Aircrew killed by civilians

canuck · 07-02-2010, 02:17 AM

Having recently read several books on Bomber Command I was struck by the repeated references to aircrew being assaulted or killed by German civilians. Has anyone researched this aspect of the air war? Most of the incidents were anecdotal and perhaps it is very difficult to accurately gauge the full extent. There were suggestions that it was a prevalent happening but attempt to estimate the casulaties.
One common experience of downed airmen was the reported fact that Luftwaffe guards were more often present to protect the prisoners than to prevent escapes.

phylo_roadking · 07-02-2010, 02:33 AM

Canuck - there were also several examples of this occuring in the UK during the Battle 0f Britain - including IIRC at least one instance of a Polish pilot being killed by farmers when he landed and couldn't speak understandable English...

m kenny · 07-02-2010, 05:48 AM

auflistung

In English

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spidge · 07-02-2010, 09:53 AM

I have a few examples of Aussies in the RAAF/RAF who were shot by differing levels of civilians, police, Gestapo etc but do not have them isolated and I would have to go through 1400 Aussies RAAF/RAF buried in Germany alone to find them.

If you had the time you could key "Gestapo" etc into Lost Bombers website text search and you would probably get at least 50 as they were the ones executed after the Great Escape.

Surely searching "Google" you might find them isolated.

Cheers

Geoff

izzy · 07-02-2010, 11:10 AM

After the Battle Magazine done an article called the Russelheim death March were an American Aircrew were Murdered by an angry mob of civilans some of whom were Tried after the war and Executed.

Heimbrent · 07-02-2010, 11:11 AM

You will find some general information here (in German).
There is an essay by the same author in DRZW 9, in German too but I can write a synopsis if you like.

nemesis · 07-02-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by izzy

After the Battle Magazine done an article called the Russelheim death March were an American Aircrew were Murdered by an angry mob of civilans some of whom were Tried after the war and Executed.

Hi Izzy theres some film on the history channel re the Russelheim death March and the subsequent outcome of the war crime and it shows picture of the perpetrators.

izzy · 07-02-2010, 12:53 PM

Just Googled Russelheim Death march there are numerous refrences with pictures.

Gage · 07-02-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phylo_roadking

Canuck - there were also several examples of this occuring in the UK during the Battle 0f Britain - including IIRC at least one instance of a Polish pilot being killed by farmers when he landed and couldn't speak understandable English...

Have you got anymore info?
The only one I've read about is on the 15th Sept 1940 in Kennington. Oberleutnant Robert Zehbe landed opposite the Oval underground station and was attacked by men and women, the army arrived and half-dozen soldiers fought there way through the crowd to get to him. The airman was fatally wounded and died soon afterwards. (See Owen I've used my books)

There also stories of American airmen being attacked.

Driver-op · 07-02-2010, 01:45 PM

In 1945 as a Royal Fusilier's officer I was posted to 5 Brigade HQ in Dortmund and palled up with a young officer who was investigating civilians responsible for killing aircrew to bring them to trial. There were a number of eye-witness accounts which I found quite disturbing, I believe he was quite successful in his job.
Jim

07-02-2010, 02:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
canuck Canuck Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario Posts: 469	Aircrew killed by civilians Having recently read several books on Bomber Command I was struck by the repeated references to aircrew being assaulted or killed by German civilians. Has anyone researched this aspect of the air war? Most of the incidents were anecdotal and perhaps it is very difficult to accurately gauge the full extent. There were suggestions that it was a prevalent happening but attempt to estimate the casulaties. One common experience of downed airmen was the reported fact that Luftwaffe guards were more often present to protect the prisoners than to prevent escapes. __________________ Major Lockie Fulton 'D' Company - Winnipeg Rifles

07-02-2010, 02:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
phylo_roadking Very Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: feels like Brigadoon! Posts: 1,264	Canuck - there were also several examples of this occuring in the UK during the Battle 0f Britain - including IIRC at least one instance of a Polish pilot being killed by farmers when he landed and couldn't speak understandable English... __________________ The smell of frying bacon - proof that aromatherapy isn't all bullshit...

07-02-2010, 09:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
spidge Very Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,268	I have a few examples of Aussies in the RAAF/RAF who were shot by differing levels of civilians, police, Gestapo etc but do not have them isolated and I would have to go through 1400 Aussies RAAF/RAF buried in Germany alone to find them. If you had the time you could key "Gestapo" etc into Lost Bombers website text search and you would probably get at least 50 as they were the ones executed after the Great Escape. Surely searching "Google" you might find them isolated. Cheers Geoff __________________ Spidge, My project is the collection of over 11,200 RAAF Headstone/Memorial photos located in 67 countries during WW2 and the 360+ from WW1. Can you assist? Do you know someone that can? ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the State flag of Victoria. My dad, Gunner Frederick Edwin Swallow "C" Company, 2/8th Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division AIF. Critically wounded on the first attack on Tobruk, January 21st 1941.

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07-02-2010, 05:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
m kenny Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 127	auflistung In English Google Translate

07-02-2010, 11:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
izzy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 216	After the Battle Magazine done an article called the Russelheim death March were an American Aircrew were Murdered by an angry mob of civilans some of whom were Tried after the war and Executed.

07-02-2010, 11:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Heimbrent Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 398	You will find some general information here (in German). There is an essay by the same author in DRZW 9, in German too but I can write a synopsis if you like.

07-02-2010, 12:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
izzy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 216	Just Googled Russelheim Death march there are numerous refrences with pictures.

07-02-2010, 01:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Driver-op WW2 Veteran Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Among the trees in Hertfordshire. Posts: 100	In 1945 as a Royal Fusilier's officer I was posted to 5 Brigade HQ in Dortmund and palled up with a young officer who was investigating civilians responsible for killing aircrew to bring them to trial. There were a number of eye-witness accounts which I found quite disturbing, I believe he was quite successful in his job. Jim

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