425:
265:
338:
396:
20:
330:
361:, in which he indicated his intention to release the three prisoners. By sending the letter beforehand, he wanted to avoid presenting the House with a fait accompli and furthermore asked for advice. At first, a majority of the House indicated that they would support his decision. Before the debate, a hearing was held on 24 February 1972, in which resistance members and victims spoke out about a possible release. A majority of the speakers opposed release and a majority of the House was swayed. A thirteen-hour debate was held on 29 February 1972. A motion by
392:, had always opposed clemency. However around 1988 he changed his mind, arguing that it might be better for the victims if they were released, so the publicity would not resurface every time clemency was discussed. Korthals Altes would later also say that the decisive reason was that the intensive individual medical care they received, did not belong in a prison. To find a reason for clemency, he requested medical examination, which however provided no reason.
201:
444:
government starting in the 1960s. They received legal support from three lawyers, an allowance and magazine subscriptions. The German government brought their release up in bilateral meetings. They also received public support, with
Germans handing out leaflets at the border and gathering hundreds of
299:
Less than a month later, Samkalden was informed that Lages did not have colorectal cancer, but another disease which was life threatening, but not acutely fatal. He was however not able to imprison Lages again, because of Lages' medical condition and the fact that the West-German constitution did not
415:
and former minister
Samkalden. During a debate in January 1989 about the proposed release, Korthals Altes referred to the letter. The House of Representatives supported the release. On 27 January 1989, Fischer and Aus der Fünten were released and dropped by an ambulance across the border near Venlo
304:
and the CHU. Lages was released from the hospital in
November 1966, but stayed in Braunlage, where he died in 1971. His release contributed to the rejection of a legislative amendment which would have made it possible for those imprisoned for life to be release on parole.
240:, similarly commuted the sentence of Lages in 1952. This last decision was met with social unrest, with a protest in Amsterdam of 15,000-20,000 protesters against the commution. The other prisoners who were first sentenced to death were released in 1959 and 1960.
292:. Samkalden's decision was met with protest, in particular in Amsterdam. His own party was particularly divided and some Jewish PvdA members could not understand that the Jewish Samkalden had made this decision. Despite unrest, his decision was accepted by the
771:
101:, hence their name. Starting in the 1960s, some - including the West-German government - pleaded for their release and multiples ministers have considered this. However, each time this led to social unrest and political opposition.
832:
Van Kessel, Alexander; Adriaanse, Mirjam; Leenders, Marij; Verberne, Teun (2010). "Immateriële zaken: Bijlmer - Numerus clausus - Oorlogsdossiers". In Van der Heiden, Peter; Van Kessel, Alexander (eds.).
236:
commuted the sentences of
Kotalla, Aus der Fünten and Fischer to life imprisonment, while postponing the execution of Lages. He expected them to be in prison for a maximum of 20 years. His successor,
482:
800:
478:
376:
escaped prison and died a year later, making The Breda Three the last imprisoned
Germans for crimes in the Second World War in West-Europe. Kotalla died in 1979.
529:
906:
104:
Lages was released in 1966, and died in 1971. Kotalla died in prison in 1979. Aus der Fünten and
Fischer were released in 1989 and both died the same year.
513:
424:
264:
151:
90:
505:
412:
143:
also worked at the
Central Agency for Jewish Emigration in Amsterdam and was in charge of daily management, similarly responsible for the deportation.
724:
121:
337:
369:), which said the cabinet should not execute their plan to release the prisoners, passed after the debate with 85 votes in favour and 61 against.
509:
399:
Minister of
Justice Frits Korthals Altes (back) and Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers (front) during the debate on 27 January 1989 about the release.
