Ernst Damzog | |
|---|---|
 Damzog in 1935 | |
| Born | 30 October 1882 |
| Died | 24 July 1945 (aged 62) |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Schutzstaffel |
| Service years | 1933–1945 |
| Rank | SS-Brigadeführer |
| Unit | Gestapo |
| Commands | Inspekteur der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD, Posen |
Ernst Damzog (30 October 1882 – 24 July 1945) was a German policeman, who was a member of theSS ofNazi Germany and served in theGestapo. He was responsible for themass murder of Poles and Jews committed in the territory ofoccupied Poland during World War II.
In September 1939, during theinvasion of Poland, SS-Standartenführer Damzog served as the commander ofEinsatzgruppe V (EG V-Allenstein), deployed with the3rd Army (Wehrmacht) inReichsgau Wartheland (Warthegau), which was carved out of the Polish lands annexed by Nazi Germany. He was responsible for themass executions of Polish citizens following the victoriousBattle of Grudziądz (Graudenz), practically eradicating the entire Jewish population ofthe town.[1] He was also in control of the execution of medical patients in order to empty state hospitals,[2] which he entrusted to his subordinate officerHerbert Lange.[3] After theannexation of western Poland, Damzog served in occupiedPoznań (Posen) as theInspekteur der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD,[4] under the command ofHigher SS and Police Leader SS-ObergruppenführerWilhelm Koppe sent to Posen on 30 September 1939.[5]
While in Poznań, Damzog was actively involved in the massexpulsions of Poles fromReichsgau Wartheland to theGeneral Government. He personally selected staff for the killing centre inChełmno extermination camp and supervised its daily operation. The first victims there came from the local villages, and the mass killings with the use ofgas vans started on 8 December 1941.[6]
The murders at Chelmno were the precursor to theFinal Solution, because the idea of systematic genocide by gassing the able-bodied was not yet fully explored. Damzog is said to have related his 'experiments' to bothWilhelm Koppe andArthur Greiser.[7]
Damzog was stationed in theReichsgau until 1945, and promoted to the rank of SS-Brigadeführer as well asGeneralmajor in 1944 for his swiftanti-Polish andanti-Jewish police actions. Damzog was transferred back to Germany ahead of the Soviet offensive. Ernst Damzog died after the war in July 1945 inHalle.