Załoga obozów jenieckich Lamsdorf w powojennych procesach sądowych
The Staff of the Lamsdorf Prisoner-of-War Camps in Postwar Trials

Summary/Abstract: The first trials of war criminals took place as early as during World War II. At that time, the first priority was to bring the perpetrators of the concentration camps to justice. The first trial concerned the staff of KL Majdanek and began on November 27, 1944. In the years that followed, other captured individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and participation in an organized system of extermination stood trial before international and national courts.The situation was entirely different when it came to soldiers and civilians who served in German prisoner-of-war camps. While Wehrmacht commanders, generals, and field marshals were largely located quickly and brought to trial, identifying specific camp commanders and their subordinates has proven to be a challenge. Importantly, every person linked to German prisoner-of-war camps who was located became a crucial part of the investigations and trials of high-ranking commanders and other figures associated with the Nazi regime. It was decided, as a matter of priority, to secure the conviction of the most important leaders, thereby abandoning investigations into, among other things, the personnel of the prisoner-of-war camps. This article analyzes the postwar legal proceedings against members of the Lamsdorf Stalag staff and highlights their role in the trials of the higher command.

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