474:
517:
493:
362:
599:
389:
300:
allow extradition. Another protest was held in
Amsterdam and a debate in the House of Representatives, where he kept the support of the
284:) granted him an interruption of his sentence of three months, so he could be treated in Germany. He was transferred to a hospital in
288:
on 9 June. His decision came at a time when there was more attention for what happened during the war, in particular surrounding the
487:
750:
911:
358:
560:
868:
429:
916:
428:
Germans protesting for the release of the three prisoners during a visit of Queen of the
Netherlands Juliana and Prince
887:
842:
407:
received a letter pleading for the release of the two. It was signed by nineteen (prominent) Dutch people, including
395:
318:
248:
In 1963, two progressive criminal law experts pleaded for the release of the four prisoners. Minister of Justice
349:
during a debate on 29 February 1972 in the House of Representatives about the release of the Three of Breda.
19:
140:
86:
366:
281:
253:
233:
225:
216:, whose sentences had been commuted to life imprisonment. In the case of Kotalla, this was done due to
217:
497:
313:
At the end of the 1960s, the three remaining prisoners again request clemency. Minister of Justice
94:
801:"'Er werden honderdduizenden handtekeningen verzameld voor de vrijlating van oorlogsmisdadigers'"
186:
638:
454:
256:) attempted to put release on the parliamentary agenda in the beginning of 1963, but failed.
193:
and eighteen were sentenced do death, of whom five were actually executed. Four of them were
385:
301:
293:
880:
De Drie Van Breda : Duitse oorlogsmisdadigers in Nederlandse gevangenschap, 1945-1989
8:
861:
Die Kriegsverbrecherlobby : bundesdeutsche Hilfe für im Ausland inhaftierte NS-Täter
329:
883:
864:
838:
692:
680:
525:
342:
273:
268:
Protest in Amsterdam on 18 September 1966 against the sentence interruption of Lages.
194:
190:
658:
656:
835:
Rondom de Nacht van Schmelzer: De kabinetten-Marijnen, -Cals en -Zijlstra 1963-1967
408:
74:
704:
668:
653:
373:
170:
249:
166:
82:
59:
47:
35:
900:
805:
521:
354:
346:
277:
229:
501:
441:
404:
70:
185:
The four were part of the 241 Germans who were on trial for war crimes of
314:
237:
117:
78:
600:"Waarom kregen de Duitse oorlogsmisdadigers 'de Drie van Breda' gratie?"
197:
and were never arrested. The sentences of the other nine were commuted.
276:
and doctors expected him not to survive a surgery. Minister of Justice
205:
403:
Around the same time, 5 July 1988, Korthals Altes and Prime Minister
289:
285:
213:
189:
in the Netherlands after the Second World War. Six were sentenced to
155:
24:
831:
710:
698:
686:
674:
662:
221:
333:
Hearing on the release of the Three of Breda on 24 February 1972.
129:
67:
132:. He also responsible for the execution of resistance fighters.
16:
Last four German WWII POW's imprisoned in Breda, the Netherlands
125:
776:
98:
200:
433:
124:
and therefore responsible for the deportation of Jews to
27:
in 1972 against the possible release of The Breda Three.
751:"'Duitse steun aan Drie van Breda schrikbarend groot'"
725:"Emotie en logica in het debat over de Drie van Breda"
445:thousands of signatures calling for their release.
228:refused to deny these, because she objected to the
633:
631:
629:
627:
625:
623:
621:
259:
122:Central Agency for Jewish Emigration in Amsterdam
898:
158:and was responsible for finding Jews in hiding.
618:
317:was planning to, but abandoned this after the
232:. Seeing no other option, Minister of Justice
169:was head of administration and camp guard at
907:Aftermath of World War II in the Netherlands
135:
798:
772:"Lintjesregen nog steeds volgens traditie"
212:The Breda Four had been among the nine on
561:"Veertig jaar geleden: de Drie van Breda"
423:
394:
390:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
336:
328:
263:
243:
199:
18:
899:
799:Van Walsum, Sander (14 January 2019).
