PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: Where are these numbers, Mr. Fenstermacher?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: They appear, if your Honor pleases, on the top right-hand corner of the English translation.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: I am referring now to the page numbers of the exhibit. Are those pages 107 to 134, volume 18?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: They are in Volume 18, your Honor.
The first photograph which will become page 107 in the English document book is page 103 in the German, and is numbered 2004, and represents a scene from the Village of Prisoje, Stupnido and Potkozara, district of Cajniki in which 31 persons, including 4 children, 14 women and 13 men were killed in reprisal by troops of the 3rd Battalion of the 750th Regiment, 118th Jaeger Division, under the leadership of Captain Karl Stenzel, Battalion C.O. and by order of Guenther Tribukeit, Regimental Commander. This crime was committed on the 8th of July, 1943.
The photograph is certified to by the President of the National Commission for the investigation of War crimes of Jugoslavia.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I object to the introduction of this picture which has just been offered. What has just been said has not been proven by the picture.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: I think that is true, but the ruling we made on the matter of the admissibility of prior photographs was made upon the theory that they would be taken for what they are worth, if anything, and if a proper proof indicates some degree of formality to the truth and veracity of the alleged pictures.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The next photograph, number 2006, represents the same scene as the previous photograph, and your Honors will note in the left hand portion of the photograph, a picture of a small child, which investigation established was killed during the incident.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: How do you designate it? Page what, page 100?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: This second photograph, your Honor, will become page 108 in the English, and 104, I believe, in the German.
The third photograph is No. 5213, and represents a scene from the mass annihilation of the civilian population of the village of Sokolac, in Bosnia, by the German Wehrmacht. The exact date of the incident could not be established, probably in the year 1944."
Your Honors will note the presence of German soldiers around a tree from which a man in civilian clothes is hanging.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: This is 109?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Yes, your Honor, 109.
The next photograph will become page 110 in the English, is photograph No 5206, and it relates to the same scene as the preceding photograph. Your Honors will note that this is a man in civilian clothes, hanging head downward with a sign above his feet.
The next photograph, page 111 in the English, relates to the very same incident, a scene from the mass annihilation of the civilian population.
JUSTICE CARTER: Let's have the number of the picture first.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The number of the picture is 5212, your Honors, and becomes page 111 in the English. The photograph represents a scene from the mass annihilation of the civilian population in the Village of Sokolac, Rosnia, by the German Wehrmacht. The exact date of the incident could not be established, probably in the year 1944.
Again, your Honors will note two German soldiers standing around the body of the man in civilian clothes, hanging from a tree.
The next photograph is numbered 5208, and becomes page 112 in the English document book 18. Investigation established that the photograph represents a scene from the mass annihilation of the civilian population of the village of Sokolac in Rosnia by the German Wehrmacht, and again the exact date of the incident could not be established. It was probably in the year 1944.
The next photograph is number 2384, and becomes page 113 in the English. This photograph represents a scene during the mass shootings to death of civilians in Bosnia, in the course of the so-called penal expedition.
Your Honors will note the German soldier who is photographing the mass of bodies lying there.
The next photograph, No. 3074, which should be marked page 114 in the English, is a photograph representing the setting afire of a Serbian village near Kosovska Mitrovica by the German Wehrmacht at the time of the penal expedition.
Your Honors will note the type of village in Serbia, as revealed by the photograph, - small houses with thatched roofs, and the German soldiers in the foreground of the photograph.
The next photograph, No. 58, page 115 of the English, investigation established picture represents one of the numerous groups of the civilian population in Bosnia which were driven by the Germans through the Bosnian forests to death camps, concentration camps or to compulsory labor in Germany."
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: Mr. Fenstermacher, please proceed somewhat more slowly.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I would be glad to, your Honor.
The next photograph is No. 59, page 116 in the English. The photograph represents one of the numerous groups of the civilian population in Bosnia, driven by the Germans through the Bosnian forests to death camps, concentration camps or to compulsory labor in Germany.
Your Honors will note the large number of women in this photograph.
The next photograph is No. 61, page 117 in the English document book, again this photograph represents one of the numerous groups of the civilian population in Bosnia taken by the Germans to death camps, concentration camps or for slave labor in Germany.
Photograph No. 69, page 118 of the English, again the photograph represents the deportation of women and children in the village of Knezevo-Polje near Bosanske Dubice to German internment for slave labor.
