Crime Solvers Central
CSC
263 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Gottfried Gaag death by force case profile photo

Gottfried Gaag

Case from Salina, UT dated Jul 08, 1945

Victim Details

Gottfried Gaag

Male

White / Caucasian

Salina

UT

1945-07-08

29

Gottfried

Gaag

06/25/2026

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
In the quiet, early hours of July 8, 1945, a tragedy unfolded in the small town of Salina, Utah, forever marking it as the site of the largest massacre of German prisoners of war on American soil during World War II. Among the victims was Gottfried Gaag, a 29-year-old German prisoner of war. The war in Europe had been over for two months, and the German soldiers held at the Salina camp were awaiting their eventual repatriation.

On that fateful night, an American guard, Private Clarence V. ...
MEMBER ACCESS

Continue reading the complete case summary

Unlock the full case narrative for Gottfried Gaag, all available source links, additional videos, and member discussions.

Unlock Full Case Access — $3.97/month
Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in

Links to Additional Sources (14)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Intermountain Histories: The P.O.W. Camp at Salina, Utah | Intermountain Histories
  • WAR HISTORY ONLINE: War Crime? Utah Camp Guard Opened Fire on German POWs After War was Over
    • MEMBER ACCESS

    Unlock 12 additional sources

    View the complete collection of available reporting and reference links for this case.

    View All Case Sources — $3.97/month
    Cancel anytime.
    Already a member? Log in

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (3)

    I’ve been reading through the horror of the Salina Massacre, and my heart goes out to the families... ...Read More
    04/15/2024
    Does anyone know more about the personal stories of the German POWs who were involved in the Salina ... ...Read More
    10/19/2023
    I'm really struck by the story of Gottfried Gaag and the other POWs involved in the Salina massacre.... ...Read More
    07/31/2023
    MEMBER ACCESS

    Join the discussion for Gottfried Gaag

    Read full forum posts and contribute to this case discussion.

    Unlock forum access — $3.97/month
    Already a member? Log in

    Other Cases from Salina, Utah

    Adolf Paul death by force case in Salina, UT

    Adolf Paul

    Death: Jul 08, 1945
    In the quiet, early hours of July 8, 1945, a tragedy unfolded at a prisoner-of-war camp in Salina, U ...Read More
    Otto Bross death by force case in Salina, UT

    Otto Bross

    Death: Jul 08, 1945
    In the quiet, early hours of July 8, 1945, a tragic and unexpected event unfolded in the small town n ...Read More
    Friedrich Ritter death by force case in Salina, UT

    Friedrich Ritter

    Death: Jul 08, 1945
    In the quiet, early hours of a summer night in Salina, Utah, a tragedy unfolded that shattered the p ...Read More
    Ernst Fuchs death by force case in Salina, UT

    Ernst Fuchs

    Death: Jul 08, 1945
    In the pre-dawn hours of July 8, 1945, a tragic and unexpected event unfolded at a prisoner-of-war c ...Read More
    Walter Vogel death by force case in Salina, UT

    Walter Vogel

    Death: Jul 08, 1945
    In the quiet, early morning hours of July 8, 1945, a tragedy unfolded at a prisoner of war camp in S ...Read More
    Georg Liske death by force case in Salina, UT

    Georg Liske

    Death: Jul 08, 1945
    In the quiet, early morning hours of July 8, 1945, a tragedy unfolded in the small town of Salina, U ...Read More