WAR CRIMES CHARGES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29361, 14 November 1960, Page 15

WAR CRIMES CHARGES

Former Gestapo Man Arrested

(Rec. 11.30 pun.)

DORTMUND (West Germany), November 12.

A high-ranking former Gestapo officer suspected of war crimes has been arrested, the Dortmund Public Prosecutor announced yesterday. He is Dr. Rudolf Batz, Gestapo chief in the Arnsberg district, who is alleged to have ordered the shooting of 230 resistance fighters and forced labourers at this Ruhr town in the final days of the war. Batz, who was arrested at Bielefeld, Westphalia, is believed to nave been the highest S.S. and Gestapo officer in the Ruhr area . when the war ended. The Dortmund prosecutor said today other West German prosecutors had also been looking for Betz.

Batz was celebrating his birthday with friends in Bielefeld when Dr. Hemprich, the State Prosecutor, walked in and arrested ham. the British United Press said. He had, been living as “Rolf Kohl” in Bielefeld for 15 years, and worked as an insurance broker.

The prosecutor’s office became suspicious of him when he wrote to his wife in Hanover. Mrs Batz had her husband declared dead after the war.

A Pittsburgh sales clerk showing a customer a rifle happened to point the gun at another customer. who promptly threw up his hands and shouted, “I surrender!” It turned out he was wanted by police for passing bad cheques in local stores.