DUPONT: Those who were left when the last convoy went out? That is a
complicated story. We were deeply grieved about them. About the 1st of
April, though I cannot guarantee the exact date, the commander of the
camp, Pister, assembled a large number of prisoners and addressed them
as follows:
“The Allied advance has already reached the immediate
neighborhood of Buchenwald. I wish to hand over to the Allies
the keys of the camp. I do not want any atrocities. I wish the
camp as a whole to be handed over.”
As a matter of actual fact, the Allied advance was held up, more than we
wanted at least, and evacuation was begun. A delegation of prisoners
went to see the commander, reminding him of his word, for he had given
his word emphasizing that it was his “word of honor as a soldier.” He
seemed acutely embarrassed and explained that Sauckel, the Governor of
Thuringia, had given orders that no prisoner should remain in
Buchenwald, for that constituted a danger to the province.
Furthermore, we knew that all who knew the secrets of the administration
of Buchenwald Camp would be put out of the way. A few days before we
were liberated 43 of our comrades belonging to different nationalities
were called out to be done away with, and an unusual phenomenon
occurred. The camp revolted; the men were hidden and never given up. We
also knew that under no circumstances would anyone who had been
employed, either in the experimental block or in the infirmary, be
allowed to leave the camp. That is all I have to say about the last few
days.
M. DUBOST: This officer in command of the camp, whom you have just said
gave his word of honor as a soldier, was he a soldier?
DUPONT: His attitude towards the prisoners was ruthless; but he had his
orders. Frankly, he was a particular type of soldier; but he was not
acting on his own initiative in treating the prisoners in this way.