The Trial of Josef Kramer and Forty Four Others

Exhibit 60 Affidavit of Yilka Malachovska

IN THE MATTER OF WAR CRIMES AND ATROCITIES AT AUSCHWITZ AND BELSEN

DEPOSITION OF YILKA MALACHOVSKA (Female) late of 19 Warszawska, Płońsk, Poland, sworn before Major Savile Geoffrey Champion, Royal Artillery, Legal Staff, No. 1 War Crimes Investigation Team.

1. I am 18 years of age and was arrested in May 1940 because I am a Jewess and taken to the Ghetto at Płońsk. In November 1941 I was transferred to Auschwitz where I remained until I was transferred to Belsen on 1st October 1944.

2. I recognise No. 3 on photograph 19 as an SS woman at Auschwitz. I knew her by the name of Bormann and I have now been told that her full name is Juana Bormann. At Auschwitz I worked with my sister Ida Malachovska in the same working party. One morning in January 1943 before going to work there was a selection at which Rapportführer Tauber was present. He took no part in the selecting. Bormann was one of the SS selecting and she chose 50 girls of our working party of 150 and my sister was one of those selected. The rest of us then left the camp to go to work and on our return in the evening, as we were entering the gate, 8 or 10 lorries passed us filled with women and girls. The lorries went in the direction of the crematorium which was situated just outside the camp. I have never seen my sister again or any of the girls selected that morning.

3. I recognise No. 8 on photograph Z/4/3 as an internee at Belsen. He was employed as Lagerälteste in the men's camp and I know him by the name of Erich. I have now been told that his full name is Erich Zoddel. There was in the women's camp at Belsen a girl friend of mine whom I knew by the name of Maria. She came from Lemberg, Poland and was aged about 26 or 27. In Camp No. 1 between 9 and 10 o'clock one evening a few days after the British arrived I saw her passing my block from the window. She was accompanied by a boy friend whose name or nationality I do not know. As they passed I saw Zoddel approach them from behind and he pulled his pistol out of his pocket and fired twice at Maria. She fell down and I saw that she had an open wound from the crown of the head to the neck which bled profusely. The boy friend ran away and I was told later that he had received a slight injury to his ear. Zoddel then went away and I went to look at Maria and found that she was dead. Nobody came to take her away until 11 o'clock the following morning when a detachment of German prisoners of war, under an English [British] soldier, put the body on a door, covered it with a blanket, and took it away. On the Sunday afternoon as the shooting occurred in the evening, Maria had told me that Zoddel, who was apparently found of her, had asked her to talk to him. She had refused saying she did not want to speak to him because he was a German. She said this incident had occurred the day previous and that Zoddel had seen her again that morning and had threatened to shoot her if she refused to go out with him. Our block leader reported the murder to the British. I was not present when the report was made. I do not know the Block leader's name except her Christian name was Aldorna. I have not seen her lately. I do not know where she is now. It was Block 201.

Sworn by the said deponent Yilka Malachovska at Belsen this 7th day of June 1945.

(Signed) Malachovska, Yilka.

Before me.

(Signed) S.G. Champion, Major, R.A.

I hereby certify that the said deponent not understanding English this affidavit was translated in my presence to the said deponent before swearing and I am satisfied that its contents were fully understood by the said deponent.

Dated this 7th day of June 1945.

(Signed) S.G. Champion, Major, R.A.

I hereby certify that I have accurately translated this affidavit to the said deponent

Dated this 7th day of June 1945.

(Signed) Traute Neumann
Civilian Interpreter