Wilhelm Trapp

Major Wilhelm Trapp or Papa Trapp (Nitzow, 4 September 1889 – executed 18 December 1948, Siedlce) was a career policeman, the commander of the Reserve Police Battalion 101 formation of Nazi German Ordnungspolizei (Order Police). He was a World War I veteran – an "old Party fighter" – who joined the NSDAP in December 1932, awarded the Iron Cross First Class. Trapp served in occupied Poland during World War II subsequently leading his battalion of 500 middle-aged men on genocidal missions against the Polish Jews. He was captured after the war by the Allies and handed over to the British authorities. After investigation by the Polish Military Mission he was extradited to Poland in 1946, and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Trapp was pronounced guilty and sentenced to death by the Siedlce District Court on 6 July 1948, and executed on 18 December 1948.

Excerpts
The killing of 1,500 Jews from Józefów ghetto southeast of Warsaw on 13 July 1942 was performed mostly by the three platoons of the Second Company. Trapp gave his commanders their respective assignments before the operation. "The men were explicitly ordered to shoot anyone trying to escape. The remaining men were to round up the Jews and take them to the marketplace. Those too sick or frail to walk to the marketplace, as well as infants and anyone offering resistance or attempting to hide, were to be shot on the spot."



The bodies of the dead carpeting the forest floor at the Winiarczykowa Góra hill (about 2 km from the village, pictured) were left unburied. Watches, jewelry and money were taken. The battalion left for Biłgoraj at 9pm. Trapp later remarked to his driver: "If this Jewish business is ever avenged on earth, then have mercy on us Germans ... But orders are orders" he said.