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

Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Deutsch, Josef)
 

(99) DEPOSITION OF JOSEF DEUTSCH (Czech, aged 21)

2. On 9th July, 1945, accompanied by No. 13041777, Sergeant Eric George Stanley, Pioneer Corps, 21st Army Group Interpreters Pool, I visited Belsen Detention Cells, where I identified a man as Anton Polanski, whom I first met at Belsen. He was assistant Block Leader of Block 12, Camp 1, Belsen Concentration Camp. I lived in this block.

3. I was with my father in Belsen and we were employed carrying dead bodies. One morning, two or three days before the British arrived, at Appell, for no apparent reason, Polanski started beating my father and I in the face, over the head and on all parts of the body. My father was in a very weak condition and was so bad after being beaten by Polanski that he was taken to hospital. I believe that he died as a result of this beating, for I have not been able to trace him. I have not yet recovered from the beating which Polanski gave me on this occasion and still bear the following wounds: a deep cut on my head, an infected wound on my right hand and a deep wound on my right leg. In addition to beating my father and I, Polanski also beat many other prisoners of our working party.

 
Appendices (Affidavits & Statements - Deutsch, Josef)