Evidence Against Stangl Presented in Brazil by Polish Envoy

A special representative sent to Brazil by Poland — one of the three countries seeking the extradition of Nazi death camp commandant Franz Stangl to face war crimes charges — submitted evidence of Stangl’s Nazi activities at a press conference here yesterday. Stangl, who served as commandant of two major death camps, Treblinka and Sobibor in occupied Poland, was arrested March2 in Sao Paulo on request of the Austrian Government. West Germany is the third country which has asked for his extradition.

Franciszek Rafalowski, the special representative of the Polish public prosecutor, showed at the news conference a document allegedly signed by Stangl dealing with shipment of 52 boxcars of clothing collected from the Treblinka victims. He said he also had a letter from a German commander which described Stangl as “the best of all camp commanders.” Stangl has been accused of complicity in the wartime camp killings of more than 70,000 Jews.

A special messenger left Rio yesterday to deliver West German and Polish documents on Stangl’s wartime activities to the Brazilian Supreme Court in Brasilia. The Austrian petition has been processed. The Supreme Court must decide by May 2 whether Stangl is to be extradited and, if he is, to which country. Justice Department sources were quoted as saying that Austria’s request would have precedence for two reasons. It was the first to be received and Stangl has Austrian citizenship. Austria’s charges date back to 1947 and are believed to be the earliest recorded against him.

All three countries have agreed to abide by Brazilian law which forbids capital punishment or jail sentences longer than 30 years. The law also bars extradition of prisoners to countries refusing to accept Brazilian law in such cases. The 59-year-old Nazi is being kept under maximum security in a police station in Brasilia.