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

Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Neiger, Katherine)
 

(66) DEPOSITION OF KATHERINE NEIGER (Czech, aged 23)

3. I was one of the first batch to a thousand girls to arrive at Belsen. Previously only male prisoners were kept at Belsen. I was employed as a clerk and it was my duty to record the number of deaths of women in the camp each day. In the first few weeks the figures were low. As more internees arrived the deaths increased. In January, 15 to 20 died daily. From then on deaths increased until the last day of March, on which day the number of deaths reported was 349. This figure was not accurate, since all deaths were not reported and bodies uncounted were lying in the open. In April the daily deaths increased, but I can give no figures as I then went ill with typhus. I estimate that 900 of my party have died from malnutrition, disease and ill-treatment.

4. On the day before the British arrived I saw S.S. woman Elisabeth Volkenrath, who I identify No. 6 on photograph 22, now shown to me, ill-treating a girl internee. The girl had been caught taking some vegetables. She was very sick, pale and thin. The S.S. woman made her kneel down and hold the vegetables above her head. After about four hours the girl could no longer hold her arms up and this S.S. woman went to her and beat her on the head, back and legs with a rubber stick. She lay there until nightfall and I do not know what happened to her afterwards. I would add that I have seen this S.S. woman often beating sick girls, usually when Appell was on, and on one occasion in March I was struck across the face again and again with a rubber stick for having my coat open. On another occasion I saw her striking a girl on the ground with a stick and kicking her. The girl was covered with blood.

5. There was another S.S. woman Herta Ehlert, who I identify as No. 5 on photograph 22. She used to search the blocks and if she found any food, take out the girl responsible and beat her.

6. I have seen S.S. woman Gertrud Sauer, who I identify as No. 5 on photograph 19, frequently beat girls without reason. She never allowed any girls to rest during the day-time.

7. I name also Gertrud Fiest, whom I identify as No. 4 on photograph 19, as guilty of great cruelty. When she was on Appell duty she always made it last as long as possible, and often it lasted from 6 a.m. until noon. Sick and dying women were forced to attend and many of them collapsed.

8. I have seen S.S. woman Irene Haschke, whom I identify as No. 3 on photograph 35, beating sick girls with a rubber stick on a number of occasions.

9. I often saw Herta Bothe, whom I identify as No. 5 on photograph 25, beating sick girls with a wooden stick.

10. I have often seen Peter Weingartner, whom I identify as No. 1 on photograph 12, Johann Kasainitzky, whom I identify as No. 3 on photograph 12, and Frederick Herzog, whom I identify as No. 4 on photograph 12, beat sick women severely with rubber truncheons.

11. I am well acquainted with the English language and have made this statement on oath in English.

(66) FURTHER DEPOSITION OF KATHERINE NEIGER

2. I was in Camp "C" at Auschwitz from 11th August, 1944, until 21st August, 1944. I recognise No. 2 on photograph Z/4/2 as one of the chief women in the camp. I am now told that her name is Irma Grese. There were 31 blocks, each containing 1000 people, in this camp, and every day internees of one of the blocks would have to attend Appell. These Appelle would last from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Grese would attend. At her orders the internees would have to hold their hands above their heads during this period, holding in each hand a large stone. I was one of the internees who had to do this. Grese carried a pair of gloves with her which she put on when she was going to beat anyone, which she did with her fists. These beatings were given for no apparent reason.

3. People were kept in Camp C for about a fortnight only, and at the end of this time they would be transferred to working camps. Grese would personally make selections for these transfers and always took particular trouble to arrange that relatives were never in the same transport.

 
Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Neiger, Katherine)