Baltic Germans
Interview of Dr. Giovanni de Martis with Dr. Matthias Schroeder, the author of the new book "Deutschbaltische SS-Fuehrer und Andrej Vlasov 1942-1945. Erhard Kroeger, Friedrich Buchardt und die 'Russische Befreiungsarmee' 1942-1945", published by Schoeningh Verlag Paderborn, 2001.
De Martis: In your work  "Baltic-German SS-Officers and General Andrej Vlasov 1942-1945" - Erhard Kroeger, Friedrich Buchardt and the Russian Liberation Army", you have investigated two SS-Officers who in the previous years were commanders of Einsatzgruppen or Einsatzkommando in Russia. What kind of men Kroeger and Buchardt have been?
Schroeder: Both were Members of a young generation, born 1905-1910, and were interested in nationalsocialist political ideas since their time at university in the 1920ies. They studied Law, were highly intellectual and interested in a political career. As Baltic-German living in Latvia they were influenced by Antikommunism. Kroeger and Buchardt wanted to combine political and "practical" work. The radical SS gave them the Chance to be "political soldiers" and to fight a "crusade" against russian bolschewism".		Matthias Schroeder, Deutschbaltische SS-Fuehrer und Andrej Vlasov 1942-1945. Erhard Kroeger, Friedrich Buchardt und die "Russische Befreiungsarmee" 1942-1945, Schoeningh Verlag Paderborn 2001, ISBN 3-506-77520-0, 256 pages / 10 pictures, Price 30,60 Euro Information & Order: www.schoeningh.de
In your studies we can read that the two SS-Officiers after 1945 have worked as informal "Eastern Specialists" for american security services like the CIA. Is this the reason why Kroeger was put on trial only in 1969 and Buchardt never?
Unfortunately not all files are published and it is still not possible to analyse the full cooperation between angloamerican Intelligence Services and nationalsocialist war criminals after 1945. Buchardt worked for a british intelligence service untill 1947. A report of the american CIC from 1950 tells that Buchardt worked for the british security service "thereby escaping punishment for his crimes"!  Buchardt changed to work for an US Intelligence Service after 1947. The same report emphasizes that Buchardt is under protecting power of US Intelligence Service. The reporting agent is afraid of german justice investigating against Buchardt! It seems possible that Buchardt was never put on trial because of his work for angloamerican Intelligence Services. Erhard Kroeger lived incognito in Bavaria untill 1954 and than in Tuebingen. 1962 Kroeger escaped to Bologna (Italy) because German justice wanted to arrest him. Three Years Kroeger lived in Bologna but the Italian Court refused handing over Kroeger to Germany. 1965 Kroeger was arrested in Switzerland and put on trial.
From January 1943 to March 1944 Buchardt served as commander of Einsatzkommando 9.  Did You find evidence of Buchardts involvment in the "final solution" in Russia?
In a letter of 1969 Buchardt wrote that he had known that a political career in the SS would not be possible without having served at the "front". He had accepted the physical elimination of jews and political enemies as part of the nationalsocialist Idea. 1941 Buchardt was member of the Einsatzkommando 7c "Vorkommando Moskau" (Frontcommando Moskau). He was liaison officer between Arthur Nebe and Franz Alfred Six and worked in the SD-Headquarter. That's why he must have heard about liquidations of jews. From January 1942 untill March 1943 Buchardt was Chief of SD in Lodz when the liquidation of the Ghetto happened. From February/March 1943 untill the beginning of 1944 Buchardt was commander of Einsatzkommando 9 and part of Einsatzgruppe B in Vitebsk. His official order mentioned his responsibility for "Advicement of commanders at Kollektivmassnahmen". You can find much more incidents and detailled information in the biographical chapter in my book.
Why you have appointed your interest on the history of Andrej Vlasov and his "Russian Liberation Army", recruited by the SS among russian war prisoners?
There is much information about the interest of the Wehrmacht in using volunteers like General Vlasov in the army but there was nearly no evidence of the existance of a baltic german group of SS-Officers who wanted to use Vlasov and a "Russian Liberation Army" against Stalin. There was a political debate in the SS about Eastern Politics and one party of this discussion was a small group of Baltic-Germans around Erhard Kroeger and Friedrich Buchardt. 1944/45 Kroeger worked in the SS-Hauptamt and Buchardt in the Reichssicherheitshauptamt, both had central positions. So the SS was not a political monolith. That's new and it was interesting to analyse this baltic-german concept of Eastern Policy.
Do you have in progress another work or historical project?
I do research for two biographical studies about Gunter d'Alquen, Chief of propaganda of the SS, and about General Ernst Koestring, General of the Volunteers in the Wehrmacht. Unfortunately I don't have a position at University or an Institute. I work as freelancer. It is not very easy to find a job at University in Germany. That makes the financiation of my work very complicated.
Biography of Dr. Matthias Schroeder
1969   Born in Oberhausen (West Germany)       1989-1999   Studies of Contemporary History, Eastern European History and communication studies at the universities fo Bochum and Muenster       2000   Phil. Dissertation in Contemporary History       2001   Publication of "Deutschbaltische SS-Fuehrer und Andrej Vlasov 1942-1945. Erhard Kroeger, Friedrich Buchardt und die 'Russische Befreiungsarmee' 1942-1945"       2002   Essay about "German Nationalsocialist Party in Lettland 1933-1939", published in Garleff, Michael: Deutschbalten, Weimer Republik und Drittes Reich"       2002   Essay about "An unknown manuscript of Friedrich Buchardt - German policiy in Russia" published in Garleff, Michael: Deutschbalten, Weimer Republik und Drittes Reich"