The image of Walter Pelzhausen commander of Radogoszcz prison in testimonies and memories in former prisoners

Abstract

Radogoszcz prison was a German Order Police Prison, located in Radogoszcz next to Lodz. The warden Walter Pelzhausen was born in 1891 in Arnstadt. He fought in German’s army in First World War. After war W. Pelzhausen worked in german’s police. A short time after the burst of the war W. Pelzhausen was transfeered to Litzmanstadt. He worked in Schutzpolizei from October to July 1940. His rank was “Maister of Schutzpolizei”. In July 1940 he took over administration of Radogoszcz prison. Warden W. Pelzhausen was a degenerate. He executed nine prisoners, who stolen bread from the prison’s kitchen. In 1945 Radogoszcz prison staff committed a horrific mass murder killing around 1000 prisoners. After Second World War he was captured in Frankfurt (American Zone). He was handed over to the Polish justice system, which sentenced him to death in 1947. He was executed in a prison on Sterlinga Street in 1948. During the criminal trial, the prisoners unanimously stated that he was the most brutal among the entire prison crew.