BAYERLEIN:

The Denazification Trial

of the Panzer Lehr Division Commander

edited by P.A. Spayd and Gary Wilkins

Ms. Spayd has teamed with Mr. Gary Wilkins, author of the Schiffer book, “The Collectors Guide to Cloth Third Reich Military Headgear” to co-author an in-depth insight and translation for this book on Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein’s Denazification Trial.

This third and extraordinarily unique book about General Bayerlein covers his trial by the Denazification Tribunal conducted in September 1947. Bayerlein faced yet another obstacle in attempting to get his life back to normal after six years of fighting and two years as a prisoner of war.  Bayerlein’s German trial is extensively documented as the file contains over 150 pages, including details of Bayerlein’s testimony regarding his actions as a commander during World War II.

The Denazification Tribunal is a little remembered program that took place after the close of World War II to root out Nazi elements and eliminate militarism. In particular, generals and General Staff officers were subjected to the tribunal to ascertain their involvement in war crimes and their degree of involvement in aggressive actions against civilians in the field. Subsequently, thousands were subjected to trial by these “Spruchkammer” (German Denazification tribunals). Rommel’s former Chief-of-Staff, General Heinz Speidel, one of the co-conspirators of the 20 July Bomb Plot against Hitler, testifies in support of Bayerlein. His subordinate field officers, who were impressed with Bayerlein’s humane actions during the war, lend their viewpoints in his defense.

Bayerlein himself describes his pre-war life with his parents and their political affiliation during the rise of the Third Reich, his private life at home, before and during the war, and humane actions he risked – including feeding Russian refugees from his field kitchens. As the Commanding General of Panzer Lehr Division, Bayerlein protected the Archbishop of Hungary, Jusztinian Seredi of Esztergom, near Budapest in the Spring of 1944. Bayerlein defends his wartime conduct by providing specific examples of how he acted properly and morally by protecting civilians in his Division’s sector.

In addition to the tribunal file, this new book includes the details of a Gestapo investigation September of 1941 for his actions in stopping the beating of a sick Russian prisoner by a camp prison guard in Bayerlein’s hometown in Wuerzburg, Germany. Bayerlein’s sister and girlfriend’s altercation with a Nazi Gauleiter, and the hostile crowd, provide insight into the family’s courage when confronted with brutality against one helpless prisoner.

Once again, the General’s nephew lends his support by providing additional 100 previously unpublished private family and war-time photographs.

AVAILABLE IN 2005 from Schiffer Publishing