According to Bakker, Baron van Lamsweerde would also be prepared to cooperate in this matter. Until the present it was not possible to hear the latter in this town. I, the reporter, have promised Langhorst and Bakker to put this case before the Minister of Justice. Amsterdam, January 15th 1946. Police Inspector [signed] J. J. van Geelen. B. PRO JUSTIATIA Bureau for War Crimes Nr. 46. Hearing of the Witness L.M.P.M. Baron van Lamsweerde, on the shooting of political prisoners, during the transport from Rehmsdorff (Germany) to Theresienstadt (Germany). VERBAL PROCESS. Pursuant to my report in this connection, dated January 15th 1946, I, Johan Jacob van Geelen, Police Inspector at Amsterdam, and attached to the above mentioned bureau, on Monday March 18th, 1946, heard a person, who stated to be: Leonardus Matheus Petrus Naria, Baron van Lamsweerde, born on June 5th 1919, at Nijmegen, official at the War Office, domiciled Lairessestraat 42 III at Amsterdam, and who declared as follows: On January 12th 1943 I was arrested while trying to pass the Spanish Frontier. After having been detained in various prisons, I was transferred to the concentration camp Buchenwald in Germany, where I was detained for about a year and six months. Finally, on November 12th 1944, I was imprisoned in the concentration camp Rehmsdorff (Germany) where I stayed until my escape on April 20th 1945. At the approach of the Allied forces, the camp at Rehmsdorff was evacuated in great haste and the political prisoners of this camp were transported to the camp Theresienstadt. At first the prisoners were transported by train and in goodsvans. We arrived by train at Marienbad, where, for causes I do not know, we had a delay of about one week. The vans with the prisoners were kept standing at the station. In the course of that week Allied bombers attacked the Marienbad station and in the confusion some 1000 prisoners escaped into the surrounding woods. Naturally the entire local service (the "S.S.", "Volkssturm" and "Hitler Jugend") was set to work to recapture the escaped prisoners and practically all prisoners, who of course wore their camp clothes and could easily be recognised, were recaptured. These prisoners, about a thousand men, were led back in groups to Marienbad station and there they were killed by the S.S. guards by a shot in the neck. As both engines of the train had been wrecked during the air attack, the prisoners had to walk all the way from Marienbad to Theresienstadt. Many among them were unable to go so far, and fell down along the road, totally exhausted; without exception these prisoners were murdered by the guards by a shot in the neck. That evening their bodies were removed with a lorry and buried in mass graves in the woods. Doubtless a good many of these corpses can still be identified, as they were clothed in camp dress, still bearing the registration numbers. However, in order to find these graves one must exactly know the road that was followed and the places of these graves, as these are situated in the center of the woods. I am fully prepared to assist in tracing them. When the transport started, I heard the S.S. guards saying that the total number of prisoners amounted to 2775. Only some of these prisoners have reached Theresienstadt. The others were murdered during the transport. Near Lobositz, about 7 kilometers from Theresienstadt, I myself escaped. The leader of the transport was the S.S.-Oberscharfuehrer Schmidt, one of the henchmen of "Buchenwald," who also there behaved in the most scandalous way towards the prisoners, and who was known to be a sadist. This is all I can declare." I, the undersigned, confirm that the above declaration has been made up in concept, and that accordingly it has not been signed. This verbal process was made under oath of office, signed and concluded at Amsterdam, on March 18th 1946. The Police Inspector and Special Constable, [signed] J. J. van Geelen. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT D-925 LIST OF CONTENTS OF THE "HANDBOOK OF THE S.A." PUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION OF THE SUPREME COMMAND OF THE S.A. (MAIN OFFICE FOR EDUCATION) CONTENTS Preface A. Introduction B. The Storm Detachments Organisation of the S.A. b) Mounted S.A. c) S.A.Messenger System e) S.A.Medical Corps The S.A. Standarte "Feldherrnhalle" S.A. Retraining Camp Service grade rank distinction Flags for S.A. staffs-Standards for motor vehicles Flags and "Banners" Significance Retaining of Storm flags and "banners" Fetching and diverting of flags and "banners" Moral of the flag-Storm Method of bearing flags and banners The development of an S.A.man Transfer of H-J members to the S.A. Compulsory labour duty and military service Transfers within the S.A. Transfers to the NSSK and SS Leadership and Selection 1. The Leadership Corps of the SA. The S.A.Leader The development of the SA leader The development of the SA admin.leader The development of the SA medical leader The Youth leader Principals for promotion in the SA Putting regular soldiers into leading positions 2. Education and training of the SA leader At the front In school Special training C. Principles re aim and means of training D. Thorough carrying out of individual branches of service I. The cosmopolitan basis of the SA service II. Care of the SA man The penalty Complaints Social care III. The Health Service IV. The inner Storm-Service 1. Place of Service Office, Assistance, hours of duty The Leave Roster Personal Papers Exhibition of service products Notification of strength (of unit) The Admin.Service in the "Sturm" Branch 2. Official behaviour Official behaviour (verbal) Outer Form of Correspondence Contents of Correspondence Official Channels Letter File and number Reports Standing Time Reports Official descriptions and abbreviations for corre spondence V. Turnout VI. Parade duty Primary training "Storm" Branch VII. Physical training. 1. Elementary Tips and clues for practical training in sport. Index of sport pamphlets of the highest SA 2. Competitions & Mil. Exercises Carrying out The fighting arena. 3. The SA Fighting Sports Associations 4. The SA Sports Badge Foundation certificate for SA Sports Badge VIII. Musquetry 1. Instructions 2. Practical appliance 3. Individual training in musquetry 4. Musquetry for attack IX. Training in Terrain 1. Purpose 2. Material & timely planning 3. The building up of terrain training 4. Incorporation of Groups I & II of the SA Sports badge into terrain service 5. Details for the recruit 6. Tips and clues for training in terrain Map reading & orientation Quickening of perception Observation of terrain Description of terrain Judgment of terrain Judgment of distances Camouflage 7. Movement and behaviour in terrain Lying down and getting up Crawling Leopard crawl Making use of natural cover Messages Sketches Reconnaissance training X. The Special Task Service 1. Conceptions re Special Task Service The Political Service Service for People & State Pre-mil. service as supplement to weapon service 2. Tips and Clues for Training The Propaganda march The parade the proclamation Cordoning off and Security Relief work 3. Exercises in the Special Task Service The Technique of giving orders |