The images below show two moments from the lives of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Karl Frank, and KL Theresienstadt Kommandant Karl Rahm.
Frank, the Sudeten born in Karlsbad who rose to become the Higher SS and Police Leader, in addition to his role as the Secretary of State for the Reichs Protektorat Bohmen und Mahren, surrendered to US forces at Pilsen on 9th May 1945. Tried during the spring of 1946, he was sentenced to death for war crimes which included his major role in the obliteration of Lidice and Ležáky, reprisals for the assassination of his colleague SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich. The image below is a private photograph taken during the final moments of his life, when he was executed using the Austro-Hungarian pole method, a controversial form of hanging that was used for his execution on 22nd May 1946, in the courtyard of Pankrác prison, Prague. Frank was later burried in an unmarked grave in Dáblice cemetary, Prague, images of which can be found within the forum.
Karl Rahm was the third and final Kommandant at Theresienstadt, and succeeded the founder Siegfried Seidl and Anton Burger. He was born in Klosterneuberg in 1907, and worked as a toolmaker in Vienna, before joining the Nazi party in the early 1930's. Following the Anschluss, he served as an officer under Ernst Kaltenbrunner as a member of the SS-Oberabschnitt Donau. In the early war years, he was attached to the Gestapo in Prague, working under Adolf Eichmann and Hans Gunther. He became the Kommandant at Theresienstadt during February 1944, and was responsible for the "beautification" of the site in preparation for the well documented Red Cross visit. During his time at Theresienstadt, he frequently beat prisoners himself, whilst also communicated freely with Jews who shared his working class background in Vienna. Along with the last of the SS staff, Rahm fleed the camp on May 5th 1945, but was caught by American forces shortly after. Later, he was executed after being extradited to Czechoslovakia in 1947. Note the look on the guard's face.
Regards,
Carl
Last edited by CARL; 11-06-2012 at 08:56 PM.
Reason: Correction of information
Thank you gents. Always a pleasure to receive such kind words from forum friends in Australia. Must be another late night on the forum for you both! Dare say I'll be here 'til the wee hours too...
Carl as usual you post some very interesting photos from moments of history
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
Pictures that tell a story...
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"In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen men fight so hard." - SS Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm Bittrich - Arnhem
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