The Historically important WW2 British Parachute Regiment Beret and Cloth Insignia Grouping of Walter Jokel who Captured and interrogated Irma Grese

There can be fewer more chilling figures than that of Grese, who the press labeled the “Beautiful Beast”, who served at Ravensbruck, Auschwitz and finally as Head Warden of the Women’s Camp in Bergen Belsen. 

 

The previous owner of the group has confirmed full provenance with Jokel’s daughter confirming these items are from his estate. This fascinating archive consists two original berets, both significantly mothed and a large grouping of insignia. The wartime beret appears to date from 1945, it shows heavy service wear and has some moth damage. Beret with leather trim and black cloth lining has the remains of the war department broad arrow stamp and possible date letter “Z” for 1945. Leather patch behind the air vent gromets. Spiralling pattern to the top of the beret. 

 

It is frightening to think that Jokel was likely wearing this during the capture and interrogation of Grese. Accompanied by his post war 1955 dated Airborne forces beret, by this time he was a Second Lieutenant in the Parachute regiment. With the group is an original handwritten note written by his Major to act as a reference, the letter refers to Jokel’s work in hauling in suspects and known Nazis. 

 

There is an original leave request and original messages from both Eisenhower and Montgomery which were given to Allied troops on the defeat of Germany. An original service of thanksgiving (Second Army) 1945. There is a very good selection of insignia and Jokel’s dress medals. Also there is a German Russian Front War Medal, which Jokel bought home as a war souvenir. 

 

Also present is his Normandy 1944 commemorative medal in its box and, various items of wartime and post-war paperwork, his original dress medals and a quantity of insignia.

 

Walter Jokel lied about his age when he enlisted for service in WW2. Because he was born in Austria, he spoke fluent German, because of this he was placed in the Field Security Section, attached to the 6th Airborne Division. 

 

Newspaper articles written during the 50 year commemoration of the liberation of the Belsen camp gives us details of Walter’s time dealing with Irma Grese and how he found her, “He found a young woman hiding in a barn a few miles away from the camp – her blonde hair was matted with straw and she wore only the tattered remains of her Nazi uniform. She looked scared”. Jokel was selected as her sole interrogator, he states in the article, “despite 12 intense days alone with her – he never saw fear in her blue eyes again, only glee”.

 

 He continues to say, “I thought I had been hardened by the war. I thought nothing could shock me. But Grese did. In the seclusion of a small wooden hut, she boasted to Jokel about her violent acts”. Jokel Stated in the Daily Mail “ I thought that I had been hardened by the war, that nothing could shock me but Grese did. She proudly described how she had whipped a group of women trying to light a fire in a pathetic attempt to cook some food. Her eyes would light up, her face would shine with delight. It was pure evil I was seeing. It has scarred me.” 

 

The evidence that Jokel provided at the Belsen War Crimes trial, helped convict Irma Grese of war crimes and he watched as she was hanged at Hamelin in December 1945. Walter Jokel parachuted into Normandy with the 6th Airborne on 6th June 1944, he also participated in Operation Market Garden and the Rhine Crossing. 

 

In 1944 he recounted in the Sunday Mirror how French women, sympathetic to the Germans, were active as snipers on D-DAY.

 

 Jokel post-war had a successful career post war as a theatrical agent. 

 

This is an important and original grouping to an Airborne Officer who played an important role in the capture and interrogation of one of the Third Reich’s most chilling individuals.