Testimony of Wiesław Kielar: Execution of Edek and Mala

Testimony of Wiesław Kielar, former Auschwitz prisoner, Camp number 290 Execution Just as I entered the block, I ran right into Lagercapo Jupp, who saw me and approached, talking quite a bit about Edek. I only understood that they had brought Edek back in the afternoon, put him into a cell near the kitchen, where Jupp had to tie his hands together with wire. (...) Now, all made their way towards the kichen and stood at the edge of a square, where in the middle stood a gallows. I stood as close as possible to the cell out of which Edek was to be brought from. After some time, the doors of the cell were opened and Edek appeared within the doorway. There was a sudden silence. You could only hear the grit of the gravel beneath the shoes walking towards the gallows, Edek – the condemned and Jupp – the executioner. In the place that I was standing, a path formed. I slid into the first row, wanting Edek to notice me. I walked upright, pale, with a face that seemed slightly swollen, searching with his eyes for anyone he knew. I was certain that he wanted to find me. I was standing just where, as he walked by, could run into me and it would have been enough to whisper, Edek! Edek walked past me – now I saw his upright back as well as his hands, twisted behind him and tied with wire. This was the work of Jupp, who, with a truncheon was walking after him in the direction of the gallows. Here, Edek stepped onto the podium without hesitation, and then immediately on to the stool that was standing beneath the gallows. The noose was touching his head. The command