(84) DEPOSITION OF EVA KRYSTYKA STOJOWSKA (Pole, aged 31)
2. Whilst at Birkenau, I was in Block 12 and Helena Koper was in Block 18, which was opposite to my block. I was warned by Sofie Malys, who was secretary of Block 18, never to say anything in the presence of Koper as she, Koper, was a spy working for the S.S. Malys was later sent to Ravensbrück. Whilst at Birkenau I was told by many prisoners that Koper had given information to the S.S. and that many prisoners had been punished as a result.
3. When I arrived at Belsen, Koper was Blockälteste of Block 205 and later Block 224. She later became camp policewoman. I myself, was Blockälteste of Block 201, but after being in Belsen for about a month I was taken ill with typhus and was sick for two and a half months. Whilst sick I lived in Kitchen 1 and then about the beginning of April, 1945, I moved to the maternity block.
4. About the end of March, 1945, whilst in Kitchen No. 1 Block, Belsen, I saw, through the window the woman Koper, together with about 40 other women Blockältesten. The other Blockältesten were beating Koper with their hands and I saw her fall crying to the ground. The others then left her and she got up and went to the hospital. I asked some of the other Blockältesten what was the matter and they told me that Koper had reported to the S.S. that they, these other Blockältesten, were in possession of jewellery. This was an offence in the camp. A search was made of all the Blockältesten by two SS. women, whom I identify as No. 5 on photograph 22 , and No. 6 on photograph 22 . I have now been told that their respective names are Herta Ehlert and Elisabeth Volkenrath. Nothing was found as a result of this search and they then searched Koper herself and found that she was wearing a gold chain and locket, in which was a photograph of an S.S. man at Belsen Camp. Upon finding this, either Volkenrath or Ehlert told the other Blockältesten that Koper had given them false information else and that they could beat her. The other Blockältesten then set about Koper.
(84) FURTHER DEPOSITION OF EVA KRYSTYKA STOJOWSKA
1. During the time I was in Birkenau Concentration Camp, from October 1943, to December, 1944, I saw many selections for the gas chamber, especially during the period May to September, 1944, when they were held practically every day without exception. I saw the following persons take part in these selections: S.S. Doctors Mengel, Klein and Rohde; S.S. men Kommandant Kramer and Hoessler, and Rapportführer Tauber; S.S. women Mandel, Drechsler, Hasse and Brandel.
4. I identify No. 2 on photograph No. 5 as an Unterscharführer and Blockführer at Belsen. I have now been told that his name is Walter Otto. One day in January, 1945, five or six days after my arrival at Belsen, I went to Block 213, which was empty, in order to get a bed. There were some beds outside 213, and as I was without one, I obtained permission from the Lagerältester to fetch one. As I began to move the bed Otto approached me. He was carrying a big stick. He accused me of stealing the bed and, without giving me a chance to answer, beat me again and again across the upper arms, shoulders and back with the stick he was carrying. I was very badly bruised.
5. Block 201, in which I lived, was divided into two parts, each of which had its own Block Leader. I was one Block Leader and a Hungarian Jewess, aged about 50 years, was the other. Two days after the incident above Otto came in Block 201. He was again carrying a big stick. The Hungarian Jewess had a bed in the block and Otto asked her where she got the bed. She told him she had brought it from outside with permission of the Lagerältester. Otto then set about the woman and beat her across the head, face, shoulders and back with his stick. She was knocked to the floor and he continued to beat her whilst she was on the floor. After Otto had left the block I helped to lift the woman into bed, where she had to remain for several weeks, I believe that some of her ribs were broken as she could not breathe properly. She also had cuts on the face and head and her body was swollen and badly bruised. I have heard from other prisoners that Otto frequently beat prisoners for very little reason, but these are the only two incidents I can speak of from my own knowledge.
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