Language:
German
Year of publication:
1998
Titel der Quelle:
Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft
Angaben zur Quelle:
46,4 (1998) 329-353
Keywords:
Manstein, Erich von,
;
War crime trials
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Influence
Abstract:
Discusses Manstein's trial before a British war crimes tribunal in Hamburg. Among the charges was his failure to prevent the massacres of Jews by Sonderkommandos in territories under his command in Poland and the USSR, and logistic aid given for some of these massacres by Wehrmacht units under his command. While the defense argued that Manstein did not know of these massacres, he countersigned at least some of the reports. An officer of the Sonderkommando testified that Manstein ordered the liquidation of the Jews of Simferopol in the Crimea. Manstein declared - and held to this view even in 1949 - that the Jews deserved harsh retribution for being the spiritual carriers of Bolshevism, and also that they posed a danger to the German army. The tribunal ruled that Manstein's knowledge of the massacres was not proven, but blamed him for not informing himself. He was convicted on other charges. Criticizes the tribunal for focusing on the individual rather than on the whole social context.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink