Heinrich Wied - Interrogation
Lublin Airfield - Hangers
Born Oschersleben -
Occupation: Kripo Official
SS Rank : Hauptsturmführer
Bekliedungswerke Lublin -
This organisation had been set up to collect and make use of property removed from prisoners entering the Kz Lublin. It also served Arbeitslager Pulawy and several other camps in the Lublin area. The ‘work’ used 3 hangars on the disused Lublin airfield as warehouses and employed a staff of some 70 SS men. The responsible authority was the Reichskanzlei Berlin, Voss Strastr. 4 which had created a special department a so-
Wied’s investigations in Lublin established that 18 SS men, mainly on the Bekliedungswerk staff were guilty of corruption on a large scale. Throughout his enquiries Wied had to combat deliberate obstruction from the higher Stapo Leaders, because they themselves were also deeply implicated. For example, the a/m Alpers intervened on behalf of one of the accused SS men in whose possession Wied found a large quantity of obviously stolen jewellery and clothing etc in that he declared that the accused had taken the articles with the authority of the Stiftung.The cases against the 18 accused were heard before the SS u. Polizeigericht Kassel Sentences up to 3 years imprisonment were imposed but in several cases no verdict could be reached since the defendants were absent allegedly on front-
Murder Camp Lublin – Attached to the Kz was a crematorium which Wied personally visited. It was a single storey building containing the mortuary, about 6 ovens and the living quarters of the attendant, Oscharf. Musfeld. With the wind in the right direction the stench in Lublin-
Obstructionists: The staff of the Bekliedungswerk Lublin came under the command of the SS Standortkommandant, Stubaf Wippern. This man showed no inclination to support Wied, in his investigations, the probable reason being that he was too deeply involved in corruption himself. There was no check or receipt of property removed from prisoners. It was obvious from the lavish spending and extravagant living of the staff of both Kz and Bekliedungswerk, that this must be their source of income.
Ober Reg Rat Alpers also did his utmost to impede Subjects inquiries. For example as a result of a house search at the homes of a Stuscharf Rottenfusser and another SS man, both in the town of Dachau. Wied discovered a quantity of property stolen from prisoners. Alpers, probably prompted by Stubaf Wirth, shielded the thieves by officially stating that they had the permission of his organisation ‘ Die gemeinneutzige Stiftung fur Anstaltpflege’.to take the goods.
Wied commented on various members of the SS in Lublin
Ernst Gollack – SS Rottenführer born ca 1915 , 176cm tall, stocky build, round full face, fair hair. Had family in Kattowitz Pre war Kz guard.
1940 in Lublin-
Winkler – SS Oberscharführer – 1943 employed in Bekliedungswek Lublin.
Wied searched his house near Kochel Bavaria but found nothing.
Wippern – SS Sturmbannführer – Leiter der StandortkommandanturLublin
At least tolerated and probably had share in the theft of prisoners’ property in Kz LUBLIN.
Note: ALPERS should read ALLERS
Source;
National Archives Kew -
Photograph - Chris Webb Archive
© Holocaust Historical Society 2016
