History of Sorts

On March 29, 1945, approximately 60 Jewish slave laborers were executed in Deutsch Schützen, a town in what is now the Austrian province of Burgenland. One of the primary suspects in this war crime was former SS Junior Squad Leader Adolf Storms.

Despite his identity being known as early as 1946—he was even listed in the German telephone book—Austrian authorities never apprehended him. Adolf Storms evaded justice for over six decades and passed away on June 28, 2010, at the age of 90, shortly before his trial was set to begin. He had been on the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s list of most-wanted Nazi war criminals.

Adolf Storms and His Role in World War II

Born in 1919, Adolf Storms served as a sergeant in the 5th SS Division “Wiking,” a unit of the Waffen SS that played a significant role in Nazi Germany’s war of aggression against the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1944. As the war drew to a close, the division retreated from Hungary through the Czech Republic and eventually into Austria.

The Atrocities of March 1945

Storms was accused of participating in the massacre of at least 57 Jewish forced laborers in Deutsch Schützen. According to reports, Storms and unidentified accomplices ordered the prisoners to hand over their valuables before forcing them to kneel by a pre-dug grave. They were then systematically shot in cold blood.

Additionally, Storms was accused of murdering another man the following day, allegedly because the victim was too weak to participate in a forced march.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

In 2009, German prosecutors launched an investigation into Storms’ involvement in the massacre. Andreas Brendel, a prosecutor in Dortmund, stated that there was strong evidence linking Storms to the crimes. Authorities had been assessing whether Storms was fit to stand trial at the time of his death.

Eyewitness testimony played a crucial role in the investigation. Several former members of the Hitler Youth, who had assisted SS guards during the forced march, provided statements that implicated Storms in the killings.

Discovery and Exposure

For decades, Adolf Storms lived quietly, working as a railway station manager. His past remained undiscovered until a student at the University of Vienna stumbled upon documents linking him to the war crimes. This discovery led to an extensive investigation by the student’s professor, Walter Manoschek.

Manoschek tracked down Storms and conducted approximately 12 hours of interviews with him. During these interviews, Storms repeatedly claimed that he did not remember the killings. When confronted with evidence of the massacre, his response was chillingly indifferent: “Well, if that is so, I suppose I am a murderer.”

A Legacy of Unanswered Justice

Adolf Storms’ case highlights the failures of post-war justice in holding Nazi war criminals accountable. Despite clear evidence and eyewitness testimonies, he lived freely for decades, escaping legal consequences. His death in 2010 meant that he never faced trial for his actions, leaving a painful chapter of history unresolved for the victims and their families.

The Deutsch Schützen massacre remains a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II and the importance of pursuing justice, no matter how much time has passed.

sources

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14623528.2017.1340866

https://www.bbc.com/news/10530176

https://www.nationalfonds.org/detail-view/1236

https://www.thetimes.com/article/ex-ss-trooper-adolf-storms-charged-over-mass-shooting-of-jews-6rmbp79fwds

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Storms

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