Johannes Kunze
Encyclopedia
Johannes Kunze was a German World War II
prisoner of war (POW)
held at Camp Tonkawa, Oklahoma
. He was a Gefreiter
in the Afrika Korps
. Following a trial before a kangaroo court
on November 4, 1943, he was beaten to death by fellow POWs for being a traitor. There was very strong evidence that Kunze had indeed been spying for the Americans. The unmasking of Kunze happened by accident: he had been in the habit of passing notes to the American doctor at the camp during sick call. These notes contained useful information regarding the activities of various POWs in the camp, some of whom were loyal Nazis. One day a new American doctor was on duty who did not know about Kunze's role as spy and who could not speak German. When Kunze handed over his note, the American doctor accidentally blew Kunze's cover by sending it back via another POW, who read the incriminating note and quickly realised that Kunze was a spy. News of this discovery spread quickly and soon afterwards Kunze was killed inside the camp by his fellow POWs. He is buried in the Fort Reno prisoner of war cemetery.
Five German POWs were charged with Kunze's murder:
The case was prosecuted by Leon Jaworski
, later to become famous as the special prosecutor in the Watergate case. The trial took place at Camp Gruber near Muskogee. All five defendants were found guilty, and subsequently executed by hanging
at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas
on 10 July 1945. Their executions were delayed until after the end of the war in Europe due to the fear of reprisals against Allied prisoners held by Germany. Afterwards, the bodies of the executed men were buried in Fort Leavenworth Military Prison Cemetery
.
The death of Johannes Kunze is the subject of a novel by Vince Greene, entitled "Extreme Justice" and a non-fiction work by Wilma Parnell, entitled Killing of Corporal Kunze.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prisoner of war (POW)
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
held at Camp Tonkawa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He was a Gefreiter
Gefreiter
Gefreiter is the German, Swiss and Austrian equivalent for the military rank Private . Gefreiter was the lowest rank to which an ordinary soldier could be promoted. As a military rank it has existed since at least the 16th century...
in the Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
. Following a trial before a kangaroo court
Kangaroo court
A kangaroo court is "a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted".The outcome of a trial by kangaroo court is essentially determined in advance, usually for the purpose of ensuring conviction, either by going through the motions of manipulated procedure or...
on November 4, 1943, he was beaten to death by fellow POWs for being a traitor. There was very strong evidence that Kunze had indeed been spying for the Americans. The unmasking of Kunze happened by accident: he had been in the habit of passing notes to the American doctor at the camp during sick call. These notes contained useful information regarding the activities of various POWs in the camp, some of whom were loyal Nazis. One day a new American doctor was on duty who did not know about Kunze's role as spy and who could not speak German. When Kunze handed over his note, the American doctor accidentally blew Kunze's cover by sending it back via another POW, who read the incriminating note and quickly realised that Kunze was a spy. News of this discovery spread quickly and soon afterwards Kunze was killed inside the camp by his fellow POWs. He is buried in the Fort Reno prisoner of war cemetery.
Five German POWs were charged with Kunze's murder:
- Walter Beyer
- Berthold Seidel
- Hans Demme
- Hans Schomer
- Willi Scholz
Leon Jaworski
Leonidas "Leon" Jaworski was the second Special Prosecutor during the Watergate Scandal...
, later to become famous as the special prosecutor in the Watergate case. The trial took place at Camp Gruber near Muskogee. All five defendants were found guilty, and subsequently executed by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth
United States Disciplinary Barracks
The United States Disciplinary Barracks is a military prison located on Fort Leavenworth, a United States Army post in Kansas....
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
on 10 July 1945. Their executions were delayed until after the end of the war in Europe due to the fear of reprisals against Allied prisoners held by Germany. Afterwards, the bodies of the executed men were buried in Fort Leavenworth Military Prison Cemetery
Fort Leavenworth Military Prison Cemetery
Fort Leavenworth Military Prison Cemetery is a cemetery maintained by the Fort Leavenworth Military Prison...
.
The death of Johannes Kunze is the subject of a novel by Vince Greene, entitled "Extreme Justice" and a non-fiction work by Wilma Parnell, entitled Killing of Corporal Kunze.