Nuremberg Remembered Biography: Otto Ohlendorf

Otto Ohlendorf was a principal Nazi official in the campaign on the Eastern Front and in the economic ministries of the government in Berlin. He was born in Berlin in 1907 and later was well educated in economics. He joined the SA (the paramilitary organization of the Nazi party) in 1925 and the SS in 1926. Ten years later he became an economic adviser for the SD, and between 1939 and 1945 he served as the chief of the Reich Security Office's Amt III, which studied the results of government measures on the German population. One of his principal tasks in these years was to work on a plan for the German economy after the war.

Ohlendorf is best known for his work on the Eastern Front. He headed the Einsatzgruppen D mobile killing unit that followed the German army during the invasion of the U.S.S.R. Ohlendorf's unit was stationed in southern Ukraine, including the Crimea, and was responsible for the mass murder of 90,000 individuals between June 1941 and March 1942.

Ohlendorf testified at the war criminals at the International Military Tribunal in 1945-1946. Ohlendorf was considered a reliable witness since he detested corruption among his Nazi colleagues and was not afraid to reveal what he knew about this. Ohlendorf's comments included information on gifts that Hitler gave his favorites, the corrupt practices of labor leader Robert Ley, and the dishonesty of Hermann Goering. Ohlendorf also revealed that the main German auditing firm was filled with corrupt practices and deceived the state as to the true condition of the German economy in order to make profits for itself. Ohlendorf also offered testimony about the final days of the war after Hitler's suicide. Karl Doenitz took Hitler's place and, according to Ohlendorf, Heinrich Himmler went to extensive lengths to arrange a separate peace with the Allies. Ohlendorf also revealed how angry Himmler was that Doenitz refused to allow Himmler to serve in the new government because he was a potential liability for the newly constituted Reich after Hitler's suicide. Ohlendorf said that until the very end Himmler was determined to split the Anglo-Soviet alliance so that he could curry favor among the Allies.

In the testimony for the International Military Tribunal, Ohlendorf described the work of Einsatzgruppen D and the hierarchy in charge of the operation. As part of his testimony he revealed his personal reactions:

Herr Babel: Now a question concerning you personally. From whom did you receive your orders for the liquidation of the Jews and so forth? And in what form?

Ohlendorf: My duty was not the task of liquidation, but I did head the staff that directed the Einsatzkommandos (Nazi mobile killing units) in the field, and the Einsatzkommandos themselves had already received this order in Berlin on the instruction of Streckenbach, Himmler, and Heydrich. This order was renewed by Himmler at Nikolaiev.

Herr Babel: You personally were not concerned with the execution of these orders?

Ohlendorf: I led the Einsatzgruppe, and therefore I had the task of seeing how the Einsatzkommandos executed the orders received.

Herr Babel: But did you have no scruples in regard to the execution of these orders?

Ohlendorf: Yes, of course.

Herr Babel: And how is it that they were carried out regardless of these scruples?

Ohlendorf: Because to me it is inconceivable that a subordinate leader should not carry out orders given by the leaders of the state.

Herr Babel: This is your opinion. But this must have been not only your point of view but also the point of view of the majority of the people involved. Didn't some of the men appointed to execute these orders ask you to be relieved of such tasks?

Ohlendorf: I cannot remember any one concrete case. I excluded some whom I did not consider emotionally suitable for executing these tasks and I sent some of them home.

Herr Babel: Was the legality of the orders explained to those people under false pretenses?

Ohlendorf: I do not understand your question; since the order was issued by the superior authorities, the question of legality could not arise in the minds of these individuals, for they had sworn obedience to the people who had issued the orders.

Herr Babel: Could any individual expect to succeed in evading the execution of these orders?

Ohlendorf: No, the result would have been a court martial with a corresponding sentence.