the Kommandant page 8

the Kommandant page 8 by ric Gustafson


By January of 1942, I was dealing directly with the destruction of the Jews. At first, I had to deal with the Jews of Upper Silesia. A detachment of my soldiers took charge of them at the unloading ramp. Then the officer in charge took them to Bunker 1. They were then told to undress in the Bunker for delousing. Then they were herded into large rooms. The airtight doors were then screwed tight. Then gas crystal canisters were emptied through special hatches in the roof. One half hour later, the door was opened and the bodies pulled out. Then they were moved by small carts to the ditches. This work was done by special prisoners called Sonderkommandos. These prisoners were kept apart from the other prisoners. Eventually, these prisoners were exterminated also.
Himmler wanted gold teeth pulled from the victim's mouths. Hair was to be cut from the dead women prisoners. In the summer of 1942, Himmler came to visit the camp. He was not pleased with using ditches for the bodies. An order came to me to open the ditches and cremate all the bodies. This order was carried out by the Camp Commander Captain Hans Aumeier and Master Sergeant Gerhard Palitzsch.


research help: ' The Commandant' by Jurg Amann


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric