Additional information
by The National Archive (Author)
CROWCASS was the acronym for the list of Nazi war criminals drawn up at the end of the Second World War from Hitler downwards. A grim but vital document, CROWCASS registers became the Nazi Hunter's bible. All cited instances of murder, pillage, brutality, torture etc. that were contained within the CROWCASS registers were only allegations at that point in time.
To investigators the CROWCASS registers became an important part of their ongoing Nazi hunting, BUT it had to be treated with considerable caution as many of the individuals were merely being sought for interrogation or simply to act as witnesses. Added to this, of course, all the cited instances of murder, pillage, brutality, torture etc. that were contained within the CROWCASS registers were only allegations until those responsible were required to answer charges in an Allied court.
There are over 50,000 Germans and other nationals in this combined volume. Many of those named will have been arrested and charged in connection with the crimes they were accused of. Whilst others will have escaped apprehension by the Allied authorities.
Within these pages are the alleged perpetrators of tens of thousands of war crimes. They range from civilians and low ranking members of the armed forces to Adolf Hitler himself (CROWCASS Case Registry No.1 - Wanted for murder by Poland, Czechoslovakia and Belgium). Other notable names include Hitler's No.2 Martin Bormann, genocide architects Adolf Eichmann and Alois Brunner), SS doctor Josef Mengele, Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie and Malmedy/ Wormhoudt massacre perpetrator SS General Wilhelm Mohnke.
