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| Evidence for the Prosecution |
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| Brigadier Glyn Hughes
(cont.) |
the initial
stages we had to, but we supervised with our N.C.Os, and we saw the
distribution from the cookhouses was correct.
What was the ration scale
on the first day, after the camp came under British administration? — I
cannot give you exact figures because we appreciated straight away that we
could not give those people normal food. The only way we could do it to begin
with was to organize two types of diet: one for the starved and one for those
apparently fit and well. Later, we made five classes.
Was there any
trouble with internees who tried to get more than their share? — I have no
knowledge of any cases when it was supervised. I have never seen internees
fighting for one potato.
Cross-examined by Captain PHILLIPS
— Will you tell the Court about the crematorium at Belsen? — It had
one not very big oven and I understand it could take three bodies at a time. It
was not in use when I saw it, nor could I say how long it was since it had been
used.
With reference to the shooting by the S. S. of the people on or
about the potato patch, how many internees were there there? — There was a
swarming mob up and down the main road and it is difficult to say, but I should
say there were anything from 12 to 20 who had been killed or wounded in the
neighbourhood. There were some, of course, who must have been hit alongside on
the road but not on the potato patch.
What effect did it have upon
people who were not hit? Did they stay there? — Yes, they did tend to.
What would you have considered an adequate ration for these interned
persons before they were so sick? A third of the full army ration? — That
would be the bare minimum and if that is a full scale ration for a robust
person and you scale it down to that, it should be 1500 calories. Then it would
fit only sedentary people. People in their condition required very much more of
a special diet The calorific value of what they were getting was under 800 a
day.
When your medical arrangements were complete to put this place
straight, how many doctors had you available? — To begin with we were
still fighting the battle and had very few medical units available. We then had
one casualty clearing station and one light field ambulance, the full number of
doctors and non-doctor officers in that being about 20. There were between 120
to 150 other ranks. In addition there would be some hygiene sections which
increased the number by about 50 or 60. The exact figure for the units were, at
full strength, 307 plus 54.
Had you those units by 17th April? —
One hygiene section went in on the 15th and the remaining three on the 17th. It
was all we could spare at that particular moment.
Would it be fair to
say that this 54 and 307 was a totally inadequate |
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