"Commissionings"

During the so-called commissionings, decisions were made as to whether the Jews housed in the collection camps were to be deported, put on hold or released. The head of the commissionings was Anton Brunner (Brunner II) from the "Central Office for Jewish Emigration". He and his staff deeply mistreated and humiliated the Jews during the selection process. Often decisions were made indiscriminately as to who could stay and who had to leave, and the employees enriched themselves with the victims' belongings or tore up documents. Otto Kalwo (Deggendorf, 23 August 1945), reported about Anton Brunner:

"He determines whether you or you go to misery tomorrow."

From 1939, Anton Brunner worked as an employee in the "Central Office for Jewish Emigration". He carried out at least 48 commissionings and was responsible for the deportation of a total of 48,000 people.

Ernest Weiss

The testimony of Ernst Weiss can be used as a primary source for Brunner II's role. He was questioned by the Austrian State Police as a witness on 13 August 1945. He stated that Anton Brunner had tried to use cunning and pressure to get him to sign a letter stating that his wife wanted to divorce him. However, this had been incorrect. Since his wife was "Aryan", Brunner could not have him deported.

However, Ernst Weiss' mother was deported to Theresienstadt by Brunner [1]. Ella Pörner, who had been married to an "Aryan" (mixed marriage) was also sent to Theresienstadt [2].

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Witness statement by Ernst Weiss

Lily Müller 

Einem Schreiben von Lily Müller, welches diese an die Wiener Staatspolizei richtete, ist zu entnehmen, dass Brunner II auch nicht davor zurück schreckte, Ausländerinnen und Ausländer zu verschicken. So wurde von ihm die griechische Staatsangehörige Regina Nordo nach Theresienstadt deportiert.[3] Eine weitere interessante Primärquelle ist die Anklageschrift gegen Anton Brunner der Staatsanwaltschaft Wien unter dem Aktenzeichen 15 St 12351/45. Darin wurde Brunner II vorgeworfen, er habe an der Aussiedlung von etwa 49.000 Menschen mitgewirkt und er sei für den Tod vieler Menschen verantwortlich gewesen.[4] Anton Brunner wurde am 10.05.1946 zum Tode verurteilt[5] dieses Urteil wurde am 24. 05.1946 vollstreckt.[6]

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Letter from Lily Müller

Sources:

[1] Cf. transcript of the Jew Ernst Weiss. Documentation archive of the Austrian resistance. Witness statement by Ernst Weiss of 13 August 1945, https://ausstellung.de.doew.at/dokumente/200605181349_n_42.pdf, access: 29 March 2021.

[2] Cf. report by Josef and Selma Gaulhofer. Documentation archive of the Austrian resistance. Witness statement by Ernst Weiss of 13 August 1945, https://ausstellung.de.doew.at/dokumente/200605181349_n_42.pdf, access: 29 March 2021.

[3] Cf. letter from Lily Müller. Documentation archive of the Austrian resistance. Witness statement by Ernst Weiss of 13 August 1945, URL: https://ausstellung.de.doew.at/dokumente/200605181349_n_42.pdf, access: 29 March 2021.

[4] Cf. documentation archive of the Austrian resistance. Indictment Anton Brunner, https://ausstellung.de.doew.at/dokumente/200605181352_n_44.pdf, access: 29 March 2021.

[5] Cf. court decision: LG Vienna Vg 1 g Vr 4574/45.

[6] Cf. documentation archive of the Austrian resistance. Indictment Anton Brunner, http://de.doew.braintrust.at/b140.html, access: 19 June 2021.

"Collective Camps"
"Commissionings"