Your Honors will not the presence of small children in the photograph.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honors, it is correct that on this photograph there are women and children; but there are only women and children in the picture. I do not see one single soldier or policeman in the picture, and everything else which has been said here is not proved, his arguing.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: For the reasons previously stated, Dr. Laternser, they will be received.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The next photograph is 4943, which will be page 119 in the English document book. Investigation established that the photograph represents one of the numerous groups of the civilian population in Bosnia which were taken by the Germans to death camps, concentration camps, or for slave labor in Germany.
Your Honors will note three German soldiers, armed, at the head of a column of native inhabitants.
The next six photographs -- withdrawn.
The next photograph, No. 1212, becomes page 120 in the English.
Investigation could not establish time or place of the incident of the picture. All that could be established was that the incident occurred in Bosnia, and that the corpse which is being stepped on by a German officer was of a Bosnian peasant.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: We may wait just a minute to catch up on our marking. You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The next five photographs seem to relate to the same incident. Investigation established the picture represents a scene during the --
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: This is 1164?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: I beg your pardon. I am glad to mention it. 1164 becomes page 121 in the English.
Investigation established that the picture represents a scene during the executions of captured fighters of the Yugoslav Peoples' Liberation Army. The photograph relates to an incident which occurred in the village of Razore in Slovenia on 9 June, 1944.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, even after the statement of the prosecution, the pictures mentioned cannot be admitted, because the territory does not belong to the so-called Southeastern, but to the territory of the commander for the Adriatic Coast area, and this command for the Adriatic Coast area was not subordinate to any of the defendants. Therefore there are pictures which have no connection at all with the defendants and the charges here.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, it is the prosecution's contention that Slovenia was within the jurisdiction of the defendants involved in this proceeding, and also that the pictures are representative of events which happened not only in Slovenia, but which happened in Croatia and Serbia as well.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I am expressly concerned with the decision on this question. It is a pure assertion on the part of the prosecution that - Slovenia belonged to the territory which we are speaking about. I maintain that this is not so, and it proved before these photographs can be accepted. The photographs must be rejected.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: The Tribunal is aware of the fact that any statement made by the counsel for the prosecution as a statement of fact represents simply his own view and does not reach the dignity of evidence.
We assume that it will later be connected with it since the statement has been made.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: We intend to do that, your Honor.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The next photograph is Number 536, which become page 122 in the English. The text on the back of the photograph is the same as on the first preceding photograph, and we believe that the picture speaks for itself.
DR. LATERNSER: I object against this picture in particular your Honor, and its introduction. I object particularly because from this photograph itself, from the decorations of rank it can be seen quite clearly that this is a member of the SS police who were never subordinate in any way at all to the defendants, and therefore, for this reason, this photograph particularly must be rejected.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: It seems to the Tribunal, Dr. Laternser, the fact is merely a matter for argument rather than a matter for the introduction of proof at this time. The pictures have been received with the clear statement that they would be received for what they are worth. What may follow later is open to the defense at any time.
You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Turning to the next photograph, No. 1165, it should be marked page 123 in the English. The accompanying text for this photograph is the same as with the two preceding photographs, and we believe is an additional photograph of the same event.
Continuing with photograph No. 1166, page 124 in the English, it is an additional photograph which relates to the three preceding photographs and needs no comment here.
Photograph No. 1168, page 126 in the English, investigation established that the picture represents Major Jozu Mirtica. He was captured by the Germans and mistreated.
The 5-pointed star was hacked into his face by them, and finally they killed him.
Photograph No. 213, page 127 in the English, represents a scene from the neighborhood of the Village of Jajince near Belgrade, where the Germans shot to death and killed some thousands of civilian internees from the death camp of Banjica and where they burned 80,000 bodies of their victims on the pyre, particularly during the last months before their retreat from Belgrade.
Photograph No. 212, page 128 of the English, the text is the same as for the preceding document and needs no further comment.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: Page 128 is it not?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: That is right, your Honor.
The next is photograph, No. 650, page 129 of the English, investigation established that the picture represents atrocities committed by German troops on the civilian population in northern Istria in October, 1944.
With the final, five photographs, we are concerned with the actions of the German troops as they retreated from Belgrade, in October, 1944.
