The following took place in Oświęcim between 11 and 25 May 1945. Jan Sehn, investigating judge, member of the Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland, on the motion, in the presence, and with the participation of prosecutor Edward Pęchalski, member of said commission, in accordance with art. 254 and pursuant to art. 123 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, conducted an examination of the hospital at the former concentration camp in Auschwitz and of the patients of said hospital. The findings are as follows:
The hospital is located in the Auschwitz concentration camp, which is referred to in the official German correspondence as KL Auschwitz I (Stammlager Auschwitz), across six blocks, designated 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, and 24. They are one-story, brick-built constructions. In the hospital, there are 388 patients, former prisoners, listed in the attachment according to block numbers, with information also provided concerning the person’s name, date of birth, prisoner number, date of arrival at the Auschwitz camp, religious affiliation, and citizenship (Attachment 1, 16 pages).
All the patients are undernourished and emaciated, the majority of them in severe condition and bedridden. According to the doctors, these people suffer from TB, pleuritis exsudativa, furunculose, cardiac failures, frostbites, avitaminosis-related eczemas, nutritional dystrophy, and other diseases caused by the living conditions at the camp.
To illustrate the condition and appearance of the patients, the following persons, staying at different blocks, have been examined and then photographed by Stanisław Łuczko, a photographer with the Institute of Forensic Research in Kraków:
1) Ewa Muhlard, b. 13 October 1924 in Újpest, Hungary, of Hungarian nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, a student, at Auschwitz from 12 July 1944, prisoner number A-13160. Ewa Muhlard has stated that she had arrived at the Auschwitz camp in a healthy condition and was admitted to the hospital on 20 November 1944 due to diarrhea and jaundice. Presently, she is staying in block 14 and is listed in the attached patients’ register under current number 211. The patient was presented by Dr. Zdzisław Makomaski from Kraków, a medical doctor present at the examination at block 14, who on the basis of medical records and his own observations of the patient stated that Ewa Muhlard suffered from a disease which doctors call dystrophia alimentaris. According to the terminology of Soviet doctors, based on experience from the period of the Leningrad siege, it is dystrophia alimentaris III gradus. The patient, 155 cm tall, weighs 30 kilograms. Before she was arrested, her weight was 55 kilograms. In her current condition, she is perfectly lucid and capable of making conscious declarations. Attached to the report, as Attachment 2, is a copy of Ewa Muhlard’s medical records, and two photographs, marked as photos 1 and 1A in Attachment 6.
2) Klara Chełmicka, b. 10 October 1914 in Meklenburg, daughter of Jan and Maria, of Polish nationality and citizenship, Roman Catholic, a housewife, at Auschwitz from 15 May 1943, prison number 44 884. Klara Chełmicka has stated that she had been arrested in Łęczyca and transported to the Auschwitz camp in a healthy condition. She was admitted to the camp hospital in November 1943 due to general exhaustion. Presently, she is staying in block 14, and is listed in the attached patients’ register under the current number 159. The patient was presented by Dr. Zdzisław Makomaski from Kraków, a medical doctor present at the examination of block 14, who stated that the patient’s condition was severe, but declared her lucid and capable of making conscious declarations. On the basis of medical records and his own observations of the patient, Dr. Makomaski stated that Klara Chełmicka suffered from dystrophia alimentaris III gradus and advanced tuberculosis, contracted as a result of open skin lesions. The doctor estimated the patient’s height at 155-160 cm, and her weight at around 25 kilograms. The medical records indicate that before she was arrested, Chełmicka weighed 75 kilograms. Attached to the report, as Attachment 3, is a copy of Klara Chełmicka’s medical records, and two photographs of her, marked as photos 2 and 2A in Attachment 6.
