Norimberský proces, část výslechu s Wislicenym LT. COL. BROOKHART: Considering now actions in Greece about which you have personal knowledge, will you tell the Tribunal of the actions there in chronological sequence? WISLICENY: In January 1943 Eichmann ordered me to come to Berlin and told me that I was to proceed to Salonika to solve the Jewish problem there in co-operation with the German Military Administration in Macedonia. Eichmann's permanent representative, Sturmbannfuehrer Rolf Gunther, had previously been to Salonika. My departure had been scheduled for February 1942. At the end of January 1942 I was told by Eichmann that Hauptsturmfuehrer Brunner had been nominated by him for the technical execution of all operations in Greece and that he was to accompany me to Salonika. Brunner was not subordinate to me; he worked independently. In February 1942 we went to Salonika and there contacted the Military Administration. As first action... LT. COL. BROOKHART: Whom in the Military Administration did you deal with? WISLICENY: War Administration Counsellor (Kriegsverwaltungsrat) Dr. Merten, Chief of the Military Administration with the Commander of the Armed Forces in the Salonika-Aegean Theater. LT. COL. BROOKHART: I believe you used 1942 once or more in reference; did you at all times refer to 1943 in dealing with Greece? WISLICENY: That is an error. These events occurred in 1943. LT. COL. BROOKHART: What arrangements were made through Dr. Merten and what actions were taken? WISLICENY: In Salonika the Jews were first of all concentrated in certain quarters of the city. There were in Salonika about 50,000 Jews of Spanish descent. At the beginning of March, after this concentration had taken place, a teletype message from Eichmann 363 3 Jan. 46 to Brunner ordered the immediate evacuation of all Jews from Salonika and Macedonia to Auschwitz. Armed with this order, Brunner and I went to the Military Administration; no objections were raised by the Military Administration, and measures were prepared and executed. Brunner directed the entire action in Salonika in person. The trains necessary for the evacuation were requisitioned from the Transport Command of the Armed Forces. All Brunner had to do was to indicate the number of railway cars needed and the exact time at which they were required. LT. COL. BROOKHART: Were any of the Jewish workers retained at the request of Dr. Merten or the Military Administration? WISLICENY: The Military Administration had made a demand for about 3,000 Jews for construction work on the railroad, which number was duly delivered. Once the work was ended, these Jews were returned to Brunner and were, like all the others, dispatched to Auschwitz. The work in question came under the program of the Todt Organization. LT. COL. BROOKHART: What was the number of Jewish workers retained for the Organization Todt? WISLICENY: Three to four thousand. LT. COL. BROOKHART: Was there any illness among the Jews that were concentrated for transport? WISLICENY: In the camp proper, that is, the concentration camp, there were no special cases of illness; but in certain quarters of the city inhabited by the Jews typhus was prevalent and other contagious diseases, especially tuberculosis of the lungs. LT. COL. BROOKHART: What, if any, communication did you have with Eichmann concerning this typhus? WISLICENY: On receipt of the teletype concerning the evacuation from Salonika, I got in touch with Eichmann on the telephone and informed him of the prevalence of typhus. He ignored my objections and gave orders for the evacuation to proceed immediately. LT. COL.BROOKHART: Altogether, how many Jews were collected and deported from Greece? WISLICENY: There were over 50,000 Jews. I believe that about 54,000 were evacuated from Salonika and Macedonia. LT. COL. BROOKHART: What is the basis for your figure? WISLICENY: I myself read a comprehensive report from Brunner to Eichmann on completion of the evacuation. Brunner left Salonika at the end of May 1943. I personally was not in Salonika from the beginning of April until the end of May, so that the action was carried out by Brunner alone. 364 3 Jan.46 LT. COL. BROOKHART: How many transports were used for shipping Jews from Salonika? WISLICENY: From 20 to 25 transport trains. LT. COL. BROOKHART: And how many were shipped in each train? WISLICENY: There were at least 2,000, and in many cases 2,500. LT. COL.BROOKHART: What kind of railway equipment was used for these shipments? WISLICENY: Closed freight cars were used. The evacuees were given sufficient food to last them for about 10 days, consisting mostly of bread, olives, and other dry food. They were also given water and various other sanitary facilities. LT. COL. BROOKHART: Who furnished this railway transportation? WISLICENY: Transport was supplied by the Transport Command of the Armed Forces, that is, the cars and locomotives. The food was furnished by the Military Administration. LT. COL. BROOKHART: What did the Subsection 1VA4 have to do with obtaining this transportation, and who in that subsection dealt with transportation? THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Brookhart, you need not go into this in such great detail. LT. COL. BROOKHART: If Your Honor pleases, this particular question, I believe, will have a bearing on the implications involving the military; I can cut down on the other details. THE PRESIDENT: Well, you spent- some considerable time in describing how many of them were concentrated. Whether it was 60,000 or how many were kept for the Todt Organization-all those details are really unnecessary. LT. COL. BROOKHART: Very well, Sir. THE PRESIDENT: I mean, you must use your own discretion about how you cut down. I don't know what details or what facts you are going to prove. LT. COL. BROOKHART: If Your Honor pleases, this witness, as he has testified, is competent to cover practically all details in these Balkan countries. It is not our wish to add cumulative evidence, but his testimony does furnish a complete story from the Head Office of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt through the field operations to the final solution. THE PRESIDENT: Well, what is he going to prove about these 50,000 Jews? LT. COL. BROOKHART: Their ultimate disposition at Auschwitz, as far as he knows. 365 3 Jan. 46 THE PRESIDENT: Well, you can go on to what ultimately happened to them then. LT. COL. BROOKHART: Yes, Sir. [Turning to the witness.] What was the destination of these transports of Jews from Greece? WISLICENY: In every case Auschwitz. LT. COL. BROOKHART: And what was the ultimate disposition of the Jews sent to Auschwitz from Greece? WISLICENY: They were without exception destined for the so-called final solution. LT. COL. BROOKHART: During the collection period were these Jews called upon to furnish their own subsistence? WISLICENY: I did not quite understand the question. THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Brookhart, does it matter, if they were "brought to the final solution" which I suppose means death? LT. COL. BROOKHART: Your Honor, this witness will testify that 280,000,000 drachmas were deposited in the Greek National Bank for the subsistence of these people and that this amount was later appropriated by the German Military Administration. That is all I have hoped to prove by this question. [Turning to the witness.] Is that a correct statement of your testimony? WISLICENY: Yes. The cash which the Jews possessed was taken away and put into a common account at the Bank of Greece. After the Jews had been evacuated from Salonika this account was taken over by the German Military Administration. About 280,000,000 drachmas were involved. LT. COL. BROOKHART: When you say the Jews taken to Auschwitz were submitted to the final solution, what do you mean by that? WISLICENY: By that I mean what Eichmann had explained to me under the term "final solution," that is, they were annihilated biologically. As far as I could gather from my conversations with him, this annihilation took place in the gas chambers and the bodies were subsequently destroyed in the crematories. LT. COL. BROOKHART: If Your Honor pleases, this witness is able to testify as to actions in Hungary, involving approximately 500,000 Jews. THE PRESIDENT: Go on, then. You must use your own discretion. I can't present your case for you. LT. COL. BROOKHART: I have no desire to submit cumulative evidence. [Turning to the witness.] Turning to actions in Hungary, will you briefly outline the actions taken there and your participation?