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Sunday, February 4, 2024

The Trial of Ferdinand Schörner


On 1 October 1957 the trial against ex German field marshal Ferdinand Schörner began in a Münich court. The 65 year old was defended by three attorneys and was accused of one account of manslaughter and two more accounts of attempted manslaughter. This picture shows the first day of the trial on homicide, 1 October, with lawyer Dr.jur. Gustav Brugger (right).


With the war over, Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner handed himself in to the Americans on 18 May 1945, who a few weeks later passed him over to the Soviet authorities as a prisoner of war. In August 1951 he was charged with war crimes, and in February 1952 the Military Board of the Soviet Supreme Court sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment. A decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet in April 1952 reduced this sentence to 12 and a half years. A decree[by whom?] of December 1954 allowed him to be handed over to authorities of East Germany, and he was released in 1955. Returning to West Germany, he was arrested and charged with executions of German Army soldiers accused of desertion. Schörner was found guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was released on 4 August 1960 and lived in obscurity in Munich until his death in 1973. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving field marshal of the Third Reich. In the late 1960s, he gave a lengthy interview to Italian historian Mario Silvestri on his role and actions during the Austro-German victory at the Battle of Caporetto in World War I, but rarely spoke about his World War II service.



Ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner (center) with his children Anneliese (left) and Peter (far right) during beginning of the trial on homicide in Münich, West Germany, 1 October 1957.



On 1 October 1957 the trial against ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner began in a Münich court. The 65 year old was defended by three attorneys and was accused of one account of manslaughter and two more accounts of attempted manslaughter.



On 1 October 1957 the trial against ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner began in a Münich court. The 65 year old was defended by three attorneys and was accused of one account of manslaughter and two more accounts of attempted manslaughter.



On 1 October 1957 the trial against the former Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner began at Münich's court. The 65 year old was defended by three attorneys and is accused of manslaughter in one account and attempted manslaughter in two others. Pictured is district court council Dr. Bartsch (right) in conversation with the defendant.



On 1 October 1957 the trial against Schörner began in a Münich court. The 65 year old was defended by three attorneys and was accused of one account of manslaughter and two more accounts of attempted manslaughter. Pictured: The ex-field marshal shows the last few places he was in the war.



On 1 October 1957 the trial against ex German field marshal Ferdinand Schörner began in a Münich court. The 65 year old was defended by three attorneys and was accused of one account of manslaughter and two more accounts of attempted manslaughter. This picture was taken on 4 October 1957 when Schörner enters the courtroom during his trial. He is charged with ordering the execution without court-martial of two Wehrmacht officers and an NCO during World War II.



10 October 1957 - 2nd day of the Schörner-process in Münich: These two former generals Sigfrid Henrici (right) and Friedrich Schulz (left) attended as witness during the trial, when they claimed to have tried to prevent the execution of two officers - Oberst Georg Sparre and Major Dr. Helmut Jüngling - on the order of Generalfeldmarschall Schörner.



Original caption: "Former Field Marshal Ferdinand Schoerner in the courtroom, 1957. After his return from Soviet captivity, the former Field Marshal (from 1945 briefly even Generalfeldmarschall) Ferdinand Schoerner had to answer in court for his actions against the end of the war. In the last days of the war Schoerner continued to shoot scattered soldiers and (alleged) deserters. He was later sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment and lost his pension entitlement, which at that time should have been financed by the Bundeswehr."



10 October 1957. Original caption: "Judgment in Schörner - Trial 4½ years prison was the sentence in the trial of former Field Marshall Ferdinand Schörner, which was passed today in Münich. Photo Shows Schörner after the judgment leaving the dock."


Ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner (right) after the homicide trial in a Münich court, 11 October 1957. An admirer sent him new glasses.



Ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner wearing his new glasses given by an admirer after the homicide trial in a Münich court, 11 October 1957. Original caption: "Former Field Marshal Ferdinand Schoerner in the courtroom, 1957. After his return from Soviet captivity, the former Field Marshal (from 1945 briefly even Generalfeldmarschall) Ferdinand Schoerner had to answer in court for his actions against the end of the war. In the last days of the war Schoerner continued to shoot scattered soldiers and (alleged) deserters. He was later sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment and lost his pension entitlement, which at that time should have been financed by the Bundeswehr."



Ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner wearing his new glasses given by an admirer after the homicide trial in a Münich court, 11 October 1957. Original caption: "Former Field Marshal Ferdinand Schoerner in the courtroom, 1957. After his return from Soviet captivity, the former Field Marshal (from 1945 briefly even Generalfeldmarschall) Ferdinand Schoerner had to answer in court for his actions against the end of the war. In the last days of the war Schoerner continued to shoot scattered soldiers and (alleged) deserters. He was later sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment and lost his pension entitlement, which at that time should have been financed by the Bundeswehr. The picture shows him leaving the courtroom, behind him is his son."



Ex-Generalfeldmarschall Ferdinand Schörner wearing his new glasses given by an admirer after the homicide trial in a Münich court, 11 October 1957. Original caption: "Former Field Marshal Ferdinand Schoerner in the courtroom, 1957. After his return from Soviet captivity, the former Field Marshal (from 1945 briefly even Generalfeldmarschall) Ferdinand Schoerner had to answer in court for his actions against the end of the war. In the last days of the war Schoerner continued to shoot scattered soldiers and (alleged) deserters. He was later sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment and lost his pension entitlement, which at that time should have been financed by the Bundeswehr. The picture shows him leaving the courtroom after his conviction. Right next to him walks his defender Moser, left behind him his son."


Source :
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/sch%C3%B6rner.html?sortBy=relevant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Sch%C3%B6rner

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