bribed police and Austrian officials until an anti-Nazi governor was elected in Stangl's state, and Wiesenthal was finally able to arrange the war criminal's arrest and extradition.

Skorzeny also used long trial delays as a tactic to prevent his comrades from facing justice. Delays of ten years were not uncommon, due to bribes doled out to judges and prosecutors. He was also very good at hiding his fellow Nazis. When Adolf Eichman was captured by Israeli agents in Buenos Aires in 1960, Skorzeny sent word to other Nazis in the city to seek safer locations immediately. One of these was Josef Mengele, Auschwitz's "Angel of Death," who was responsible for sending tens of thousands to their deaths in the gas chambers, and thanks to Skorzeny and ODESSA, never paid for his crimes.

Protecting his fellow Nazis also involved killing any who attempted to squeal. In 1965 Hubert Curkers, the "Monster of Riga" who helped massacre 32,000 Latvian Jews in 1941, offered to reveal Mengele's location to Jewish agents for $150,000 USD and a guarantee of his own safety. A few days later Curkers' body was found in Montevideo, Uruguay with his skull crushed."

I have always understood that the 'British officer' was Colonel Jack Churchill, the nephew of the British PM, and something of a hero for his exploits with the Commandos.

Ah yes, Jack Churchill and the Scheming Scar:
link

No doubt Skorzeny's "political views" were very unacceptable in civilized society. And maybe with rumors of him being possibly "protected" by certain governments is why no one "terminated him with extreme prejudice" … I'm a bit surprised Nazi hunters rarely targeted him. Not for war crimes but for helping Nazis escape justice ? I'm sure there were many unrepentant Nazis who died after the war in their beds. However, since he was not actually accused of any war crimes may be why ? Again, I'm not excusing or justifying the Nazis. My father, a US ARMY SGT, fought them after the Normandy Landings, being a WIA during the Lorraine Campaign …

However, since he was not actually accused of any war crimes may be why ?

He was accused of quite a few – he just "got off".

Well the justice system is or is not perfect, depending on which side of the fence you are on … However, as you mentioned, accused is not the same as committed … I don't know of any real war crimes he committed … even though he was an unrepentant Nazi … which is unforgivable regardless …

The German prisoners who got off on the charges of the Malmedy massacre could credibly claim that they were regularly brutally beaten, including having their testicles kicked in and arms and legs broken.

So, got off or not, there was justice done.

And ultimately, Skorzeny was attacked and killed in his home.

Skorzeny recruited a staff made up of former SS officers to train the Egyptian army.

Not that clever then was he? Considering the tiny Israeli army kicked ten bells out of the Egyptians on a regular basis….

And ultimately, Skorzeny was attacked and killed in his home.
>>
No he wasn't. That was Peiper in France in 1976.

Bob

'The bigger issue is making sure that every German soldier who shot U.S. (or British, or Soviet) prisoners was hanged.'

That would be ironic, given Soviet, British & US soldiers killed German prisoners. I've watched an interview with a Russian veteran who described waiting outside the interrogation room cutting the throats of a succession of German prisoners. In my youth I knew an ex-British 'redcap' who related passing a group of German prisoners over to US forces as the Brits advanced. The Yanks didn't even wait till the MPs had left the vicinity before machine-gunning the lot. His comment when relating this one was he was sure the British did plenty they shouldn't've too…

Yes Pieper was kill in '76 not Skorzeny. Skorzeny died of natural causes, ie. cancer … link … according to this article, he works for the Mossad too(?!) … And yes, allied soldiers unfortunately killed German prisoners, it was much worse on the Eastern Front. Regardless … very, very, bad things happen in war … very bad …

Yep French Communists killed Pieper. I hate communists with a passion but Ill be damned if I didnt approve of what they did, hell I would help them if I could.

I'm sure many feel the same …

Protecting Mengele is jumping the shark. Being a Nazi & protecting people who you know to be Nazi war-criminals is one thing, but surely Mengele should have been a scrote by anyone's standards?

'The bigger issue is making sure that every German soldier who shot U.S. (or British, or Soviet) prisoners was hanged.'

Unfortunately, soldiers from all armies murdered prisoners, although nobody in Europe approached the Germans or the Soviets for quantity; whichever side they were on, it was wrong. However, when it comes to the SS and NKVD, I find it hard to condemn anyone for killing them.

As for Mengele, he was not unique.

Yeah … he certainly deserved to die …

Like the French communists were any better. Many French Commie Marquis preferred to spend their time terrorising and attacking local merchants and business people (aka bouregoise) than bothering the German occupiers.

War is crap and brings out the worst in humans and indeed the worst float to the top.

Remember Churchill let several million Indians starve to death in WWII.