Quotes on the sub-chapter "violence and punishments"

Be aware: The following quotes contain descriptions of physical violence experienced

„In my opinion, the reasons for the abuse on the part of the accused were generally fabricated. Reasons included, for example, when orders were carried out incorrectly, because most of them were given in such a way that they could not be understood correctly, and I had the impression that this was pure sadism on the part of the accused, because he often beat people in the most terrible way without any justification or cause. There was certainly no justification, because the people always had to appear eager to work, as the work groups were guarded and observed by SS men [...] You couldn't stand still and do nothing.“

Witness statement Franz Cernoch at the Vienna People's Court, 15 December 1949