me but right now I have given the ones I can remember. Q. Is there anything else you wish to say about personalities you met here in camp? A. Yes, in January 1944 I was taken to Berlin by RASCHER after we had finished writing up some of the experiments. In Berlin I was kept by RASCHER in case he needed me to explain the results of his work but RASCHER himself took the reports in and reported to Obergruppenfuehrer Dr. CONTI, one of the SS who I understand was one of the directors if not the supreme leader of the medical department of the SS. He knew all about the experiments and these reports were given to him constantly. HEINRICH HIMMLER, CONTI, SS Obergruppenfuehrer Dr. ERNST KALTENBRUNNER of Berlin, were in direct connection with our experimental station, knowing everything that went on and ordered what happened. RASCHER was just a petty crook in a high position and the only reason I am alive is that RASCHER had to have me with him. RASCHER took his orders from these men I have just named and these men are the real ones I would like to get for what we had to see at Dachau. That is all I have to say. Testimony adjourned at 1600 hours on 13 May 1945. ATTEST: [signed] David Chavez, Jr. DAVID CHAVEZ, JR. Colonel, I. A. G. D. Investigator-Examiner Anton Pacholegg. TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 2819-PS Governor of District Lublin, Government General Lublin, 18 July 1944 Department: Economy To the Chief of Office [Amtschef] in the house. Az. 10-11-19. Subject: Movable property of Jews. Referring to my oral report of today based upon the secret letter of the SS- and police leader that I also received today, I present to you teletype [Fernschreiben] of the Government, De partment custodian administration [Treuhandverwaltung] of 3 May 1944 for your information, with the request to return it. Chief of the Economy Department per: Signed: Dr. Schrodt. Government General Cracow Government of the Government General, Central Economics Department Department custodian Administration [Abteilung Treuhandverwaltung] az.: 153 pi/m. 2. submit again at once S 4/5. To the Governor of the district, Economics Department I am to be notified about developments DM. Sub Department Custodian Administration [Treuhandverwaltung] Warsaw-Radom-Lublin-Galicia.. Subject: Transfer of personal property of Jews to the government by the SS. For your information I am informing you that, on 21 February 1944, an agreement was reached by states secretary Dr. Buehler with the higher SS- and police leader, SS Lieutenant General Koppe, in presence of several department presidents, that the SS will place at the disposal of the government the personal property of Jews stored in camps or becoming available in the future. In executing this agreement, I caused that goods stored in various SS camps be taken over within the shortest possible time. Stock already confiscated and safeguarded was also transferred to me by the Chief of the Security Police and the SD. I request you to contact the local SS- and police leader in order to clarify this subject. The higher SS- and police leader has charged SS-Major Meier expert for special property, who is constantly in contact with my office, to carry through the transfer of this property. By order: Pietschke, Regierungsrat vgl. 21 Dec.1944 +++ RESTRICTED HEADQUARTERS THIRD US ARMY AND EASTERN MILITARY DISTRICT MILITARY COMMISSION ORDER NUMBER 6 APO 403 18 October 1945 Before a military commission which convened at Freising, Germany, on 15 July 1945, pursuant to paragraph 11, Special Orders No. 190, this headquarters, 11 July 1945, was arraigned and tried: Albert Bury, also known as Alfred Bury, a German National. Charge: Violation of the Laws and Usages of War. Specification: In that on or about 12 December 1944, Albert Bury, also known as Alfred Bury a German National, then the police chief of Langenselbold, Kreis Hanau, Germany, and Wilhelm Hafner, Karl Henkel, and Wilhelm Plitt, all German Nationals, then policemen of Langenselbold, Kreis Hanau, Germany, and Johann Freidrich Wilhelm Loser, a German National, then Landrat of Kreis Hanau, Germany, and Georg Heinrich Kalte, a German National, then Oberleutnant of Police of Kreis Hanau, Germany, did at Langenselbold, Kreis Hanau, Germany, wrongfully and unlawfully kill Technical Sergeant Donald L. Hein, ASN 33563157, a member of the Armed forces of the United States of America, the said Albert Bury having wrongfully and unlawfully