Five Brothers and a War

Nürnberg Trials—Executions

Upon hearing of his death sentence, Seyß-Inquart was fatalistic: "Death by hanging. . . well, in view of the whole situation, I never expected anything different. It's all right." He was hanged 15 days after judgment was rendered, on October 16, 1946 together with nine other Nürnberg defendants. He was 54 years old. He was the last to mount the scaffold, and his last words were, "I hope that this execution is the last act of the tragedy of the Second World War and that the lesson taken from this world war will be that peace and understanding should exist between peoples. I believe in Germany.“

Seyß-Inquart after execution, with the noose still around his neck—and his name taped to his chest.

the war

As a closing on this subject, Seyß-Inquart’s lieutenants in Holland were captured or escaped as follows: Hans Fischböck, Generalkommissar für Finanz und Wirtschaft (finance and economics): Upon the defeat of the Germans, Fischböck was aided by the secret organization, ODESSA, (meaning Organisation der ehemaligen SS Angehörigen —"The organization of former SS members”) in escaping to Argentina. He was tried in absentia, but not convicted. In 1957 he was covered by an amnesty, whereupon he returned to his native Austria. He died in 1967, without punishment. Hanns Albin Rauter, Generalkommissar für das Sicherheitswesen (security) was captured by the British, handed over to the Dutch, who tried him in a special court in Den Haag. Upon finding him guilty, he was executed by firing squad on March 24, 1949. Fritz Schmidt, Generalkommissar zur Besonderen Verwendung (special tasks). Schmidt is said to have committed suicide, though he was likely murdered on June 26, 1943. Friedrich Wimmer, Generalkommissar für Verwaltung und Justiz (administration and justice). He was a defense witness at Nürnberg. He died in Germany in 1965.

Five Brothers and a War

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