A convicted Nazi war criminal escaped today from a maximum security prison where he was being held and officials said the disappearance was “a complete mystery. “
Hans Walter Zech-Nenntwich, 47, was convicted Monday of helping to murder 5,200 Jews in the Nazi-occupied Pinsk Ghetto in Russia, He was sentenced to a four-year prison term and was in Jail awaiting the result of an appeal by the prosecution for a stiffer sentence. The prosecution had demanded a life sentence.
The officials said that the former SS cavalry officer broke out of the Jail some time during the night and that they had no details of the escape. A blanket dummy was found on his bed;
He had led one of the cavalry squads in carrying out orders from Gestapo chief Hein-rich Himmler to find and kill all Jews in the area. He was found innocent of personal participation in the murders and convicted of ordering his men to kill the Jews. He was tried with four other former cavalry men. Three received terms of up to five years and one was acquitted.
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