Ernst Lerch (19 November 1914 – 1997) was said to be one of the most important men of Operation Reinhard (German: Aktion Reinhard), responsible for "Jewish affairs" and the mass murder of the Jews in the General Government (Generalgouvernement). However he was never convicted of war crimes.
Lerch was born on 19 November 1914 in Klagenfurt. He briefly studied at the Hochschule für Welthandel in Vienna. From 1931 to 1934 Lerch learned the hotel trade by working as a waiter in various hotels in Switzerland, France and Hungary. On 1 December 1932, Lerch joined the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, NSDAP) (Party Number 1,327,396). On 1 March 1934, he became a member of the "Protective Squadron" (German: Schutzstaffel, SS) (SS Number 309,700).
From 1934 until the incorporation of Austria into Germany (Anschluss) in 1938, Lerch was employed in his father's Café Lerch. The café, located in Klagenfurt, became a meeting place for Nazis such as Odilo Globočnik and Ernst Kaltenbrunner, who frequented the café. While still in Austria, Lerch was promoted to an SS-Second Lieutenant (Untersturmführer) on 9 September 1936. By 1937, he was promoted to an SS-First Lieutenant (Obersturmführer). In 1938, Lerch moved to Berlin.
In Berlin he became an SS-Captain (Hauptsturmführer) in the Reich Security Directorate on 12 March 1938. At his wedding to a "Secret State Police" (Gestapo) employee, Oswald Pohl and Globočnik acted as witnesses.
Activities in PolandEdit
In December 1938, Lerch joined the German Army. According to his testimony, he was involved in the 1939 Polish Campaign as a signals corporal. From February 1940 until September 1941, Lerch was employed at the "Reich Security Main Office" (Reichssicherheitshauptamt, RSHA) in Berlin. Then he was appointed as Rasse-und Siedlungsführer in Cracow.
SS and Police Leader Odilo Globočnik in charge of Operation Reinhard
From 1941-43, Lerch served in Lublin as chief of Globočnik's personal office and Stabsführer der Allgemeine SS, responsible for the radio link between the Aktion Reinhardheadquarters and Berlin. On 21 July 1942, he was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer. At the trial of Hermann Worthoff (former Gestapo chief in Lublin) after the war, it was mentioned that Lerch had overseen the murder of thousands of Jews from the Majdan Tatarski ghetto in Lublin at the nearby Krepiec Forest.
When Operation Reinhard (Aktion Reinhard) was finished, Lerch was ordered to Italy in September 1943. He went with most of the SS-men of Globočnik's staff. In Trieste, Lerch continued to serve as chief of Globočnik's personal staff in the OZAK (Operationszone Adriatisches Küstenland). He was still Globočnik's right hand but had also military-related tasks. Lerch was very much involved in anti-partisan operations. For a few weeks, Lerch was provisional police commander in Fiume.
After the German surrender in Italy (1 May 1945), Lerch fled to Carinthia in southern Austria, a region he knew well. There, at an alpine pasture (Möslacher Alm) near the Weissensee Lake, he was captured by a Britishcommando on 31 May 1945. Lerch was captured with his comrades Globočnik, Hermann Höfle and Georg Michalsen.
Being imprisoned in Wolfsberg detention centre, Lerch was interrogated by the British. He insisted on having spent just a short time in Lublin, and had nothing to do either with Globočnik or the mass killings of Jews in Poland. Lerch escaped from prison and lived in hiding from 1947 to 1950. He was captured again in 1950.
In 1960, Lerch was sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a de-Nazificationcourt in Wiesbaden (8JS 1145/60 StA Wiesbaden). In 1971, he was accused again of being involved in the Holocaust. The trial was held in Klagenfurt. His case was finally dropped on 11 May 1976 because the lack of witnesses (LG Klagenfurt: 25VR 3123/71).
