Hunh?
Hoess was not on trial at Nuremberg, so there was no bacon to save. The case against Hoess was presented to a Court in Cracow November 24, 1947 December, 22nd 1947.
In addition to testimonial, documantal, archival, and other evidence, forensic evidence was also presented at the 1947 Cracow trial.
From shortly after the war to the present there have been a number of forensic analyses conducted on facilities at Auschwitz-Birkenau including legitimate investigations as well as those conducted by Holocaust deniers. This section will give a brief history of those reports. Section V. will address in more detail the chemistry involved. In 1945 the Cracow Forensic Insbreastute did a forensic analysis of the criminal traces left by the liquidateers. Pressac summarizes some of their findings:
Toxicological analysis were carried out in 1945 by the Cracow Forensic Insbreastute (7 Copernicus street) on 4 complete plates and 2 damaged ventilation orifices found in the ruins of Krematorium II. After scraping the white substance that covered these objects back to the metal, 7.2 grammes of scrapings were collected and subjected to two qualitative analysis, which established the presence of cyanide compounds. The report, signed by Dr. Jan Z. Robel, was written on 15th December, 1945 and transmitted to the Examining Judge, Jan Sehn. 24
Strzelecki describes other early forensic examinations including the following:
In 1945, an examination by the Insbreastute of Judicial Expertise in Krakow of a sample of hair found in Auschwitz revealed the presence of compounds of prussic acid, the basic component of Zyklon B gas used in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. Traces of the acid were also found in metal objects found in the hair, such as pins, clasps, and gold-plated spectacle holders. 25
Auschwitz Poland was relatively quick to convict the camp personnel from Auschwitz Ð at least those that could be found. Trials were initiated against at least 600 members of the Auschwitz camp personnel. Among these were the two camp commandants, Rudolf Hšss and Arthur Liebehenschel, who were sentenced to rest in 1947. Rudolf Hšss was hanged in Auschwitz in 1947. A total of 21 were executed.
Similar trials against the camp personnel from Auschwitz were conducted in Austria and the GDR.
Regards, Eugene Holman
