Mende, Alfred

AJR Information, Vol. III, No. II, Nov. 1948, p. 2:[1]

“The Nazi Alfred Mende who, after the war, had settled in Siegburg under the name Isaac Lewinson (see May issue of ‘AJR Information’) was recently sentenced to one year, three months imprisonment by the Siegburg Law Court. His story which, as far as Nazi crimes allow any comparison at all, somehow reminds of the Hauptmann von Koepenick’s escapades, was revealed during the trial.

Mende, a former District Organiser of the Dresden Nazi Party, was at one time guard of the Theresienstadt Camp. When in 1945 he came from Chemnitz to Siegburg, he reported to the Chairman of the local Jewish Community and to the Organisation of Nazi victims. He produced official papers made out for Isaac Lewinson describing him as a former inmate of the Theresienstadt Camp. He was classified as victim of Fascism, received the appropriate ration card and other legitimations and was even appointed a member of the Board of the Jewish Community. In this capacity he attended various religious functions, amongst others a circumcision ceremony. The Chairman of the Jewish Community stated that Mende alias Lewinson played his role so well that nobody became suspicious; he took a prominent part in the work of the Community, submitted good suggestions and organised collections for the victims of Fascism. Posing as a former persecutee when negotiating with the authorities, he was such a bully that the Chairman of the Jewish Community received several strong complaints about his behaviour. He obtained about 2,000 RM from funds for the victims of Fascism and, as a Board Member of the Jewish Community, an increased number of Care-Parcels. The Judge stated that, apparently, Mende did not even repent his action.”

This is the earliest known case of a false witness, and one with the most chutzpah to boot. (See the entry on False Witnesses.)

[1]    https://ajr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1948_november.pdf; “Der Hauptmann von Köpenick” is a satirical theatre play by German dramatist Carl Zuckmayer; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Captain_of_K%C3%B6penick_(play).