On 5 April 1944, Schümers commanded the 7th unit of the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division in the execution of 277 unarmed women, children and elders in the village of Kleisoura in Greece in retaliation for the killing of 3 German soldiers.[1] In the official investigations by his command hierarchy for the massacre he testified that his soldiers had to kill them all because guerrilla forces were hiding in the village, and was acquitted, while it was proven after the war that his testimony was false.[1]: 587
On 24 April his 7th unit committed the Pyrgoi massacre where 368 men, women, and children were slaughtered.[2]
Men from the same 7th unit, under the command of Hans Zampel and Fritz Lautenbach committed the Distomo massacre, on 10 June 1944, where 228 civilians were brutally murdered for retaliation, one of the cruelest atrocities of WW II; no one was ever tried for this war crime.[citation needed]
On 17 June 1944 Schümers ordered the execution of 28 civilians and total destruction of Ipati, and the next day, the burning down of Spercheiada and the killing of 35 civilians.[3]
After he was assigned the command of the 4th Panzer Grenadier Division, on 22 July 1944, the 8th unit of his forces took part in the operation Kreuzotter (5-31 August 1944) in a failed attempt to eradicate ELAS bases from the mountains of central Greece, Roumeli, Greece [el], that resulted, among others, in the killing of approximately 170 civilians and the partial or complete destruction of dozens of villages and cities.[3][4]
He was killed on 16 August 1944 when his car drove over a landmine in the area of Arta (northwestern Greece).[5]
Commands
II.Battalion, 7th SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regiment
7th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment
4th SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Division
References
^ abDordanas, Stratos (2002), [Retaliations of the German occupation authorities in Macedonia 1941-1944] (phd) (in Greek), Αριστοτέλιο Πανεπιστημιο Θεσσαλονίκης, archived from the original on 27 December 2016, retrieved 27 Dec 2016
^Φωτιάδης, Kostas; Dordanas, Stratos; Michailidis, Iakovos (25 Oct 2014). Αθώα θύματα στο Βέρμιο: οι Πύργοι και το Μεσόβουνο στην Κατοχή (1941-1944) [Innocent victims on mountain Vermio: The Pyrgi and Mesovouno villages during the German occupation]. Thessaloniki: Εκδοτικός Οίκος αδελφών Κυριακίδη Α.Ε. ISBN978-960-602-052-0.
^ abBarsos, Chronis (14 Aug 2015). [5-31 August 1944: The extensive German extermination operation «Kreuzotter» (viper) in Central Roumeli]. www.mag24.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 28 Dec 2016.
^Perdue, Robert (2 Apr 2010). Behind the Lines in Greece: The Story of OSS Operational Group II. Greece: AuthorHouse. p. 222. ISBN9781449067892. Retrieved 2 Jan 2017.
^Μάγερ, Χέρμαν Φρανκ, Αιματοβαμμένο Έντελβαϊς. Η 1η Ορεινή Μεραρχία, το 22ο Σώμα Στρατού και η εγκληματική δράση τους στην Ελλάδα, 1943-1944, Τόμος Β', Βιβλιοπωλείον της Εστίας, Αθήνα 2009, σελ. 245
Further reading
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN978-3-7909-0284-6.
