§ 47. Mr. Prittasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason the majority of the higher officials of the present Hamburg police force are persons falling under either CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation category; what is the present policy for the elimination of such persons from office; and why their presence is allowed.
§ Mr. J. HyndI cannot accept the statement that the majority of the higher officials of the Hamburg police force are persons falling within either the compulsory arrest or the compulsory investigation categories. Close inquiries have been made, but there is no evidence of any person within the compulsory arrest category being employed in the Hamburg police force. A number of members of the police do fall within the compulsory investigation category for reasons other than membership of the Nazi Party, and their cases are being investigated as expeditiously as possible by the Security Authorities. The policy is to arrest immediately all falling within the compulsory arrest category, and I am satisfied that this policy is being carried out.
§ Mr. PrittCan the Minister tell us why the reports mentioned in subsequent Questions, and Questions put down for subsequent dates, contain so many detailed statements about persons who fall within those categories?
§ Mr. HyndI am afraid that I cannot say why that information is in those subsequent Questions. They will be dealt with as they come along.
§ Mr. Prittasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, for what reason the Military Government in Hamburg is employing Lieut.-Colonel Wömper, formerly a Nazi Party member and Major of the Orpo and an S.S. Obersturmbannführer, in command of Group East, Hamburg; and if, as this man falls within the category of CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation, he will give directions for his immediate replacement from among the available anti-Nazi Germans.
§ Mr. J. HyndWomper is no longer employed by Military Government, Hamburg. He was dismissed on 12th November as a borderline case. I am advised that he was neither a Nazi Party member and Major of the Orpo, nor an S.S. Obersturmbannführer, neither was he in the CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation categories.
§ Mr. PrittCan the Minister tell me whether this man was dismissed after my Question was put down, and why was he dismissed?
§ Mr. HyndHe was dismissed on 12th November as a borderline case. The position is that those who come within the compulsory arrest category are immediately arrested; certain cases of denunciation and otherwise are regarded as cases of investigation, and this was regarded as a borderline case.
§ Mr. Prittasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason the Military Government in Hamburg is employing Lieut.-Colonel Eckmann, formerly a Nazi Party member, an S.S. Obersturmbannführer, Chief of Staff of the Hoehere S.S. and Polizeiftührer Nordsee, who was personally promoted to high rank by Himmler, in the capacity of Chief of Staff of the Schutzpolizei and second in command of the Hamburg Police Force; and if, as this individual falls within the category of CI compulsory arrest or CI 1075 compulsory investigation, he will direct his immediate replacement from among the available anti-Nazi Germans.
§ Mr. J. HyndEckmann is no longer employed by Military Government, Hamburg. He was dismissed on 12th November as a borderline case. I am advised that he was neither an S.S. Obersturmbannführer, nor a Chief of Staff of the Hoehere S.S. nor a Polizeiführer Nordsee; and he was not second in command of the Hamburg Police Force before our occupation; he could therefore not have been promoted to these positions by Himmler. He did not fall either within the CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation categories.
§ Mr. PrittDoes not the Minister think that if I continue to put down Questions, and he continues to co-operate in this way, the police force will be a much better organisation?