The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-15
SERGEANT SMITH
 TELLS0F HORRORS
Waterbury Youth Gives Detailed Account of Visit
 to Buchenwald Camp
(NEA Telephoto)

Documenting the horrible truth of the infamous BuchenWald concen- tration camp where the Nazis per- petrated their goddess crimes against thousands of innocent victims, is a compelling letter which has been re- ceived by Mrs Elizabeth Smith of 282 Meriden road from her son, Ser geant David G. Smith, who, with a group of 25 American boys, visited the prison on May 25. The group toured the camp in an all-day ln- spection and viewed undeniable proof Sergeant Smith, former employe of Nazi evil.
 of the Lux Clock Co.,, entered the service in December, 1942, and is presently stationed in Osterwiech, Germany.
 The letter reads as follows: Buchenwald, May 25, 1945.
 It is raining and if person looks quickly the place looks just like an ordinary P. w. stockade in any camp in the states. Upon further in- spection 1t can be seen that the ten- foot fence hasy been electrlcall charged. Along the inside there IS a barbed wire, perhaps a foot hlgn and ten feet wide, also electrically charged.
 At the gate is the administration building which could be called the gateway to hell. Through this gate went 51OOO men, women and cnll- dren who never came out agaln. There were 6O,00O prisoners in the camp at all times and of these an average of 15 to 20 died every oay in the barracks and from 4o to 'o died in the hospital.
 Next we come to the barracks | which look more like warehouses or stables. They weren't much more. From 800 to 170O prisoners were Kept in each building which are approx imatelv 100 feet long and 30 feet wide. Along each side there are 1our tiers of wooden shelves where the prisoners slept The tiers are Tn sections. long enough for the average man and about 4 1-2 to feet Wloe where six people were crowded every nioht There were no straw mat tresses or blankets regardless o1 the weather. No doubt hundreos lroze to death during the long winters. Next we come to the hospltal: Il if can be called that. It is build inc similar to the barracks with the same sleeping accommodations regard less of type or seriousness o1 SICK ness This is the building where 4o to m died each day. Here also IS where four French generals were kept. ode, At one end is an ordinary Woooen bench that was used as an operat- ing table. Here, g to 3O operatloiis were performed each day. sixteen hundred had been injected WlIh noison here also. After leaving here we come to a hospital that IS as different from the first as day Is from night. The SS doctors per- formed experimental operations Tn this hospital which is large enough to accommodate a small town.
 Upon entering, we find cabinet containing glass jars. In the Jars are parts of the human anatomy. There are such things as bowels intestines, lungs and hearts. Ex- periments in skin grating and re- placing eyes were performed here.
 Finally comes the true horror chamber. All outward appearances makes one believe it is a cottage, but the large brick chimney makes you curious. There is large yard enclosed by high wooden fence. Inside the gate is square hole in the ground where bodies were dropped to the cellar. Yes, it is the crematory. In the cellar is where the gold filings are removed from the teeth and bodies stacked to await the ovens.
 Hooks are arranged on the walls where the bodies were hung like beef. There are black spots on the white washed walls where the bodies, not corpse or cadavers, be- cause some were still alive, rubbed. In one corner is an elevator lead-