Spacil Josef

Publié le 18 avril 2013 par Roger Cousin

Josef Spacil, (3. Januar 1907 in München ; 13. Februar 1967 ebenda) war deutscher SS-Standartenführer, Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD Niederlande, SS-Wirtschafter beim Höheren SS- und Polizeiführer Russland-Süd und Leiter der Amtsgruppe II (Organisation, Verwaltung und Recht) des Reichssicherheitshauptamtes zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus.

Josef Spacil

Josef Spacil erlernte den Beruf eines Lohnbuchhalters und heiratete die am 23. Dezember 1907 in Mannheim geborene Marianne Behrens. Mitglied der SS (SS-Nr. 6.797) wurde Spacil am 10. April 1931. Der NSDAP (Mitgliedsnr. 1.200.941) trat er 1932 bei. Am 1. Oktober 1932 wurde Spacil der Offiziersrang eines SS-Untersturmführers verliehen. Die Beförderung zum SS-Obersturmführer erfolgte am 23. August 1933, die zum Hauptsturmführer am 9. November 1933 und die zum SS-Sturmbannführer am 9. November 1934.

Am 13. September 1936 erhielt Spacil den Rang eines Obersturmbannführers. In der allgemeinen SS stieg Spacil am 3. Dezember 1938 bis zum SS-Standartenführer auf. Spacil war schon ab 1931 in der SS-Verwaltung tätig. Ab 1934 wurde Spacil im Stab des Reichsführers-SS verwendet. Ein Jahr später wechselte er ins SS-Hauptamt. Im Stab des SS-Oberabschnittes Donau wurde er als SS-Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungsführer ab 1938 eingesetzt, bevor er vom 12. Dezember 1939 bis 28. Februar 1940 der 1. SS-Totenkopf-Reiterstandarte zugewiesen wurde. Weitere Stationen seiner dienstlichen Laufbahn waren vom 1. bis 31. März 1940 seine Tätigkeit als Stabsführer des Chefs des SS-Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungshauptamtes (WVHA), SS-Obergruppenführer Oswald Pohl, und eine Verwendung in der SS-Verwaltungsschule Dachau vom 1. April bis 21. Juni 1940.

Nach dem Westfeldzug wurde Spacil für ein Dreivierteljahr vom 22. Juni 1940 bis 12. März 1941 als Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD in den besetzten Niederlanden eingesetzt und kehrte am 1. Mai 1941 wieder in den Stab des Reichsführers-SS zurück, wo er bis zum 1. August 1941 verblieb. Nach Beginn des Deutsch-Sowjetischen Krieges wurde Spacil beim Höheren SS- und Polizeiführer (HSSPF) Russland-Nord vom 1. August 1941 bis 15. Oktober 1941 in Riga eingesetzt. Als SS-Wirtschafter kam er am 26. Oktober 1941 zum HSSPF Russland-Süd und wechselte am 21. Juni 1942 ins WVHA, bis er am 1. August 1942 wieder als SS-Wirtschafter zum HSSPF Russland-Süd zurückkehrte.

Ab dem 1. März 1944 übernahm Spacil als letzter Chef die Amtsgruppe II (Organisation, Verwaltung und Recht) des Reichssicherheitshauptamtes. Am 20. April 1944 erfolgte seine Beförderung zum SS-Standartenführer der Waffen-SS. Für den Nürnberger Prozess gegen die Hauptkriegsverbrecher wurde er am 9. November 1945 zu den Begriffen „Wiederbesiedelung“ und „Sonderbehandlung“ im Fall des ehemaligen Chefs der Sicherheitspolizei Ernst Kaltenbrunner vernommen. Nach Kriegsende war Spacil als kaufmännischer Angestellter in München beschäftigt. Ein Ermittlungsverfahren der Staatsanwaltschaft Hamburg gegen ihn wurde am 8. Juni 1967 eingestellt, da die Ermittlungen keinen genügenden Anlass zur Erhebung einer Anklage erbrachten.

Josef Spacil (born 3 January 1907 in Munich; died 13 February 1967) was a Nazi SS-Standartenführer (Colonel), a Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD Niederlande (Commander of the Security Police and Security Service Netherlands), an SS-Wirtschafter beim Höheren SS- und Polizeiführer Russland-Süd (SS economist at the Higher SS and Police Leader office for southern Russia) and the Chef der Amtsgruppe II (Chief of Section II) in RSHA. In 1945 he was involved with the disposal of Nazi gold in the Bavarian Alps. According to the American authors Kenneth Alford and Theodore Savas SS Standartenführer Josef Spacil was promoted to SS Oberführer on 20 April 1945 but there is no independent confirmation of this.

Josef Spacil was born in Munich on 3 January 1907 to a family of Slav heritage (Spáčil is a colourful and distinctly Czech surname meaning 'sleeper'). He was raised in Bavaria by his mother and a stepfather surnamed "Aue". In his youth Spacil trained to become a professional wages accountant. Spacil joined the NSDAP before 1933 and was member number 1,200,941. He joined the SS on 10 April 1931 (membership number # 6797) and on 1 October 1932 he was awarded the officer rank of SS Untersturmführer. The promotion to SS Obersturmführer took place on 23 August 1933, to SS Hauptsturmführer (captain) on 9 November 1933 and SS Sturmbannführer on 9 November 1934.

From 1934 SS Sturmbannführer Josef Spacil was used on the staff of the Reichsführer-SS. A year later he transferred to the SS Main Office (SS-Hauptamt). On the staff of the SS-Danube office (Oberabschnittes Donau), he was an SS-Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungsführer or economic and administrative leader used in 1938. Between 12 December 1939 and 28 February 1940 he was assigned to the 1. SS-Totenkopf-Reiterstandarte (the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf cavalry regiment). On 23 December 1937 he married the Mannheim-born Marianne Behrens. Over 1943 to 1945 he is alleged to have maintained a mistress named Gretl Biesecker.

