War Crimes Trials - Vol. II The Belsen Trial. 'The Trial of Josef Kramer and Forty Four Others'

Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Raschiner, Schmul)
 

(71) DEPOSITION OF SCHMUL RASCHINER (Pole, aged 24)

2. I recognise No. 4 on photograph 1 as an Oberscharführer at Dora and Belsen Camps. I have now been told that his name is Otto Calesson [Kulessa]. About 2nd April, 1945, I arrived at Belsen from Dora. In charge of the transport was Calesson. As soon as we arrived we had to parade in groups of 100 men. At a distance of four or five metres from us were piles of carrots. As we had had neither food nor water for six days during our journey, some of the prisoners tried to run to the carrots. I saw Calesson pull his pistol out of his holster and shoot one of these prisoners. The prisoner, whose name I do not know, fell to the ground shot in the leg. I heard Calesson give orders to the S.S. man who guarding my group of prisoners to shoot the already wounded man Immediately afterwards I heard two shots. When we had to march on I turned my head and saw the prisoner lying on the ground. I have no doubt that he was dead, because if be had been alive we would have been told to take him with us. Ten other prisoners who had died of thirst and hunger during the journey were taken from the lorries and put near the dead prisoner. These were left lying on the ground as we went further into the camp.

 
Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Raschiner, Schmul)