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THE STRUTHOF
ALBUM STUDY OF THE
GASSING AT NATZWEILER-STRUTHOF
by Jean-Claude Pressac
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Page 36 |
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I only listened. As there was nothing
more to hear and as there was no movement, I put the ventilator on. During this
time, I was on the outside and I neither inhaled nor smelled the gas. After
some fifteen minutes, I opened the door. It would seem that death occurred in
the usual manner. Only 3 or 4 had been unable to control their bowel movements.
It was about half past nine.
The next morning, at 5:30, I had the
bodies taken to Strasbourg in a lorry covered with a tarpaulin. This method was
chosen in order to keep everyone in the dark as to what had taken place. For I
was obliged to maintain the highest level of secrecy. I deny having shot down
any of these prisoners. There were 4 SS-men present at this execution, but I
know the name of only one, namely Lagerführer Zeus [Wolfgang
Seuss]. Stabscharführer Hans Jung was not present. I deny having made
a speech. Neither was Hirt pre-sent. He came to Struthof only 2 or 3 times, on
personal visits having nothing to do with the execution.
Some time
later, a second transport, consisting of men only, arrived in Struthof from
Auschwitz. Eight days later they were executed in the same way. Two or three
weeks later, 30 men, who stayed in the camp for ten days, from another
transport were also asphyxiated. [Josef Kramer is wrong about time intervals
between successive groups, including arrival, residence in the camp and
gassing, of the convoys; even though the arrivals and the gassings were
probably both staggered over time, the future victims were all gathered in
Struthof at the beginning of the week 7-14 August 1943. Fifty-seven men were
killed in the week of 14-21 August.] I deny that the SS-men drank alcohol
after the execution. It was always the same SS-men who were present at the
executions.
The professor told me the name of the gas, but I have
forgotten it. I am sure I would recognize the granules if I were to see them
again.
Professor Hirt came to the camp on only two or three occasions.
He never stayed longer than an hour. I knew the camp doctors. Ido not know
whether he [Hirt] was corresponding with them.
The 86 bodies
delivered to the Municipal Hospital in Strasbourg were all Jewish. On the
strength of a list of names, I can vouch for the fact that they were residents
of South-East Europe.
Documents 157 for the German text and 158 for the
French translation.
There is a copy of 158 in document 1806/V/2bis.
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THE STRUTHOF
ALBUM STUDY OF THE
GASSING AT NATZWEILER-STRUTHOF
By Jean-Claude Pressac
|
Back |
Page 36 |
Forward |
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