MARTYRED ALSACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1943, Page 4

MARTYRED ALSACE

EXECUTIONS AND HEAVY SENTENCES. Within a single week the German authorities in Alsace executed four Alsatians for “treason against the Reich.” The youngest was aged 20, the eldest 40. Two were from Colmar, the others from Regisheim and Winzenheim. The Colmar Special Court, on June 5, heard cases of several “radio criminals.” The German-controlled press commented: “Listening to foreign radio transmissions was especially deserving of blame in Alsace, for it is particularly in Alsace that the enemy seeks to spread rumours and lying fables, thus disturbing order. Many bitter hours would have been spared if irresponsible elements had not listened to enemy transmissions and thus provoked incidents.” Punishment meted out for listening to the foreign broadcasts was severe in the extreme. Louis Meyer and his wife were sentenced to three years and one year respectively for listening to a foreign broadcast. Two men got 21 months and 18 months. A mother and son of 17 were given long terms for the same offence. Death sentences are almost daily occurrences in Alsace, where, be it noted, German propaganda in peace time has always. maintained the inhabitants were of German origin and pro-Ger-man. Three death sentences were also passed at Strasbourg by the “People’s Court for Greater Germany.” Johan Burgy, aged 19, was alleged to have “undermined the Reich’s prestige” and drawn vulgar portraits of Nazi leaders on walls. “He also added to some of the drawings lying enemy slogans got from foreign broadcasts.” George GossKunz was accused of entering into relations with Communists in Alsace and in France. Robert Kuhn answered charges of having procured certain plans and sketches for a foreign power. An accomplice, Flora Trofzer, 42, was alleged to have taken certain objects from munition works and distributed them among resistance groups.