Bernhard Wehner (15 December 1909 – 31 December 1995) was a German criminal inspector, Schutzstaffel (SS) officer, and journalist. During the postwar period, he was a criminologist and writer for the news magazine Der Spiegel.
Biographyedit
After graduating with a law degree, he joined the Nazi Party in 1931 and the SS in 1940.[1] In 1942, he was promoted to the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain). Wehner worked under Arthur Nebe, chief of the Kripo, which after 27 September 1939 was Department V of the RSHA. Department V was also known as the Reichskriminalpolizeiamt (Reich Criminal Police Department or RKPA).[2]
In 1942, Wehner led sub-department BI a2 within RSHA Department V (RKPA), to combat capital crimes. That same year, he published a book as to the alleged "criminal investigation results" of thousands of "Polish atrocities" against "ethnic Germans"; stating that Poland was responsible for the September 1939 German invasion and occupation of the country. He also took part in the investigation of the death of Reinhard Heydrich in 1942.[3]
After the assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler on 20 July 1944, Wehner was flown with three other Berlin criminologists to the Wolf's Lair. Together with Albert Widmann and Horst Kopkow, he reconstructed the events. He reported the conclusions of the investigation to Hitler. Wehner later organized the search for Arthur Nebe, who was wanted as a co-conspirator. After the war ended in 1945, Wehner was interned. After he was released in early April 1946, he worked for a time as a driver at the British military authorities in Bad Harzburg. Wehner went on to work as a criminologist and writer for Der Spiegel news magazine. He tried to diminish the crimes of the criminal police and its relationship with the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) and Gestapo during the Nazi era. According to author Benjamin Carter Hett, Wehner and Walter Zirpins were the "two most important post-war promoters of a sanitized version of the history of the German criminal police" in the 1950s.[1] In 1954, Wehner became head of the criminal police department in Düsseldorf and remained there until 1970. He also served as editor and writer of the professional journal, "Criminology".[4][5]
Referencesedit
^ abHett, Benjamin Carter (2014). Burning the Reichstag, p. 250.
^Gellately, Robert (2001). Backing Hitler: Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany, p. 75.
^Höhne, Heinz (2000) [1969]. The Order of the Death's Head: The Story of Hitler's SS, p. 495.
^Stefan Noethen: Alte Kameraden und neue Kollegen. Polizei in Nordrhein-Westfalen 1945–1953. Essen 2003, S. 381f.
^Bernhard Wehner: Dem Täter auf der Spur. Die Geschichte der deutschen Kriminalpolizei. Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1983, ISBN3-7857-0331-7.
May 08, 2024
bernhard, wehner, december, 1909, december, 1995, german, criminal, inspector, schutzstaffel, officer, journalist, during, postwar, period, criminologist, writer, news, magazine, spiegel, biography, editafter, graduating, with, degree, joined, nazi, party, 193. Bernhard Wehner 15 December 1909 31 December 1995 was a German criminal inspector Schutzstaffel SS officer and journalist During the postwar period he was a criminologist and writer for the news magazine Der Spiegel Biography editAfter graduating with a law degree he joined the Nazi Party in 1931 and the SS in 1940 1 In 1942 he was promoted to the rank of SS Hauptsturmfuhrer captain Wehner worked under Arthur Nebe chief of the Kripo which after 27 September 1939 was Department V of the RSHA Department V was also known as the Reichskriminalpolizeiamt Reich Criminal Police Department or RKPA 2 In 1942 Wehner led sub department BI a2 within RSHA Department V RKPA to combat capital crimes That same year he published a book as to the alleged criminal investigation results of thousands of Polish atrocities against ethnic Germans stating that Poland was responsible for the September 1939 German invasion and occupation of the country He also took part in the investigation of the death of Reinhard Heydrich in 1942 3 After the assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler on 20 July 1944 Wehner was flown with three other Berlin criminologists to the Wolf s Lair Together with Albert Widmann and Horst Kopkow he reconstructed the events He reported the conclusions of the investigation to Hitler Wehner later organized the search for Arthur Nebe who was wanted as a co conspirator After the war ended in 1945 Wehner was interned After he was released in early April 1946 he worked for a time as a driver at the British military authorities in Bad Harzburg Wehner went on to work as a criminologist and writer for Der Spiegel news magazine He tried to diminish the crimes of the criminal police and its relationship with the Sicherheitsdienst SD and Gestapo during the Nazi era According to author Benjamin Carter Hett Wehner and Walter Zirpins were the two most important post war promoters of a sanitized version of the history of the German criminal police in the 1950s 1 In 1954 Wehner became head of the criminal police department in Dusseldorf and remained there until 1970 He also served as editor and writer of the professional journal Criminology 4 5 References edit a b Hett Benjamin Carter 2014 Burning the Reichstag p 250 Gellately Robert 2001 Backing Hitler Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany p 75 Hohne Heinz 2000 1969 The Order of the Death s Head The Story of Hitler s SS p 495 Stefan Noethen Alte Kameraden und neue Kollegen Polizei in Nordrhein Westfalen 1945 1953 Essen 2003 S 381f Bernhard Wehner Dem Tater auf der Spur Die Geschichte der deutschen Kriminalpolizei Lubbe Bergisch Gladbach 1983 ISBN 3 7857 0331 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bernhard Wehner amp oldid 1068216902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