3) Janette Aparizio, b. 30 September 1903 in Russia, daughter of Samuel Spiro and Katarzyna White, of English nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, married, at Auschwitz from 2 June 1944, prisoner number A-7180. Janette Aparizio stated that her family had initially lived in Russia. In 1905, following the Jewish pogroms in Russia, the Spiros left for England and settled there. Her father died aged 56 of a cardiac disease, and her mother died aged 54 of stomach cancer. Out of her four brothers, one died in the World War, and the remaining three are currently staying in London. She married an English citizen of Spanish descent. She was arrested in 1939 during an attempt to cross the French-Spanish border. Before she arrived at Auschwitz, she was interned at other camps, where the living conditions were acceptable to the extent that on arriving at Auschwitz she was feeling well. At Auschwitz, she was put in the women’s camp at Birkenau. Due to the situation and working conditions suffered there, her health was deteriorating already by July 1944, and she was admitted to the hospital because of cold, swelling of the extremities, and diarrhea. On the day of the examination, that is, on 11 May 1945, she was in block 14. In the attached patients’ register, she is listed under current number 158. The patient was presented by Dr. Zdzisław Makomaski, who stated that Janette Aparizio suffered from dystrophia alimentaris III gradus, and that despite utter exhaustion resulting from this disease she was mentally sane, lucid, and aware of her actions. The patient’s condition is severe and there is a high likelihood that she will die imminently. Aparizio did die on 23 May 1945 and the cause of her death is specified in her medical records as anatomical causes. A copy of the medical records is attached to the report as Attachment 4, and photographs of Janette Aparizio are marked with the number 3 in Attachment 6.
4) Gerda Rausch, b. 28 December 1922 in Wrocław, daughter of Adolf Rausch and Małgorzata Neumann, of German nationality and citizenship, Roman Catholic, at Auschwitz from 28 February 1944, prisoner number 75 710. Gerda Rausch has stated that she was arrested in January 1944 in Bunzlau, Lower Silesia, where she worked at the procurement office. She was arrested because she had failed to report for work for three days. She could not go to work because of intensive precipitation, since she did not have proper clothes, especially boots, and her workplace was three kilometers from her place of residence. She was not a member of a political party, and described herself as lacking a partisan identity. She arrived in Auschwitz in a healthy condition. Due to the conditions suffered there, her health deteriorated and she was admitted to the hospital. Presently, she is staying in block 14. In the attached patients’ register, she is listed under current number 156. The patient was presented by Dr. Makomaski, who, based on the medical records and his own observations of the patient, stated that Gerda Rausch suffered from dystrophia alimentaris III gradus and pulmonary TB. Her body weight was about 25 kilograms. Two photos of the patient can be found in Attachment 6 as photos 4 and 4A.
5) Betty Spinoza, b. 9 October 1908 in Amsterdam, daughter of Abram and Klara Spir, of Dutch nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, a clerk, in Auschwitz from mid-1944, prisoner number A-27858. Betty Spinoza has stated that she was arrested in October 1943 in the Netherlands because she was Jewish. She arrived in Auschwitz in a healthy condition. Presently, she is in block 14, and in the patients’ register attached, she is listed under current number 168. The patient was presented by Dr. Makomaski, who stated on the basis of the medical records and his own observations of the patient that Betty Spinoza suffered from dystrophia alimentaris III gradus and TB. Being 155 cm tall, she currently weighs around 23 kilograms, while her body weight prior to the disease was 47 kilograms. Despite her bad physical condition, she is mentally sane and aware of her actions. Photos of Betty Spinoza are marked with 5 and 5A in attachment 6.
6) Margarette Kantor, b. 25 February 1908 in Berlin, of Belgian nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, no occupation, in Auschwitz from April 1944, prisoner number 76 660. Margarette Kantor has stated that she was arrested on 3 March 1944 in Brussels, because of her Jewish origin. She arrived in Auschwitz in excellent condition and weighed 60 kilos. After four months in Auschwitz, she was admitted to the hospital. Currently, she weighs 35 kilograms, being 168 cm tall. She is staying in block 23, and in the patients’ register attached to the report she is listed under current number 297. Dr. Otto Wolken and Dr. Ewald Alschof, who presented the patient in block 23, both concur that the medical records and their own observations of the patient indicate that Margarette Kantor suffers from dystrophia alimentaris III gradus. Additionally, they have diagnosed a phlegmon on her right forearm, which developed as a result of beating. Photographs of Margaret Kantor are marked as 6 and 6A in attachment 6.
7) Enrico Morpurgo, b. 10 December 1891 in Trieste, son of Mordechaj and Ema, prior to arrest residing in Trieste, Via Macciarelli 13, a merchant, of Italian nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, in Auschwitz from the end of August 1944, prisoner number 192 901. Enrico Morpurgo has stated that he was arrested in Trieste on 23 July 1944 because of his Jewish origin. At the time of his arrest, he was completely healthy and he weighed 53 kilograms. Due to the living conditions in the camp, his health deteriorated and he was admitted to the hospital. Presently, he is staying in block 13. In the attached patients’ register, he is listed under current number 113. The patient was presented by Dr. Otto Wolken, who stated on the basis of the medical records and his own observations of the patient that Enrico Morpurgo suffered from dystrophia alimentaris sicca III gradus and gastroenteritis. The patient is 145 cm tall and, after a few months of intensive treatment and increased nutrition, weighs around 37 kilograms and is likely to recover. Enrico Morpurgo’s medical records are attached to the report as Attachment 5, and his photograph is marked as 7 in Attachment 6.
