Books photos about executed POWS June 1944

[Mark W. Tonner]

John;

Thought you might find this of interest, it concerns Siebken and the execution of three Canadian prisoners at le Mesnil-Patry (9 Jun 44)

Source: 'The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision Hitlerjugend, by Hubert Meyer (former Chief of Staff of the division), Chapter 1.5.1 & Chapter 12.

from Chap. 1.5.1. -

"In retaliation, three Canadian prisoners were ordered shot near the command post of the II./26 on the following day. After the war, a so-called 'war criminals trial' took place because of this against Obersturmbannfuhrer Siebken, Untersturmfuhrer Schnabel and two men of the battalion. A report on this can be found elsewhere in this book."

- this retaliation took place apparently for the wounding and deaths of members of the staff of Panzer Artillere Regiment 130 of the Panzer Lehr Division on 8 Jun 44 during an engagement with elements of the Inns of Court Regiment, or so Meyer states in the paragraphs prior to the one quoted above. There is no mention, whatsoever, of who ordered the shooting of the three prisoners.

from Chap. 12 -

"In the third trial against members of the 'Hitlerjugend' Division, Obersturmbannfuhrer Bernhard Siebken, Untersturmfuhrer Dieter Schnabel and two men of II. Battalion of SS Panzergrenadierregiment 26 were accused of being responsible for the shooting of three Canadian prisoners of war in le Mesnil-Patry during the first days of the invasion fighting. That event and its prehistory has been reported on in Chapter 1.5.1. In the trial, Obersturmbannfuhrer Siebken was accused of having ordered the shooting of the prisoners. Untersturmfuhrer Schnabel was accused of having carried out the order; the two co-accused were to have taken part in that. The Author participated in the trial, which took place in summer 1948 in the "Curio-Haus" in Hamburg, as a witness for the defense. The court did not accept witness statements regarding unequivocally established shootings of German prisoners of war by Canadian soldiers. Nor did it take note of the testimony by Graf (count) Clary-Aldringen concerning the shooting of members of Panzerartillereregiment 130 by a scouting party of the Inns of Court Regiment during which he, himself had been seriously wounded. The court stated that it was not Canadian, but four German soldiers, who were the accused. The shooting of three Canadians remained undisputed. It remained doubtful, who had given the order for that. The court sentenced Obersturmbannfuhrer Bernhard Siebken and Untersturmfuhrer Dieter Schnabel to death by hanging. The two co-accused were men acquitted. The witnesses for the defense attending the trial wre firmly convinced of Bernhard Siebken's innocence. Submissions, which were meant to prove that, could not even bring about a mitigation of the sentences. The sentences were carried out on 20 January, 1949 in the Hamelin prison."