Hans Karl Moeser (April 7, 1906 – November 26, 1948) was a German SS functionary during the Nazi era who served at the Neuengamme, Auschwitz and Mittelbau-Dora concentration camps. He was captured at the end of the war and tried by the United States Military Government Court. The only one among 19 defendants at the Dora Trial sentenced to death, Möser was executed at Landsberg Prison in 1948.
Möser was born in Darmstadt, Germany. A merchant by trade, he joined the Nazi Party in October 1929 (Member No. 155301) and the SS in July 1931 (Member No. 9555). In July 1940 Möser joined the staff at the newly opened SS-Hinzert concentration camp, infamous for its brutality, and later he transferred to Neuengamme. From May 1943 until October 1943 he was posted to the Auschwitz III Monowitz concentration camp as Kompanieführer of the Wachbataillon (Guard Battalion) in IG Farben's "Buna" plant. By the end of April 1944 he was also Kompanieführer of the Men on Watch at the Auschwitz I main camp (German: Stammlager).[1]
He transferred to the Dora central camp on May 1, 1944, initially serving as Deputy Protective Custody Camp Leader (German: Schutzhaftlagerführer) and then in July promoted to First Protective Custody Camp Leader. Here he was to commit the atrocities that would lead to his later trial and execution. During hangings of prisoners, for instance, he sometimes had the ropes cut while the victims were still alive so as to prolong their suffering.[2] In February, 1945, as the Red Army overran German positions on the Eastern Front, the SS headquarters personnel at Auschwitz evacuated to Mittelbau-Dora. Auschwitz commander Richard Baer and his staff took over the Dora complex and Möser was again made Deputy Leader, this time under Franz Hössler.[3]
On April 5, 1945, as American 3rd Armored Division closed in on Mittelbau-Dora, Möser led a forced evacuation of over 3,000 prisoners to the railhead for transfer to Neuengamme. Due to the wartime situation the train was diverted to Ravensbrück concentration camp instead. The prisoners were then led on a death march for the last stage of their journey.[4]
Trial, conviction and execution
The Dora defendants, Hans Möser 3rd from the right
Möser was arrested at the end of the war. Following the June 1945 Fedden Mission investigation of the Dora conditions, Möser was among 19 defendants tried by the American General Military Government Court in the Dora Trial (The United States of America versus Arthur Kurt Andrae et al., Case Number 000-50-37), part of the Dachau Trials. Proceedings began on July 7, 1947 and lasted until December 30. Möser was found to have been present at hangings and personally shooting prisoners execution-style during escape attempts. The responsibility for the death marches during the final evacuation of Dora were also attributed to Möser. In his trial statement he said:
The same way, with the same pleasure, as you shoot deer, I shot a human being. When I came to the SS and had to shoot the first three persons, my food didn't taste good for three days, but today it is a pleasure. It is a joy for me."[5]
Found guilty, he was the only defendant in the Dora Trial sentenced to death.[4] Following appeals, Möser was executed by hanging at Landsberg Prison on November 26, 1948.[6]
References
^Aleksander Lasik: "Die Organisationsstruktur des KL Auschwitz", in: Aleksander Lasik, Franciszek Piper, Piotr Setkiewicz, Irena Strzelecka: Auschwitz 1940–1945, Volume I (Oświęcim: State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau, 1999) p. 345.
^Jean Michel and Louis Nucéra, Dora (Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1980) p. 102.
