ID=16823 Name: Golz, Hans

[Carlos Benemann]

"ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE". 6. Division War auf der Insel Martin Garcia Interniert. Flucht am 2. April 1943 zusammen mit Ob. Masch. Hermann Espenschied gescheitert. In seinem Fluchtversteck wurde eine Landkarte vom Paraná Delta gefunden auf der am Rio Ibicuicito (Besitz von Hoefert) eingezeichnet war.(53 Seiten Bericht) Noch mehrere Fluchtversuche. Am 26 Nov 1945 wird seine letzte Flucht berichtet. Ob er in Argentinien versteckt blieb ist unsicher. Seine Name taucht jedenfalls in den Repatriierungslisten nicht auf. Quelle Carlos Benemann.

HUBBARD: Please replace the above entry with the one updated below. (Strange, I do not see it in the Forum but it is in the HMA Listing with the Photo). Below is also a summary of one of Golf's and Espenschieds escapades. It refers also to attachments and photographs, but we have to see if Thorsten thinks they should be attached here or pasted elsewhere.

Golz, Hans. 6. Division. Graf Spee: Ob. Fw. Maat. Cédula 581. Geb: 19/6/1913 in Loebenthal (?), Reinland Pfalz. April 1940 auf der Insel Martín García  interniert. Golz hat ein paar Fluchtversuche gemacht die aber gescheitert sind. Am 26 Nov 1945 wird kurz seine letzte Flucht berichtet. Die hatte Erfolg.  Ob, wo und wie lange er in Argentinien versteckt blieb ist unbekannt. Seine Name taucht jedenfalls in der Repatriierungsliste nicht auf. (Quelle Carlos Benemann).
Hier eine Zusammenfassung (auf English) vom einem 53 Seiten langen Bericht einer seiner vorgehenden  versuchten Flüchte. Diese war ähnlich mit den andauernden Flüchten wärend der Jahrelangen internierung auf de Insel. Jedenfalls stellt es auch ein Beispiel dar über dem sich die Argentinische Regierung auch Jahrelang recht geduldig beschäftigten mußte.

At 7am on the 2nd of April 1943 during the routine Morning review and roll call on the Island of Martín García, the internee  Herman Espenschied did not respond 'PRESENT'!. A guard was sent to look for him in his Quarters. The reading of the list of names continued for a few moments. The name of  Golz was called. He did not respond either. Immediately,  the Officer in Charge of the Guards, Lt. Marcelo F Marsenac ordered setting of the Alarm sirens on the island and ordered a Buglar to call out the (Zafarancho) preset "escape" Bugle signal. Lt. Marsenac instructed his incoming duty replacement for the guard detail that day Lt. Roberto J. Alvarez to immediately notify the Commander of the Martin Garcia Island, Mayor Rogelio H. Zeitz by phone.

Mayor Zeitz arrived and ordered Captain Carbo to place whatever military units were available  to surround the area and start a detailed search of all the Internees quarters, including floors, ceilings and furnishings. Zeitz also ordered Lt Marsenac to take one of the two available patrolboats to search a Spanish freighter that at this very same time was approaching 'Punta Cañon" near the island with the apparent intention to anchor there. At the same time he sent several detachments to search and secure the munitions storage area, basement of the supplies storage building and even the chicken coops maintained by the internees.

Meantime, Lt. Garbo had started the search of the internees barracks and started moving all their furniture and personal property out of the way and outdoors. Lt. Garbo ordered his men to take up picks and shovels to lift up floorboards while sounding  them for hollowed spots. They quickly found a Tunnel in Barrack No 1. (See attachment 1, three photos showing tunnel entrance right next to a wall. These photos did not get developed until May 5th 1943 because nobody knew how to do it on the island.).
One of the conscript soldiers, Private Cammarano looked down the opening and saw the two internees who refused to exit because they could see that some of the soldiers had their bayonets in hand.
At that point, Lt Alvarez took out his pistol and told his soldiers to sheath their weapons and forcefully signaled the internees to exit. After Golz and Espenschied climbed out he marched them to Lt Riedel, their senior german internee Officer. Riedel just took them back to their quarters.

