At least 40,000 Jews died in the Lodz ghetto from hunger alone, Dr. Leon Shiker, well known Lodz physician and Polish representative of the OSE, testified yesterday at the trial of Hans Biebov, former commandant of the Lodz ghetto.
The session was marked by frequent shouted accusations by numerous Jewish witnesses who testified that Biebov personally killed many men, women and children and robbed them of jewelry and other valuables. Witness after witness shouted at the defendant: “Where did you send my mother and father,” or “What did you do with my child.” The judge had to call for order in the court on a number of occasions.
One of the witnesses told of the death of two Jewish leaders who were killed for heroic resistance to the Nazis. One, a Dr. Wesikopf, cornered by Biebov and several guards, attacked them and injured several before he was shot by Biebov. Dr. I. Lemberg, chairman of the Jewish community of Zdunska Wola, when asked to furnish ten Jews for hanging, told Biebov: “I have four for you–my wife, my son, my daughter and myself. The other six go get for yourself.” For this reply, Lemberg was murdered.
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.
