War Crimes Trials - Vol. II The Belsen Trial. 'The Trial of Josef Kramer and Forty Four Others'

Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Cech, Paul)
 

(20) DEPOSITION OF PAUL CECH (Czech, aged 20)

2. I recognise No. 3 on photograph 3 as Unterscharführer and kitchen chief of No. 2 Kitchen, Belsen. I am now told his name is Fritz Mathes. I lived about 20 metres from this kitchen, and about 1st April, 1945, witnessed the following incident. Several men prisoners tried to steal some carrots piled up in front of the kitchen. Mathes fired at the men with his pistol, wounding some and killing others. I know that two or three died, because I and others had to take their bodies to the big pit about a kilometre away. Incidents like this occurred every day thereafter until English [British] came on 15th April, 1945, and I estimate that over this period about 30 men were shot dead by Mathes. I saw a large number, but not all, of the said men shot. Mathes was a brute and killed indiscriminately.

 
Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Cech, Paul)