Johannes Kunze

Wilhelm Reinhold Johannes Kunze (March 5, 1904 – November 4, 1943[1]) was a German World War II prisoner of war (POW) held at Camp Tonkawa, Oklahoma.[2][3] He was a Gefreiter in the Afrika Korps.[3] Following a trial before a kangaroo court on November 4, 1943, he was beaten to death by fellow POWs based on allegations of treason and spying for the Americans. The unmasking of Kunze happened by accident; he had been in the habit of passing notes to the American doctor at the camp during sick call. These notes contained useful information regarding the activities of various POWs in the camp, some of whom were loyal Nazis. One day a new American doctor was on duty who did not know about Kunze's role as spy and who could not speak German. When Kunze handed over his note, the American doctor accidentally blew Kunze's cover by sending it back via another POW, who read the incriminating note and quickly realised that Kunze was a spy.[2][3] News of this discovery spread quickly and soon afterwards Kunze was killed inside the camp by his fellow POWs. He is buried in the Fort Reno prisoner of war cemetery.[2]

The headstone of Willi Scholz, who was convicted and hanged for murdering Kunze.
For the German politician, see Johannes Kunze (politician).

Five German POWs were charged with Kunze's murder.[2] The case was prosecuted by Leon Jaworski, later the special prosecutor in the Watergate case.[4] The trial took place at Camp Gruber near Muskogee.[4] All five defendants were found guilty, and subsequently executed by hanging at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 10 July 1945.[4] Their executions were delayed until after the end of the war in Europe due to the fear of reprisals against Allied prisoners held by Germany.[5] Afterwards, the bodies of the executed men were buried in Fort Leavenworth Military Prison Cemetery.[6]

The death of Johannes Kunze is the subject of these nonfiction accounts: Vincent S. Green's Extreme Justice,[7] and Wilma Parnell's Killing of Corporal Kunze.[8]


Darum Notes and references
  1. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=41&GScid=98461&GRid=9194867&
  2. History of Fort Reno Archived 2007-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Johannes Kunze's memorial at Find-a-grave
  4. Curtis, Gene (2007-03-06). "Only in Oklahoma: Prosecutor had task in state". Tulsa World Centennial. Tulsa, OK. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 27 Sep 2011.
  5. WWII German POWs buried at Fort Leavenworth
  6. Fort Leavenworth Military Prison cemetery Archived April 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Green, Vincent; Extreme Justice, (1995: Pocket Books), "Nonfiction", p. [iv], ISBN 978-0-671-79906-9 .
  8. Parnell, Wilma; Killing of Corporal Kunze, (1981: L Stuart) ISBN 978-0-8184-0313-2 .
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