I came across the following entry whilst flicking through the diary this evening, can anyone add anymore detail. I've had a quick Google but found nothing. 27/5/1945 - Brelingen Area. Germany 0900hrs: Bn left BRELINGEN for WITTINGEN area. 1600hrs: BnHQ est WITTINGEN 032633 'A' and 'D' Coys KNESEBECK 0057 'C' Coy SCHONEWORDE 9552 'B' Coy WAHRENHOLZ 8495 1730hrs: SS murderer named FRIEDEL HEINZ caught by Americans, Brought in to be passed to Bde. Escaped and finally shot after running 300 yards in WITTINGEN. 11 bullet holes counted in body. Nick
It would appear that Friedel Heinz's father was up to no good the following day. 28/5/1945 - Wittingen Area. Germany 0800hrs: Man from WADDEKATH 0663 reports that Burgomeister shot at 0730 hes [sic] by Father of SS man FRIEDEL HEINZ. Small task force left for WADDEKATH but HEINZ Sen shot himself in Churchyard at WADDEKATH before their arrival. Weapon and dum-dum bullets brought back after new Burgomeister of WADDEKATH had been appointed Nick
Hi Nick, I suspect Heinz maybe a popular name. I wonder if kate has heard of him. He maybe listed in some of the Wormhout and Paradis files I have but to be fair there is a lot of SS chaps listed. Andy
Thanks Andy. I don't suppose there will be much information around due to the fact that he never went to trial. Nick
Thanks Andy. I don't suppose there will be much information around due to the fact that he never went to trial. Nick Looks like the 5th Wilts had their own trial (11 Bullet holes).
Looks like the 5th Wilts had their own trial (11 Bullet holes). They made sure he wasn't going to get away!! Were there set rules of enagement 65 years ago?
Was it a 12 man squad with one blank round? More seriously, it seems a tad suspicious that he managed 300 yards before 'suddenly' receiving multiple hits. I suspect that, the Wilts were simply not taking any chances with the war over and the near-certainty of a ticket home. So the burgomeister grasses up Heinz Jr, who gets nicked, escapes and is shot; father then settles the score? And I thought the SS didn't like dum-dums?
Hi, had a word about this event with a local historian from Wittingen today. He said that he had heard of the incident. According to him Heinz had been in a POW camp in Darrigsdorf near Wittingen which he had escaped from at night, probably heading for his father's house in Waddekath. His father was the Bürgermeister of Waddekath before the Americans took control of the area. Perhaps I can post some photos of the area and cemetery if I find the time to go to Waddekath. Provided that they were buried in the place. Mr Blomberg has just released a book about this time for the region, of course it is written in German but it might still be interesting to have this German perspective on the topic. Heimathistoriker Kurt-Ulrich Blomberg legt Buch über „Wittingen 1933 – 1945“ vor | Wittingen Best, Chris
Hi, finally found the time to got o Waddekath but sadly found no grave or other information. The place itself, however, is also wuite interesting for it was situated within the iron curtain. So its inahbitants needed an extra passport and were under special surveillance. Regards Chris
