GB 0369 PAN - Pannwitz Collection

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0369 PAN

Title

Pannwitz Collection

Date(s)

  • 1959, 1985 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 envelope

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Heinz Pannwitz (1911-?1981) (real name Paulsen) was born in Berlin. In 1940 he became criminal commissioner heading Department GII of the Prague Gestapo in German occupied Czechoslovakia. On 27 May 1942 an assassination attempt was made on the life of Reinhard Heydrich (1904-1942) which resulted in his death on 4 June. Heydrich was head of the Nazi security police and governor of Bohemia-Moravia. The assassins were intelligence agents sent by Czech military intelligence in exile in Britain, aided by the Special Operations Executive. Pannwitz was appointed head of a special commision to investigate the killing. His final report was submitted to Hitler and found its way to the archives of the Institute for Jewish Research, New York (YIVO). In 1959 Pannwitz wrote his account of the investigation found in this collection. He would have had to rely on his memory as few books had been published on the subject at that time.

Archival history

In the early 1980s, Pannwitz' widow allowed Stanislav Berton access to the account and he later published it.
GB 0369 PAN 1959, 1985 Collection (Fonds) 1 envelope Pannwitz , Heinz , 1911-?1981 , Gestapo officer

Heinz Pannwitz (1911-?1981) (real name Paulsen) was born in Berlin. In 1940 he became criminal commissioner heading Department GII of the Prague Gestapo in German occupied Czechoslovakia. On 27 May 1942 an assassination attempt was made on the life of Reinhard Heydrich (1904-1942) which resulted in his death on 4 June. Heydrich was head of the Nazi security police and governor of Bohemia-Moravia. The assassins were intelligence agents sent by Czech military intelligence in exile in Britain, aided by the Special Operations Executive. Pannwitz was appointed head of a special commision to investigate the killing. His final report was submitted to Hitler and found its way to the archives of the Institute for Jewish Research, New York (YIVO). In 1959 Pannwitz wrote his account of the investigation found in this collection. He would have had to rely on his memory as few books had been published on the subject at that time.

In the early 1980s, Pannwitz' widow allowed Stanislav Berton access to the account and he later published it.

Typescript of Heinz Pannwitz' account of the assasination of Reinhard Heydrich, 27 May, 1942, translated and annotated by Stanislav Berton entitled "The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich"; offprint of German publication of this account, annotated by Berton entitled "Das attentat auf Reinhard Heydrich vom 27. Mai 1942. Ein Bericht des Kriminalrats Heinz Pannwitz" [The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich on 27 May 1942. an account by Criminal investigator Heinz Pannwitz] in "Vierte;jahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte", vol 4, 1985, pp 668-706.

Two items

Unrestricted access. Researchers wishing to consult the archives or seeking further information should contact UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) Library, 16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW.

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Librarian.
English and German

On-line summary guide available on the SSEES website.

The final report that Pannwitz submitted to Hitler is now in the Yivo Institute for Jewish Research, New York.

Revised by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.  Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.  Revised Jan 2003 Berton , Stanislav , fl 1985 , author State security International relations Administration of justice International conflicts War Wars (events) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Political doctrines Totalitarianism Nazism Heydrich , Reinhard Tristan , 1904-1942 Pannwitz , Heinz , 1911-? 1981 , Gestapo officer Prague Czechoslovakia Eastern Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Typescript of Heinz Pannwitz' account of the assasination of Reinhard Heydrich, 27 May, 1942, translated and annotated by Stanislav Berton entitled "The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich"; offprint of German publication of this account, annotated by Berton entitled "Das attentat auf Reinhard Heydrich vom 27. Mai 1942. Ein Bericht des Kriminalrats Heinz Pannwitz" [The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich on 27 May 1942. an account by Criminal investigator Heinz Pannwitz] in "Vierte;jahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte", vol 4, 1985, pp 668-706.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Two items

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access. Researchers wishing to consult the archives or seeking further information should contact UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) Library, 16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Librarian.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English and German

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

On-line summary guide available on the SSEES website.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The final report that Pannwitz submitted to Hitler is now in the Yivo Institute for Jewish Research, New York.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

School of Slavonic and East European Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area