Trial & Follow-up
A total of two investigations were opened against Otto Goldapp, focusing on his participation in murder and "exhumation" operations during the German occupation. It was not until the second round of proceedings between 1967 and 1968 that valid evidence could be presented, which finally led to his conviction.
In 1959, an anonymous tip led to the first investigation of Otto Goldapp for his participation in "exhumation actions" and possible involvement in shootings. In his first statement in the context of the accusations, Goldapp firmly denied
that he had "been guilty of any criminal acts in Poland or elsewhere" and that he had "never made such admissions to anyone" because he had "not committed any crimes".1
Arrest warrant for Otto Hugo Goldapp
He had allegedly had nothing to do with the fighting during his time with the police battalion 301, as he had merely maintained the vehicle fleet. Goldapp suspected that charges had been brought against him in order to "get one over on him".2 In February 1960, he was provisionally arrested and transferred to the Hamburg pre-trialprison.3
In the interrogation by the Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office on 10 February 1960, Goldapp tried to make it credible that he assumed that the dead in the mass graves in the forest of Blahaǔščyna were victims of the Soviet NKVD, as in Katyn, and that the bodies were burned to prevent "epidemic risks".4
He "didn't really think anything about it," said Goldapp in his statement. He admitted that he was aware of at least three mass graves, each about four to five meters wide and 20 to 30 meters long, containing the bodies of men and women. In addition, Goldapp confessed to having known about the "Sonderkommando" that had to clear the graves, pile the corpses of several thousand people into pyres and then set them on fire. Goldapp was released from custody on an unknown date.5
Statement/interrogation protocol of Otto Goldapp dated 10 February 1960
In December 1966, investigations against Otto Goldapp were initiated again.6 From November 1967 to February 1968, Goldapp, together with Max Krahner and Otto Drews, had to stand trial before the Hamburg Regional Court for participation in the murder of 500 Polish and Soviet forced labourers from the "Sonderkommando 1005".7 Goldapp was heavily incriminated by witness statements; among others, Konrad Mütze, a member of the guard commando in the forest of Blahaǔščyna, reported Goldapp's participation in the gassing of the labour commando members in Maly Trascjanec.8
After the evidence had been taken, the prosecution considered Otto Goldapp guilty of twelve counts of joint murder. The prosecution demanded a life sentence.9 The court followed the prosecution and on 9 February 1968 found Otto Goldapp guilty of participation in shootings of prisoners in Maly Trascjanec, aiding and abetting murder in Pinsk, participation in gassings in Maly Trascjanec, participation in killings in Slonim and co-responsibility in the killing of a disabled prisoner in Smoleviche10 and sentenced him to life imprisonment.11
Responsible for content: Frank Wobig
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1 StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-001, p. 27.
2 Cf. StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-001, p. 26f.
3 Cf. StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-001, p. 17 and 213-12 0597-082, p. 3.
4 Cf. StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-001, p. 38.
5 Cf. ibid.
6 Cf. StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-021, p. 406.
7 Cf. Associated Press (AP): press release 3 SS Men guilty of killing 500 body-burners, New York 1968, February 9.
8 Cf. Kohl, Der Krieg der deutschen Wehrmacht und der Polizei 1941 - 1944: Sowjetische Überlebende berichten, S. Kpt. 32.
9 Cf. StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-021, p. 384ff.
10 Cf. LG Koblenz: Lfd-Nr. 662A, JuNSV Bd.XXVII, pp.121-122.
11 Cf. StAnw Hamburg 213-12 0597-021, p. 386.