JEWS RUN GAUNTLET

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 161, 22 March 1939, Page 4

JEWS RUN GAUNTLET

. • A ORGY OF KRUTALITY • ... •:/. • ‘ ‘i. • . v • HITLER’S BLACK GUARDS The London News -Chronicle not long ago published what it said was an “eye-witness account” of the death of 12 Jews foirced to run' a gauntlet of storm troopers at tlie Sachenhausen concentration camp.'' { ! The newspaper said it had obtained the account “from sources whose veracity itl-is impossible to doubt.” It said 62 Jewish prisoners sent to the camp were beaten with whips, clubs and! spades. V' The story folloy^: r -•/ L • “On November 11, 12 police-men arrived atXhe Sachsenhausen concentration. camp with 62 hostages to be delivered, to tho camp commander. Most of those arrested were well-to-do lawyers," doctors, landlords, engineers, business men and two rabbis. ' ' ■' H . ' 'Vy - “At tli© gates of tlie concentration camp stood two guards in the black uniforms of Hitler’s Death-head battalion. On entering the hostages were ordered to leave the motor coaches and prt‘|j>ai'ed ’to march to tlie offices of tli©| caiilp commander for registration. '!" 1 •Jf ; ; Git - Hail of Blows. •X •'• ;■'xx .. f “But two ' lo'ilg ranks of Black Guards lined!.' tlie • way with whips, clubs and spades in tlieir hands. A police officer approached the leader of the troopers and asked for free passage. “He was tlnef 'with a curt reply that he must deliver.,, the hostages qti the spot. Thereupon the Jews were made to run the gauntlet of shock troopers “As they'- approached between the ranks a liailj of f blows fell 011 them. Police unable to' bear the cries turned tlieir backs. "As they fell "‘the Jews were beatemi further. The orgj r lasted half an holiji | ‘ “Then other prisoners were Ordered to carry them away. Twelve of tlie 62 were dead, tlieir skulls smashed. All of the others unconscious. - The eyes of sjnno |iad been knocked out. Their face! wete flattened and shapeless... ; T '' “i _ . • -gi ■ i '" 5 . “'l'hcD caderejof the shock troopers • handeiU to a police officer to show thati the correct number had been :dtli\ered| and the police returned to -.Berli)).”^