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

by Read, Simon

  102 “You are a Czech.” Affidavit by I. P. Tonder: August 24, 1945. Air 40/2491/026.

  102 Tonder eventually ends up in Colditz. Affidavit by I. P. Tonder: August 24, 1945. Air 40/2491/027.

  103 Search of records and the discovery of the cremation order. Investigation progress report: April 3, 1946. Air 40/2491/124.

  103 “This is conclusive proof…” Investigation progress report: April 3, 1946. Air 40/2491/124.

  103 Bowes and Lyon visit crematorium, talk with Anton Sawerthal. Investigation progress report: April 3, 1946. Air 40/2491/124.

  103 “As the bodies were being unloaded…” Sawerthal statement. Air 40/2491/126.

  104 The names of the deceased and the corresponding cremation numbers. Sawerthal statement. Air 40/2491/126.

  104 “Shot while attempting to escape.” Investigation progress report: April 3, 1946. Air 40/2491/124.

  104 “The two chief Gestapo officials…” Sawerthal statement. Air 40/2491/126.

  104 Reviewing the list of Liberec Gestapo. Investigation progress report: April 3, 1946. Air 40/2491/124.

  104 “It is possible…” Investigation progress report: April 3, 1946. Air 40/2491/124.

  105 Bowes and Lyon attempt to pursue Breslau enquiry. Investigation progress report: May 7, 1946. Air 40/2492/155.

  105 Bowes and Lyon meet with the attorney for the district. Investigation progress report: May 7, 1946. Air 40/2492/155.

  106 Bowes and Lyon denied meeting with Siedwidski or permission to visit other towns. Investigation progress report: May 7, 1946. Air 40/2492/155.

  106 Polish police beat and plunder local German populace, “extort[ing] food and money.” Bessel, pg. 224.

  106 “in a queue of expellees…” Bessel, pg. 224.

  106 Evacuation of inmates from Stalag Luft III, inmates moved to neighboring farms and eventual liberation. Gill, pg. 238.

  106 Bowes and Lyon visit the former site of Stalag Luft III. Andrews, pg. 172.

  107 Bowes and Lyon visit memorial to the fifty. Andrews, pg. 172.

  CHAPTER 7: MUNICH

  108 Biographical information on Johannes Gouws and details of his capture. Vance, pgs. 128–129.

  108 Biographical information on Rupert Stevens and details of his capture. Vance, pgs. 56–68.

  109 Gouws’s and Stevens’s travel plans, last seen alive at Breslau station, ashes arrive at Stalag Luft III. Andrews, pg. 67.

  110 1936 Winter Olympics; “Jews Not Wanted.” Spiegel Online International, January 22, 2010.

  110 Nuremberg Laws and the concentration camps. Spiegel Online International, January 22, 2010.

  110 Goring’s escape and Hitler’s mountain retreat. Spiegel Online International, January 22, 2010.

  110 Exchange beginning with “Are you a party member?” Gassner interrogation. Air 40/2491/111.

  110 Gassner’s police service and eventual arrest. Gassner interrogation. Air 40/2491/111.

  111 “Do you remember…” Gassner interrogation. Air 40/2491/111.

  111 “excellent German” and “good impression.” Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/197; Neely’s name. Andrews, pg. 152, Air 40/2487/029.

  111 “The flying officer asked me…” Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/197.

  111 Gouws and Stevens arrested on separate trains, Neely returned to Stalag Luft III. Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/198.

  111 “The two other officers…” Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/198.

  112 Gassner ordered to deliver parcels. Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/198.

  112 “At first, Haselsberger…” Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/198.

  112 Evidence relating to crime is destroyed. Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/199.

  112 “About a fortnight before the arrival…” Gassner statement. Air 40/2491/199.

  112 “What happened to the two RAF officers?” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  112 “They were handed over to the Gestapo…” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  112 “Did you see the urns?” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  112 “No.” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  112 “Do you know what happened…” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  112 “I don’t know…” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  113 “As head of the Munich Kripo…” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  113 “No, the matter finished for me…” Greiner interrogation. Air 40/2491/101.

  113 Achter recalls Schneider showing up with a Russian tommy gun. Achter statement. Air 40/2487/185.

  113 “I had not seen a model like that before.” Achter statement. Air 40/2487/185.

  113 Oswald Schäfer summons a meeting. Achter statement. Air 40/2487/185-186.

  113 “Weil resumed his seat opposite me…” Achter statement. Air 40/2487/186.

  113 Achter puts pieces together after his arrest. Achter statement. Air 40/2487/186.

  114 “Until then, I did not know this fact.” Achter statement. Air 40/2487/186.

  114 “I heard Weil worked for the Americans…” Achter statement. Air 40/2487/186.

  114 “There are various opinions about Schäfer’s whereabouts…” Achter statement. Air 40/2487/186.

  114 Schermer’s suicide. Andrews, pg. 154.

  114 Details regarding Peter Mohr. Mohr statement. Air 40/2487/089.

  115 Gestapo forced to pay cremation expenses. Mohr statement. Air 40/2487/089.

  115 Williams find cremation receipts. Andrews, pg. 157.

  115 “It was two feet wide…” Andrews, pg. 157.

  115 Emil Weil’s service with the police and Gestapo. Weil statement. Air 40/2487/205.

  116 “Orders are orders.” Weil statement. Air 40/2487/205.

  116 Car ride with prisoners and arrival at scene of execution. Weil statement. Air 40/2487/205-206.

  116 “On the right of the prisoners was Geith…” Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206.

  116 “Schermer said he had to drive…” Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206.

  116 Schermer and Schneider return in a van. Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206.

  117 “They’re dead.” Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206.

  117 Schermer confers with civilian and officer. Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206.

  117 “Shortly afterwards, the civilian and the police officer…” Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206.

  117 Weil removes names from registry; records are destroyed. Weil statement. Air 40/2487/206-207.

  118 Schneider’s wife leads investigators to Hammelburg. Andrews, pgs. 154, 157.

  118 Conditions at Stalag XIII-B grim. RC Nov. 1, 1945.

  118 The struggle to keep warm, no washrooms or hot water. RC Nov. 1, 1945.

  118 “one-tenth of a loaf of bread…” RC Nov. 1, 1945.

  119 Men bedridden by malnutrition. RC Nov. 1, 1945.

  119 Air raid policies, tensions between prisoners and guards, inmate shootings. RC Nov. 1, 1945.

  119 Task Force Baum sets out on rescue operation on March 26. Domes and Heinlein.

  119 Ordeal of making it to the camp; Waters shot and carried back to camp. Domes and Heinlein.

  120 Negotiations between camp officials and task force go forward; task force moves out at 20:00 hours. Domes and Heinlein.

  120 Baum orders his men to fall back to nearby hill. Domes and Heinlein.

  121 Baum ordered “every man for himself.” Domes and Heinlein.

  121 Germans move into position during the night and attack in the morning; Baum is captured. Domes and Heinlein.

  121 U.S. 14th Armored Division liberates the camp. Domes and Heinlein.

  121 Johann Schneider’s background. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 Schneider summoned to headquarters and ordered to prepare a car. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 “We drive to police HQ.” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 Prisoners retrieved from police headquarters. Schneider statement.
Air 40/2487/201.

  122 “Be ready to leave…” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 Schermer returns to garage at 4:30 A.M. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 “On Schäfer’s orders…” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 Car ride to the killing field. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 “Stop. Pull up to the right.” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 “Relieve yourselves.” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201.

  122 Prisoners and Gestapo agents exit the vehicle. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/201-202.

  122 “Shoot! Shoot!” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  122 “I looked at him again briefly…” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  122 Schneider fires machine gun. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  122 “Take off the chains at once.” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  122 Bodies covered with tarpaulin; shell casings are collected. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  124 “If there is a commission of enquiry…” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  124 Weil and Geith remain with the bodies. Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  124 “Schermer told me later…” Schneider statement. Air 40/2487/202.

