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Volume IV · Page 553
| [whatso…] ever. The Tribunal is
convinced that the civilians shot by Sonderkommando 4b under Haensch's
leadership did not receive the trial intended by the rules of war and
international law. The credible evidence shows further that if there were any
proceedings they were entirely of an ephemeral nature. The defendant testified that he was thoroughly familiar with the cases of the sixty persons executed by his Kommando. |
"Yes, I knew exactly about the individual cases, that is to say, the decision in both these executions in the Gorlovka district. I also knew about the other executions and I was able to convince myself that these were only cases which occurred in accordance with law and order, and where the people concerned were actually proven violators against the laws of war and against security of the people." |
| Later he said that sub-Kommando leaders could make independent decisions, but when he was asked — |
"Would you have been able to reverse the decision of the sub-Kommando leader if you would have been of the opinion that the execution of a certain individual was not justified?" |
| He replied — |
"Yes, without any trouble. If I had become convinced that something was not quite in order, I certainly would have been able to do that." |
| It developed then that the sixty who were executed by his Kommando were killed under his orders. |
"Q. There were 60 people killed under your orders? |
| He was now asked whether he investigated these 60 cases before he pronounced the death sentence. |
"Q. Now, how many of these 60 cases did you investigate yourself, or reviewed the evidence on? |
