Oberleutnant Robert Zehbe

[Martin Smart]

Oblt Robert Zehbe was a member of 1/KG76, based in Beauvais, near Paris. On 15 Sept 1940, Oblt Zehbe flew on the noon raid over London. His plane was a Dornier DO17Z. The bomber was intercepted by a number of British fighters over London. The bomber was shot down. Two crew members were killed. Robert Zehbe, badly wounded, parachuted into Kennington, south London, where he was captured and taken to Millbank military hospital. Unfortunately, Zehbe's wounds were too severe, and he died the next day. Two other crew, Ludwig Armbruster and Leo Hammermeister, also parachuted into SE London, and were captured. Meanwhile the bomber broke up in spectacular fashion, the main piece of which crashed into Victoria railway station.
My interest? My mother, who died last year, witnessed Zehbe's landing. She was only a few yards from him. She described him vividly to me. In both my mother's and Robert Zehbe's (and his family's) memory, I'm dedicating my research to contacting anybody who knew Robert Zehbe.
Zehbe hailed from Kiel. I have located the family name Zehbe in Kiel. My hunch is that Zehbe's daughter(?)and possibly Zehbe's widow (since remarried) at least lives there. The German Embassy is writing to an address in Kiel on my behalf. In the meantime, if anyone knows of Zehbe, his unit, his then-surviving comrades, Armbruster and Hammermeister, in 1/KG76, then please contact me.
My hope is that eventually I shall travel to Kiel to meet Zehbe's family.

[Richard T Eger]

See "German pilots killed after being shot down — GC, Sat Dec 9 05:46" posted on 12 O'clock High! today.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

GC
German pilots killed after being shot down
Sat Dec 9 05:46:22 2000


There is a possibly apocraphyl story that Oberleutnat R. Zehbe was seriously beaten by a crowd in Kennington, London, on 15th Sept. 1940, after having parachuted from
his crippled Dornier. He certainly died of his wounds the following day.
Has anyone heard of any documented accounts of German fliers being killed by British civilians after having been shot down?

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

martin smart
Oblt Zehbe
Wed Dec 13 14:13:17 2000


I read your message. My mother and her younger sisters witnessed Zehbe's landing in Kennington. My mother died last year. I have been researching this incident; as you
can understand it is close to my heart! My youngest aunt swears that nothing happened to Zehbe, although there was a lynch mob mentality with some onlookers. I can't
be sure, of course, as I wasn't there. The local newspaper DID refer to an attack on Zehbe. Other accounts say that Zehbe was arrested by police quite soon after he had
landed. My aunts' version matches that of the daily newspapers' reports on the incident. Zehbe WAS severely wounded before he touched down. My aunts refer to his
bloodied parachute. Zehbe was taken to Millbank military hospital, where he died next day. My quest to find out the truth carries on. I am also trying to contact Zehbe's
relatives in Germany.


Martin

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

GC
Martin, thank you
Thu Dec 14 10:46:23 2000


Martin, your response to the same question in the Guardian's 'Notes and Queries' was one of two things which caused me to post the question in this forum.
The other was the disturbing frequency in which unsubstantiated claims of atrocities against downed German airmen appear on the many revisionist sites which appear on
the web with depressing frequency.
Doubtless shot down airmen were, on occasion, roughed up, but I have yet to discover any evidence of the calculated cruelty which some authors on the internet claim to
document (although, of course, they never cite their sources).

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Juha
Zehbe, in Price's BoB day there is a story of the lynching
Thu Dec 14 11:01:35 2000

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Martin Smart
Oblt Zehbe
Thu Dec 14 19:37:03 2000


Dr Price's book was the first mention that I saw of the incident. I believe Dr Price's account is based on a report that appeared in the South London Press a few days after
Zehbe's capture, which clearly stated that Zehbe was attacked by angry women. Zehbe was certainly NOT lynched; he MAY have been attacked. My aunts, who were at
the scene, do not substantiate the SLP's version, although they agree that an angry and,I suppose, curious crowd gathered.

Regards

Martin

[agbrunson]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial[/IMG]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Richard T Eger:
From TOH!:

GC
Martin, thank you
Thu Dec 14 10:46:23 2000


Martin, your response to the same question in the Guardian's 'Notes and Queries' was one of two things which caused me to post the question in this forum.
The other was the disturbing frequency in which unsubstantiated claims of atrocities against downed German airmen appear on the many revisionist sites which appear on
the web with depressing frequency.
Doubtless shot down airmen were, on occasion, roughed up, but I have yet to discover any evidence of the calculated cruelty which some authors on the internet claim to
document (although, of course, they never cite their sources).[/quote]

Mr. Eger, the report of revisionist propaganda is particularly revolting to anyone with first-hand <pers. interview>
facts regarding the treatment of USAAF
downed airmen: the evidence is staggering from Hitler/Goring orders disclosed at Nuremberg to liquidate airmen to firsthand reports of (1)shot in chutes (2) attacked by civilians with farm tools to (3) summary execution by SS.
I will say that 8th AF POW's report superior treatment when taken into custody by Luftwaffe officers.