The Holocaust Historiography Project

Copy of document 3592-PS

      CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE CHARGES, SPECIFICATIONS,
                   FINDINGS, and SENTENCE,

IN THE CASE OF THE UNITED STATES vs. ALFONS KLEIN AND OTHERS
TRIED AT WIESBADEN, GERMANY, BEFORE A MILITARY COMMISSION
APPOINTED BY THE COMMANDING GENERAL, SEVENTH UNITED STATES
ARMY, IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 1945.

Charge: Violation of International Law.

Specification: In that Alfons Klein, Adolf Wahlmann,
Heinrich Ruoff, Karl Willig, Adolf Merkle, Irmgard Huber,
and Philipp Blum, acting jointly and in pursuance of a
common intent and acting for and on behalf of the then
German Reich, did, from on or about 1 July 1944 to on or
about 1 April 1945 at Hadamar, Germany, wilfully,
deliberately, and wrongfully, aid, abet, and participate in
the killing of human beings of Polish and Russian
nationality, their exact names and number being unknown but
aggregating in excess of 400, and who were then and there
confined by the German Reich as an exercise of belligerent
control.

                     (Signature of accuser) Meade F. Griffin
                                       /t/ MEADE F. GRIFFIN,
                                               Lt.Col., Inf.
                      (Grade, organization, arm, or service)

                          AFFIDAVIT

Before me, the undersigned, authorized by law to administer
oaths in cases of this character, personally appeared the
above-named accuser this 19 day of September, 1945, and made
oath that he is a person subject to military law and that he
personally signed the foregoing charges and specifications,
and further that
he has investigated the matters set forth in specification
of the Charge and the Charge, and that the same are true in
fact, to the best of his knowledge and belief.

                               (Signature) Charles H. Taylor
                                    (Grade and organization)
                                       /t/ CHARLES H. TAYLOR
                                                 Capt., JAGD

 (Official character, as summary court, notary public, etc.)

Upon secret written ballot, two-thirds of the members
present at the time the vote was taken concurring in each
finding of guilty, as to each accused, the Commission finds
the accused:

     Alfons Klein
     Of the Specification and the Charge: Guilty.

     Adolf Wahlmann
     Of the Specification and the Charge: Guilty.

     Heinrich Ruoff
     Of the Specification and the Charge: Guilty.

     Karl Willig
     Of the Specification and the Charge: Guilty.

     Adolf Merkle
     Of the Specification and the Charge: Guilty.

     Irmgard Huber
     Of the Specification and the Charge: Guilty.

     Philipp Blum
     Of the Specification:
               Guilty, except the words “1 April 1945” and
               “400,” substituting respectively therefore
               the words “23 August 1944” and “70,” of the
               excepted words “Not Guilty,” of the
               substituted words “Guilty.”


     Of the Charge: Guilty.

     The Commission, upon secret written ballot, two-thirds
     of the members present at the time the vote was taken
     concurring, as to each accused, sentences the accused:

     Alfons Klein
     To be hanged by the neck until dead.

     Adolf Wahlmann
     To be confined at hard labor, at such place as the
     reviewing authority may direct, for the rest of his
     natural life.

     Heinrich Ruoff
     To be hanged by the neck until dead.

     Karl Willig
     To be hanged by the neck until dead.

                                                  [Page 298]

     Adolf Merkle
     To be confined at hard labor, at such place as the
     reviewing authority may direct, for thirty-five (35)
     years.

     Irmgard Huber
     To be confined at hard labor, at such place as the
     reviewing authority may direct, for the twenty-five
     (25) years.

     Philipp Blum
     To be confined at hard labor, at such place as the
     reviewing authority may direct, for the thirty (30)
     years.

     The president announced the findings and sentence.

     I certify that the foregoing three pages contain a true
     and accurate copy of the Charges and Specifications,
     the Findings as to each accused, and the Sentence as to
     each accused, in the case of United States v. Alfons
     Klein, et al.

                                       /S/ Samuel Sonenfield
                                          SAMUEL SONENFIELD,
                                              Captain, JAGD,
                                           War Crimes Branch