Heinrich Berutz

Heinrich Berütz (behind Jürgen Stroop and Soldier with MP 40 gun

Heinrich Berütz (12 August 1910 – 1985?) was a German-Polish Wehrmacht soldier, with rank of Gefreiter in years 1937–1942 and later a soldier in the SS with the rank of Scharführer, in 1942-1944, in Warsaw and Auschwitz. He was accused of abusing Jewish and Polish civilians in Warsaw. The accusations have never been confirmed.^[1]

Early life

Berütz was born in Ochelhermsdorf in west Prussia. His parents emigrated from Poland. He grew up with Polish traditions speaking the Polish Language.

At age four his father Siegfried, (then major of Ochelhermsdorf) sered as a field medic in World War I voluntarily. From 1928 to 1934 Berütz learned medicine from his father. In 1935 Berütz Joined NSDAP ^[2]

Army and war

in 1937 Berütz joined the German Wehrmacht, thanks to his medical education, initially serving as a field medic. Berütz first fought in 1940, in Battle of the Netherlands. He was awarded an Iron cross and promoted to Gefreiter. When the Allied line of defense in Benelux was broken, Berütz take part in the Occupation of Paris. In 1942 Berütz's division was dissolved and he joined the SS and transferred to occupied Warsaw^[3]

General government

In Warsaw, Heinrich Berütz achieved the rank of Scharführer. Together with his SS group, he took part in the deportation of Jews to Auschwitz. During this period Berütz tried to hide his Polish roots. Berütz experienced mental breakdown because of the cruelty of his own soldiers towards Polish citizens.

References