DR. KAUFFMANN: I now put before you a statement from the witness Schellenberg. On 3 January this witness stated before this Tribunal that the evacuation of the Buchenwald concentration camp had been ordered by Kaltenbrunner. “Kaltenbrunner,” he said, “had stated yes, this is correct; this evacuation is due to a Führer order which had been confirmed to him, Kaltenbrunner, by the Führer.” Can you give an explanation of this?
KALTENBRUNNER: The statement is quite definitely incorrect. It is incorrect by the mere fact that Hitler quite definitely never ordered an evacuation or a nonevacuation of concentration camps. Such an order could only originate from Himmler.
THE PRESIDENT: Was there an affidavit or did he give the evidence—Schellenberg?
DR. KAUFFMANN: It was a statement of a witness.
THE PRESIDENT: It was given in evidence, was it?
DR. KAUFFMANN: Yes, it is a statement of a witness on 3 January.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
DR. KAUFFMANN: But, then, who did actually give such an order?
KALTENBRUNNER: It could certainly have been an order only from Himmler himself. The channel of command is quite clear: Himmler, Pohl, Glücks, and the camp commandant. It is not impossible that Himmler may have given the order direct to the commandant of the camp. That I do not know.
DR. KAUFFMANN: I want to interpose a question. Did you gain knowledge of this order?