KG51 Losses 22.6.41

[Reiner]

Hi Steve!

I have the diary, many fotos and some awards from Lt. Werner Poppenburg, 7./K.G.51. He flew the first and the second of his 216 missions as a Kampfflieger on 22.6.1944. The first target was airfield Stryj and the second Tarnopol.
The diary describes these two missions very precisely.
Not only in Stanislau, me unknown until today, also in Tarnopol they found several airmen tortured and murdered by NKWD. One, Ofw.Harenburg, was identified by a comrade.
The Bordfunker of the Poppenburg-crew survived the war and told me, that after these founds in Tarnopol many crews not wanted to come lively into Russian captivity.
Also I have copies of all “Namentliche Verlustmeldungen der III./K.G.51“ on the 22.6.1941.

Rene

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Originally Posted by Reiner

Hi Steve!

I have the diary, many fotos and some awards from Lt. Werner Poppenburg, 7./K.G.51. He flew the first and the second of his 216 missions as a Kampfflieger on 22.6.1944. The first target was airfield Stryj and the second Tarnopol.
The diary describes these two missions very precisely.
Not only in Stanislau, me unknown until today, also in Tarnopol they found several airmen tortured and murdered by NKWD. One, Ofw.Harenburg, was identified by a comrade.
The Bordfunker of the Poppenburg-crew survived the war and told me, that after these founds in Tarnopol many crews not wanted to come lively into Russian captivity.
Also I have copies of all “Namentliche Verlustmeldungen der III./K.G.51“ on the 22.6.1941.

Rene

Rene,

the Hungarians found few tortured and killed German flyers at Kameniez-Podolsk as well in a cellar. At Striy, I don't remember any Luftwaffe victim (altough there is also possible few), but they do found hundreds of butchered civilians: Polish and Ukrainian ones, who were 'unreliable' so they were imprisoned, but the NKVD had no capacity to evacuate the prison, so shot them (but some civilians were burned to death as well)
Many Hungarian soldiers enraged in this inhuman brutality and I guess, if they captured any NKVD members in this area, they were not really warmly welcomed...

By the way, the Hungarian troops could release four German flyers as well from a prison in this area.

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Csaba Becze

At Striy, I don't remember any Luftwaffe victim (altough there is also possible few), but they do found hundreds of butchered civilians: Polish and Ukrainian ones, who were 'unreliable' so they were imprisoned, but the NKVD had no capacity to evacuate the prison, so shot them (but some civilians were burned to death as well)

Do you have by any chance any related documents, photos or accounts? I have heard that more-less at the time, Germans entered Soviet embassy in Paris, and some hardened Gestapo interrogators went sick, seeing a torture room. I have not seen any report though.

[Reiner]

22-Jun-41, Ju 88A-5, 8259, Ungericht, Fw. Alfred, , KG 51, 9., gelbe L, 9K+LT, , , 22-Jun-41, , MIA with crew, cause unknown., , , Ostfront, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #3)-Vol.5, , (Stryj), 100%, F--
Other inhabitant of Stryj told that both airmen were picked up from the hospital in an ambulance-car of the NKWD and were carried off after the east.
In the building of the NKWD, Ukrainian militia found after departure of the Russians two German Luftwaffe-uniforms .
A report from the 4.7.1941 of the 101.le.Inf.Div. declares the finding of the grave and the
Erkennungsmarke of a German Luftwaffe- Uffz . He was found of the cemetery in Kozara, 4km.wsw Bukaczowac. The Erkennungsmarke 65113/130 identified the dead person as Uffz.Kurt Küster.
Also inhabitants of Kozara told that the Russians 2 or 3 officers, from it an Luftwaffe-captain carried along.

Rene

[Fairlop]

I have heard that more-less at the time, Germans entered Soviet embassy in Paris, and some hardened Gestapo interrogators went sick, seeing a torture room. I have not seen any report though.

I have read in one of the latest book about Stalingrad that Soviet embassy in Berlin had the torture room too.

Michal

[Franek Grabowski]

Originally Posted by Fairlop

I have read in one of the latest book about Stalingrad that Soviet embassy in Berlin had the torture room too.

Michal

I presume they were in all Soviet embassies, but is there any detailed report available, best with photos?
Otherwise anybody could say it is a rumour or propaganda.