Help Identify RCMP Members: With German Prisoners Of War
June 8, 2015
Veteran Bob Henderson would like the assistance of other Veterans to identify the two RCMP members photographed with three World War II German prisoners-of-war.
Photograph was probably taken in 1946 at Medicine Hat Alberta.
1946 – Photograph of three German Prisoners of War being escorted by two unknown RCMP members/
The three Germans (left to right): Adolf Kratz, Werner Schwalb and Johannes Wittinger. They were tried for the murder of August Plaszek. Schwalb was sentenced to hang and was hung on June 26, 1947 at Lethbridge Alberta; Kratz received life imprisonment (he was later returned to German after contracting tuberculosis) and Witting was acquitted.
Photograph of Werner Schwalb (Source of photo – Glenbow Museum Archives).
Apparently August Plaszek was suspected of spying in the camp for Canadian authorities and was killed on June 22, 1943 at Medicine Prisoner Of War Camp. At the time of his execution, Schwalb was asked if he had any last words and his reply was “My Führer I follow thee.”
If you know the possible names of these two members photographed with these three German prisoners, please email Bob Henderson at homefront@sasktel.net.