  124 Geith’s biographical details. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/191.

  124 Discussing the order of execution and deciding not to use service pistols. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/192-193.

  125 “Schneider proposed after long hesitation…” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/193.

  125 Gestapo agents and captured airmen struggle past language barrier. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/194.

  125 “Nothing went quickly enough for him.” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/194.

  125 The prisoners are loaded into cars for final journey. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/194-195, 196.

  125 Cars are stopped and the prisoners are told to relieve themselves. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/195.

  125 “In my opinion…” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/195.

  126 One airman lay twitching on the ground. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/196.

  126 “I’ll see to that.” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/196.

  126 The bodies are unshackled and covered with branches. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/196.

  126 “After all this had happened…” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/196.

  126 The coroner arrives on scene. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/197.

  126 “Yes, there is certainly no more to be done here.” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/197.

  126 “inwardly excited.” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/196.

  126 “smallest detail” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/198.

  126 Geith reads newspaper account of Eden’s speech. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/199.

  127 “I was compelled to agree…” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/199.

  127 “This is one hell of a business.” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/199.

  127 Geith told all records pertaining to the murders will be destroyed. Geith statement. Air 40/2487/199.

  127 “I did not take part in the happenings of my own free will…” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/199.

  127 “I can give an assurance…” Geith statement. Air 40/2487/199-200.

  127 Courtney tracks down Schäfer’s onetime secretary. Air 40/2272/065.

  CHAPTER 8: A DEATH IN THE MOUNTAINS

  129 Death of Cochran’s two friends, hatred of Germans, Whitley bomber downed. Gill pg. 148; Vance, pg. 148.

  129 Cochran’s escape from Dulag Luft. Vance, pg. 148.

  130 Cochran’s biographical details. Gill, pgs. 147–148, 164; Vance, pg. 148.

  130 Escape plan and travel. Gill, pg. 186; Andrews pg. 71.

  130 SAS launch sabotage operations behind enemy lines. Scholey, pg. 45.

  131 Men and boys rounded up in Moussey. Scholey, pg. 46.

  131 Raid on town. Daily Telegraph, February 7, 2007.

  131 Bodies unearthed and identified as SAS operatives. Charlesworth, pgs. 24–25.

  131 French officials release former Nazis from captivity. Charlesworth, pg. 32.

  132 Twenty-two thousand inmates die at camp; Eighty-six men and women gassed to provide anatomical specimens. Natzweiler.

  132 Law student, sports editor, joins Gestapo in 1934. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/232.

  132 Barkworth forwards Herberg’s name to RAF. Investigation progress report: June 7, 1945. Air 40/2492/197.

  132 McKenna breaks out of hospital. Andrews, pgs. 174, 175.

  132 Herberg learns of escape while on leave. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/232.

  133 “By order of the Reichsführer SS…” Reproduced in Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/233.

  133 “After I had noted…” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/233.

  133 “I’m still on leave.” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/233.

  133 “You’ll get another day for this.” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/233.

  134 Details of the killing are ironed out. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/233.

  134 Gestapo retrieves Cochran from the prison. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/233-234.

  134 “You are to be taken to a camp…” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  134 Cochran becomes defiant when questioned about escape. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  134 “I can’t talk about that…” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  135 Car reaches the gate of the Natzweiler camp. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  135 “We’ve lost our way.” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  135 Herberg stays behind as other walk Cochran into the woods; hears two shots. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  135 Cochran execution and the transporting of the body to the camp. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  135 “We have been unlucky…” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  135 Ganninger smiles. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  136 “I am already in the picture.” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  136 “Do you now want a death certificate?” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234.

  136 “to produce this death certificate in the highest quarters.” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/235.

  136 Herberg is denied a death certificate. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/234-235.

  136 “In Karlsruhe, where I reported by telephone…” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/235.

