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This story is transcribed by me Graham Shepherd , from documents and discussions with Harry Langford , and will be added to the site with his permission . He understands the sites terms and conditions .

Early on 15th April1945 , the 4th KSLI with the 3rd Royal Tanks in support advanced through Winsen and then northward towards Bergen . About 7 miles beyond Winsen , the column came to a holt . No one quite knew what was happening ahead , but eventually word came down that negotiations were going on between the Germans and 11th Armoured Division , of which we were part , not to fight in the area .

It seemed that there was an outbreak of Typhus in a camp in the area which was reported to be holding political prisoners .

The road we were on ran past the camp , which we later found out to be the Concentration Camp at Belsen . The camp was said to hold some 60,000 Political Prisoners , who were the victims of the Typhus epidemic so virulent that their captors dare not let them loose . Word was passed down that no one was to approach the fence of the camp , or to leave their vehicles . It seemed that the whole medical team of the division was rushed to the spot and immediately took control .

I personally was in my carrier about half way up the column , and I spent about an hour outside the fence of the camp , and could see scores of inmates dying in front of our eyes . The camp was guarded by German and Hungarian troops , inside the wire .

After the truce was put into operation , we continued the advance and eventually entered Bergen , after releasing British and Canadian POW鈥檚 at Hagen .

With the discovery of Belsen , a statement was issued on the direction of the British Military Government relating to the events in the Belsen Concentration Camp : it is shown below :-

EVENTS IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMP BELSEN

" Photographs taken at Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp have recently been displayed in Eutin , and some disbelief has been expressed as to their authenticity .

You will shortly see in this town a film which was made in the camp .
The Detachment of Military Government which is now governing the Landkrels of Eutin was in charge of this camp from the date of its capture , the 15th April , until it was finally emptied of its unfortunate people on the 19th May , and burned to the ground . Its members were actually present at the taking of this film , which represents a terrible and damning indictment against a supposedly civilised race It is not pleasant , but those who wish to know the truth , will see it in this film .

At Bergen Belsen there is an up-to-date Barracks occupied by the Panzer training school . These Barracks are in beautiful park like surroundings , with every amenity , such as swimming baths , riding schools , Officers Casinos , that heart of man could wish for . A part of these barracks was used to house 15,000 men from the Concentration Camp proper. This camp ( Camp No. 2 ) was free from Typhus , but internees were dying in large numbers from starvation and overcrowding .

The Concentration Camp proper ( Camp No 1 ) was a hutted camp , surrounded by barbed wire and young pine trees , one kilometre from the Wehrmacht barracks already mentioned . The camp was reported to contain 45,000 people of both sexes .

The picture on arrival of British troops was indescribable . Neither camp had had water or food for some days . Camp 1 was infected with Typhus , and men , women and children were dying everywhere . There were piles of dead bodies , some with their cloths on , others naked . The bodies showed every stage of complete starvation , bullet wounds and lacerations . Some had their feet tied together and others showed evidence of cannibalism .

In all the huts the dead and living were literally intermixed ; in some , the dead outnumbered the living .

Sanitary arrangements were non-existent , as the drains had been blocked for a considerable time . In many huts one had to walk through human excreta in the passage , cooking facilities were totally inadequate ; one cookhouse fed 15,000 people .

Immediate action was taken by the British authorities to save as many lives as possible , while the task of smashing the fleeing Germans continued .

Food was rushed into the camp , pumps and fire hoses provided water from the nearby river , accommodation in the Wehrmacht barracks was prepared for a temporary hospital and a new camp for the ones able to walk .

It took the British ten days working with a " bulldozer" to bury the bodies lying above the ground . After that , the daily deaths were approximately 300/400 . During the period 15th April to 19th May ( a period of 5 weeks ) it is estimated that 21,000 bodies were buried , 7,000 evacuated to hospital and 17,000 evacuated to better conditions .

This camp is only one of many in this country . It is easy to deny responsibility owing to lack of knowledge . It is easy to say that you have been unfortunate and have been in the grip of - gangsters - the SS and Gestapo .

But those of you who still aspire to equality with your fellow men , will do well to reflect , that your brothers , sons and fathers of the Wehrmacht ( the flower of the German race ) saw some of the things related above , daily . These men had weapons in their hands and took no action .

The defeated German army , which you have seen in the last few days marching through Eutin , on their way , we hope , to a more useful life , know about these things .

The Wehrmacht handed over Belsen camp ( under a flag of truce ) through fear of Typhus , and it was left to others to clear up the mess . "

In commission published :

Lotz , Landrat .

This statement , was issued in response to expressions of disbelief by Germans that Camps like Belsen could have existed . It is a revealing commentary on the German Nation and its people .

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