Biggs, Anthony

Eyewitness

Fassberg, Bergen-Belsen, Hamburg War Crime Trials

Biggs, born in 1924, served in the ground forces of Great Britain’s Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) during World War II. After the war he was stationed at Fassberg, the former test site for the Nazi rocketry program turned R.A.F. base. This base was located near the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, which Biggs visited at the end of February, 1946. When he visited the camp it had been cleaned up, but was still inhabited by former inmates who had no where else to go. These survivors were regularly invited over to the British base for social events.

Biggs’ detachment served as courtroom guards for the Hamburg war crimes proceedings against leaders of the SS unit in charge of Bergen-Belsen. He himself was present for the prosecution of Irma Grese, head female SS officer at the camp, and two lesser female guards.

Biggs speaks in detail about the proceedings, which he witnessed directly or heard about indirectly from fellow servicemen.

Interview Information:
Date: April 14, 1992
Interviewer: Rabbi Charles Rosenzveig
Length: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Format: Video recording