Extradition to Poland

I would be most interested in learning how Hans Biebow, the chief of German Nazi administration of the Łódź Ghetto in occupied Poland, was arrested and where he was imprisoned before extradition to Poland. “Chełmno and the Holocaust: The History of Hitler's First Death Camp” author Patrick Montague writes Biebow was arrested in his home in Bremen on 17th of May 1945. (p 225)

In "The Holocaust: An Encyclopedia and Document Collection" (2017), author Michael Dickermann, p 80: As the war ended, Biebow went into hiding, only to be recognized by a survivor and arrested." No source provided. And this is the interesting thing: This information has been published so many times previously, but there is never a source to this information.

Dr. Jacek Pietrzak from the University of Łódź writes in his article about Biebow: "Hans Biebow - Portret oprawcy" (Portret of an executioner), (2006, p 200): "After leaving Dresden, Biebow probably went to his hometown of Bremen. When the British army occupied northern Germany, he was sent to the internment camp (No. 2 CIC) in Sandbostel near Hamburg (formerly Stalag XB). Towards the end of October 1945, Biebow was identified during search for Nazi war criminals in the camps and placed in the British prison in Wilhelmshaven. A special investigation team for the prosecution of war crimes led by Colonel Thomas Tilling, began collecting materials regarding the crimes committed in the Lodz ghetto”.
Again, there is no source to this information. I have been in contact with the archives of Sandbostel and there is no any documents concerning Biebow.

The Polish prosecutor's office became interested in Biebow's activities in connection with the investigation against the official of Gettoverwaltung Rudolf Kramp. On October 24th, the prosecutor of the Special Criminal Court in Łódź submitted a request to the Ministry of Justice for extradition of Biebow. On November 8th the ministry instructed the prosecutor's office to conduct an investigation. On the 30th of January 1946, after collecting the evidence from the prosecutor's office, the Ministry of Justice forwarded the request to extradite Biebow to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In April, the application was received by the Polish Military Mission Research of German War Crimes in Bad Oyenhausen (British zone) led by colonel Henryk Downar-Zapolski and the Polish delegate to the United Nations Commission for the United Nations War Crimes Commission (UNWCC) in London, judge Mieczyslaw Szerer. The British authorities were asked to extradite Biebow. Both sources derive from Instytut Pamięci Narodowej - Łódź.

My questions are as follows: If Biebow was arrested on one of his ventures out - how and where did this take place? Or was he arrested at his home in Bremen? And if the survivor recognized him; is there an identification of this witness? What authority is responsible for the arrest? Where he was imprisoned before extradition to Poland? I understand that probably the best place to begin is The National Archives Kew, but any help will be appreciated.
Best regards,
Marek.

Welcome Nabucco

Can confirm the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division command 30th Corps were responsible for Stadtkreis Bremen on Victory in Europe Day 8 May 1945, on the 17 May 45 and the area was handed over to the 29th Infantry Division United States Army, so they would have been responsible for the arrest from his home

Best of luck with your research

Marek

Welcome.

My good friend Steve is the expert on matters relating to the British Army presence in the Cuxhaven peninsular including Bremen

However about eight years ago with the assistance of other members of this site I carried out an investigation into the British/Canadian presence in Wilhelmshaven. I have no details of any military jail run by them in Wilhelmshaven stadt proper but the War Diaries of the Canadian 3rd Battalion Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa do show that whilst the majority of the Battalion were employed in the town they were tasked to provide a detached Company to form the Guard Force to a small isolated Military Jail in the Delmenhorst area where members of the Waffen SS, Gestapo and other German criminals were held pending formal proceedings. I regret I did not record the exact location.

One other possible source of information, the Sikorski Institute and Museum in West London. They were most helpful when I was investigating the very sad post war history of the Polish Armoured Division and Polish Airborne Brigade.

Good luck with your project.

Thank You very much for Your help! All small pieces are very important for me.
Like this: in Biebows villa "Zehnlinden" - still existing in Bremen - just after the war it was living an american consul... trying now to get in touch with 29th Infantry Divisions archives.
Thanks again,
best regards, Marek

Finding folks is not my normal research however have found the following in my files that may help:

1. The War Diary for 51st (Highland) Infantry Division who was responsible for Sandbostel Camp, reference as follows “22 Oct 45 Release certificate for persons released from Internment Camps”, do not have this just the reference details if you wish to visit the Public Records Office at Kew, send me a private message if this is required.

2. Have found the “prison” in Wilhelmshaven, from 10 Sep 45, 9 Disbandment Control Unit were located in the Infantry Barracks, off Freiligrathstrasse in Tonndeich, today several schools in the original blocks, all very clear on Google Earth, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (Canadian Army Occupation Force) command 30th (British) Corps District were responsible, 31st (British) Anti-Aircraft Brigade Royal Artillery for local administration, gained this information from their War Dairies, the DCU was renamed 1 Canadian ARIT (meaning unknown) and 2/34 Battery of 2nd/14th Canadian Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery were responsible for the security, this DCU is only recorded to 29 Nov 45

Correction...the DCU was replaced with 1st Canadian Army Refugee Interrogation Team

Whilst at KEW (National Archive\PRO) try these records: Army Records Centre (Polish Section) WO 315/6
1943-1948 Organisation and establishment of Polish Land Forces (PLF) and Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) in UK Italy, BAOR, Germany, France and Middle East (ME)