The following are excerpts from original Nazi documents, relating directly to the extermination of Jews and others which was carried out by the Nazis during WW2. The purpose of this collection is both to present such documents in an easily accessible form, and to point out more complete references.
Naturally, in preparing a collection like this, one has to decide which documents to use; the amount of material is enormous. I have tried to choose a small set of representative ones, which touch as many aspects as possible. Many of these documents are very long, so I have restricted myself to short excerpts.
My remarks are inside square [...] brackets.
-Daniel Keren (dk@lems.brown.edu).
The organization of this collection is as follows:
1) STATMENTS BY LEADING NAZIS 2) GAS CHAMBERS AND GASSING VANS (See also "AUSCHWITZ") 3) DOCUMENTS ABOUT MASS MURDER (see also the "Jager Report", in the "MISC" topic). 4) THE EXTERMINATION OF THE INSANE 5) MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS I: MASS STERILIZATION 6) MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS II: FREEZING, LOW PRESSURE AND OTHERS 7) THE ECONOMIC PLUNDER 8) AUSCHWITZ 9) KRISTALLNACHT 10) VERDICT OF SS-COURT 11) MISC - includes the following: a. Prosecution of a Jewish woman for selling her mother milk to feed German babies. b. Some of the court proceedings from a case in which the death sentence was imposed on a Jew for allegedly having sex with a German woman. c. Various excerpts from anti-semitic publications (mostly, "Der Stuermer"). d. Letter about transporting to Germany "racially valuable children" whose parents were slain by the Nazis. e. Order to hang any Pole who has sex with a German woman. f. Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler describing Russians and Slavs as "human animals" to be used for work. g. German plans for plundering Poland. h. Order by Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler to kill and destroy everything in Nazi occupied Ukraine before evacuating it. i. A long and very detailed report about mass executions in the Nazi occupied Baltics (the "Jager report").
STATMENTS BY LEADING NAZIS **************************
Speech by Hitler, January 31, 1939 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol XIII, p. 131] --------------------------------------------------------------- Today I will once more be a prophet: If the international Jewish financiers in and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations once more into a world war, then the result will not be the bolshevization of the earth, and thus the victory of Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe!
Adolph Hitler speaking to a crowd at the Sports Palace in Berlin, 30 January 1942. Quoted in "The Holocaust", by Martin Gilbert, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, NY, 1985, p. 285. Text as monitored by the Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service, Federal Communications Commission. --------------------------------------------------------------------- And we say that the war will not end as the Jews imagine it will, namely with the uprooting of the Aryans, but the result of this war will be the complete annihilation of the Jews.
Excerpts from the meeting between Hitler and the Mufti, Haj Amin Husseini, on 28 November 1941. The notes were taken by Dr. Paul Otto Schmidt and are quoted in Fleming's "Hitler and the Final Solution", p. 101-104. Also geheime Reichssache 57 a/41, Records Dept. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Pa/2. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fuehrer then made the following declaration, requesting the Mufti to lock it deep in his heart:
1) He (the Fuehrer) would carry on the fight until the last traces of the Jewish-Communist European hegemony had been obliterated.
2) In the course of this fight, the German army would - at a time that could not yet be specified, but in any case in the clearly foreseeable future - gain the southern exit of Caucasus.
3) As soon as this breakthrough was made, the Fuehrer would offer the Arab world his personal assurance that the hour of liberation had struck. Thereafter, Germany's only remaining objective in the region would be limited to the annihilation of the Jews living under British protection in Arab lands.
Adolf Hitler, quoted in "Hitler", by Joachim Fest, Vintage Books Edition, 1974, p. 679-680: --------------------------------------------------------------- Nature is cruel; therefore we are also entitled to be cruel. When I send the flower of German youth into the steel hail of the next war without feeling the slightest regret over the precious German blood that is being spilled, should I not also have the right to eliminate millions of an inferior race that multiplies like vermin?