Photograph No. 720, page 130 in the English, shows a building, No. 6 to 8 Studentenplatz Belgrade which was undermined and destroyed by German troops before they retreated from Belgrade in October, 1944. This building, as well as numerous other destroyed buildings are destroyed buildings are civilian residences in the center of the city and without any military significance.
The next photograph seems to have no number. It should be marked page 131 in the English, which shows the demolished building of the philosophical faculty of the University of Belgrade which in addition to numerous other buildings was set afire and destroyed by the Germans without any military reason before their retreat from Belgrade in October, 1944. Valuable scientific collections and laboratories were destroyed with the building.
The next photograph, No. 12, page 132 in the English, shows the building and the installations of the Avala mill in Belgrade which was mined and destroyed by the Germans immediately before their retreat from Belgrade on 15 October 1944.
The next photograph, No. 2a, page 133 of the English, shows the building on the corner Gospodar Jevremove and the Koschuskova Street which was set on fire and destroyed by the Germans immediately before they retreated from Belgrade in October, 1944.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, this should really be checked on. I have just been informed that, for instance, the destruction on picture 112, was caused by an American air raid on Belgrade. There were several American fire attacks on Belgrade, and now this picture is submitted by the prosecution with the assertion that the destructions were carried out by the German troops in their retreat.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honors, if you please, Dr. Laternser's remarks are certainly gratuitously given and cannot be considered evidence. If there is a conflict in fact as to what the picture truly represents, the defense is free to present their version and their interpretation of the destruction at the proper time.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: The fault, if any, is shared equally. You are both doing quite a bit of testifying.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: The final photograph is number 730/23, page 134 of the English. The photograph "shows a destroyed house, 22 FASINA Street in Belgrade. It was mined and destroyed by the Germans immediately before their retreat on 18 October 1944. It has been established that many residents of the building, peaceful citizens of Belgrade were killed thereby. The picture represents the funeral of some of the victims."
DR. SAUTER: Dr. Sauter for the Defendants Lanz and Geitner. Your Honors, we have now been submitted a number of photographs, and you have already stated that you will only accept these photographs for the probative value which can be seen from the photographs themselves. In this direction - in that which concerns the court - we can be satisfied about this because everyone who looks at these photographs can see at once that they prove nothing at all against these defendants. If I nevertheless say something about these photographs very briefly, it is only for this reason that on behalf of my two clients Lanz and Geitner that I cannot leave this uncontradicted, that these photographs are presented against them.
During the past few days we have again experienced that these kinds of generalizations and unproved assertions which are presented here appear next day in German newspapers, perhaps even in foreign newspapers, and the newspaper do not say that the Prosecution authority has submitted a number of photographs regarding which we don't know from where they come, we do not know what they represent, and we also don't know how these executions, etc. came about; but in some newspaper or other, for instance, it was stated that against von Geitner photographs were submitted from which it is to be proved that no less than 68,000 people were burned up in one place on a Pile.
That is one single case. This goes into the newspapers and incriminates the defendants. And in the opinion of the German people sometimes it has a very drastic effect in the treatment of the members of the defendants.
JUDGE BURKE: To whom are you directing your objections?
DR. SAUTER: I am not making any objection against the photographs in themselves because the Tribunal has assured us that they will, of course, only accept the photographs with the probative value which can be seen from the photographs. But I would like to state publicly here so that the press does not give these erroneous reports and so that the two clients whom I represent have nothing to do with these things, just as in the same way probably as all the other defendants.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: The Tribunal is neither emotionally or temperamentally unstable. We are quite aware of the weight, if any, to be given by the Tribunal to the exhibits or to the testimony. So, this is not the appropriate time to which to argue the case. Then, the question of the influence upon the Tribunal, if any, of these photographs is one that I think you may safely leave to the judgment of the Tribunal. And what goes in the press, of course, is of no concern of this Tribunal. That is a field which is somewhat beyond the scope of our present activities.
DR. SAUTER: Of course, but the press is present, and the press here present brings the news submitted by the Prosecution here into the press, and it does not help my clients if perhaps three weeks or three months I can prove that my clients had nothing to do with these photographs. These press articles will appears tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and they poison the whole morale of the people, and then they have an effect on the dependents of the defendants. I want to protest against this, and I want to state here that my two clients and probably also the others have nothing at all to do with these things, even if we cannot unfortunately prevent this kind of evidence of such a questionable value from being submitted here.
