The Case of Anton Mayer A Half-Jewish Deserter from the Wehrmacht by Steven R. Welch Lecturer in Modern German History, the University of Melbourne n 23 July, 1944, the sailor Reich, Anton Mayer was a Mischling, Dr. Bernhard Losener, one of the Anton Mayer, who had been first degree - a "half-Jew." 2 He thus notorious "experts" on Jewish affairs in 0 sentenced to death for belonged to those 100,000 or more the Interior Ministry, estimated in late desertion by a naval court three days individuals who found themselves 1935 that there were then some 45,000 earlier, penned a four-page letter to uncomfortably stranded in a racial no- half-Jewish men of military age in Admiral Donitz, Commander of the man's land carved out by the Nazis to Germany.5 The existence of this German Navy. Mayer pleaded to be separate Aryans on one side from relatively substantial pool of potential given the chance to redeem himself by Volljuden (full-Jews) on the other. soldiers may well have been one of the being dispatched immediately to the factors motivating the Nazi leadership to front. His letter (see illustration 1) create a special category for half-Jews, concluded with the following passage: thus preserving them for future use as soldiers for the Fiihrer. I beg you to believe me when I say that I Mischlinge and the was always a good German; in earlier years I German Military In its eagerness to demonstrate its always suffered under the persecution which loyalty to the principles of the new Nazi afflicted us as Germans in Romania. I was Before we examine in more detail the order, the German military had already proud of my Germanness and in my work as a dismissed its "full-blooded" Jewish language teacher I transmitted German culture tragic case of Anton Mayer, first it is officers and soldiers in the course of and German values! I ask you, Herr Admiral, necessary to survey the bizarre to consider the fact that I am the only son of topography of that no-man's land 1934, well before the promulgation of my elderly parents who sacrificed everything inhabited by the Mischlinge and to the Nuremberg Laws. The initial purging for my studies. I am their sole support in their chronicle their treatment by the German of Jews from the 100,000 man army old age and my disgraceful end would also military. The category of Mischling was involved a relatively small number of mean their death! I beg you, Herr Admiral, to invented in late 1935, in the process of Jewish soldiers and officers, perhaps no allow me the chance to prove myself under the refining the stipulations of the infamous more than 70.6 In spring 1935, when most difficult circumstances! Long live our Nuremberg Laws issued in September of Hitler reinstituted compulsory military great Fiihrer! Long live Greater Germany! 1 that same year. The First Regulation to service - a blatant violation of the As was the case for thousands of the Reich Citizenship Law of 14 provisions of the Versailles Treaty - a other German soldiers sentenced to death November 1935, singled out for new conscription law came into effect. for desertion during World War II, discrimination a new group consisting of Paragraph 15 of that law stipulated that Mayer's request fell on deaf ears. On 21 individuals of "mixed Jewish blood."3 In "Aryan descent is a precondition for August, 1944 he was beheaded by general terms, Mischlinge of the first active military service". 7 A subsequent guillotine in the prison of Brandenburg- degree were persons who descended ordinance issued in late May 1935 Havel west of Berlin. This method of from two Jewish grandparents, while defined as "non-Aryan" anyone who had execution - as opposed to the normal Mischlinge of the second degree had just one Jewish parent or grandparent. At the method of death by firing squad - was one Jewish grandparent. According to a same time, the ordinance also stated that considered particularly dishonourable census taken in 1939 there were 64,000 non-Aryans could petition for acceptance and "unsoldierly" and was reserved for Mischlinge of the first degree (half- into the military, thus leaving open the cases deemed especially heinous by the Jews) and 43,000 Mischlinge of the possibility that exceptions to the harsh military leadership. In Anton Mayer's second degree (quarter-Jews) in exclusionary policy might be approved. 