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

(68) DEPOSITION OF ANDREG NJKRASOW (U.S.S.R., aged 29)

2. On 15th June, 1945, I was shown by Sergeant Scamans, 86 Special Investigation Section, Corps of Military Police, a man whom I recognised as the Kapo who was in charge of my working party at Dora Camp. I have now been informed that his name is Vladislav Ostrowoski.

3. Whilst at Dora, Ostrowoski generally ill-treated prisoners by beating them, and not giving them sufficient to eat. He was responsible for the issue of food to the prisoners, but never distributed it fairly.

4. After leaving Dora we spent two or three days in Ellrich Camp before proceeding by train to Belsen. I was in Block 19 and Ostrowoski was the Kapo in charge of this block. Whilst we were there one of the prisoners excreted outside the block. Ostrowski ordered all the prisoners in Block 19, a total of 900 men, to sit down in a stooping position for three hours. He beat many of the prisoners who moved, with a wooden stick. As further punishment he did not give us any food that day.

5. Whilst at Belsen I was also in Block 19 and for a time Ostrowoski acted as camp policeman. While we were lined up for food Ostrowoski walked up and down the queue and for no reason at all beat prisoners with a wooden stick. Many of the prisoners so struck had their heads cut open and I saw blood flowing from their wounds. I saw many dead bodies in the camp, covered with blood. I cannot state if the blows struck by Ostrowoski had killed them, but I am sure that the ill-treatment and beatings by him resulted in the death of many of them. All the prisoners were in a weak condition, and beatings such as these given by Ostrowoski would most certainly accelerate death. Ostrowoski also withheld the food at Belsen, giving it only to the strong and healthy prisoners, and so the sick prisoners were starved to death. I cannot remember the names of the victims as there were so many prisoners in the block and so many died.