Newsgroups: alt.revisionism
Subject: Holocaust Almanac: Danil'chenko at Sobibor 
Summary: Soviet interrogation record placing Dem'yanyuk in service of
         the SS at Sobibor
Reply-To: kmcvay@nizkor.almanac.bc.ca
Followup-To: alt.revisionism
Organization: The Nizkor Project, Vancouver Island, CANADA
Keywords: Sobibor,Danil'chenko

Archive/File: holocaust/poland/reinhard/sobibor dchenko.002
Last-Modified: 1994/08/13
Source: United States Department of Justice

                       MINUTES OF INTERROGATION

            March 2, 1949     The City of Dniepropetrowsk

I, a senior investigator in the Department of Investigations of the
State Ministry of Defense in the District of Dniepropetrowsk, Lt.
Chernov, interrogated the accused:

Danil'chenko, Ignat Terent'yevich

The interrogation began at 13:30 hours.
The interrogation ended at 18:00 hours.

Question: Give the names that are known to you of those who studied
with you at the school in Trawniki for the training of Wachmas, who
served afterwards together with you in the SS forces.

Answer: Among the people who studied with me at the school of the SS
forces for the training of Wachmans at Trawniki and who served in the
SS forces, I know:

1. Piotr Rodenko. I don't know his father's name, year of birth about
1919-1920, born and lived in the District of Dniepropetrowsk, I don't
know from which area exactly; he was held in a prisoner of war camp in
the city of Rovno. In July 1942, while acting treasonably against the
homeland, he joined the service of the German SS forces, completed the
school at Trawniki in the position of Wachman.

After completion of the school, I, together with Rodenko, served at
the camp for destruction of civilians of Jewish nationality, Sobibor
(Poland) where he, as I, took part in the mass destruction of people.

He guarded the camp against the possibility of the escape of the Jews
who were sentenced to death, he guarded them in the trains that would
arrive from other countries to the Sobibor camp and accompany them on
guard to Camp No. 2, as it was termed, from where they were referred
to gas chambers for killing by gas.

In spring 1944, together with Rodenko, we were sent to the town of
Flossenburg (Germany), where he with other Wachmans undertook guard
duty of Soviet civilians and others who had been arrested by the
Germans and were being held in a concentration camp.

In Autumn 1944, Rodenko together with me and other Wachmans from the
city of Flossenburg, accompanied under guard from the concentration
camp to the city of Regensburg (Germany) 200 arrested Soviet
civilians, who were immediately transferred under guard to the
concentration camp. He guarded these prisoners at the concentration
camp and each day accompanied them under guard to forced labor digging
tunnels in the mountains some 18 kms. from the city of Regensburg.

In April 1945 he with other Wachmans under guard to the city of
Nurenberg the same two hundred prisoners. This was done because the
attacks of the Soviet armed forces and their approach to the city of
Regensburg.

During the accompaniment of the prisoners to the city of Nurenberg, I
defected and subsequently I did not meet Rodenko ever.

His description: Medium height, thin, black hair, long face, dark
eyes, long pointed nose.

Special marks: On the left arm, above the elbow, on the left side, he
has a toattoo that was done for the Wachmans, including myself, in the
city of Flossenburg.

2. Ivan Homenko, born 1921, in the District of Dniepropetrowsk. I do
not know from which area exactly, Ukrainian, citizen of the USSR.

I met up with Homenko and got to know him at the Police School of the
SS in the township of Trevnicki (Poland), where he came for training,
I believe, from a camp in the city of Chelm.

I do not know under what circumstances he arrived at the camp for
prisoners of war in the city of Chelm. He, as I, gave a written
undertaking at the SS school to the German command and swore loyalty
to fascist Germany.

During the studies, he, as part of the practical work, served in the
guard over the Trevnicki camp, where civilian prisoners of Jewish
nationality were held and prepared for extermination by the Germans.

After completion of the SS Police School in the role of Wachman, he
together with myself was sent for remedial activity at the Sobibor
death camp, where he stayed until Spring 1944.

He took part in the mass destruction of Jews who had been brought in
trains by the Germans from various countries. He guarded them against
the possibility of an escape, accompanied them under guard to gas
chambers for destruction through suffocation by gas.

He, together with myself, subsequently went from the city of
Flossenburg to Regensburg (Germany), guarded imprisoned Soviet
civilians, accompanied under guard from one concentration camp to
another and for hard work digging tunnels in the mountains some 18
kms. from the city of Regensburg.

In April 1945, he accompanied under guard from the camp in the city of
Regensburg to the camp of Nrenberg 200 Soviet civilians for continued
imprisonment in a concentration camp.

I separated from him when, during the accompaniment of these
prisoners, I fled, while he remained to serve in the SS forces. I do
not know his present whereabouts.

