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

(53) DEPOSITION OF KLARA LEBOWITZ (Czech, aged 31)

2. I worked in the kitchen and though I was dismissed from Appelle after a few minutes in order that I might go to work, whilst working in the kitchen I could see what happened at the Appelle.

3. S.S. woman Grese was in charge of the Appelle which took place twice a day. These lasted at least two hours and, more often, three or four hours. If a mistake was made in counting the internees they were made to stand until the missing one was found, and this often meant all day. No time was allowed for food, and people used to fall unconscious as a result of this. When the woman Grese attended these Appelle she often made the internees go on their knees for hours on end or hold stones in their hands high above their heads. If an internee did not stand upright, because she was weak or for any, other, reason, she would beat her with a rubber truncheon sometimes until she was unconscious. She would kick persons lying on the ground and many people were taken to hospital a result of her treatment. The internees were not allowed to carry anything their pockets, and the woman Grese would often stop and search internees whom she would beat unmercifully if she found anything on them, even a handkerchief.

4. I have often seen the woman Grese with Dr. Mengele selecting people for the gas chamber and for forced work in Germany. If the woman Grese saw a mother and daughter or sisters trying to get together in selections for forced work in Germany, she would beat them until they were unconscious and leave them lying on the ground.