722:
272:In May 1966, Lages was diagnosed with
877:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
584:
582:
580:
578:
500:, J.J.Ph. Hers, C.C. van den Heuvel,
440:The Breda Four were supported by the
177:for the many cruelties he committed.
858:
555:
553:
551:
549:
208:against possibly clemency for Lages.
483:Christiaan Justus Enschedé (lawyer)
324:
13:
852:
743:
575:
204:Protest on 12 October 1952 at the
14:
928:
546:
419:
308:
161:
66:), were the four last imprisoned
729:Serie Parlementaire Geschiedenis
319:Supreme Court of the Netherlands
146:
792:
764:
723:Lavell, Hilde (30 April 2022).
467:
863:(in German). Suhrkamp Verlag.
716:
473:The full list of signatories:
260:Sentence interruption of Lages
112:
93:. They were imprisoned in the
1:
912:Nazis convicted of war crimes
825:
372:In 1977, German war criminal
180:
73:in the Netherlands after the
539:
220:. The other three had filed
7:
448:
10:
933:
917:20th-century controversies
379:
226:Juliana of the Netherlands
780:(in Dutch). 30 April 1987
479:Dien Barendsen-Cleveringa
218:diminished responsibility
175:Executioner of Amersfoort
107:
606:(in Dutch). 9 April 2024
498:Til Gardeniers-Berendsen
460:
359:House of Representatives
345:and Minister of Justice
154:led the deportations in
141:Ferdinand aus der Fünten
136:Ferdinand aus der Fünten
87:Ferdinand aus der Fünten
878:Hinke, Piersma (2005).
187:crimes against humanity
173:. He was nicknamed the
711:Van Kessel et al. 2010
699:Van Kessel et al. 2010
687:Van Kessel et al. 2010
675:Van Kessel et al. 2010
663:Van Kessel et al. 2010
437:
400:
350:
334:
269:
209:
63:
51:
39:
28:
530:Hans Teengs Gerritsen
455:Bijzonder Gerechtshof
427:
398:
357:sent a letter to the
340:
332:
267:
244:Requests for clemency
203:
195:convicted in absentia
22:
882:(in Dutch). Balans.
859:Bohr, Felix (2018).
788:– via Delpher.
416:as unwanted aliens.
386:Frits Korthals Altes
384:Minister of Justice
701:, pp. 256–258.
689:, pp. 253–256.
639:"De Drie van Breda"
481:, S.W. Couwenberg,
388:and his party, the
353:Polak's successor,
837:(in Dutch). Boom.
514:Gerard Peijnenburg
438:
401:
351:
335:
270:
210:
29:
870:978-3-518-42840-5
526:Max van der Stoel
343:Barend Biesheuvel
321:advised against.
302:coalition parties
294:coalition parties
274:colorectal cancer
191:life imprisonment
924:
893:
874:
848:
819:
818:
816:
814:
796:
790:
789:
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641:. 14 August 2020
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573:
572:
570:
568:
557:
533:
506:Bib van Lanschot
491:
471:
413:Bib van Lanschot
325:Minister Van Agt
224:requests. Queen
120:was head of the
95:Koepelgevangenis
75:Second World War
23:Protests at the
932:
931:
927:
926:
925:
923:
922:
921:
897:
896:
890:
871:
855:
853:Further reading
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828:
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810:
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619:
609:
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559:
558:
547:
542:
537:
536:
532:, W.J.C. Tensen
485:
472:
468:
463:
451:
422:
382:
374:Herbert Kappler
341:Prime Minister
327:
311:
262:
246:
183:
171:Kamp Amersfoort
164:
149:
138:
115:
110:
44:The Breda Three
17:
12:
11:
5:
930:
920:
919:
914:
909:
895:
894:
888:
875:
869:
854:
851:
850:
849:
843:
827:
824:
821:
820:
791:
763:
742:
715:
713:, p. 258.
703:
691:
679:
677:, p. 248.
667:
665:, p. 252.