His description: Short, full build, blond, blue or gray eyes, round
face. On the left arm, on the inside, above the elbow is a tattoo -
his blood type, done to all the Wachmans, he amongst them, in the city
of Flossenburg (Germany).

3. Nikolai Medewiev, I do not know his father's name, born around
1922-23. Was born and lived in the District of Zaporoscha, Ukrainian.

I met and came to know him at the Trevnicki camp during training at
the SS Police School.

It is known to me personally, in the framework of the practical work,
during studies at the school for Wachmans, that he, in a group of
armed guards, served in guarding the Trevnicki death camp where Jews
imprisoned by the Germans were held and prepared for extermination.

He, like I, gave to the German command of the SS forces a written
undertaking about a dedicated attitude to his duties and swore loyalty
to fascist Germany.

After completion of the SS school in Trevnicki, he was sent for penal
work to the destruction camp of Soviet and other citizens of Jewish
nationality at the Sobibor station. The camp was known by the name of
this station, Sobibor.

While at the Sobibor death camp, he took an active part in the mass
destruction of Jews in special gas chambers through suffocation by
gas. He guarded the Jews and accompanied them under guard to the place
of destruction.

In April 1944 he was sent, together with myself, by the German command
to the city of Flossenburg (Germany), there as a Wachman with a weapon
in his hand, he guarded a concentration camp at which were held
prisoner a large number of Soviet and other civilians.

In Autumn 1944 I left the city of Flossenburg for the city of
Regensburg while Medewiev remained for continued service in the city
of Flossenburg.

Subsequently, I did not meet Medewiev anywhere, and I do not know his
present whereabouts.

His description: Less than average height, solid build, black hair,
round face, on his left arm, above the elboy on the inside he had a
tattoo - his blood type, that was made in the city of Flossenburg
(Germany).

4. Ivan Demjanjuk - I do not know his father's name, born in 1923. I
do not know from where he originated, Ukrainian, USSR citizen.

I met and first got to know Ivan Demjanjuk in March 1943 at the
Sobibor death camp (Poland) where he served in the SS guard forces as
a Wachman.

He wore the uniform of the German armed SS forces, he was armed with a
weapon.

Demjanjuk, being an SS Wachman, participated in the mass destruction
of Jewish civilians at the Sobibor camp, guarded them from the
possibility of escape before the extermination and accompanied them
under guard to the gas chambers, in which the extermination of these
people was perpetrated through suffocation gases, issuing from a
special motor.

In Spring 1944, he was sent, together with me, to the city of
Flossenburg and later to Regensburg (Germany), where he guarded
concentration camps with imprisoned - Soviet and other - civilians. He
accompanied them under guard to various jobs, and from there back to
the concentration camp.

In April 1945, he in a group of 14 Wachmans, accompanied under guard
from a concentration camp in the city of Regensburg to the city of
Nurenberg 200 prisoners for continuation of the imprisonment at the
concentration camp.

En route, I fled while he continued to serve in the SS forces. I do
not know his present whereabouts.

His description: Tall, solid build, light hair. On his left arm above
the elboy on the inside he has a tattoo - the blood type, done by the
Germans in the city of Flossenburg (Germany).

5. Dimitri Yarosh - I do not know his father's name, born in 1920,
born in the District of Poltava, Ukrainian, citizen of the Soviet
Union.

When I arrived for continuation of my service in the SS forces at the
Sobibor death camp, Yaroush was already there in the role of Wachman.

I do not know from where he came there or when he began to serve in
the German SS forces.

Being a Wachman of the SS at the Sobibor camp, he participated in the
mass destruction of Jews, who had been brought there by Germans from
various countries.

He guarded the camp against the possibility of escape of the prisoners
who were sentenced to death, guarded the trains in which they were
brought, the removal of people from the carriages and accompanied them
under guard to the place of extermination - the gas chambers, where
they were killed through suffocation by gas. From Spring 1944 to April
1945, Yaroush, together with myself, was in the cities of Flossenburg
and Regensburg (Germany), where he participated in guarding prisoners
- Soviet and other civilians, who were held at a concentration camp,
participated in accompanying them under guard for forced labor and to
other concentration camps.

I separated from Yarosh in the city of Flossenburg, after my flight
from the German army in April 1945.

I do not know where he is living at present.

His description: Medium height, thin, light hair, round face. On his
left arm, above the elbow, on the inside, he has a tattoo - (his blood
type) that was done by the Germans for all the Wachmans of the SS as
well as to him in the city of Flossenburg, Germany.

6. Ivan Iwchenko, I do not know his father's name, was born around
1914-1916, born in and resident of the District of Charkov, citizen of
the USSR.