We defense counsel can show to you from the bulletin board a lot of pictures where some people are hanged or murdered from one band or the other band, but we don't do that because we know that nothing can be proved by this. But I think that it is my duty in the interest of the defendants to point out how little probative value there is, especially against the defendants, in photographic material of this kind.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Dr. Sauter I understand you and I agree with you that the final responsibility, grave though it may be, must rest upon the Tribunal, and we will not form our decisions from anything that may be printed in the papers or in magazines or in unidentified pictures presented to us.
DR. SAUTER: Thank you very much.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: With the introduction of documents in Document Book No. 19 we turn our attention to events in Greece during the period of August 1943 to October 1944. Your Honors will recall that during this period General Alexander Loehr was Commanding General of Army Group E, which in turn was subordinate to Army Group F, headed by the Commander in Chief, the Defendant Weichs, and his Chief of Staff, the Defendant Foertsch. Your Honors will also recall that subordinate to General Loehr's Army Group E were two corps, the 68th Army Corps, commanded by the Defendant Lanz. We shall be concerned with the activities of troops under the command of the Defendants Felmy and Lanz through out this and the next two succeeding document books. Turning now to page 1 of the English and page 1 of the German. Document No. NOKW-1140, which is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 442. This is a biographical affidavit of the Defendant Felmy, executed here in Nurnberg on the 24th of April 1947.
"I, General Hellmuth Walter...."
PRESIDENT JUDGE BURKE: This becomes Exhibit what?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: No. 442, Your Honor.
I, General Hellmuth Walter Wolfgang Felmy, being duly sworn, say and depose:
I was born in Berlin on 28 May 1885. I entered the Instruction and Experimental Station for Military Aviation in Doeberitz on 1 June 1912. I was promoted to first Lieutenant on 27 January 1913. On 1 October 1913 I entered the Berlin Military Academy. I became a Captain on 20 December 1914. During the war up to 1918, I was attached to various Air Force Units.
Decorations: Iron Cross, II Class, Iron Cross, I Class, Knight's Cross of the House Order of the Hohenzollerns with Swords.
I was taken over into the Reichswehr in 1919. From 1924 to 1926, I was active in the Reichswehr Ministry, Berlin T1, (Operations Branch). I became a Major on 1 February 1927. On 1 Feb. 1929 I was in the Reichswehr Ministry, Berlin T2. (Organizations Branch). I became a Lt. Colonel on 1 February 1931. On 1 April 1933, I became Lt. Colonel in the Staff of the 15th Infantry Regiment Cassel. On 1 August 1933 I became the Commanding Officer of the 17th Infantry Regiment, Brunswick. I was promoted to Colonel on 1 October 1933. On 1 December 1933, I entered the Reich Air Ministry in Berlin as Chief of Staff with the School Command. I became Senior Air Corps Commander of Munich on 1 April 1935; was promoted to Brigadier General on 1 January 1936; became Commander of the 7th Air District, Brunswick, on 1 October 1936; was promoted to Major General on 1 April 1937, Luftwaffe Group 2, Brunswick; became Lt. General of Air Corps on 1 February 1938, Air Fleet 2, Brunswick and on 1 September 1939 I was Lt. General of the Air Corps, Commander of Air Fleet 2, Brunswick. I was retired on 12 January 1940.
I joined the party in the Fall of 1940; I had no office.
On 21 May 1941 I was reactivated and became Chief of the Military Mission to Iraq. I came to Aleppo on 1 June 1941. German Air Corps units evacuated Syria. In the middle of June I became Commander South Greece, Athens, simultaneously Commander Special Staff "F" Sunion. (Staff of the former Military Mission to Iraq).
In August 1942 Special Staff "F" was renamed Corps Headquarters LXVIII Army Corps and transferred to South Russia - Calmucks Steppes - and subordinated to the 1st Panzer Army. From October 1942 to January 1943 fighting in the Calmucks Steppes, protection of wing and flank of the 1st Panzer Army. Up to March 1943 withdrawal movement up to the Mius, Taganrog. In April 1943, the Staff of Corps Headquarters LXVIII was transferred to Peggio (Calabria) to be committed in Tunis. In May 1943 Corps Headquarters LXVIII Army Corps, was transferred to Greece. Then followed employment on the Peloponnesus; enemy landings were to be repelled. In October 1943 Corps Headquarters LXVIII Army Corps were transferred to Psychikon near Athens. Combatting of bands in South Greece. On 12 October 1944, Athens was evacuated. On 25 October 1944 the Staff of Corps Headquarters LXVIII Army Corps with its Operations Echelon was transferred by air to Vukovar (Yugoslavia). From 13 November 1944 until the middle of December 1944, the Staff of Corps Headquarters LXVIII Army Corps was in South Hungary in order to repel the Russian invasion across the Danube near Batina. From the middle of December 1944 to 13 April 1945 I took over Corps Headquarters XXXIV Army Corps in Syrmia. On 8 May 1945 occurred the surrender to the English in Villach (Carinthia).
