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The Holocaust History Project.
The Holocaust History Project.

Bergen-Belsen: Availability of food

1. Some deniers say that the prisoners at the concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen may have died of starvation, but it was the fault of "Allied bombing" that interfered with transportation.

2. This quick fact, based on actual testimony at the Belsen Trial, makes it clear that there was ample food and water available in the immediate vicinity:

Major A. L. BERNEY, sworn, examined by Colonel BACKHOUSE.

I am with 817 Military Government Detachment. On 15th April I was sent by Headquarters 8 Corps to Colonel Taylor of the Occupying Forces of the Belsen Camp. Colonel Taylor and Brigadier Glyn Hughes were in charge. On the next day I was told to find the nearest food store, which I did at the north of the Panzer Troop School about three kilometres from the camp. I found the Hauptmann in charge of the store who informed me that he was responsible for sending some food from his store to the camp . potatoes and turnips. He did not give me any reason as to why that was the only stuff supplied. I obtained a list of food in the store from him, and remember there were 600 tons of potatoes, 120 tons of tinned meat, 30 tons of sugar, upwards of 20 tons of powdered milk; cocoa, grain, wheat and other foodstuffs.

Did you find whether there was a bakery there or not?
Yes. There is a very large bakery there with a capacity, I was told, of 60,000 loaves a day, which was completely staffed. It appeared to me that there was a very vast quantity of all the necessary materials available for making bread. The bakery is still working now and most of the staff are the same.

From your investigation of the stocks available, was there any reason why Camp No 1 should not have been supplied with food?
I cannot see any conceivable reason.

http://www.mazal.org/OtherTrials/BelsenTrial/T053.htm

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