delivered the said Donald L. Hein, who had come into his, Albert Bury's, custody as a prisoner of war, and was then and there unarmed and defenseless and was not under sentence of death for any offence committed by the said Donald L. Hein, to said Wilhelm Hafner, Karl Henkel, and Wilhelm Plitt, with directions that the said Wilhelm Hafner, Karl Henkel, and Wilhelm Plitt, should shoot the said Donald L. Hein, and pursuant thereto the said Wilhelm Hafner, Karl Henkel and Wilhelm Plitt, having conducted the said Donald L. Hein to a secluded spot at or near Langenselbold, Kreis Hanau, Germany, where the said Wilhelm Hafner in the presence of the said Karl Henkel and Wilhelm Plitt did wrongfully and unlawfully shoot the said Donald L. Hein with a pistol, causing the death of said Donald L. Hein, the said Karl Henkel and Wilhelm Plitt then and there wrongfully and unlawfully standing by and failing to prevent the aforesaid unlawful act of the said Wilhelm Hafner, all of the foregoing having been done pursuant to the wrongful and unlawful orders of the said Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Loser and the said George Heinrich Kalte that each and every enemy flier who landed within the ter ritory of their jurisdiction was to be shot immediately, or words to that effect. PLEAS To the Specification of the Charge: Not Guilty To the Charge: Not Guilty FINDINGS Of the Specification of the Charge: Guilty SENTENCE To be hanged by the neck until dead. The sentence was adjudged on 15 July 1945. The action of the convening authority is as follows: "HEADQUARTERS THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY APO 403 In the foregoing case of Albert Bury, also known as Alfred Bury, a German National, the sentence is approved. The record of trial is forwarded for confirmation to the Commanding General, United States Forces, European Theater. s/ G. S. Patton, Jr. t/ G. S. PATTON, JR., General, U. S. Army, Commanding." The action of the confirming authority is as follows: "HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, EUROPEAN THEATER 12 October 1945 In the foregoing case of ALBERT BURY, also known as ALFRED BURY, a German National, the sentence is confirmed. The Commanding General, Eastern Military District, will issue appropriate orders promulgating the sentence as confirmed and will carry the sentence into execution at a time and place to be determined by him. s/Dwight D. Eisenhower DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Commanding General, U S Forces, European Theater" BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL TRUSCOTT: DON E. CARLETON, Brigadier General, U. S. Army, Chief of Staff. [SEAL] HEADQUARTERS THIRD US ARMY OFFICIAL L. L. MANLY, Colonel, Adjutant General's Department, Adjutant General. [Written by von Papen while in custody in 1945] In these days, when Austria is occupied by the Russian Army, Vienna is destroyed, and a new "Renner Government" has been established-with the grace of Moscow but without the recognition of the US or England-one's thoughts return to that charming and beloved country, and to the destiny which has overtaken it since the days of St. Germain. The destruction of the dual monarchy, and with it the balance of power in Southeast Europe, was a political mistake of the greatest magnitude. It was provoked by statesmen who did not understand the political and cultural accomplishments of the Hapsburgs during the centuries, and permitted their work to be reduced to nothing. Just as Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Jugoslavia barely were able to maintain their political and economic existence, so was the German remainder of this great monarchy ill-fitted for independent existence. The causes have been discussed often enough in the course of the past twentyfive years. A far-sighted policy of the victorious powers would have brought this rump Austria into at least an economic association with the Reich after the famous Salzburg Statement of 1919, in which Austria declared itself 99 percent in favor of political union. But this proposal was refused by the great powers. Italy, who had appropriated the South Tyrol, feared a reaction, and was only interested in a weak, helpless Austria. The ambition of France since Louis XIV had been not only to annex the Saar and the Rhineland, but to take Austria under special protection, and to play her off against the Reich. England remained more or less indifferent. |