The search continued. Soldiers quickly found another similar tunnel in Barrack No 2. That one was empty. The search of the 1st Tunnel however revealed a number of items listed below and 4 maps of the convoluted channels and islands of the immense Paraná river Delta. These maps had been hidden, buried under the sand in one of the tunnel walls. (See attachement 2). The Mayor carefully examined various markings on these maps and with a magnifying glass came to some conclusions that were also attached and turned over to the chief information officer of the Argentine General Staff as authorized by the Secretary of the Minister of Interior.  (See attached) One of charts had a blue pencil mark on an island in the Delta along the channel of the Ibicuicito that was owned by HOEFERT. (Note:A German/Argentine who had immigrated years earlier).

Meantime, in the internees carpentry shop, the soldiers found two short oars like the ones usually used for a rubber raft including stays and boat seating. The first tunnel included two mattresses, blankets, a ladder, a portable light, candles  and various foodstuff. (See attached list No 3).

Lt Marsenac returned with his patrol boat and reported: The ship just now anchored off the island was The MAR CARIBE, 5151 tons, from Spain, commanded by Capt. Juan Goitisolo and had two Pilots aboard. It was loaded with grain from Santa Fé and sailing over Puerto Nuevo to Las Palmas, Tenerife. Goitisolo informed Lt Marsenac that the water level was dropping below 50 feet (his ship draft depth was 21.5 feet). He did not object to a search. (Note: This is strange; if the ship came from Santa Fé it should have been in the channel for the Paraná river on the way to Puerto Nuevo. But here it was in the Canal del Infierno which is the channel coming down from the far out of the way Uruguay river.)
Mayor Zeitz ordered Lt. Marsenac to prepare a written report.

The report was prepared a week later after questioning the guards, Golz and Espenschied on April 9th.The reason for the delay was that both refused to answer any questions unless their Captain Höpfner was present. Höpfner was supposed to be interned on the island but de facto was on quasi permanent assignment in the offices of the Graf Spee Kommando in Buenos Aires busily coordinating escapes among many other tasks.

Once that was arranged and an interpreter was also available, Golz not only refused to make any statements, but also refused to sign the sheet that recorded his nonresponsiveness. Espenschied only said he wanted to swim home, refused to say who did the work on the tunnel, how the electric light was connected in it, or where the supplies found in the Tunnel came from.  Espenschied, Höpfner the interpreter along with the Argentine Official conducting the hearing  signed the declaration.  (See attached document No 4).

On the 7th of may 1943 punishment was meted out. No leave to visit Buenos Aires for a month! (see attached document). By the 12th of june 1943 Golz and Espenschied were back in Buenos Aires happily cruising on a three day pass (See attached dated and  signed Word of Honor slip Attachment 5)
(Source: Carlos Benemann)

[Hubertus]

Hi Carlos,

Have entered.
Golz, Hans. 6. Division. Graf Spee: Ob. Fw. Maat. Cédula 581. Geb: 19/6/1913 in Loebenthal (?), Reinland Pfalz. April 1940 auf der Insel Martín García  interniert. Golz hat ein paar Fluchtversuche gemacht die aber gescheitert sind. Am 26 Nov 1945 wird kurz seine letzte Flucht berichtet. Die hatte Erfolg.  Ob, wo und wie lange er in Argentinien versteckt blieb ist unbekannt. Seine Name taucht jedenfalls in der Repatriierungsliste nicht auf. (Quelle Carlos Benemann).
Hier eine Zusammenfassung (auf English) vom einem 53 Seiten langen Bericht einer seiner vorgehenden  versuchten Flüchte. Diese war ähnlich mit den andauernden Flüchten wärend der Jahrelangen internierung auf de Insel. Jedenfalls stellt es auch ein Beispiel dar über dem sich die Argentinische Regierung auch Jahrelang recht geduldig beschäftigten mußte.

Will have see what Thorsten thinks we should do with the escape story.

Cheers Herb.

[t-geronimo]

Place a link to this topic?

[Carlos Benemann]

Hi Thorsten
Linking this item into another site sounds like a plan. Any other ideas?
I have a number of Documents and photographs that need to be added to this as well.They will take a few pages of additional space.
However I will hold of depending on what you and Hubertus decide. But there is no hurry.
Please remember that there will be several of these stories and additional Photos and documentation.
Cheers
Carlos Benemann