Speechs by Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler before senior SS officers in Poznan, October 4 and 6, 1943 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XIII, p. 323, and Himmler, Reichsfuehrer-SS - P. Padfield, Henry Holt and Co, NY, 1990, p. 469] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I mean the evacuation of the Jews, the extermination of the Jewish race. It's one of those things it is easy to talk about, "the Jewish race is being exterminated", says one party member, "that's quite clear, it's in our program, elimination of the Jews, and we're doing it, exterminating them". And then they come, 80 million worthy Germans, and each one has his decent Jew. Of course the others are vermin, but this one is an A-1 Jew. Not one of those who talk this way has watched it, not one of them has gone through it. Most of you know what it means when 100 corpses are lying side by side, or 500, or 1000. To have stuck it out and at the same time - apart from exceptions caused by human weakness - to have remained decent fellows, that is what has made us hard. This is a page of glory in our history which has never been written and is never to be written.
I ask of you that what I say in this circle you really only hear and never speak of. We come to the question: how is it with the women and the children? I have resolved even here on a completely clear solution. That is to say I do not consider myself justified in eradicating the men - so to speak killing or ordering them killed - and allowing the avengers in the shape of the children to grow up for our sons and grandsons. The difficult decision has to be taken, to cause this Volk [people] to disappear from the earth.
[This speech was recorded; the magnetic tapes are in the national archives in Washington, DC]
Speech by Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler at Kharkow, April 1943 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. IV, p. 572-574] ---------------------------------------------------------- We have - I would say, as very consistent National Socialists, taken the question of blood as our starting point. We were the first really to solve the problem of blood by action, and in this connection, by problem of blood, we of course do not mean antisemitism. Antisemitism is exactly the same as delousing. Getting rid of lice is not a question of ideology. It is a matter of cleanliness.
The Goebbels [Reich propaganda Minister] Diaries, February 14 1942 [The Goebbels Diaries 1942-1943 - L.P. Lochner, Doubleday & Co., 1948, p. 86] ---------------------------------------------------------------- World Jewry will suffer a great catastrophe at the same time as Bolshevism. The Fuehrer once more expressed his determination to clean up the Jews in Europe pitilessly. There must be no squeamish sentimentalism about it. The Jews have deserved the catastrophe that has now overtaken them. Their destruction will now go hand in hand with the destruction of our enemies. We must hasten this process with cold ruthlessness.
The Goebbels [Reich propaganda Minister] diaries, March 27, 1942: [The Goebbels Diaries 1942-1943 - L.P. Lochner, Doubleday & Co., 1948, p. 147-148] ----------------------------------------------------------- Beginning with Lublin, the Jews in the General Government [Nazi occupied Poland] are now being evacuated eastward. The procedure is a pretty barbaric one and not to be described here more definitely. Not much will remain of the Jews. On the whole it can be said that about 60 per cent of them will have to be liquidated whereas only 40 per cent can be used for forced labor.
Speech by Frank [Governor of occupied Poland], to German soldiers in Poland, urging them to write home [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. II, p. 633-634] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In all these weeks, they [i.e., your families] will be thinking of you, saying to themselves: my God, there he sits in Poland where there are so many lice and Jews, perhaps he is hungry and cold, perhaps he is afraid to write. It would not be a bad idea to send our dear ones back home a picture, and tell them: well now, there are not so many lice and Jews any more, and conditions here in the General Government have changed and improved somewhat already. Of course, I could not eliminate all lice and Jews in only one year's time. But in the course of time, and above all, if you help me, this end will be attained. After all, it is not necessary for us to accomplish everything within a year and right away, for what would otherwise be left for those who follow us to do?
Speech by Frank [Governor of occupied Poland], December 16 1941 [Documents on the Holocaust - Edited by Y. Arad, Y. Gutman, A. Margaliot, NY, Ktav Pub. House in Association with Yad-Vashem, 1981, p. 247, Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946 Vol. II p. 634] --------------------------------------------------------------- One way or another -- I will tell you quite openly -- we must finish off the Jews. The Fuehrer put it into words once: should united Jewry again succeed in setting off a world war, then the blood sacrifice shall not be made only by the peoples driven into war, but then the Jew of Europe will have met his end....