Decorations: Clasps to Iron Cross, II Class and I Class, German Cross in Gold.
I married Helene, nee Boettcher on 3 July 1919.
I have three sons, 20, 18 and 16 years old. The oldest is a prisoner of war in Egypt.
I have read the above statement consisting of two pages in the German language and declare that according to my best knowledge and belief it is the full truth. I had occasion to make changes and corrections in the above statement. I have made this statement voluntarily without any promise of reward and I was subjected to no threat or force whatsoever.
I should like to hand the photostat copy of this document to your Honors to examine both the signature of the Defendant Felmy and the various initials which he has made on the margin, indicating that he has made changes in the affidavit.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: I take it, Mr. Fenstermacher, that in the course of the Prosecution's proof there will be evidence introduced as to the fact that this is the Defendant Felmy's signature, or in case...
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honor, at this time.... I beg your pardon.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Or in case of other documents that may be applicable to other defendants, there will be proof in the Prosecution's case as to the signatures that they are alleged to be.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If Your Honors please, at this time and prior hereto, we have submitted signatures and initials only for Your Honors' purposes of comparison. I am not at liberty to say whether we shall introduce more positive proof of these signatures or not. I believe I may say, however, that we do not anticipate that the initials or signatures, to which we have called Your Honors' attention, will be denied by any of the defendants. Should that be the case, we will take the proper steps at that time.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: I think it should be kept in mind that it's the Prosecution's duty to make out its case in chief.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: We will do that, Your Honor.
JUDGE CARTER: I'd like to inquire. You say you handed these up here for comparison. Now, what are we comparing them with?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Well, Your Honors have been signatures of voluntary, different affidavits.
JUDGE CARTER: Well, who says that, in this instance, the Defendant Felmy signed it. Maybe I signed it. How do we know?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Well, that may be true, Your Honor. I am not sure whether the Prosecution has to introduce positive proof of these signatures or whether we cannot wait until the defendants take the witness stand and then ask them whether these are not, in fact, their signatures.
JUDGE CARTER: In other words, you ask the defendants to testify against themselves in order to make a case against the defense.
That's my understanding.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, I believe we can make Our prima facie case without having these various signatures identified. We have shown that the defendants held certain positions during the period with which we are dealing, and certain events happened by troops under their command. We believe that makes for us a prima facie case.
JUDGE WENNERSTRUM: This Tribunal feels that the evidence should be subjected to the rules as we have understood them to be in America. I believe, as representing this Tribunal, there is the question before this Tribunal that we should exact the same type proof here that we should expect in America for it--if we were sitting in America, both as to type of proof and manner of proof.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Very Well, Your Honor. We shall take prompt steps to introduce positive proof.
JUDGE WENNERSTRUM? I am not interfering with your case. These are merely suggestions.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Very well, Your Honor.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may proceed, Mr. Fenstermacher.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Turning next to Page 4 of the English and Page 3 of the German Document Book, is Document No. NOKW875, which is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 443. This is a biographical affidavit of the Defendant Lanz, executed by him in Nurnberg on the 7th of March 1947.
"I, Karl Hubert Lanz, swear, testify and declare:
I was born on 22 May 1896 in Entringen, Oberamt Herrenberg (Wuerttemberg) as the first son of the Commissioner of Forests, Otto Lanz and his wife Berta, born Probst. I am of the RomanCatholic faith.
On 1 April 1900 my father was called to the forest service of the King of Wuerttemberg and sent to Stuttgart.
From 1903 to 1905 I visited the elementary school, from 1905 to 1914 the Humanistic Gymnasium in Cannstadt, where I passed my "Abitur" examination in May 1914.