652:
617:
574:
544:
543:
541:
538:
535:
534:
465:
464:
462:
459:
458:
457:
450:
447:
421:
420:German support
418:
381:
378:
326:
323:
310:
309:Minister Polak
307:
261:
258:
250:Albert Beerman
245:
242:
234:Teun Struycken
182:
179:
167:Joseph Kotalla
163:
162:Joseph Kotalla
160:
148:
145:
137:
134:
114:
111:
109:
106:
83:Joseph Kotalla
64:Twee van Breda
52:Drie van Breda
40:Vier van Breda
32:The Breda Four
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
929:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
904:
902:
891:
889:9789050186612
885:
881:
876:
872:
866:
862:
857:
856:
846:
844:9789461053626
840:
836:
830:
829:
808:
807:
806:De Volkskrant
802:
795:
779:
778:
773:
767:
752:
746:
730:
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719:
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583:
581:
579:
562:
556:
554:
552:
550:
545:
531:
527:
524:, D. Simons,
523:
522:Ivo Samkalden
519:
515:
512:, W. Nijsse,
511:
510:Theo van Lier
507:
503:
499:
495:
489:
484:
480:
476:
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368:
364:
360:
356:
355:Dries van Agt
348:
347:Dries van Agt
344:
339:
331:
322:
320:
316:
306:
303:
297:
295:
291:
287:
283:
279:
278:Ivo Samkalden
275:
266:
257:
255:
251:
241:
239:
235:
231:
230:death penalty
227:
223:
219:
215:
207:
202:
198:
196:
192:
188:
178:
176:
172:
168:
159:
157:
153:
152:Franz Fischer
147:Franz Fischer
144:
142:
133:
131:
127:
123:
119:
105:
102:
100:
96:
92:
91:Franz Fischer
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
71:war criminals
69:
65:
61:
57:
56:The Breda Two
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
26:
21:
879:
860:
834:
811:. Retrieved
804:
794:
782:. Retrieved
775:
766:
754:. Retrieved
745:
733:. Retrieved
728:
718:
706:
694:
682:
670:
643:. Retrieved
608:. Retrieved
603:
565:. Retrieved
502:Piet de Jong
469:
439:
405:Ruud Lubbers
402:
383:
371:
352:
312:
298:
271:
247:
211:
184:
174:
165:
150:
139:
116:
103:
55:
43:
31:
30:
486: [
475:Peter Baehr
442:West German
315:Carel Polak
238:Leen Donker
118:Willy Lages
113:Willy Lages
79:Willy Lages
901:Categories
826:References
809:(in Dutch)
731:(in Dutch)
604:NPO kennis
563:(in Dutch)
518:Eric Roest
494:Frans Feij
409:resistance
363:Joop Voogd
206:Nieuwmarkt
181:Sentencing
540:Citations
290:Holocaust
286:Braunlage
214:death row
156:The Hague
42:), later
25:Binnenhof
449:See also
430:Bernhard
222:clemency
813:18 July
784:22 July
756:18 July
735:19 July
645:18 July
610:18 July
567:18 July
411:member
380:Release
130:Germany
886:
867:
841:
126:Poland
108:Crimes
68:German
54:) and
777:Trouw
490:]
461:Notes
99:Breda
60:Dutch
48:Dutch
36:Dutch
884:ISBN
865:ISBN
839:ISBN
815:2024
786:2024
758:2024
737:2024
647:2024
612:2024
569:2024
434:Bonn
367:PvdA
282:PvdA
128:and
89:and
432:to
254:CHU
97:in
903::
803:.
774:.
727:.
655:^
620:^
602:.
577:^
548:^
528:,
520:,
516:,
508:,
504:,
496:,
492:,
488:nl
477:,
296:.
85:,
81:,
77:;
62::
50::
38::
892:.
873:.
847:.
817:.
760:.
739:.
649:.
614:.
571:.
436:.
365:(
280:(
252:(
58:(
46:(
34:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
