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

(90) DEPOSITION OF SONIA WATINIK (Pole, aged 24)

2. During the summer of 1943, whilst at Auschwitz, I was employed digging trenches. One day, I cannot remember, the day or the month, but it was during the summer while I was digging, I saw my male cousin, Tevel Schadrowski, passing near where I was working. He threw a piece of bread towards me, but it fell a short distance away. I went to pick it up, but before I could do so a woman Kapo picked it up and kept it for herself. She hit me twice with her fist, knocking out one of my teeth, and then made me continue working.

4. On 22nd June, 1945, with my friends, Hanka Rozenwayg and Ewa Gryka, I was in Camp 3, Belsen Camp, when I saw a woman whom I recognised as the Kapo who had beaten me at Auschwitz. I did not know her name, but have since been told that it is Ilse Lothe. My friends and I brought Lothe to the office of No. 1 War Crimes Investigation Team.

4. I saw Lothe beat my friend Ewa Gryka. With her fists she hit Ewa in the face, making her nose bleed. I also saw Lothe beat a woman prisoner named Ruschla Grunwald because she left her work to go to the lavatory. For this beating she used a wooden stick and carried on beating her until the woman collapsed. I was also present and heard Lothe ask an S.S. woman, whose name I do not know, but whom I recognise as No. 2 on photograph Z/4/2, and whose name I have now been told is Irma Grese, to set her dog on my friend Hanka Rozenwayg. I saw the dog bite Hanka in the shoulder.

5. I have seen Lothe beat many prisoners with a stick. Some of these prisoners were beaten so badly that they were unable to work owing to the injuries inflicted upon them by Lothe. Because they were unable to work they were taken to Block 25. It was common knowledge in the camp that people who were taken to Block 25 were destined for the gas chamber. I have never seen any of these people who were removed to Block 25 again.