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

(64) DEPOSITION OF SZAJA MÜLLER (Pole, aged 33)

2. I recognise No. 4 on photograph 1 as one of the S.S. guards who was guarding our transport when I travelled from Dora to Belsen. I have now been told that his name is Otto Calesson [Kulessa]. About 4th April, 1945, I left Dora Camp by rail for Belsen, with about 3000 other male prisoners. We did not get any food or water. On the third day out from Dora the train stopped for a time and we got out to relax, but had to stay in the neighbourhood of the train. Near the rails we found some carrots lying about on the ground, and several prisoners started to pick them up and eat them. At this moment Kulessa appeared and shouted, "You are not allowed to eat anything." He then pulled a pistol out of his pocket and I saw him shoot at one prisoner whose name I do not know. The man fell to the ground. In my opinion he was dead, because he lay on the ground, did not move and nobody attended to him. We left this place about two hours later, and I then noticed that the body had been moved. I believe it was taken to a special wagon in which prisoners who died during the journey were placed.

3. Kulessa was also an S.S. guard at Belsen. A few days before the English [British] arrived he entered my block, No. 87, wearing a white arm-band. He ordered all Jews to go outside and clean up the road. He then stood near the door and as the prisoners passed him to go outside he beat them over the head and body with a thick stick. As I was going outside I saw one man collapse after being beaten by Kulessa. I do not know the man’s name, but he was a Russian. I was told later by other prisoners that the man had died. I never saw him in my block again.