8) Maria Hirschfeld, b. 19 June 1920 in Szekszárd, Hungary, a tailor, of Hungarian nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, in Auschwitz from 8 July 1944, prisoner number A-11380. Maria Hirschfeld has stated that she was arrested on 1 June 1944 in Paks on the Danube, because she was Jewish. She arrived in Auschwitz in excellent condition. There, her health deteriorated and presently she is staying in the hospital in block 23. In the attached patients’ register, she is listed under current number 288. Dr. Otto Wolken and Dr. Ewald Alschof concur that the medical records and their own observations of the patient indicate that Maria Hirschfeld suffers from furnuculose and avitaminosis-related skin ulcers, which cover her entire breasts, the abdominal region, and right arm. The disease has resulted from avitaminosis and malnutrition, in combination with streptococcus infection resulting from exposure to dirt and ash. Additionally, the patient suffers from advanced dystrophia alimentaris. A photograph of Maria Hirschfeld is marked as 8 in Attachment 6.
9) Denise Marter, b. 18 April 1928 in Marseille, a student, of French nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, in Auschwitz from 23 May 1944, prisoner number A-5556. Denise Marter has stated that she was arrested in March 1944, because she was Jewish. She arrived in Auschwitz in excellent condition. There, as a result of malnutrition and insufficient protection of the feet, she suffered frostbite on both feet and was then admitted to the hospital. The frostbite occurred while she was working, not being able to wear shoes because her feet had swollen as a result of malnutrition, and only being able to wrap them in rags. Presently, she is staying in block 23. In the attached patients’ register, she is listed under current number 298. Dr. Otto Wolken and Dr. Ewald Alschof, who presented the patient, concur that Denise Marter suffers from frostbite affecting both feet and the affected toes of the right foot have come off. The toes of the left foot are healing, but they are permanently shriveled. The photograph of Denise Marter’s lower extremities did not come out well, so it was not attached to the report.
10) Cilil Appel, b. 9 July 1910 in Isakonha [?], Hungary, of Hungarian nationality and citizenship, of Jewish faith, no occupation, in Auschwitz from spring 1944, prisoner number A-7278. Cili Appel has stated that she had arrived in Auschwitz in very good health. Because of insufficient protection of the feet during work in the freezing cold outdoors and because of malnutrition, she suffered frostbite to both feet. As a result, she was admitted to the hospital. Presently, she is staying in block 23. In the attached patients’ register, she is listed under current number 293. Dr. Otto Wolken and Dr. Ewald Alschof, who presented the patient, concur that Cili Appel suffers from frostbite affecting both feet and has lost the little toes, while the other toes have shriveled. The condition resulted from insufficient protection of the feet during outdoor work in the cold, and from simultaneous malnutrition. Photographs of Cili Appel’s left foot were marked as 9 in Attachment 6.
11) Maks Aleksander, b. 20 September 1865 in Ketcer [?], Czechoslovakia, Poklen [?] district, son of Markus and Liba, of Slovakian nationality and Czechoslovakian citizenship, no occupation, of Jewish faith, residing in Bratislava, Cidowska Street 51, in Auschwitz from 1 September 1944, prisoner number B-14385. Presently, he is the oldest individual to have survived internment in Auschwitz. Maks Aleksander has stated that he was arrested for the first time in June 1943 in Czechoslovakia, but he was soon released following his daughter’s intervention. However, he was arrested again at the end of October 1944 and on 1 September 1944 he was transported to Auschwitz. The transport on which he arrived was the first one from which people were taken to the camp with no prior selection at the ramp. Presently, he is staying in block 13. In the patients’ register, he is listed under current number 119. Dr. Otto Wolken, who presented the patient, stated on the basis of the medical records and his own observations of the patient that Maks Aleksander suffered from dystrophia alimentaris III gradus, myodistrophia cordis and emphysemapulmonum. A photo of Maks Aleksander is marked as 10 in attachment 6.
The hospital blocks are located on the grounds of the former Auschwitz Stammlager, which is fenced off from the rest of the grounds with barbed wire. Above the Stammlager’s entrance gate, there is a sign installed by the German authorities, which reads ‘Arbeit macht frei’.
At this, on 25 May 1945, the procedure and the report were concluded.