3 JA 122
HEADQUARTERS THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY JUDGE ADVOCATE SECTION WAR CRIMES BRANCH
APO 403 21 June 1945
SUBJECT: Report of Investigation of War Crimes.
TO: Commanding General, Third United States Army, APO 403.
I. AUTHORITY
1. This investigation was conducted in conformity with letter, Headquarters European Theater of Operations, file AG 000.5, OpJA. Subject: Establishment of War Crimes Branches, 24 February 1945, by 2d Lt. John J. Reid, AUS, Investigator-Examiner, from 25 April 1945 to 2 May 1945 inclusive and pursuant to directive of Commanding General, Third United States Army, a copy of the order which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
II. MATTERS INVESTIGATED—FLOSSENBURG CONC.
CAMP (P-3338)
2. a. Killing of interned Allied National Civil population and Allied National PWs by various cruel and inhuman methods such as neck-shooting, hanging, poison injections, forced suicides, lack of medical treatment, starvation, beatings, and other numerous inhuman methods purposely inflicted to result in death, (Violation of Geneva Prisoners of War Convention, Rules of Land Warfare and the customary law as observed by Civilized Nations).
b. Living and working conditions of internees which were beyond physical endurance and resulted in a systematic elimination of prisoners. . '
c. Starvation rations of internees which resulted in death and permanent physical impairment of prisoners.
d. Cruel and inhuman treatment and methods used by members of the German Armed Forces and/or persons under their immediate command against Allied National Civilians and Allied National Prisoners of War. (Violation of Article 2 of the Geneva Convention. Paragraphs 73, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 102, 105, 119, 127, 129, 132, 172, FM 27-10 Rules of Land Warfare and in violation of the customary law observed by Civilized Nations).
e. Unlawful killing by shooting, hanging and other methods, of Allied National Civil population who had been-interned and/or otherwise arrested by members of the German Armed Forces (Violation of the customary laws observed by civilized nations).
999
2309—PS
III.
PROCEEDINGS
3. a. The testimony of all witnesses examined in the course of this investigation was secured through the use of an interpreter after the witness had been sworn under authority of Article of War 114, in the following form: "You swear that the evidence you shall give in this investigation now being conducted shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, So help you God." The examination of each such witness where practical was conducted in my presence.
In the case at hand, it being impractible to use a stenographic-reporter, the witness after having first been duly sworn was questioned regarding his knowledge of the matters under investigation. The witness then propounded his testimony in a narrative statement in his own handwriting, where practicable, and in his own native language. The witnesses then after being sworn signed the statement. The interpreter was also sworn in the following form: "You swear that you will truly interpret in this investigation now being conducted. So help you God."
b. The transcribed sworn testimony of each such witness whose name is listed below is hereto attached as an exhibit, the number of which is indicated in the lower right-hand corner of the paper preceded by the letter "B."