FELICJA PLESZOWSKA

Eleventh day of the hearing, 5 December 1947

Presiding Judge: I would ask the next witness, Felicja Pleszowska, to approach.

(The witness Felicja Pleszowska approaches.)

Presiding Judge: Please provide your personal details.

Witness Felicja Pleszowska, 34 years old, a trader by occupation, religion – Roman Catholic, relationship to the accused – none.

Presiding Judge: I hereby instruct the witness, pursuant to the provisions of Article 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, that you are to speak the truth, and that the provision of false testimony is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to five years. Do the parties want to submit any motions as to the procedure according to which the witness is to be interviewed?

Prosecutors: No.

Defense attorneys: No.

Presiding Judge: The witness shall therefore be interviewed without taking an oath. Please describe the circumstances in which you encountered the accused.

Witness: I first encountered the accused Mandl in January 1943, when in the morning she burst into the so-called admissions block, shouting: “Money, foreign currencies, valuables – hand them over. If you withhold anything, you will be shot!” Each of the women prisoners immediately gave up all their personal belongings. Later, I would meet her frequently, standing by the gate when our kommando was returning from work. Numerous bodies of people who had been killed while performing labor assignments would be brought in in her presence. Mandl observed all this, and as I later learned each kommando was ordered to bring in a certain number of corpses into the camp after work. While we labored, the SS men would torment us with great cruelty.

Later, I saw the accused Mandl dragging the sick and the dead out in front of the blocks, where she proceeded to kick and brutalize them. Everything that went on in the camp happened with her knowledge and on her orders. Once a friend of mine who had arrived at Auschwitz with me lagged behind the marching group. They set a dog on her, and it bit off a chunk of her calf. She soon fell seriously ill, but before she died she had to attend roll call in the courtyard each day.

Another friend, who could no longer stand life in the camp, asked one of the SS men to shoot her, and he complied. I tried to remain in the lager and get myself selected for the gas chamber, for I did not have the courage to throw myself onto the wire fencing, as many of my friends did.

I was then transferred to block 30 in Birkenau, which was located near the crematorium. I saw how day after day the victims were herded along the road leading to the crematorium, which ran right next to our block. Both the living and the dead would be loaded onto trucks. The screams of the victims were terrible, you simply could not bear to hear them.

On 14 March 1943 I saw a very large transport being brought in from Kraków; individual groups kept arriving throughout the night. A few truckloads of children were added in the morning. The children cried desperately, sticking out their identity cards to the SS men, begging to be taken to work and not killed. The SS men threw themselves onto the children and started beating them, stopping only when the trucks moved off towards the crematorium.

Block 30 was where Doctor Schuman carried out his experiments. Men were sterilized using an X-ray machine. Out of a hundred, only three survived. On 3 April I was sent to block 10 in Auschwitz, together with Doctor Clauberg, with whom I worked. Clauberg had been waiting for this block to be opened in Auschwitz.

We were all closed in that block in Auschwitz, and we were allowed to leave it only under guard. I worked at the cancer research station, along with Doctor Samuel Maks. I worked directly with him, and I was also in direct contact with Doctor Wirths. Looking through the windows of block 10, you could see the executions, in which Aumeier, Grabner, Josten and others always assisted. The prisoners would be taken out naked and led up to the “black wall”, next to which they were executed. Their bodies would then be moved aside and the next group shot. During work, when one of the SS men doctors was with us, we had to pretend that we heard and saw nothing, although cries in various languages, for example “Long live Poland!”, “Long live Stalin!”, etc., reached our ears. The SS men who were with us in the hall would say: “Keep on working!” Before an execution, SS men would barge into our block with revolvers in hand in order to check whether the windows were tightly shut and whether we could not see anything through them. But we knew where there were cracks and openings, for example in the operating room there was a loose plank that we would move aside in order to observe what was going on.

I remember the execution of 150 persons in 1943. Soon after, Weber’s assistants came to the block and proceeded to cut out people’s calves, cut open their chests and draw their blood. These materials were to serve as food for microbes.

I also worked with Doctor Münch, about whom I can only speak with the highest regard. He helped us, he brought in injections and drugs, and worked in the night. When he saw that the women were afraid of some injections that he was to give them, he asked that we explain to them that they should not be frightened, and indeed ordered that he himself receive the first shot of vaccine, changing only the needle, so as to show them that there was nothing to be scared of. Exposing himself, he helped husbands contact their wives, thus reuniting people who had not seen each other for a few months or more. Somebody informed on Doctor Münch and a commission appeared, this comprising Grabner, Aumeier and another person whose name I do not recall. The Doctor was admonished, and the members of the commission informed that they had heard unflattering things said about him. He somehow managed to explain it away and for some time took precautionary measures, later however he resumed providing assistance to us prisoners.

