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Vengeance at Dachau

Page 85 of 120

Continued from page 84

Testimony of: T/4 Anthony C. Cardinale, Jr., 19138019, Headquarters Company,

222nd Infantry, 42nd Division.

Taken at: Worgl, Austria.

Date: 15 May 1945. By: Lt. Col. J. M. Whitaker, IGD,

Asst. Inspector General, Seventh Army.

The witness was sworn.

659 Q Please state your name, rank, serial number and organization.

A T/4 Anthony C. Cardinale, Jr., 19138019, Headquarters Company, 222nd Infantry, 42nd Division.

(The witness was advised of his rights under the 24th Article of War.)

660 Q What is your job?

A I am a radio operator, sir.

661 Q Were you with your colonel's party the day Dachau was liberated?

A Yes, I was.

662 Q Did you help take the guard tower which is to the left of the entrance to the main stockade?

A Yes, I am familiar with that tower but I did not help take any of the SS guards there.

663 Q Do you know who did?

A Exactly, no, sir.

664 Q Who do you understand did?

A To the best of my knowledge from hearsay it was Col. Fellenz who is the 1st Battalion Commander, and Wells, I don't know his grade. He is our regimental JPW.

665 Q Did you see any of that action?

A Yes, sir, I did.

666 Q Tell me what happened as you saw it?

A We came to the entrance of the camp and we remained outside of the camp for a little while and I remained in the jeep. There were quite a number of German soldiers, a few SS, but I can't say for sure whether they were all SS, who were being searched by our guards. About fifteen minutes afterwards we drove into the interior of the camp and the first thing I saw after that right turn was the prisoners in the cage shouting with joy.

667 Q Tell me what you saw with respect to the action of taking the tower?

A Sir, I didn't see much of that; here is what I saw. I heard some firing, which was automatic firing, and it appeared to be coming from the tower. I saw this man Wells running in that direction with his "grease gun". My former company commander, Capt. Mac Laughlin motioned for me to get down which I did. I ducked behind a wall. The firing continued for a few minutes then I rose from my hiding place and I was ordered along with the colonel's bodyguard to march a group of German prisoners to the outside gate, and I remained for the rest of the time and helped to guard these prisoners.

668 Q Did you ever get down to this tower?

A No, sir, I did not.

669 Q Did you fire at any Germans that day?

A No, sir, I did not.

670 Q Do you know anybody that went to the tower in addition to Colonel Fellenz and Sgt. Wells?

A No.


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