21 Nov. 45
Gas vans in C group can be driven to execution spot, which is
generally stationed 10 to 15 kms. from main road, only in dry
weather. Since those to be executed become frantic if conducted to
this place, such vans become immobilized in wet weather.
Gas vans in D group were camouflaged as cabin trailers, but
vehicles well known to authorities and civilian population which
calls them 'death vans'.
Writer of letter (Becker) ordered all men to keep as far away as
possible during gassing. Unloading van has 'atrocious spiritual and
physical effects on men and they should be ordered not to participate
in such work. (501-PS)
I shall not dwell on this subject longer than to quote one more
sickening document which evidences the planned and systematic
character of the Jewish persecutions. I hold a report written with
Teutonic devotion to detail, illustrated with photographs to
authenticate its almost incredible text, and beautifully bound in
leather with the loving care bestowed on a proud work. It is the
original report of the SS Brigadier General Stroop in charge of the
destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto, and its title page carries the
inscription, "The Jewish ghetto in Warsaw no longer
exists." It is characteristic that one of the captions explains
that the photograph concerned shows the driving out of Jewish
"bandits"; those whom the photograph shows being driven out
are almost entirely women and little children. It contains a
day-by-day account of the killings mainly carried out by the SS
organization, too long to relate, but let me quote General Stroop's
summary:
"The resistance put up by the
Jews and bandits could only be suppressed by energetic actions of our
troops day and night. The Reichsführer SS ordered, therefore, on
23 April 1943, the cleaning out of the ghetto with utter ruthlessness
and merciless tenacity. I, therefore, decided to destroy and burn
down the entire ghetto without regard to the armament factories.
These factories were systematically dismantled and then burned. Jews
usually left their hideouts, but frequently remained in the burning
buildings and jumped out of the windows only when the heat became
unbearable. They then tried to crawl with broken bones across the
street into buildings which were not afire. Sometimes they changed
their hideouts during the night into the ruins of burned buildings.
Life in the sewers was not pleasant after the first week. Many times
we could hear loud voices in the sewers. SS men or policemen climbed
bravely through the manholes to capture these Jews. Sometimes they
stumbled over Jewish corpses; sometimes they were shot at. Tear gas
bombs were thrown