^Jens-Christian Wagner, Produktion des Todes: Das KZ Mittelbau-Dora (Göttingen, 2001) p. 670
^ ab"United States of America v. Kurt Andrae et al. (and Related Cases)" (PDF). United States Army Investigation and Trial Records of War Criminals. National Archives and Records Service. 27 April 1945 – 11 June 1958. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
^Israel Gutman, Encyclopedia of the Holocaust (New York: Macmillan Library Reference, 1995) p. 400
^Ernst Klee, Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich: Wer war was vor und nach 1945. (Frankfurt am Main, 2007) p. 414
hans, möser, hans, karl, moeser, april, 1906, november, 1948, german, functionary, during, nazi, served, neuengamme, auschwitz, mittelbau, dora, concentration, camps, captured, tried, united, states, military, government, court, only, among, defendants, dora, . Hans Karl Moeser April 7 1906 November 26 1948 was a German SS functionary during the Nazi era who served at the Neuengamme Auschwitz and Mittelbau Dora concentration camps He was captured at the end of the war and tried by the United States Military Government Court The only one among 19 defendants at the Dora Trial sentenced to death Moser was executed at Landsberg Prison in 1948 Hans MoserHans Moser in US custody 1947BornApril 7 1906Darmstadt German EmpireDiedNovember 26 1948 1948 11 26 aged 42 Landsberg Prison Landsberg am Lech Allied occupied GermanyAllegianceNazi GermanyService wbr branchSSRankObersturmfuhrerUnitSS Totenkopfverbande Contents 1 SS career 2 Trial conviction and execution 3 References 4 External linksSS career EditMoser was born in Darmstadt Germany A merchant by trade he joined the Nazi Party in October 1929 Member No 155301 and the SS in July 1931 Member No 9555 In July 1940 Moser joined the staff at the newly opened SS Hinzert concentration camp infamous for its brutality and later he transferred to Neuengamme From May 1943 until October 1943 he was posted to the Auschwitz III Monowitz concentration camp as Kompaniefuhrer of the Wachbataillon Guard Battalion in IG Farben s Buna plant By the end of April 1944 he was also Kompaniefuhrer of the Men on Watch at the Auschwitz I main camp German Stammlager 1 He transferred to the Dora central camp on May 1 1944 initially serving as Deputy Protective Custody Camp Leader German Schutzhaftlagerfuhrer and then in July promoted to First Protective Custody Camp Leader Here he was to commit the atrocities that would lead to his later trial and execution During hangings of prisoners for instance he sometimes had the ropes cut while the victims were still alive so as to prolong their suffering 2 In February 1945 as the Red Army overran German positions on the Eastern Front the SS headquarters personnel at Auschwitz evacuated to Mittelbau Dora Auschwitz commander Richard Baer and his staff took over the Dora complex and Moser was again made Deputy Leader this time under Franz Hossler 3 On April 5 1945 as American 3rd Armored Division closed in on Mittelbau Dora Moser led a forced evacuation of over 3 000 prisoners to the railhead for transfer to Neuengamme Due to the wartime situation the train was diverted to Ravensbruck concentration camp instead The prisoners were then led on a death march for the last stage of their journey 4 Trial conviction and execution Edit The Dora defendants Hans Moser 3rd from the right Moser was arrested at the end of the war Following the June 1945 Fedden Mission investigation of the Dora conditions Moser was among 19 defendants tried by the American General Military Government Court in the Dora Trial The United States of America versus Arthur Kurt Andrae et al Case Number 000 50 37 part of the Dachau Trials Proceedings began on July 7 1947 and lasted until December 30 Moser was found to have been present at hangings and personally shooting prisoners execution style during escape attempts The responsibility for the death marches during the final evacuation of Dora were also attributed to Moser In his trial statement he said The same way with the same pleasure as you shoot deer I shot a human being When I came to the SS and had to shoot the first three persons my food didn t taste good for three days but today it is a pleasure It is a joy for me 5 Found guilty he was the only defendant in the Dora Trial sentenced to death 4 Following appeals Moser was executed by hanging at Landsberg Prison on November 26 1948 6 References Edit Aleksander Lasik Die Organisationsstruktur des KL Auschwitz in Aleksander Lasik Franciszek Piper Piotr Setkiewicz Irena Strzelecka Auschwitz 1940 1945 Volume I Oswiecim State Museum of Auschwitz Birkenau 1999 p 345 Jean Michel and Louis Nucera Dora Holt Rinehart and Winston 1980 p 102 Jens Christian Wagner Produktion des Todes Das KZ Mittelbau Dora Gottingen 2001 p 670 a b United States of America v Kurt Andrae et al and Related Cases PDF United States Army Investigation and Trial Records of War Criminals National Archives and Records Service 27 April 1945 11 June 1958 Retrieved 2012 02 18 Israel Gutman Encyclopedia of the Holocaust New York Macmillan Library Reference 1995 p 400 Ernst Klee Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich Wer war was vor und nach 1945 Frankfurt am Main 2007 p 414External links EditPhoto of Hans Moser in 1937 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hans Moser amp oldid 1127454759, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
