Karl Pötzl statement

Secret State Police [Gestapo]
State Police Headquarters Munich

Vol. No. 13 226/43 II A Son. – Munich, March 10, 1943

Summoned to this office, the single chemical engineer

Karl Pötzl

born November 21, 1919 in Vienna, German citizen, parents: Adolf Pötzel [sic] (deceased) and mariane [sic] Pötzel, nee Baierlein, residing at Harthauser Str. 109, Munich 9, with his mother. Once advised regarding the topic of the interrogation and admonished to tell the truth, he made the following statement:

I have known Alexander Schmorell since childhood, since he lives very near my parents’ home. We attended the same middle school, but of course we were not in the same grade, since Schmorell is two years older.

As far as I can recall, Schmorell borrowed the portable typewriter (“Remington Portable” [Note 1] brand, serial number unknown) for the first time about 1-1/2 years ago from our family; I do not know who in our family lent it to him. I believe he said he needed it to copy out poetry, because he often said that he wrote poetry. I myself never handed the typewriter over to Schmorell. But my mother or my younger brother always told me when Schmorell had borrowed the typewriter.

I personally talked to Alexander Schmorell for the last time as he was getting ready to leave for the Eastern Front. This would have been at the end of the summer semester, I believe it was June 1942 when he said goodbye to me. I have not had personal contact with Alexander Schmorell for 2 years. At most, we said hello whenever we met.

As far as I know, Schmorell borrowed the typewriter for the last time about 8 days before he was arrested; he got it from my 16-year-old brother Hermann Pötzl. My younger brother told me that he came around the time I have stated and borrowed the typewriter without giving a reason for needing it.

Among Schmorell’s circle of friends, I never met the Scholl siblings. Probst was introduced to me by Alexander Schmorell at a meeting in the winter of 1939 / 40. We spoke only briefly and then said goodbye.

Regarding Schmorell’s attitude towards National Socialism, I can only say that he was not interested in politics. I can explain his treasonous attitude only by assuming that he must have been influenced by third parties.

Since I am responsible for families of deceased SS members, I urgently need the typewriter and I therefore request that it be turned over to me once again. In this context I would like to mention that Schmorell always borrowed the typewriter for short periods of time.

Recorded by:

/Signature: Zacher/

Read, approved, and signed by:

/Signature: Karl Pötzl/

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Note 1: “Remington Portable” is in English in the transcript. Remington was an American-made typewriter.

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Source: RGWA (30 – 31)