|
For
many observers, the murder of Karl Lehmann that took place at the
Medicine Hat POW Camp during World War II is best summed up in the
outcome—four German prisoners executed in a sobering spectacle that was the
largest mass hanging in Canadian history since the Riel Rebellion in 1885.
But that is only one
significant aspect of the events at Internment Camp 132, as the
case actually involved two murders with interesting outcomes.
In a
lower-profile case, August Plaszek was beaten and then hung by his fellow
 prisoners on June 22, 1943. One of the three accused would be executed by
hanging in June 1946, his last words being, “My Fuehrer, I follow thee.” The
second murder was that of Karl Lehmann, killed on Sept. 10, 1944, the result
of which on December 1946 all four of the accused were executed by hanging.
The RCMP investigated both cases and all of the accused were tried
separately in Medicine Hat. The trials were held in civil rather than
military courts, and the executions at Lethbridge Jail were also a civil
responsibility.
|
|
 |
Heritage Community Foundation Presents
;)
