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| Evidence for the Prosecution |
| |
| Captain Sington
(cont.) |
Later that
night were there any disturbances by the internees? — Yes, judging from
the appearance of the camp next morning. Although the store was still full with
quite a lot of meat, bread and flour, a good deal of clothing was apparently
removed by the inmates from certain stores in the camp.
Do you know how
these disturbances were stopped? — By British soldiers simply talking to
the people. This was the first and last night on which large-scale looting took
place.
How many male guards were in the camp when you arrived —
Kramer told me, as far as I can remember, 400 or 500.
How many S.S.
male and female guards were there — Approximately 55 male and, I believe,
12 or 15 female. They were not guards but were supposed to be the
administrative staff.
Cross-examined by Major CANFIELD
—Kramer told you that the camp contained habitual criminals, felons and
homosexuals. Have you any reason to think that that was not so? — No. I
also have reason to believe it was an incomplete statement.
On the
arrival of the British troops, did a transformation take place in the camp?
— Yes.
Cross-examined by Captain ROBERTS — Was the
figure of 55 S.S. men at the camp just an estimate? — It was the result of
a nominal roll supplied by Kramer, but I do not know if it was ever checked.
Were the S.S. personnel placed under, any restraint the first day you
arrived there? — They were informed by Colonel Taylor that for any inmate
of the camp who was shot one S.S. man would be shot.
Were they confined
to camp or put in prison? — They were confined to camp, but I understand
it was their duty to co-operate with the British in handing over the camp. On
the following day Kramer was driven round the camp in a jeep, handcuffed and
stripped to the waist.
When you visited the kitchen and the episode of
the soup took place, was the cook armed? — I do not remember.
Do
you know if any S.S. guards came back or were brought back to the camp after
you arrived? — I never heard of any being brought back.
Cross-examined by Captain FIELDEN — Do you know whether any
system was in force to restrain movement from one compound to another? —
The inmates of the camp informed me that segregation as between the men’s
camp and the women’s camp was strictly enforced, but I cannot speak as to
movements from one compound to another.
Were there any guards posted at
the entrance between the compounds? — No. |
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