ReferencesEdit
Ernst Klee: Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich: Wer war was vor und nach 1945. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2007; ISBN978-3-596-16048-8
External linksEdit
Biography and photograph of Ernst Lerch
October 15, 2023
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This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ernst Lerch 19 November 1914 1997 was said to be one of the most important men of Operation Reinhard German Aktion Reinhard responsible for Jewish affairs and the mass murder of the Jews in the General Government Generalgouvernement However he was never convicted of war crimes Contents 1 Life and early career 2 Activities in Poland 3 After the war 4 References 5 External linksLife and early career EditLerch was born on 19 November 1914 in Klagenfurt He briefly studied at the Hochschule fur Welthandel in Vienna From 1931 to 1934 Lerch learned the hotel trade by working as a waiter in various hotels in Switzerland France and Hungary On 1 December 1932 Lerch joined the National Socialist German Workers Party Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei NSDAP Party Number 1 327 396 On 1 March 1934 he became a member of the Protective Squadron German Schutzstaffel SS SS Number 309 700 From 1934 until the incorporation of Austria into Germany Anschluss in 1938 Lerch was employed in his father s Cafe Lerch The cafe located in Klagenfurt became a meeting place for Nazis such as Odilo Globocnik and Ernst Kaltenbrunner who frequented the cafe While still in Austria Lerch was promoted to an SS Second Lieutenant Untersturmfuhrer on 9 September 1936 By 1937 he was promoted to an SS First Lieutenant Obersturmfuhrer In 1938 Lerch moved to Berlin In Berlin he became an SS Captain Hauptsturmfuhrer in the Reich Security Directorate on 12 March 1938 At his wedding to a Secret State Police Gestapo employee Oswald Pohl and Globocnik acted as witnesses Activities in Poland EditIn December 1938 Lerch joined the German Army According to his testimony he was involved in the 1939 Polish Campaign as a signals corporal From February 1940 until September 1941 Lerch was employed at the Reich Security Main Office Reichssicherheitshauptamt RSHA in Berlin Then he was appointed as Rasse und Siedlungsfuhrer in Cracow nbsp SS and Police Leader Odilo Globocnik in charge of Operation ReinhardFrom 1941 43 Lerch served in Lublin as chief of Globocnik s personal office and Stabsfuhrer der Allgemeine SS responsible for the radio link between the Aktion Reinhard headquarters and Berlin On 21 July 1942 he was promoted to SS Sturmbannfuhrer At the trial of Hermann Worthoff former Gestapo chief in Lublin after the war it was mentioned that Lerch had overseen the murder of thousands of Jews from the Majdan Tatarski ghetto in Lublin at the nearby Krepiec Forest When Operation Reinhard Aktion Reinhard was finished Lerch was ordered to Italy in September 1943 He went with most of the SS men of Globocnik s staff In Trieste Lerch continued to serve as chief of Globocnik s personal staff in the OZAK Operationszone Adriatisches Kustenland He was still Globocnik s right hand but had also military related tasks Lerch was very much involved in anti partisan operations For a few weeks Lerch was provisional police commander in Fiume After the war EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ernst Lerch news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message After the German surrender in Italy 1 May 1945 Lerch fled to Carinthia in southern Austria a region he knew well There at an alpine pasture Moslacher Alm near the Weissensee Lake he was captured by a British commando on 31 May 1945 Lerch was captured with his comrades Globocnik Hermann Hofle and Georg Michalsen Being imprisoned in Wolfsberg detention centre Lerch was interrogated by the British He insisted on having spent just a short time in Lublin and had nothing to do either with Globocnik or the mass killings of Jews in Poland Lerch escaped from prison and lived in hiding from 1947 to 1950 He was captured again in 1950 In 1960 Lerch was sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a de Nazification court in Wiesbaden 8JS 1145 60 StA Wiesbaden In 1971 he was accused again of being involved in the Holocaust The trial was held in Klagenfurt His case was finally dropped on 11 May 1976 because the lack of witnesses LG Klagenfurt 25VR 3123 71 References EditErnst Klee Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich Wer war was vor und nach 1945 Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag Frankfurt am Main 2007 ISBN 978 3 596 16048 8External links EditBiography and photograph of Ernst Lerch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ernst Lerch amp oldid 1175547499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
