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Erich Werth * 1911

Blosweg 1 (Hamburg-Mitte, Horn)

Verhaftet 1941
KZ Neuengamme
MS Cap Arcona
Tod 03.05.1945

Erich Werth, b. 4.11.1911 in Hamburg, imprisoned 1941, declared dead as of 5.3.1945

Blosweg 1 (Otto-Piepgras-Straße 1)

Erich Adolf Werth was born in Hamburg on 11 April 1911, the son of Anton Werth and Maria, née Fittkau. After attending secondary school he studied music (trumpet). Afterwards, he was a freelance musician and worked in army plants. He was let go early from military service because of a hernia. Finally, he joined the police Reserve Company East, from which he was released on 31 January 1941.

In January 1941, Erich Werth fell victim to an entrapment and denunciation by one of his comrades in the Reserve Company East, Paul Klob. Because of the "Report of an Incident of a Homosexual Nature," which Klob authored, Werth came under the attention of the criminal police. From the report: "While on duty … he unfortunately showed …, that he lacked soldierly bearing and talent and made no effort to acquire such … One day NCO Werth told me a story of a homosexual kind … That he showed no interest in girls filled me with a strong mistrust and I became somewhat suspicious. To test him, I told a made up story of the kind wherein occurred the expression: ‘Aren’t I a pretty peacock?’ … also, during a break on the Lübeck Gate field, [I made] the remark, I believe you are ‘warmly inclined,’ which shocked NCO Werth very much; I had to acknowledge that my suspicion was justified … I decided after long inner hesitation to put him to the test, no matter what the cost. One Sunday afternoon, … I pretended to be sleeping and noticed immediately that NCO Werth was making use of the situation; he stroked me and became insistent; when I gave confused answers to his questions, he said I should turn over once. I used this moment to grab him. NCO Werth immediately drew back and asked whether I wanted him to expose himself ... I gave Werth a 4-week probationary period to improve with the condition that he renew an old connection to a young lady, show some will and energy in performing his service, as well as to surprise his mother with only good news, and to stop trying to molest men. NCO Werth gave this promise in writing and orally with the certainty that unless he improved, he would be reported. He made these promises also to the barracks elder who was monitoring him."

The following coerced declaration by Erich Werth did not shield him from pursuit by the criminal police:

Declaration! Hamburg, 1.11.41
I hereby pledge that I shall improve myself and no longer attempt to molest other men with my unfortunate inclination (homosexual). Should there be no improvement in my behavior in this regard, I am aware that criminal complaints against my person will be made.

Signed Erich Werth, NCO, Reserve Company East. Hamburg 34, Oscar-Piepgrasstrasse 1.

On 8 February 1941, he was arrested and held in "protective custody” in the Fuhlsbüttel concentration camp until 24 February 1941. On 27 March 1941, the Hamburg District Court sentenced him on grounds of continual violations of §175 to six months’ loss of freedom. The basis of the judgment was that since 1936 he had had several same-sex contacts. After serving his sentence he was drafted into military service. It is possible that there were further sexual dealings with men because the division in March 1942, as well as the Hamburg criminal police in April and December 1944, demanded by special authorization 410 to have his criminal justice file. His subsequent fate is thus far unknown. On the request of his mother in 1947, Erich Werth was declared dead by the Hamburg District Court as of 3 May 1945.


Translator: Richard Levy
Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.

Stand: May 2019
© Bernhard Rosenkranz(†)/Ulf Bollmann

Quellen: StaH, 213-11 Staatsanwaltschaft Landgericht – Strafsachen, 6033/41; 242-1II Gefängnisverwaltung II, Ablieferungen 13 und 16; 331-1II Polizeibehörde II, Ablieferung 15 Band 1; Amtsgericht Hamburg Az. 54 II 274/47, Todeserklärung Werth; BA, Bestand RW 60, dort werden verschiedene Dokumente zum Gericht der 410. Division verwahrt, die noch nicht ausgewertet wurden. Rosenkranz/Bollmann/Lorenz, Ho­mosexuellen-Verfolgung, S. 266–267.