Ernst Weiner

Ernst Josef Albert Weiner (13 December 1913 – 17 December 1945) was a German SS-Hauptsturmführer during World War II. He was most noted for his role in Operation Blumenpflücken during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany.

Early life Ernst Weiner was born on 13 December 1913 in Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Bavaria, Germany, to a merchant father. After high school, he attended a seminary for a year to train as a Catholic priest, before giving up theology and working for a time in the Bavarian administration.

Weiner was involved in a retaliation operation named Operation Blumenpflücken, and personally conducted four murders as part of it, killing Einar Hærland, Sigurd Roll, Gunnar Spangen and Sigrid Hammerø. However, historians Arnfinn Moland and Tore Pryser do not include Hammerø in this list, placing the number of victims at three.

Post-war and death Following the Nazi surrender and end of World War II in Europe on 8 May 1945, Weiner disguised himself in a Wehrmacht uniform and used a false name to blend in with imprisoned German soldiers at a camp near Støren in Sør-Trøndelag. Despite being recognised at the camp, and the fact he was wanted for war crimes, Weiner was transferred back to Germany to a camp in Bremen. British authorities eventually realised what had happened and had him returned to Norway. The two personnel responsible for letting him return to Germany were both fired. However, it has been claimed by fellow inmates that he was murdered as an act of revenge.