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18. The IPC, the Visitors, and the "Pigs"
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18 THE IPC, THE VISITORS, AND THE ''PIGS'' The International Prisoners' Committee (lPC) has been meeting regularly since April 30; copies of the minutes of their meetings , either in the original German or in their English translations , have been sent to me. After reading them, I begin to realize that control of the thousands of inhabitants here would be impossible without the tireless and continuing efforts of the members of this organization. The first meeting was held shortly after liberation, Lieutenant Commander Patrick O'Leary presiding. (The minutes often refer to him as Sir Patrick.) An American lieutenant colonel, attending this historic session, conferred on O'Leary "all powers concerning the management of the camp." Two vice-presidents were elected: General Nikolai Michailow, a Russian, and Arthur Haulot. Oskar Mueller was confirmed as camp senior. Dr. Franz Blaha was made head of the important sanitation committee. Disciplinary problems were to be handled by Oscar Juranic, a Yugoslav. The Committee restricted itself to matters concerning the prison compound. "Outside" protection and the feeding and safety of the camp residents were to be the responsibility of the Americans, and a motion was made to turn over the SS men imprisoned in the bunker to the American military authorities. Some of the inmates still had guns and rifles, obtained not only from American soldiers but also from dead Germans and from ransacked SS quarters and warehouses. All firearms were to be forbidden in the camp; they would have to be turned in immediately . Inmates were not to take the law into their hands, say the minutes: "Any kind of personal dealings like vengeance or similar deeds will be immediately severely punished." 120 I The minutes also say that two ex-prisoners who collaborated with the SS "have been arrested, and, on order of the American commander, shot according to the law." 1 The minutes end with the announcement that they will be published in the most important languages. The meeting was opened at 20.30 and closed at 22.30. The only hint of emotion appears in the title: "Minutes of the I st Meeting of the International Prisoners' Committee in the freed Camp Dachau." At the second meeting, held the same day, subcommittees were formed to take care of matters such as clothing, culture and information, mail service, laundry, food, and labor assignments-"division of work." Then the IPC began to expand by electing national leaders into its ranks: Rasmus Brooch, a Norwegian, and Comrade Yocarinis, a Greek. It was agreed that the Lithuanians would be represented by the USSR delegate , an unpopular decision in certain quarters. Dr. Blaha was made chief of the hospital subcommittee. An announcement: "Tomorrow, the 1st day of May, will be a holiday due to the liberation of the camp by the American Army as well as in connection with the probable end of the war which is approaching. The American CO [a Lieutenant Colonel Fellens, whom I never met] will be invited to this feast." The Section for Information and Culture was designated to handle the festivities. A 7th Army officer, Captain Martin A. Agather, attended the third meeting (May I). Registration is about to begin, he said, demonstrating a questionnaire printed in German and English. The replies are to be printed, then signed. Difficulties are expected because most of the inmates cannot understand either language: at the moment many do not have the strength to sign their names. Further, many of the inmates will be suspicious of any request for vital data. They will be reluctant to give information on account of their treatment by the dossier-minded Nazis. National leaders will have to help their people with these forms and appoint interpreters and transcribers. Nothing is simple. The captain exhibits great patience as he explains the entries on the form, item by item. Name, place and date of arrest, date of arrival in Dachau, particulars of any ill treatment received, past criminal offenses (again dates of arrest, The JPC, the Visitors, and the "Pigs" I 121 court appearance, and release; legal details), past military service-World War I or II? A critical entry asks the inmate where he wants to go. Who does he know there? What are their names and addresses? A question-and-answer session then followed in which many of the queries were directed toward determining an individual's nationality. The official position seemed straightforward: a person would be a citizen of the country in which he lived on January I...