When one of the female doctors was sent to the bunker for having hidden people sick with typhus fever and scarlet fever, and was thereafter assigned to the penal company (SK [Strafkompanie]), Dr. Münch intervened and managed to have her returned to the lager. She had a heart condition, and if not for his intervention she would most certainly have not survived the punishment.

I saw Aumeier, Grabner and Josten at nearly every execution. They assisted, as did the whole Auschwitz garrison and the bunker personnel.

I would like to add one more thing about Doctor Münch, namely that when from time to time someone knocked on our window and wanted to give us drugs or food, he would laugh and say that it was Santa Claus, whereas all the other SS men would have surely made use of the fact to conduct large-scale arrests.

Presiding Judge: Can the witness provide any information regarding the accused Danz?

Witness: I first encountered Danz in October 1943, when she took over the night shift. She tormented the prisoners terribly, tolerating only those who could ransom themselves with some food or presents, that is she used them to service her. The others she would torture inhumanely. I saw women who had been so terribly battered by her that they had to be carried off to the Revier [hospital]. I next ran into her in Malchow, where she starved us; what is more, even though there was enough food [in the warehouse], she did not issue us with any salt. When we were given soup, there was a great joy in the camp. She beat people up mercilessly. After a few Russians escaped, she ordered a roll call that lasted some hours. There was another roll call – just as long – when two women with scabies received drugs from the Revier, even though there was enough of these medications in stock. She ordered roll call because she wanted to determine from whom they had received the medications. For this reason she brought the entire lager to its feet, just so that the sick women could identify the persons whom they had got the drugs from. But they did not turn in anyone. They were beaten as punishment, and one of them so severely that I – even being accustomed to such sights – had a heart attack. She behaved most aggressively while we were being transported from Malchow to Leipzig. She stole everything that the prisoners still had on their persons.

Next, on 30 April or on 1 May 1945, when Malchow was evacuated, we were forced to move on. I myself did not go, because I preferred to be shot, for it was rumored that all those who were ill and who remained in the camp would be executed.

I do not know whether I am to describe the experiments that took place in block 10?

Presiding Judge: These are things known to the Tribunal. Are there any questions?

Prosecutor Szewczyk: The witness has testified that she first worked in block 30 in Birkenau, where experimental materials were prepared for Clauberg.

Witness: Experiments were already being performed there.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: For how long had Clauberg been conducting these experiments?

Witness: From 2 December 1942. His patients were housed in block 27, in terrible conditions.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: Clauberg was later transferred to Auschwitz, to block 10, together with his entire undertaking. When was the transferral effected?

Witness: On 3 April 1943.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: So he also conducted his research in block 10 for a time, and was then moved to a different block?

Witness: Not to a different block, but rather to the new Auschwitz lager, the so-called presentable camp, a few hundred meters distant from the main facility.

Prosecutor Pęchalski: Was this the lager before the camp – the Lagererweiterung [an extension of the camp]?

Witness: Yes.

Prosecutor Pęchalski: Were experiments carried out on women there as well?

Witness: Yes.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: When did Dr Clauberg move to the new blocks?

Witness: On 14 July 1944.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: And thus during the period from 3 April 1943 to 14 July 1944 the witness was in block 10 and is therefore aware of the experiments conducted by Clauberg?

Witness: Exactly so.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: How many people passed through this block and fell victim to the said experiments?

Witness: Approximately 800, or perhaps more than 800.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: How many of these people died?

Witness: Not one died due to Clauberg’s procedures. There were a few deaths, but these were caused by tuberculosis and typhus fever.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: Did the witness observe these experiments?

Witness: Yes, they were well known to me, for I sneaked out the film from the X-ray machine and showed it to our doctor, who explained to me what it showed.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: I am rather more interested in learning how the women behaved in connection with these experiments. How they reacted to them, whether there were any instances of complications.

Witness: There were a few infections, however these were more the fault of the personnel, for they failed to sterilize the tools with sufficient precision.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: But this nevertheless caused the women who underwent these experiments to experience considerable suffering, and also caused infertility?

Witness: This was to be verified only in 1944, when men were to be brought to the block for the purpose of continuing the experiments.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: Please explain whether during the time when these experiments were conducted in block 10 and Liebehenschel was the camp commandant, was he interested in them?

Witness: He toured the block and everything was known to him. Every commandant visited the block, and Clauberg would inform him of everything in detail.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: He denied this.

Witness: Liebehenschel was not present at the operations, as Höß was, but he would walk around the block and display an interest in what went on.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: Schumann’s experiments were conducted concurrently? I think that Schumann started earlier. Does the witness remember how much earlier?

Witness: A month or maybe six weeks.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: How many people were used up – if I may say so – in the course of Dr. Schumann’s experiments?

