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| Evidence for the Prosecution |
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| Brigadier Glyn Hughes
(cont.) |
Including the
last five or six days it would take several months to produce death in people
who were fit and well. What the condition of the prisoners was who were
admitted I do not know, but if they were not robust it would have been a matter
of a short time. But I should have said, with reasonable health, two or three
months.
Will you describe what we call Camp No. 2? — Camp No. 2
was occasioned by the overflow of 15,133 men who were put in the end of a large
training barracks, and the conditions of these people who had only been there a
short time were, of course, very much better, although malnutrition was evident
and there was death occurring.
What was the general condition of the
people there? — They had made the general condition of the barrack pretty
foul already. As regards health, their general condition was not too bad and
their clothing was quite reasonable. There was no typhus.
You have told
us that you met Colonel Taylor whilst he was interviewing the Kommandant?
— Whilst this was taking place we received a message that there was
rioting round the central cookhouse, and Colonel Taylor and I went with Kramer
straight down the main road into the prisoners’ camp to the cookhouse in
question. Whilst we were going there there was a sound of firing in the camp At
the cookhouse there was no sign of a riot and we questioned an S.S. man inside
who said that some soap had stolen, but there was no evidence of that. The
sound of firing continued and we went down to where there were mounds of
potatoes between the third men’s camp and Camp No. 2 of the women’s
compound. The firing continued up to the time of our arrival and we found dead
and wounded prisoners who had been shot.
Who was doing the shooting?
— S.S. men. I recognized one but I think he has since died. Kramer made no
attempt at all to stop the firing.
Was the firing in any way necessary
to preserve order? — Not at all, and there was no reason for it
whatsoever. No attention was being given to the wounded.
What did you
do? — We took steps to stop the men who looked as if they were going to
fire, and warned Kramer that we would shoot any man who did so. We ordered
Kramer to make his men carry the wounded to where they could be attended, and
as it was not promptly carried out, we made Kramer carry one of them himself.
Did you hear any further shooting? — There was firing
intermittently through the night and the next day from the guard towers.
You told us you saw Dr. Klein? — I ordered Kramer to produce his
doctor and he reported to me about half-past ten that night. I gave him certain
orders and a questionnaire with regard to the medical facilities and the
medical state which he was to produce by first light the next morning.
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