One of seven German POWs executed for hanging fellow German POW Werner Drechsler of U-118, in the shower room of Compound 4 at Papago Park in Phoenix AZ, on March 12, 1944. Drechsler was hanged less than six and a half hours after his arrival at the prisoner of war camp, apparently for helping Americans interrogate German POWs at another prison camp. A total of 14 German POWs were executed at Fort Leavenworth Kansas during the summer of 1945. The August 25, 1945 execution of the seven POWs was the the largest mass execution in the twentieth century in the United States. The hangings of the German POWs took place in an elevator shaft of a warehouse. Executed August 25, 1945 were: Helmut Fischer, 22 of the U-615, Fritz Franke, 21 of the U-615, Bernhard Reyak, 21 of the U-615, Guenther Kuelsen, 22 of the U-615, Otto Stengel, 26 of the U-352, Heinrich Ludwig, 25 of the U-199, and Rolf Wizuy, 23 of the U-615. They were prosecuted by Major Francis P. Walsh. The trial was considered controversial at best, and it was inconceivable that Werner Drechsler was sent to the prisoner of war camp at Papago Park where it was known that many other German U-boat men would certainly do harm to Drechsler.
One of seven German POWs executed for hanging fellow German POW Werner Drechsler of U-118, in the shower room of Compound 4 at Papago Park in Phoenix AZ, on March 12, 1944. Drechsler was hanged less than six and a half hours after his arrival at the prisoner of war camp, apparently for helping Americans interrogate German POWs at another prison camp. A total of 14 German POWs were executed at Fort Leavenworth Kansas during the summer of 1945. The August 25, 1945 execution of the seven POWs was the the largest mass execution in the twentieth century in the United States. The hangings of the German POWs took place in an elevator shaft of a warehouse. Executed August 25, 1945 were: Helmut Fischer, 22 of the U-615, Fritz Franke, 21 of the U-615, Bernhard Reyak, 21 of the U-615, Guenther Kuelsen, 22 of the U-615, Otto Stengel, 26 of the U-352, Heinrich Ludwig, 25 of the U-199, and Rolf Wizuy, 23 of the U-615. They were prosecuted by Major Francis P. Walsh. The trial was considered controversial at best, and it was inconceivable that Werner Drechsler was sent to the prisoner of war camp at Papago Park where it was known that many other German U-boat men would certainly do harm to Drechsler.
Bio by: Bill Walker
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