8 case it was apparently his racial origins Germany, including the recently annexed After the Nuremberg Laws were which disqualified him from being territories of Austria and the issued in late 1935, it became necessary executed by firing squad. In the Sudetenland.4 It is unclear how many of for the military to revise its own grotesque racist terminology of the Third the half-Jews were males of military age. definitions of non-Aryans in order to bring them in line with the legal norms cases". Soldiers or their commanders remain in the military as a way of the regime had established. As a result, could submit petitions to the Armed protecting themselves and their Jewish the revamped conscription law of June Forces Command requesting that family members. By performing bravely 1936 distinguished between Jews and individual half-Jews be permitted to on the battlefield they believed they Mischlinge. The former were remain soldiers (see illustration 2). could prove their loyalty and utility to the categorically excluded from military Hitler's secret order appears to have Nazi regime and thus pave the way for service: "A Jew cannot carry out active had little immediate impact. Some units recognition and acceptance in German military service". 9 All Mischlinge, by apparently did not hear about the order, society once the war was over. Although contrast, were required to serve in the in others commanders simply ignored it. these hopes ultimately proved German military. Mischlinge of the first In those units where it did become unfounded, they were temporarily degree, or half-Jews, were, however, known it triggered a surge of petitions as nourished by actions taken by Hitler and prohibited from being promoted to the an army communication of August, 1940 the military leadership in the course of status of non-commissioned officer. Such indicated. 12 Some of these petitions did, 1941. advancement would put them in a in fact, receive Hitler's approval and position of command over Aryans, In July 1941, just weeks after such soldiers were issued a document obviously an unacceptable situation from Operation Barbarossa had been launched which authorised them to remain in the against the Soviet Union, Hitler endorsed the racist point of view endorsed by the Wehrmacht (see illustration 3). A month German military. Quarter-Jews enjoyed a a policy which allowed half-Jews who later Army High Command (OKH) had already served in Wehrmacht and slightly greater degree of equality with complained that "again and again cases their Aryan comrades and could in had been dismissed as a result of his have come to the attention of the OKH in order of April 1940, to apply to be exceptional cases become non- which Jewish Mischlinge of the first commissioned officers. recalled to military service if they had degree (50%) or soldiers married to such won a war decoration (the Iron Cross or a Jewish Mischlinge are still in active Helmut Kruger, a half-Jew born in campaign citation). 16 Every single case military service in violation of the 1913, commented in his memoirs that had to be referred to Armed Forces order...of 20.4.40". 13 The OKH insisted Mischlinge greeted the 1936 law with Command for the Rihrer's personal that all active servicemen had to sign a relief: "Many Mischlinge of military age approval. between 18 and 25 joyfully volunteered declaration attesting to their racial status for the Labor Service or the military in (see illustration 4). What prompted such a policy change on Hitler's part? The introductory the belief that after fulfilling their 'duty It seems quite likely that from comments at the meeting at which the of honour to the German people' they autumn 1940 on many half-Jews signed proposals were discussed provide some might anticipate some additional false Aryan declarations in order to avoid mitigation [of pressure] in their being expelled from the military. Others, clues. The chair of the meeting noted professional lives and above all more unaware of their status as Jewish "that the Fiihrer has indicated that he protection for their Jewish parent". 1° Mischlinge, also signed declarations wishes to show that he is not ungrateful These hopes for better treatment in return affirming that they were of German toward Mischlinge who have fought and for service to the Nazi fatherland were, blood and stayed with their army units. bled for the Third Reich and wishes to however, sadly misplaced as the events Their true status would only come to avoid [a situation] in which after the war of the coming years were to demonstrate. light when they later sought permission front fighters (possibly with war decorations) express publicly at home During the first six months of the war to marry - and were thus required to and abroad their anger and discontent. It Jewish Mischlinge fought alongside their submit documented proof of their Aryan is also intended that 25% Mischlinge, Aryan comrades in the Blitzkrieg against descent - or for some other reason came who exhibit certain characteristics, may Poland as well as in the Sitzkrieg in the to the attention of the Nazi bureaucracy be treated after the war as Germans West.