. |
| Evidence for the Prosecution |
| |
| Brigadier Glyn Hughes
(cont.) |
force? —
I do not think you can assume that, because we stamped out the typhus within a
fortnight. We could have done with many more helpers to deal with these poor
people adequately.
What would you say was the principal cause of the
indescribable conditions at Belsen? — Neglect to keep the ordinary
humanitarian rules, to feed them, to keep them clean, and to provide
sanitation. I should say feeding was the most important cause, but as typhus
was raging it was essential to stamp it out, otherwise we would have got
further deaths from that alone.
Was the principal cause this lack of
food, followed closely by the lack of washing facilities? — Not
necessarily washing facilities. I do not think you quite appreciate how you
handle typhus. It is a question of killing the louse and keeping them clean.
Cross-examined by Captain MUNRO — Were nearly all the
internees in Belsen suffering from apathy? — All those who had been in any
length of time, and who were emaciated. They got so weak that they could not
get food for themselves and I suppose they had not any will-power.
When
a person suffers from apathy is it not a medical fact that that person has
somehow got to be roused? — Naturally.
The use of a certain amount
of force is necessary on the part of the nurses or doctors? — I cannot
agree force is necessary. I think the best example is the fact of seeing they
had been liberated and seeing the troops. That was the incentive they had.
Would you admit that it was essential that most of these people had to
be roused and got up in the morning? — They were too weak to move, the
majority of them. They could not even raise themselves on their, elbows, much
less get up. I agree that the fit and well should be encouraged to get out each
day because it would make the organization of the cleaning easier, which was
the main thing lacking. The encouragement came with the advent of the troops
and the fact that they were free. They do need incentive, but the fit and well
do not. They get it themselves. It is the people who are just beginning to get
weak who want the incentive. |
| |
| Third Day —
Wednesday, 19th September, 1945 |
| |
| Brigadier
HUGH LLEWELYN GLYN HUGHES, re-examined by Colonel BACKHOUSE — You
were asked a number of questions about the necessity for guarding stores, etc.
Was there a single casualty amongst the internees as a result of any firing by
British troops, or any difficulty experienced in controlling the internee
without force? — No. |
| B* |
| Page 41 |
|
