The Investigation

A dramatic re-construction of the Frankfurt War Crimes trials

Peter Weiss

• Publisher: Marion Boyars
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9780714520117
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Drama
• Index: Literature

The Investigation is a dramatic reconstruction of the Frankfurt War Crimes trials, based on the actual evidence given. This testimony, concerning Auschwitz and the atrocities which were enacted there, has been edited and extracted by Peter Weiss into a dramatic document that relies solely and completely on the facts for its effectiveness.

There is no artistic license, no manipulation of facts and figures, no rearrangement of events for theatrical effect. Nameless witnesses stand and recall their appalling memories of Auschwitz, allowing us to bear witness to their painful and painstaking search for truth and ultimately justice. What emerges is a chastening and purging documentary of deeply moving power.

Canto Eight: PHENOL

I

WITNESS: 8	I accuse Sanitary Inspector Klehr of the unauthorised murder of thousands of prisoners by injecting phenol into the heart
DEFENDANT: 9	This is slander Only in one case did I supervise any such operation and even then I did it entirely against my will
WITNESS: 8	Every day at least 30 prisoners were killed in the hospital Sometimes it was as many as 200
JUDGE:	Where were the injections given
WITNESS: 8	In the Injection Block That was Block Twenty
JUDGE:	Where was Block Twenty
WITNESS: 8	On the right in the middle row of blocks opposite the prisoners’ infirmary in Block Twenty-One As the prisoner in charge I had to lead selected cases across the yard to the Injection Block
JUDGE:	Was the yard shut off
WITNESS: 8	Only by three low iron gates
JUDGE:	What was the condition of the prisoners who were taken
WITNESS: 8	Those who could walk went in their shirts or half naked across the yard They held their blankets and wooden shoes over their heads Many of them had to be helped or carried They entered Block Twenty by the side door
JUDGE:	In what room were the injections given
WITNESS: 8	In Room One That was the doctor’s room at the end of the passage
JUDGE:	Where did the prisoners wait
WITNESS: 8	They had to wait in the corridor The severely ill lay on the ground They went into the doctor’s room in pairs Doctor Entress gave Klehr a third of the patients This wasn’t enough for him When the doctor was gone Klehr undertook additional separations
JUDGE:	Did you see this yourself
WITNESS: 8	Yes I saw it myself Klehr loved round numbers If the ...