Eleventh day of the hearing, 5 December 1947
Presiding Judge: I would ask the next witness, Tomasz Sobański, to approach.
I hereby instruct the witness, pursuant to the provisions of Article 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, that you are required to speak the truth. 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: We release the witness from the obligation to take an oath.
Defense attorneys: We likewise.
Witness Tomasz Sobański, 25 years old, a student, religion – Roman Catholic, relationship to the accused – none.
Presiding Judge: I would ask the witness to present what he knows about the accused, or any one of the accused, and also to provide specific facts.
Witness: I would request to be asked questions by the Esteemed Tribunal.
Presiding Judge: What can the witness say about the accused Szczurek?
Witness: I was in the camp from April 1941, when Szczurek was a Blockführer [block leader].
Presiding Judge: Is the witness aware of any specific instances of [Szczurek] tormenting prisoners?
Witness: I saw him striking people with his hand.
Presiding Judge: When was this and in what circumstances?
Witness: Mainly before roll call, but also during roll call; if a prisoner so much as moved a muscle, Szczurek would hit him. This happened frequently, for the inmates were so exhausted that they did not have the strength to stand motionlessly.
Presiding Judge: And what about the other accused – Aumeier, Grabner? Did the witness come into contact with them?
Witness: I remember Aumeier from 1942, when he came to the camp, in winter I think, just after the arrival of an enormous transport of Russian prisoners of war.
Presiding Judge: The witness has pointed out Buntrock.
Witness: In December 1943 I was transferred to Birkenau, where I ran into Buntrock.
He was a Blockführer. Next, after they brought the Jews from Theresienstadt to the camp and set up a Czech block, he was appointed Rapportführer [report leader]. He was the master of life and death.
Presiding Judge: And what about the accused Müller?
Witness: I remember Müller from when he was a Blockführer in Auschwitz; he was transferred from there to Birkenau, where – if I remember correctly – he became a Rapportführer.
According to the other prisoners, he was the terror of the camp, infamous for his cruelty.
Presiding Judge: That would be about all?
Witness: Yes.
Presiding Judge: Are there any questions?
Prosecutors: No.
Defense attorneys: No.
The accused Szczurek: I would request the Esteemed Tribunal to allow me to ask the witness in which year did I beat the prisoners?
Witness: In the summer of 1941. This could have occurred then, for I had been incarcerated at the camp since April.
Presiding Judge: The witness may step down.