From 31 March 1940 his duties were as a staff officer of the Chief of the SS-Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungshauptamtes (WVHA) or SS Economic and Administration Main Office under SS Obergruppenführer Oswald Pohl. He also served in the SS-Verwaltungsschule or SS Administration School at Dachau between 1 April to 21 June 1940. After the Western campaign Spacil served for nine months between 22 June 1940 to 12 March 1941 as a Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD or Commander of the Security Police and SD in the occupied Netherlands. On 1 May 1941 he returned to the staff of the Reichsführer-SS where he remained until 1 August 1941. At some point during the war Spacil was also awarded the Kriegsverdienstkreuz (War Merit Cross) 1.Klasse mit Schwertern (First Class with Swords). The award had two variants : mit Schwertern was given only to soldiers for exceptional service in battle above and beyond the call of duty (but not worthy of an Iron Cross which was more a bravery award).

After the start of the war against the USSR Spacil was attached to the Höheren SS- und Polizeiführer (HSSPF) Russland-Nord or Higher SS and Police Leader for northern Russia in Riga, Latvia, until 15 October 1941. As an economist he was transferred on 26 October 1941 to the parallel off for southern Russia. From 1 March 1944 Spacil took over as the last Chef die Amtsgruppe II (Organisation, Verwaltung und Recht) des Reichssicherheitshauptamtes or Chief of Section II (organization, administration and law) of the Reich Main Security Office. On 20 April 1944 was promoted to SS Standartenführer (Colonel) and in January 1945 he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Silber (German Cross in silver) for distinguished service to the state. "Spacil's RSHA Bureau II had administered the assets everyone knew had been stolen from those shipped off to slave labor and death camps. Spacil had issued a flurry of decrees aimed at extricating wealth from overrun cities and territories in the East."

As the affective heads of accounts inside RSHA Spacil was involved in or aware of Operation Bernhard, although to what degree is still disputed. After the war SS Gruppenführer Dr. Otto Ohlendorf (1907–1951, head of the interior division of SD) alleged that Spacil “...spent considerable effort placing forged British banknotes into circulation for the purchase of black market items in southern Europe.” Under instructions from his senior officer SS Obergruppenführer Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Spacil entered the new Reichsbank building in Berlin on 22 April 1945 "removing at gunpoint jewels, securities and the last remaining foreign exchange assets held in the vault, valued altogether at 23 million gold marks." The foreign currency was later valued at approximately US$9,131,000. SS Standartenführer Spacil and a small RSHA staff (and their immediate families) travelled to Salzburg by aeroplane whilst the Reichsbank loot was driven south. Spacil ensured that his wife got away safely from Berlin to Bad Ischl and his personal secretary (and mistress) got away to Munich.

On 4 May 1945 Spacil met with several leading SS officers, Nazi party functionaries and Gustav Adolf Scheel, the Gauleiter of Salzburg. He was informed of the Russian army occupation of Vienna and the approach of US soldiers in nearby Berchtesgaden. The following day Spacil met up with SS Hauptsturmführer Franz Konrad at the village of Mittensill near Taxenbach and gave him a substantial sum of Reichsbank currency. Some of the cash was apparently distributed loosely to senior Gestapo and SS officers in the vicinity to pay German soldiers their wages. In view of the rapidly advancing US soldiers Spacil was obliged to discreetly hide the loot. He gave orders and supervised the burial of much of treasure along the road between Taxenbach and Rauris in the Bavarian Alps. On 7 May Spacil encountered SS Brigadeführer Erich Naumann (a member of the SD and a former commanding officer of Einstazgruppe B) and together they drove to Radstadt to meet SS Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny. Spacil arranged to deliver some currency and other ‘liquid assets’ to help Skorzeny pay his men. On 8 May Spacil drove to Fishhorn castle near Zell am See and met up with SS Hauptsturmführer Franz Konrad for the last time.

On 8 May 1945 Spacil changed into an ordinary Wehrmacht uniform and joined a group of retreating soldiers of the 352 Volksgrenadier Division (352nd Infantry Division (Germany) surrendering to US troops. Spacil gave his name and rank as "Sergeant Aue". However his real identity was soon revealed and after interrogation he was persuaded to show American Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) officers the location of the buried treasure. Following their interrogation the CIC described Spacil as "a fanatical Nazi and suspected the former SS officer of having secreted some of the cash to another location but were unable to prove anything. On 9 November 1945 Spacil formally testified against his former boss Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei und Waffen-SS Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Chief of the Security Police. This testimony was later used at the Nuremberg trials.

After the war Spacil was employed as a clerk in Munich. An investigation of the prosecution against him in Hamburg on 8 June 1967 (after his death) was terminated since the investigation revealed no sufficient reason to bring an indictment. According to the American authors Kenneth Alford and Theodore Savas SS Oberführer Josef Spacil "established a chain of supermarkets" but there is no independent confirmation of this.

Summary of SS career

SS number: 6797
Nazi Party Number: 1,200,941
Primary Position: SS Standartenführer und Chef der Amtsgruppe II (Chief of Section II) in RSHA
SS-Positions: Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD Niederlande (Commander of the Security Police and Security Service Netherlands, 1940–41), an SS-Wirtschafter beim Höheren SS- und Polizeiführer Russland-Süd (SS economist at the Higher SS and Police Leader office for southern Russia, 1941–44)

Dates of Rank