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Eduard Wagner (1894-1944)

Last modified: 30 March 2009
Daniel Bovy

March 2009

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Daniel Bovy, Wagner (1894-1944), Eduard , Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence, [online], published on 19 March 2009, accessed 5 February 2012, URL : http://www.massviolence.org/Wagner-1894-1944-Eduard, ISSN 1961-9898

On March 26, 1941, the general quartermaster of the armed forces Wagner signed an agreement (promulgated as an order by Keitel) leaving full autonomy to the SS in order to maintain security behind the front lines in the occupied territories. While he was at it, Keitel signed an order restricting the jurisdiction of the martial courts judging the means used by the executors of the Einsatzgruppen. Wagner was not only quartermaster; he was also a go-between handling for the Wehrmacht and for the Einsatzgruppen in action in the occupied territories in USSR. He was involved in the “Hunger Plan” settled up by Herbert Backe. During the siege of Leningrad, a letter addressed to his wife, dated September 9, 1941, clearly showed the chosen option at that time: to let the population starve. He participated in the plot against Hitler that was perpetrated on July 20, 1944. Hearing that it failed, Wagner committed suicide on July 23, 1944.

KLEE, E., 2005, Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Wer war was vor und nach 1945? Frankfurt am Main: Fischer.
Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence® - ISSN 1961-9898