by Read, Simon
146 Host family in Prague murdered, Zafouk shipped to Colditz, Bushell held by the Gestapo before arriving at Stalag Luft III. Gill, pg. 10; Brickhill, pg. 9.
148 Scheidhauer’s escape by boat. Vance, pg. 203.
148 Scheidhauer’s biographical details. Carroll, pgs. 190–191.
148 Bushell and Scheidhauer numbers five and six in tunnel. Gill, pg. 178; Purchase tickets and are approached in Saarbrücken. Carroll, pgs. 223, 240.
149 “Good luck.” Carroll, pg. 240.
149 “Thank you.” Carroll, pg. 240.
149 Bushell and Scheidhauer are captured and interrogated. Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/190-191; Brickhill, pg. 258.
149 Dingermann takes call from Spann, makes necessary arrangements; meets with concerned officer. Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/190.
149 “I heard in confidence…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/190.
150 “I seriously do not believe…” Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/190.
150 “What struck me…” Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/189.
150 “When informed a few days later…” Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/190.
150 “About three or four weeks ago…” Dingermann statement. Air 40/2491/191.
151 Lampel names Bender as arresting agent. Lampel statement. Air 40/2490/118.
151 “I presume he is still living there.” Lampel statement. Air 40/2490/118.
152 Schmoll’s statement and Breithaupt’s arrest. Andrews, pgs. 203, 204.
152 “to be returned to a camp in the Reich.” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/211.
152 Captured airmen retrieved from Lerchesflur prison. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/211.
152 “This is not compatible with the honor of an officer.” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
154 Route taken on journey to killing field. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
154 “Don’t drive so fast…” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
154 Schulz and Spann get out of car. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
154 “I have received an order by teleprint…” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
154 Bushell and Scheidhauer are ordered out of the car. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
154 “Shots will be fired immediately…” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
155 “sounded almost like one.” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
155 Schulz is ordered to stand watch over the bodies. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/213.
155 “You are not allowed…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/213.
155 Bodies are loaded into a box and driven to Neue Bremm. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/212.
155 “What’s going to happen…” Based on paraphrased conversation in Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/213.
155 “They are to be cremated.” Based on paraphrased conversation in Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/213.
155 Information on Neue Bremm, including reference to “expanded police prison.” Landsman.
155 “He pointed out an empty space…” Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/213.
155 Description of Schulz and his last known address. Breithaupt statement. Air 40/2487/213.
156 Tracking down the Schulz family to Frankenholz. Andrews, pgs. 206–207.
156 McKenna searches the house. Andrews, pg. 207; Daily Mail, October 24, 2009.
156 “My dearest, brave darling…” Daily Mail, October 24, 2009.
156 Frau Schulz denies the letter comes from her husband; McKenna takes letter as evidence. Andrews, pgs. 207–208.
157 “South African born…” Andrews, pg. 208.
157 McKenna shows camp commandant letter; guards bring Ernst Schmidt in for interrogation. Andrews, pg. 208.
157 McKenna shows prisoner letter, Schulz confesses to his true identity. Andrews, pg. 209.
157 “Ich bin Emil Schulz.” Andrews, pg. 209.
157 Schulz lets prisoner out of vehicle; Spann fires several shots. Schulz statement. Air 40/2487/221.
158 “I also fired one of these shots…” Schulz statement. Air 40/2487/221.
158 Schulz shoots Bushell in the temple. Schulz statement. Air 40/2487/221.
158 “Death took place immediately.” Schulz statement. Air 40/2487/221.
158 McKenna offers cigarettes to commandant and hurries from French Zone. Andrews, pg. 210.
158 McKenna asks Schulz if he wants to relieve himself. Andrews, pg. 211.
158 “I had never killed a man before…” Andrews, pgs. 10-11.
159 “Dear Angela, dear Ingeborg…” Letter reproduced in Andrews, pg. 213.
160 “strict rules governing fraternization.” Andrews, pg. 213.
160 Schulz joins civil police in 1928, posted to Gestapo ten years later. Schulz statement. Air 40/2487/220.
160 “That’s not good…” Daily Mail, Oct. 24, 2009.
CHAPTER 10: DANZIG
161 Kozlowsky rumored to have been torched to death. Andrews, pg. 148.
161 Knuppelberg freed by the Russians. Andrews, pg. 277; Air 40/2272/023.
162 Monitoring Hans Ziegler’s mail. Investigation progress report: March 21, 1947. Air 40/2478/013.
162 “In the death records of the Kriminal Polizei office…” Document quoted in Andrews, pg. 215.
163 “Deep powerful voice…” Investigation progress report: June 24, 1946. Air 40/2286/009.
163 “It is interesting to point out…” Investigation progress report: July 4, 1946. Air 40/2286/005.
163 Graes, in his statement, provided several months earlier. Graes statement. Air 40/2490/070.
164 “One morning in the late summer…” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/171.
164 “I remember at about that time…” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/171.
164 “Of course, Bruchardt was subordinated to Venediger directly…” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/171.
164 “Until then, all I knew…” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/171.
165 “Never at any time…” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/171.
165 “Possibly, Berlin got them.” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/172.
165 “He has not yet been captured.” Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/172-173.
165 Achterberg discovers his wife is having an affair. Achterberg statement. Air 40/2487/173.
165 Bruchardt’s bullwhip and his reputation for violence; McKenna told to find Frau Blum. Andrews, pgs. 192, 195.
165 McKenna searches for—and finds—Frau Blum. Andrews, pg. 196.
167 “Please tell Frau Blum…” Andrews, pg. 197.
167 Blum reveals Bruchardt’s location; leads to a flat above the local police station. Andrews, pg. 197.
168 Arrest and beating of Bruchardt. Andrews, pg. 198.
168 “smoothly.” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
168 “formerly employed in the border fights…” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
168 “respectively white Russians…” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
168 RAF officers shot while trying to escape. Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
168 “It appeared to me…” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
169 Guard drunk at the time of the shooting. Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
169 “When he led me into the woods…” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115.
169 Bruchardt debriefs Venediger. Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/115-116.
169 “What purpose would it have served…” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/116.
169 Bodies destroyed and shipped to Berlin; destined for England. Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/116.
170 “Since the Nuremberg trials…” Bruchardt statement. Air 40/2493/116.
CHAPTER 11: FINDING SCHARPWINKEL
171 What the RAF knew about the Breslau murders. War Crimes Report: August 7, 1945.
Air 40/2488/032.
171 Threats to captured airmen are quoted in War Crimes Report: August 7, 1945. Air 40/2488/032.
171 “Ten civilians of the Gestapo type”; Six prisoners taken away, their ashes arrive at Stalag Luft III shortly thereafter. War Crimes Report. Air 40/2486/032-033.
172 “battered looking, pugilistic type of face.” Ogilvie statement. Air 40/2490/203.
172 Ten prisoners taken from the jail, their ashes returned to Stalag Luft III. War Crimes Report: August 7, 1945. Air 40/2486/032-033.
172 Threats made and Kalanowski’s depression. War Crimes Report: August 7, 1945. Air 40/2486/032.
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 vaca
ted 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.