Execution of Franz Stofel
- Nazi Guard in Bergen Belsen and Mittelbau-Dora Concentration Camps - WW2

12 March 2022

Category: Male Nazi Guards

Franz Stofel was born on 5th October, 1915, in Hamburg. He used to be a clerk and in October, 1934 he joined Reichswehr - the German Armed Forces. He then left the Reichswehr and in April 1936 he volunteered for the SS. Between 1936 and 1944 he was posted to Dachau Concentration camp. In January 1944 he moved to Mittelbau – Dora concentration camp where he served as a commander for the construction of Kleinbodungen which was Mittlebau – Dora’s satellite camp and later supervised prisoners working on V1 and V2 ballistic missiles.

It was during the evacuation of the camp ordered in April, 1945 when Franz Stofel committed his worst crimes. While 610 prisoners left Mittelbau-Dora on April 4, 1945, only 590 inmates arrived at Bergen Belsen on April 11, 1945. After the liberation of Bergen Belsen, he was captured by the British forces together with his deputy Wilhelm Dörr. He was tried at the Belsen Trials and convicted of atrocities which occurred during the death march from Mittelbau-Dora.On November 17, 1945 a tribunal sentenced Franz Stofel to death by hanging. He was 30 years old when the British executioner Albert Pierrepoint carried out the sentence on 13 December, 1945.

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