I do not know when Iwchenko joined the service in the SS forces but
the first time I met him and came to know him after completion of the
SS Police School was in Autumn 1942 in the city of Liberatov (Poland),
where I had been sent by the German command in order to guard a wood
processing plant.

When I arrived at the destination, he was already an SS Wachman and
served at guarding the wood processing plant.

In March 1943, together with Iwchenko, we were sent from the city of
Liberatov to perform penal activities at the Sobibor camp (the death
camp), where, together with him, I served in the SS forces until
Spring 1944.

Being a Wachman of the SS at the Sobibor camp, Iwchenko, like the
others, including myself, took part in the mass destruction of
civilians of Jewish nationality who were killed through suffocation by
gas in special gas chambers.

In Spring 1944, I was sent to Germany while Iwchenko remained at the
Sobibor death camp. I do not know his present whereabouts.

His description: Medium height, solid build, light hair.

7. Gontcharov, I do not know his forename or his father's name, year
of birth 1913-14, born and lived in the city of Leningrad, Russian,
USSR citizen.

I met Gontcharov in Autumn 1942 under the same circumstances as
Iwchenko at the wood processing plant in the city of Liberatow
(Poland) where he served in the German SS forces in the position of
Wachman and guarded the wood processing plant.

In March 1943, he, together with myself and other Wachmas, was
transferred by the German SS command to the Sobibor camp to undertake
guard duties over imprisoned civilians - Jews.

He engaged in the same criminal activity as Iwchenko.

In Spring 1944, I was sent to Germany while Guncherov remained to
serve in the SS forces at the Sobibor camp.

His description: Medium height, solid built, red hair, with hair
combed upwards.

8. Chichavin, I do not know his forename or his father's name. Born
around 1916. He do not know where he was from, Ukrainian, USSR
citizen.

I met and came to know him at the Sobibor death camp (Poland) where he
was already serving in the SS forces in the position of Wachman.

As the other Wachmans of the German SS forces, he took part in the
mass destruction of civilian prisoners of the Jewish nationality.

When I left for Germany, Chichavin stayed at the Sobibor camp. I do
not know his present whereabouts.

Description: Medium height, thin, slightly bow backed, black hair,
elongated face.

Above I erronieously testified that he was Ukainian. Asctually by
nationality he as Mordavit.

9. Nikolai Martinov, year of birth approximately 1918-1920 and I do
not know his place of origin, Russian, citizen of USSR.

I first met and came to know him at the Sobibor death camp where he
was already serving in the German SS forces as a Wachman.

He participated personally in the extermination of Soviet and other
civilians who had been held at the Sobibor camp.

In Spring 1944, I was sent together with him to the city of
Flossenburg (Germany) where he, together with me and other Wachmans,
guarded a concentration camp with imprisoned Soviet civilians.

When I travelled to serve in the city of Regensburg, he remained to
guard the concentration camp. I do not know his present whereabouts.

His description: Medium height, solid build, light hair, round face,
large nose with a tubercle. On his left arm above the elboy, on the
inside, he has a tatto (his blood type) in German.

10. Piyoter Ananeiv - Year of birth about 1911, Russian, citizen of
the USSR, I do not know his place of origin.

I first met him in Summer 1942 at the Trawniki training camp, when he
was already serving in the German SS forces as a Wachman.

He engaged in the same activity as I and other Wachmans of the SS
forces did, about which I have testified above.

In Spring 1944 he, together with me, was transferred to the city of
Flossenburg, where he guarded a concentration camp with Soviet and
other civilians. 

When I was transferred to the city of Regensburg he remained to serve
there in the SS forces. At the beginning of 1945 he fled from there
and in April 1945 I met him in the city of Regensburg and I was
together with him until June 1945.

I separated from him in the city of Breslaw in the administration of
the Fifth Army. Where he is now - I don't know.

His description: Medium height, thin, light hair, long face, on his
left arm above the elbow on the inside, he has a tattoo (his blood
type).

Of the others who served in the SS forces, I no longer remember
anyone.

Question: List the teaching staff at the SS Police School in the
township of Trawniki.

Answer: The whole teaching staff at the SS Police School was composed
of Volksdeutche, but I do not remember their surnames.

The interrogation was halted.

The minutes of the interrogation were read out to me, are correctly
noted according to what I said and therefore I am signing.

Danil'chenko - (signature)

The interrogation was conducted by: Senior investigator in the
Investigations Department of the State Ministry of Defense in the
District of Dniepropetrowsk, Ltd. Chernov - (signature)

Stamp of the USSR Attorney-General
Correct
Director of the Office of the USSR Attorney-General 
A.P. Vladimirov - (signature)

The original in Criminal File (in the archives) No. 15457 versus
Danilchenko, 47-68.

Director of the Office of the USSR Attorney-General
A.P. Vladimirow - (signature)

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