2 Jan. 46
different party, and I particularly wish to place
before the Tribunal the last paragraph which has been quoted and read
into evidence.
THE PRESIDENT: The last paragraph does not mean very much by itself,
does it?
LT. COMDR. HARRIS: Very well, Sir. Then, if the Tribunal will permit
it, I would like to read the document in its entirety.
THE PRESIDENT: Do you mean that Document 1650-PS has got these
Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 in it?
LT. COMDR. HARRIS: Yes, Sir. That is exactly what I do mean, Sir.
I recall the attention of the Tribunal to Document 2285-PS, which was
received in evidence this morning as Exhibit USA-490. That was the
affidavit of Lieutenant Colonel Gast and Lieutenant Veith of the French
Army who stated that during 1943 and 1944 prisoners of war were murdered
at Mauthausen under the Bullet Decree. I am sure the Tribunal will
recall that document.
The fourth crime for which Kaltenbrunner is responsible as Chief of the
Security Police and SD was the commitment of racial and political
undesirables to concentration camps and annihilation camps for slave
labor and mass murder. Before Kaltenbrunner became Chief of the Security
Police and SD on 30 January, 1943, he was fully cognizant of conditions
in concentration camps and of the fact that concentration camps were
used for slave labor and mass murder. The Tribunal will recall from
previous evidence that Mauthausen Concentration Camp was established in
Austria and that Kaltenbrunner was the Higher SS and Police Leader for
Austria. This concentration camp, as shown by Document 1063(a)PS, which
was received this morning as Exhibit Number USA-492, was classified by
Heydrich in January 1941 in Category III, a camp for the most heavily
accused prisoners and for asocial prisoners who were considered
incapable of being reformed. The Tribunal will recall that prisoners of
war to be executed under the Bullet Decree were sent to Mauthausen. As
will be shown hereafter, Kaltenbrunner was a frequent visitor to
Mauthausen Concentration Camp. On one such visit in 1942 Kaltenbrunner
personally observed the gas chamber in action. I now offer Document
2753-PS as exhibit next in order, Exhibit Number USA-515. This is the
affidavit of Alois Höllriegl former guard at Mauthausen
concentration camp. The affidavit states, and I quote:
"I, Alois Höllriegl being first
duly sworn, declare:
"I was a member of the Totenkopf SS and stationed at the
Mauthausen Concentration Camp from January 1940 until the end of the
war. On one occasion, I believe it was in the fall of 1942, Ernst
Kaltenbrunner visited Mauthausen. I was on