Josef Ochs

Josef Ochs (March 31, 1905 in Schmitten – November 12, 1987) was a German Police officer and SS-Obersturmführer. He was involved in the deportation of Sinti and Roma people. He was present in the Berlin Führerbunker during the last days of Hitler. Ochs left the bunker complex on May 1, 1945. During the postwar period he worked in the Federal Criminal Polce Office (BKA) as head of the support group from 1951 to 1965. He was also the head of news gathering.

Early life

Josef Ochs was born in Schmitten on March 31, 1905. His parents (father named Taunus Schmitten) worked in lumber and wool farming. After completing High school in 1925 he studied Law and economics at the University of Frankfurt, University of Munich and University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. In 1933 he earned his Ph.D and began working in his father's factory until September 1936 in which he became a partner in a shoe trading company.

Police career and the Nazi Party

In early October 1936 he began working in the police force, and passed his Commissioner exams in Frankfurt during July 1938 with "good" grades. He joined the Nazi Party in 1937 with membership number, 5927971. In February 1938, Ochs joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) with membership number, 290982. On July 2, 1938, he was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer. In September 1938, Ochs married the daughter of a pharmacist who was 13 years his junior. The couple had two children during the period of 1939 and 1943. At the end of 1938 he was transferred to Düsseldorf.

On January 15, 1939, he was appointed a detective with the Nazi Kriminalpolizei or Kripo. Later, from late 1939 to July 1941 he worked as an officer responsible for admissions to the Nazi concentration camps; including the Maideportation camp in Cologne. He was involved in the deportation of Sinti and Roma people.

Post-war

After the surrender of Germany in May 1945, Ochs was sent to the detention center at Neuengamme, until the beginning of June 1945. During the postwar period he worked in the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) as head of the support group from 1951 to 1965. He was also the head of news gathering.

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