USAREUR CID Criminal Investigation Reports

[RodM]

Hi,

I'm wondering if US Army CID reports and case files concerning investigations of alleged German war crimes are preserved and available to the public. I'm referring to cases that never went to trial.

I'm specifically looking for a case file that I know existed, which was closed in late 1950.


Regards

Rod

[edwest]

Hi Rod,


Do you have a name? Or location?



Ed

[RodM]

Hi Ed,

the file in question, from 1950, was referenced HQ-CID-9 and TPM-23572. It was the second of two American investigations in to the same incident (the first having been conducted in 1946, before being handed over the British who conducted their own investigation in 1947-48). All investigations were closed and no charges laid due to lack of evidence.

The case involved the alleged murder of an Allied airman in Hanau on 7 January 1945 by a Wehrmacht officer (Oswald Heinrich Schnautz) and possibly a Wehrmacht NCO. That the airman was murdered is beyond doubt; what was not so clear was who pulled the trigger.

In the first American and the British investigations, the airman concerned was never identified since the grave was not (and has never been) located.

The second American investigation began circa 1950 after an acquaintance of the accused Wehrmacht officer was detained after illegally crossing from the Russian to the American zone. During interrogation they implicated the officer in the murder, and somehow the identity of the Allied airman was established (RCAF, P/O Gillissie of 432 Sqn).

What I'm trying to establish, and hence why I was wanting to see documentation from the second case file, is how the identification of Gillissie was made and whether or not the evidence used in the identification was beyond reasonable doubt.

For the record, the Americans passed the case over to the German civil authorities in 1951 and the Wehrmacht officer was tried for and acquitted of the crime of murder in 1953.

I'm awaiting a copy of the Gillissie service file from Library and Archives Canada, but thought it prudent to see if the original USAREUR Provost Marshal case file is preserved.

Cheers

Rod

[Bruce Dennis]

Hello Rod,
If it helps, there is a file at The National Archives UK that appears to cover their end of this subject:

WO 309/1747

Hope this helps,
Bruce

[RodM]

Hi Bruce,

thanks for the reply. The UK TNA files only cover up to the end of the British investigation in early 1948.

[edwest]

Rod,


Here's a link to a discussion about KB821.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...-Canadian-crew


I'm finding it tough going here in the States. So far, I have been unable to locate the report by file number, and there are unclear references about the Americans possibly working with the German Police after the war. I'll keep looking.


Best,
Ed

[RodM]

Hi Ed,

thanks for your help.

captain_m, who started the RAF Commands thread, and I have been looking at this case for some time.

The second American investigation was started on 9 July 1950 and concluded with the case being closed on 31 August 1950. The investigating agency was the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Provost Marshal Division of the US Army Europe (USAREUR).

The first American investigation was conducted between 1946-early 1947 (it looks like the case was handed over to the British once it was apparent the victim wasn't a member of the US armed forces) and appears to have been conducted by War Crimes Investigation Teams 6822 and 6839.


More info on the cases can be found here:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...Jan-1945/page4

Cheers

Rod

[edwest]

Hi Rod,


I think I've found a lead.


http://research.archives.gov/search?...ata-source=all




Best,
Ed

[RodM]

Hi Ed,

thanks for the lead. I suspect that the first file may relate to correspondence regarding the transfer of the case from US control to the German civil authorities. I've contacted NARA about obtaining a copy and are awaiting a response from Canada about the Gillissie service file.

Regards

Rod