On 20 June 1914 I entered the service as an officer candidate in the 7th Co., Wuerttemberg 125th Infantry Regiment, in Stuttgart, with which I went into the field on 8th August 1914. Heavily wounded by a grenade on 9 September 1914 at Somaisne (Verdun) lay 4 months in the hospital, finally saw service with the replacement battalion of the regiment in Stuttgart. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 4 February 1915, again went into the field beginning in May 1915 with my troop unit, which at that time was on the Eastern front before presnysz (russ. Polen) in battle position. Up to the end of June 1918, I was at the front as platoon and company commander, as well as Battalion adjutant with the 2nd battalion of the 135th Infantry Regiment. On 1 July 1918, I was sent as regimental adjutant to the Wuerttemberg regiment, which at that time was fighting at the Chemin des Dames at Laon (France). With this regiment at first Lieutenant, I saw the end of the war at the beginning of November 1918 on the Western front. In the following 3 months, I had the task of deactivating the regiment in the upper Swabian towns of Isny and Leutkirch, which task was completed on 1 March 1919.
After short employment in setting-up tasks for the border patrol in the East I became adjutant of the 25th Wuerttemberg rifle regiment in the 300,000 man Army in Stuttgart and finally likewise adjutant of the 13th Wuertemberg Infantry Regiment in Ludwigsburg in the 100,000 man Army. The following 3/4 of a year I was active as CO of a machine gun platoon in Cannstadt, and then for compassionate reasons (ill health as a result of my war wounds) served two years as staff Officer with Wehrkreis V in Stuttgart.
1924 to 125 I was ordered to tactical training with Wehrkreis V in Stuttgart and was assigned in November 1924 as platoon commander to Tuebingen (Wuerttemberg) in an Infantry Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment.
From February to October 1926 I was Infantry instructor with the officer candidate courses at the troop maneuver area of Ohrdruf in Thueringen.
On 16 October 1926 I was married in Dusseldorf to Gerty Beterams, daughter of the Economic Counsellor Emil Beterams and his wife Maria, near Ondtmann in Geldern-on-the-Niederrhein. My wife is likewise of the Roman-Catholic faith. There are two children of this marriage; In ebory Lanz, born 27 July 1927 in Stuttgart, and Annemarie Lanz born 9 November 1941 in Berlin.
From November 1926 to September 1927 I was Company Commander in the training battalion of the 13th Regiment Battalion in Schwaebisch-Gmuend. From here, I was assigned to a one year training course for assistant chief of staff in the Reich defense ministry at Berlin and in fall 1928 after promotion to Captain which took place in the meantime, (1 February 1928) taken over into the general staff. From 1928 to 1932, I was employed, in the Department No. 3 (Branch for Foreign Armies) of the Truppenamt in existence at that time. At the end of this, I went to Gumbinnen in East Prussia as company Commander of the 9th Company, 1st Infantry Regiment. On 1 August 1934, promoted to Major; at the beginning of October 1934, my recall to the General Staff of Wehrkreis No. IX in Kassel, newly set up at that time. I was there 2 years as Ib (2nd Genaral Staff Officer); at the end of two years assigned as Ia (1st General Staff Officer), during which time I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (1 March 1937). At the beginning of November 1938, my assignment to troops as CO of the 100th Mountain Jaeger Regiment, at Bad Reichenhall in Upper Bavaria took place, my present residence.
At the outbreak of war, I was recalled into the General Staff, with promotion to colonel, and made Chief of Staff of the Wehrkreis V in Stuttgart, where I remained until the beginning of February 1940.
From here, my call to the front as Chief of the General Staff of the XVIIIth Mtn Corps took place, which at that time was with the Staff at Neuwied on the Rhine. In this capacity, I took part in the campaign against France.
For the assault on the Malmaison Forme at Chemin des Dames (a key point of the combat actions at that time), I received the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross on 1 October 1940.
On 26 October 1940, I was discharged from the General Staff and put in charge of the 1st Mountain Division from Upper Bavaria, which at that time was in the area of Arras, with the temporary rank of Brigadier General, (1 November 1940). In this capacity, I took part in the campaign against Yugoslavia from Lower Drauburg through Oilli to Bihac, as well as the battles of 1941 and 1943 against the Soviet Union from Lomberg to Stalingrad and in the Caucasus. On 1 November 1943 I was promoted to Major General and decorated for the battles around Elbrus (Caucasus) with the Oak Leaf to the Knight's Cross.