Pinkus Chmielnicki, a Jew, was sentenced to death today on charges of torturing prisoners in his charge in the Birkenau concentration camp. Several witnesses who testified at the trial before a military tribunal here said that the defendant had killed a number of Jews.
Denying that he was guilty of the charges, Chmielnicki said that “someone had to take charge–I was forced by the Germans to accept the post.” Witnesses testified that the defendant beat, robbed and tortured his fellow Jews in the Nazi camp. He was recognized by four of his former victims when he presented himself at a reception center here for repatriated Jews.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
