Johann Pflugbeil

Who was Johann Pflugbeil?

Johann Pflugbeil was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

On June 27, 1941, the 221 Security division held the city of Bialystok. That day, the 309 Police battalion started a pogrom on the Jewish community : Jews were arrested, beaten, beards were cut, people were shot... The Jewish community chiefs went to see general Pflugbeil, and asked him to stop that pogrom. They were in his office, on their knees to implore him. A policeman of the 309th Police Battalion urinated on them; the general offered his back, to see elsewhere. After that "meeting", the pogrom became slaughter and massacre : the Jews on the market place were shoot in front on a wall, until the night; the synagogue, where 700 Jews were piled up, was set on fire with petrol and grenades. The Jews who tried to escape where shot. On June 28, general Pflugbeil asked Major Weis the cause of the fire. Weis made a false report on the causes.