karl, schümers, october, 1905, august, 1944, high, ranking, commander, waffen, ordnungspolizei, police, nazi, germany, during, world, commanded, polizei, division, july, august, 1944, directly, indirectly, involved, many, major, atrocities, committed, greece, . Karl Schumers 17 October 1905 16 August 1944 was a high ranking commander in the Waffen SS and Ordnungspolizei police of Nazi Germany during World War II He commanded the SS Polizei Division in July August 1944 and was directly or indirectly involved in many of the major atrocities committed in Greece during 1944 He was awarded the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 September 1942 Karl SchumersBorn17 October 1905Dusseldorf German EmpireDied16 August 1944 1944 08 16 aged 38 Arta GreeceAllegiance Nazi GermanyService wbr branchWaffen SSYears of service1939 44RankSS BrigadefuhrerUnitSS Polizei DivisionBattles warsWorld War IIAwardsKnight s Cross of the Iron Cross Contents 1 War time atrocities 2 Commands 2 1 References 2 2 Further readingWar time atrocities EditOn 5 April 1944 Schumers commanded the 7th unit of the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division in the execution of 277 unarmed women children and elders in the village of Kleisoura in Greece in retaliation for the killing of 3 German soldiers 1 In the official investigations by his command hierarchy for the massacre he testified that his soldiers had to kill them all because guerrilla forces were hiding in the village and was acquitted while it was proven after the war that his testimony was false 1 587 On 24 April his 7th unit committed the Pyrgoi massacre where 368 men women and children were slaughtered 2 Men from the same 7th unit under the command of Hans Zampel and Fritz Lautenbach committed the Distomo massacre on 10 June 1944 where 228 civilians were brutally murdered for retaliation one of the cruelest atrocities of WW II no one was ever tried for this war crime citation needed On 17 June 1944 Schumers ordered the execution of 28 civilians and total destruction of Ipati and the next day the burning down of Spercheiada and the killing of 35 civilians 3 After he was assigned the command of the 4th Panzer Grenadier Division on 22 July 1944 the 8th unit of his forces took part in the operation Kreuzotter 5 31 August 1944 in a failed attempt to eradicate ELAS bases from the mountains of central Greece Roumeli Greece el that resulted among others in the killing of approximately 170 civilians and the partial or complete destruction of dozens of villages and cities 3 4 He was killed on 16 August 1944 when his car drove over a landmine in the area of Arta northwestern Greece 5 Commands EditII Battalion 7th SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier Regiment 7th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 4th SS Polizei Panzer Grenadier DivisionReferences Edit a b Dordanas Stratos 2002 Antipoina twn Germanikwn Arxwn Katoxhs sth Makedonia 1941 1944 Retaliations of the German occupation authorities in Macedonia 1941 1944 phd in Greek Aristotelio Panepisthmio 8essalonikhs archived from the original on 27 December 2016 retrieved 27 Dec 2016 Fwtiadhs Kostas Dordanas Stratos Michailidis Iakovos 25 Oct 2014 A8wa 8ymata sto Bermio oi Pyrgoi kai to Mesoboyno sthn Katoxh 1941 1944 Innocent victims on mountain Vermio The Pyrgi and Mesovouno villages during the German occupation Thessaloniki Ekdotikos Oikos adelfwn Kyriakidh A E ISBN 978 960 602 052 0 a b Barsos Chronis 14 Aug 2015 5 31 Aygoystoy 1944 H megalh germanikh ekka8aristikh epixeirhsh Kreuzotter Exidna sthn kentrikh Roymelh 5 31 August 1944 The extensive German extermination operation Kreuzotter viper in Central Roumeli www mag24 gr in Greek Archived from the original on 6 October 2015 Retrieved 28 Dec 2016 Perdue Robert 2 Apr 2010 Behind the Lines in Greece The Story of OSS Operational Group II Greece AuthorHouse p 222 ISBN 9781449067892 Retrieved 2 Jan 2017 Mager Xerman Frank Aimatobammeno Entelbais H 1h Oreinh Merarxia to 22o Swma Stratoy kai h egklhmatikh drash toys sthn Ellada 1943 1944 Tomos B Bibliopwleion ths Estias A8hna 2009 sel 245 Further reading Edit Fellgiebel Walther Peer 2000 1986 Die Trager des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 1945 Die Inhaber der hochsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile The Bearers of the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 1945 The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches in German Friedberg Germany Podzun Pallas ISBN 978 3 7909 0284 6 Mitcham Samuel W 2007 Retreat to the Reich the German defeat in France 1944 Mechanicsburg PA Stackpole Books ISBN 978 0 8117 3384 7 Portals Biography Military of Germany World War II This biographical article related to the military of Germany is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karl Schumers amp oldid 1119913287, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