  136 Herberg summoned from movie theater and dispatched to Berlin. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/235.

  137 “an unguarded moment.” Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/235.

  137 Müller dictates report. Herberg statement. Air 40/2487/235.

  137 June 4 meeting with Barkworth. Investigation progress report: June 15, 1946. Air 40/2286/007.

  138 Wochner’s sentence and Ganninger’s suicide. Investigation progress report: July 4, 1946. Air 40/2272/074; Investigation progress report: June 15, 1946. Air 40/2286/007.

  138 McKenna works his way from camp to camp in the American sector. Andrews, pg. 182.

  139 “round, unhealthy face…” Air 40/2492/219.

  139 Preiss biographical details. Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/236.

  139 “The order has been given…” Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/237.

  139 Preiss shoots Cochran. Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/238.

  139 “The pistol did not quite touch his head…” Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/238.

  140 Preiss takes ashes to Kripo in Breslau. Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/239-240.

  140 “I declare that I only acted…” Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/240.

  140 “This was my first and last execution.” Preiss statement. Air 40/2487/237.

  140 Boschert hospitalized with broken spine; McKenna arrives in Karlsruhe for interrogation. Investigation progress report: July 3, 1946. Air 40/2286/006.

  140 Boschert stays with car. Boschert statement. Air 40
/2487/225.

  140 “After about half a minute to a minute…” Boschert statement. Air 40/2487/225.

  141 “I never saw the body again.” Boschert statement. Air 40/2487/225.

  141 Boschert moved to Paderborn for eventual transfer to London. Investigation progress report: July 3, 1946. Air 40/2286/006.

  141 Gmeiner in French custody. Investigation progress report: August 6, 1946. Air 40/2493/036.

  141 “By order of the Führer…” Order reproduced in Gmeiner statement. Air 40/2487/226.

  141 “Having received the order…” Gmeiner statement. Air 40/2487/230.

  142 “I became a civil servant…” Gmeiner statement. Air 40/2487/231.

  142 “If in my forty-second year…” Gmeiner statement. Air 40/2487/231.

  142 “This case can now be regarded as completed.” Investigation progress report: August 6, 1946. Air 40/2493/036.

  CHAPTER 9: SAARBRÜCKEN

  143 German hatred toward Allied airmen. Nichol and Rennell, pg. 325.

  143 A firsthand account of airgunner Tom Tate’s ordeal can be found in Nichol and Rennell, pgs. 338–345.

  144 “First of all…” Sgt. L. H. Harcus. IWM.

  144 Inmates stripped upon arrival at Dulag Luft; measurements of cell. Durand, pgs. 60, 64.

  144 Red Cross form and interrogation techniques. Rolf, pgs. 41–43; Durand, pg. 63.

  145 “There are too many people…” RAF Master Engineer Robert James Goode. IWM.

  145 “Go ahead and shoot.” RAF Master Engineer Robert James Goode. IWM.

  145 Interrogator sends airman back to his cell. RAF Master Engineer Robert James Goode. IWM.

  145 “made from various mixtures of hay…” Durand, pg. 61.

  145 Men denied toiletries and cigarettes; daily rations at Dulag Luft. Durand, pgs. 60, 61.

  145 Germans increase heat in cells to stifling levels. Durand, pg. 64; Cell walls heavily insulated and windows sealed. Rolf, pg. 41.

  145 “We used to go in these rooms…” Flight Lt. H. Burton. IWM.

  146 Early escape attempt from Dulag Luft. Gill, pgs. 32–33; Brickhill, pg. 6.

  146 Bushell’s escape plan. Gill, pgs. 41–42; Brickhill, pgs. 7–8.

  146 Bushell runs, is captured, and shipped to Barth. Brichill, pg. 8; Carroll, pg. 33.

  146 Bushell loses forty pounds while imprisoned at Barth. Brickhill, pg. 8; Gill, pg. 43.

  146 Bushell’s escape from the train. Gill, pgs. 41–43; Brickhill, pgs. 8–9.