Work Camp   6 L

Location: Weinberg am Sassbach

Type of work: Farm work

Man of Confidence: Unknown

Number of Men: approx. 11

Known to be present

The Murder of Snowy Troy

The following is an extract from the proceedings of a War Crimes trial held in May 1946.

In May 1942 a party of British prisoners of war were held at a small PW camp at Weinberg, the guard consisting of one gefreiter and one soldier, the accused Kotulan. Each morning at about 0600 hrs the prisoners were taken out by the guard to the neighbouring farms, where they were left to work for the day, being collected again by the guard at 2000 hrs in the evening. The tendency had arisen for the prisoners to be put to work earlier and collected later, in return for which the guard Kotulan was alleged to have received eggs and other eatables from the farmers. This however was denied by Voit (a farmer). It was also alleged that Voit and the accused were concerned in the pilfering of Red Cross parcels intended for the prisoners, but this again was denied by Voit, who stated that he had no connection with Kotulan in the distribution of these parcels, merely having provided the transport to take them to the camp.

On the day in question the prisoners were being collected as usual from the farms in the evening by the accused Kotulan. On this occasion several of the prisoners had made their own way back to the camp, not waiting to be collected. Cpl Troy had waited, however, at the farm where he worked but threatened Kotulan that he would not wait in the future if he continued to be so late in arriving. On the return to the camp, while collecting other prisoners, Troy and two other prisoners were intent on making their own way at their own speed and were only prevented from doing so by being threatened by Kotulan with his rifle.

On arrival back at the camp Kotulan found the prisoners who had made their own way waiting to be let into the dormitory. Kotulan asked them why they had not waited to be collected in the proper manner. Whereupon Troy turned round and advanced  upon Kotulan, telling him that it was none of his business and that he would talk to the gefreiter about it in the morning. One affidavit alleged that Troy approached Kotulan 'shaking his finger' at him; the other affidavit stated that Troy approached Kotulan in a natural manner and not aggressively. Kotulan levelled his rifle and shout Troy to halt, but he carried on until, seeing that the guard meant to shoot him, he made a movement as if to brush the rifle aside. Kotulan then fired, killing him instantly.

 Kotulan was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Funeral