BOLESŁAW DRYGALSKI

On 22 October 1947 in Wrocław, Associate Judge [illegible], heard the person named below as an unsworn witness. Having been advised of the criminal liability for making false declarations, the witness testified as follows:


Name and surname Bolesław Drygalski
Age 42
Parents’ names Wincenty and Wiktoria
Place of residence Wrocław, Miernicza Street 26
Occupation manager of a chocolate factory
Criminal record none
Relationship to the parties none
I was in the Auschwitz concentration camp from 4 January 1941 until 20 October 1944.

From the description of the former members of the armed crew of this camp presented to me, I am familiar with the following:

Hans Aumeier, served as Lagerführer [camp leader] from mid-1942 to mid-1943. From October 1942, I was a waiter in the SS officers’ dining room. For this reason, I had the opportunity to meet various personalities from the camp. Many times during roll calls did I witness Aumeier beating prisoners who had committed some offenses against the camp regulations. He punched and kicked until the prisoner fell to the ground. I can’t cite the names of those who were beaten, because they were not widely known, only by number, and besides there were too many incidents like these. I don’t know of any other incidents of persecution or murder of prisoners perpetrated by him.

August Bogusch was a writer in the employment office (Arbeietseinsatz) in 1943–1944. He did not commit any crimes, but just insulted the Polish prisoners, describing them as “ Polnische Schweine ” [“Polish swine”].

Wilhelm Gehring served as the leader of block 11, designated for prisoners who had been arrested. I heard from colleagues that he was very harsh towards the prisoners. I can’t give specific facts about his criminal activity.

Max Grabner [was] the head of the Political Department from the beginning of my stay in the camp [until] the end. I can’t give you any concrete facts about his criminal activity. I only heard how much enjoyment he got from the details of the executions carried out on the prisoners.

Arthur Liebehenschel was the commandant of the camp from November 1943 to May 1944. During his time, the regime towards prisoners was relaxed. He abolished the flogging punishments, forbade the guards and those serving in the camp from beating the prisoners, ordered the food to be improved, and stopped additional executions. He enjoyed a good reputation among the prisoners. Moreover, each of the prisoners had access to him and could make a complaint.

Ludwig Plagge was the commander of the penal company. He served his function when I came to the camp and until October 1943. He was a specialist in running the so-called gymnastics. This consisted of various “exercises”, after which dozens of prisoners would collapse from exhaustion. The “gymnastics” were held almost every day for this penal company. I can’t give the names of those who lost their lives on this occasion.

As for the gold coming from human corpses burned in the crematorium, I know that it was carried out in buckets from there to the Politische Ableitung [political department], but where it went from there, I do not know – to Berlin, I suppose.

The report was read out.