The Trial of Josef Kramer and Forty Four Others

Exhibit 17 Affidavit of Margarete Berg

IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES AND IN THE MATTER OF CERTAIN MURDERS COMMITTED AT BELSEN AND HAMBURG CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

Deposition of Margarete Berg of Prague, c/o Czech-Slovakian Embassy, sworn before me Major P. Ingress Bell, D.A.A.G. Legal Staff, an officer of the Staff of the Judge Advocate General to the Forces."

1. I am 40 years of age and am a Jewess of Czechoslovakian nationality. I was arrested on 23rd August, 1942, for assisting in the escape of prisoners interned in a concentration camp. I was imprisoned at Moravská Ostrava and later at Brno and Vienna. I was also in Auschwitz and Hamburg and was transferred to Belsen on 7th April, 1945.

2. I name SS man Walter Kümmel as murdering two babies born of internees in the camp near Hamburg by drowning the same. I was present when they were drowned. The mother of one of the children is Levkowic Rozy, the other mother is Alic Dub who has since died.

3. About three days before Belsen Camp was liberated I was a member of a working party of women going to collect grass for filling mattresses. The party was escorted as far as the gate of the camp by SS woman Gertrud Fiest, whom I identify as No. 4 on photograph 19. As we got near to the gate one of the women collapsed and the SS woman immediately came and kicked her in the back. The victim died at once in my presence.

Sworn by the above named Margarete Berg this 6th day of May, 1945, at Belsen Camp.

(Signed) Margarete Berg.

Before me the said Major P. Ingress Bell.

(Signed) P. Ingress Bell.

Certified that the above is an accurate translation of the evidence given by the said Margarete Berg in my presence.

(Signed) Charlotte Duschenes.