Hi all! Been a while, but Im trying to help a life long friend find out more info on the demise of his Grandfather. He says his family suspects he may have been executed. Do you have any suggestions as to where I can look to help my friend maybe get answers for his family? Any suggestions will be appreciated greatly. Attached is a link to all the info I have. WW2 Fallen 100: WW2 Fallen - Carlton Carney, 4th Infantry Division
I would strongly discount the execution story. Although the German record was notorious for concentration camp detainees and East tEuropean PoWs, Western Allied PoWs were generally treated according to the Geneva protocols, under the active supervision of ICRC. Indeed, the ICRC would have een notified of the death of a PoW, and there should still be a record. One reason for the death of a PoW relatively soon after capture, as appears to have happened in this case, is battle wounds sustained before capture.
Especially early war that was true. Later in the war not as much from what I've read. For instance some of the threads here have mentioned some allied prisoners being sent to the death camps and there were some "death marches" near the end were prisoners were forced marched from one location to another with inadequate shelter and food. There were also a number of incidents (involving SS troops for the most part I believe) during the campaign in Normandy. Given the short time between his capture and death it could easily be he died of wounds. The link you posted didn't mention the date of capture though. That could be telling.