Witness: As far as I know, there were twenty or so women and a hundred men, whom I have mentioned previously. The women underwent internal surgical procedures. The majority of these women died, while even those that passed through the operation successfully had to walk around with open wounds that suppurated.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: How many fatalities did Dr. Schumann’s experiments result in?

Witness: Amongst the men – 90 percent, and some 60 percent amongst the women, while those that survived were unable to continue functioning as human beings, for their bodies had been so terribly burnt by the X-rays that they could not remain alive for long.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: Were Schumann’s experiments also carried out in block 10?

Witness: No, in block 30 in Birkenau.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: The third category of experiments concerns Wirths’ cancer research. Who was used for these experiments?

Witness: All of the female prisoners who came to block 10 were to undergo Wirths’ examinations, while those whom he considered unfit for his purposes were sent to Clauberg’s station. I overheard Wirths talking with Clauberg, and they agreed that all of the female inmates were to undergo Wirths’ experiments first, and Clauberg’s next.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: Is the witness aware that among those who were subjected to Wirths’ examination a great many did not have cancer?

Witness: From the few hundred results of Wirths’ tests, those which went to Hamburg, only a few were positive. The prisoners were told that it was for their good, that in this way they would be able to learn whether or not they may develop cancer in future.

Prosecutor Szewczyk: How many deaths did these experiments bring about?

Witness: There were no fatalities. Deaths were brought about only by the experiments of Dr. Schumann.

Prosecutor Pęchalski: Apart from the commandants, Höß and Liebehenschel, were other SS men also interested in these experiments, and here I am particularly interested in members of the Nazi party?

Witness: Everyone was interested, they drove up in cars; there was even a commission from Berlin which decided that the covered-up windows were detrimental to the [functioning of the] machines, and they were therefore moved to the front.

Prosecutor Pęchalski: The witness recalled that in 1944 men were to be brought in and the experiments were to be continued. Were the prisoners to be tested ...

Witness: Natural or artificial experiments were to be conducted, however this did not come about.

Defense attorney Kossek: The witness testified that the accused Liebehenschel would come over for the experiments. Could you inform us of the nature of his visits?

Witness: He came in an official capacity, and he issued instructions and assisted, just like everyone else.

Defense attorney Minasowicz: And who was in charge of these executions?

Witness: The political department. The SS men would come to check the window, Grabner, Aumeier and Josten – the scourge of the lager – all came along.

Presiding Judge: Are there any further questions?

The accused Aumeier: Esteemed Tribunal, the witness testified that in block 10 I reprimanded Doctor Münch that he had failed to submit a report concerning the prisoners. I would like to ask the witness whether she saw or, possibly, heard this incident.

Witness: I heard all you gentlemen enter the operating theater, and the accused reprimanded the Doctor that he was behaving and acting improperly, that he would face dire consequences for what he was doing in the block.

The accused Aumeier: With reference to this statement, I would like to deny that I was present in block 10 with Dr. Münch and that I rebuked him.

Presiding Judge: Accused Münch, please explain.

The accused Münch: As regards the dispute that has arisen between the witness and the accused, there must have been an error as to my interlocutor. This was most certainly Schulz from the political department.

Witness: I categorically oppose this statement.

The accused Münch: It may be that it was a misunderstanding of some sort, for I personally had an exchange of words with the then head of the political department, Schulz. Although I did hear from Dr. Klein that I was not allowed to enter the said block. I received a ban of two months on entering the block, and this was brought about by Dr. Wirths.

The accused Grabner: With reference to the testimony given by the witness I must declare that I did not enter block 10 for as long as I was in Auschwitz, and I think that this must have been an error concerning the person of Unterscharführer Schulz.

Witness: I know Schulz very well.

Presiding Judge: Are there any further questions?

The accused Mandl: Your Honor, I would request permission to ask about the children that were supposed to have been killed. When did this incident allegedly take place?

Witness: On 14 March 1944. The children were driven in in four or five trucks from Kraków, between 7.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m.

The accused Mandl: Were these Polish or Russian children?

Witness: Jewish. The trucks took them to the crematorium in front of our barrack, and we observed them for a dozen or so minutes.

The accused Mandl: I would like to ask the witness whether she saw me at the experiments in block 10, and if yes, then when?

Witness: It was only once, when Mandl came up to take the prisoners’ property, for which act she was reprimanded by Dr. Wirths and Dr. Clauberg.

The accused Mandl: When was this?

Witness: In December 1943 or February 1944, in any case at more or less this time.

The accused Mandl: Maybe the witness is in error as regards my person and my alleged presence?

Witness: That would be impossible, for we had to leave the block, and all the women inmates stated that “Mandelka” had arrived.

Presiding Judge: Are there any further questions?

Prosecutors: No.

Defense attorneys: No.

Presiding Judge: The witness may step down.