. NMT05-T1036
Volume V · Page 1036
| dental stations and the staffing
of the SS divisions and Main Offices with dental personnel. The position of chief dental surgeon in Amtsgruppe D of FHA was first occupied by Sturmbannfuehrer Reutter until September 1943 when the defendant Pook succeeded him. The field of tasks in this position of the defendant Pook consisted largely in the following: the channeling of correspondence passing between the camp dentists and office XIV, checking and considering for approval requisitions submitted by camp dentists; forwarding of monthly work, personnel, and gold reports from the camp dentists to office XIV, Lolling's subordinate; and matters relating to dental affairs in concentration camps. He was consulted on questions concerning the transfer and assignment of dental personnel within the concentration camps. He also worked in the Oranienburg dental clinic in dealing with the care of SS members and their dependents. He was also the supervisor of SS concentration camp dentists and camp inmate dentists. He exercised authority of command over the SS camp dentists as well. On page 4044 of the record, the defendant testified as follows: |
"If it would have been necessary, and if I would have determined that the SS dentist in that camp had not really carried out his duty, and if I had seen that on the occasion of an inspection, then certainly I would have told him that during my visit, and I would have told him if he was not going to try any harder, then I would have to submit a report to my superior and he would be dismissed or punished." |
| As to the knowledge that the defendant had
of conditions in concentration camps in which he had supervisory and
administrative authority, the evidence clearly discloses that he made frequent
inspection tours of dental stations located in the various concentration camps
and outside labor camps. The defendant vigorously contends and insists that he
did not have knowledge of the manner in which the inmates were treated, nor did
he have knowledge of conditions prevailing in such concentration camps. Despite
his denials, the Tribunal is of the opinion, and so holds, that he was familiar
with the atrocious conditions generally prevailing is the concentration camps.
In January 1944, he visited Mauthausen 'concentration camp in company with
Lolling, his superior, and spent the evening there. On at least one or more
occasions he visited Buchenwald concentration camp, his last visit in this camp
being in March 1945, just prior to the capitulation. It is a matter of public knowledge from a report made by a United States Congressional Committee in April of the same year, and from motion pictures taken of this camp by the Allied armies upon its capture, and other documentary evidence in the case, |
