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

(39) DEPOSITION OF HELENE HERKOVITZ (Czech, aged 21)

1. I am 21 years old. I am a Jewess of Czechoslovakian nationality. I was arrested by the Germans in March, 1944, and taken to Auschwitz. In February, 1945, I was transferred to Belsen Camp and I was employed in the kitchen. I had been employed in the kitchen at Auschwitz and did not sleep with the ordinary prisoners. I saw persons put in the gas chamber, but by being in the kitchen escaped the beatings and the starvation which the other prisoners endured.

2. About seven weeks ago the S.S. woman Ehlert noticed a ring and a locket I was wearing. I had previously hidden these. She took them from me and took me into her room, where she made me undress. She questioned me as to where I had got this jewellery, but did not believe me when I said it was mine and I had brought it with me to Belsen. She beat me with a stick about the head and back until blood came from my nose and ears. I then dressed and was made to run behind the bicycle ridden by Ehlert to the S.S. Headquarters. Whilst I was being interrogated by Ehlert two other S. S. women were present and took part in the beating. Their names are Gollasch and Volkenrath. I was questioned in the presence of these three women by two S.S. men whose names I do not know, but whom I could recognise. They beat me about the shoulders with a rubber truncheon. I was then put in a cellar in a house by myself and only given bread and water every three days. My sister managed to smuggle extra food to me. After three weeks and daily questioning I was taken out and made to work in the latrines. After six days I caught typhus and was in hospital when the camp was liberated. The conditions in hospital were very bad, but there were no deliberate acts of cruelty committed against the patients, though many died.