But what should be done with the Jews? Can you believe that they will be accommodated in settlements in the Ostland? In Berlin we were told: why are you making all this trouble? We don't want them either, not in Ostland nor in the Reichskommissariat; liquidate them yourselves! Gentlemen, I must ask you to steel yourselves against all considerations of compassion. We must destroy the Jews wherever we find them, and wherever it is at all possible, in order to maintain the whole structure of the Reich...
The Jews represent for us also extraordinary malignant gluttons. We have now approximately 2500000 of them in the General Government [Nazi occupied Poland], perhaps with the Jewish mixtures and everything that goes with it, 3500000 Jews. We cannot shoot or poison those 3500000 Jews, but we shall nevertheless be able to take measures which will lead somehow to their annihilation, and this in connection with the gigantic measures to be determined in discussions with the Reich.
Letter from Hoppner, higher SS and Police leader in the Warthegau, to SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann, July 16 1941 [Documents of Destruction - R. Hilberg, Quadrangle Books, Chicago, 1971, p. 87] ------------------------------------------------------------------- Enclosed is a memorandum on the results of various discussions held locally in the office of the Reich Governor...
Subject: Solution of the Jewish question . .
4) This winter there is a danger that not all of the Jews can be fed anymore. One might weigh honestly, if the most humane solution might not be to finish off those of the Jews who are not employable by means of some quick-working device. At any rate, that would be more pleasant than to let them starve to death. 5) For the rest, the proposal was made that in this camp all the Jewish women, from whom one could still expect children, should be sterilized so that the Jewish problem may actually be solved completely with this generation.
Extracts from the minutes of the Wannsee conference, January 20 1942, regarding the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question" [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XIII, p. 210-216] --------------------------------------------------------------- . . II. At the beginning of the meeting the Chief of the Security Police and the SD, SS Lieutenant General Heydrich, reported his appointment by the Reich Marshal [Goering] to service as Commissioner for the preparation of the Final Solution of the European Jewish Problem....
In the course of this final solution of the European Jewish Problem, approximately 11 million Jews are involved. They are distributed among individual countries as follows:
A. Original Reich Territory [Altreich] 131800 Austria 43700 Eastern territories 420000 Government General [Nazi occupied Poland] 2284000 . . . The Netherlands 160800 . . Rumania, including Bessarabia 342000 . . Hungary 742800 USSR 5000000 . . White Russia, excluding Bialystok 446484
[Many countries deleted for brevity]
TOTAL over 11000000 . .
Under proper direction the Jews should now in the course of the Final Solution be brought to the East in a suitable way for use as labor. In big labor gangs, with separation of the sexes, the Jews capable of work are brought to these areas and employed in road building, in which task undoubtedly a great part will fall out through natural diminution.
The remnant that finally is able to survive all this - since this is undoubtedly the part with the strongest resistance - must be treated accordingly since these people, representing a natural selection, are to be regarded as the germ cell of a new Jewish development. (See the experience of history).
In the program of the practical execution of the Final Solution, Europe is combed through from the West to the East... . . In the course of the final solution plans, the Nuernberg laws are in a certain degree to form the basis, and accordingly the complete settlement of the problem is to include also the solution of the mixed marriage and the Mischling [people partly of Jewish descent]...
The first degree Mischling excepted from the evacuation is to be sterilized in order to prevent any offspring and to settle the Mischling problem once and for all...
Excerpted from a memorandum dated 27 April, 1942 by Dr. Erhard Wetzel (a lawyer), who was serving as desk officer in the Reich Ministry for the Eastern Territories ["Nazism: A History in Documents and Eyewitness Accounts, 1919-1945", Volume II, J.Noakes and G.Pridham, editors. Schocken Books, New York, (c)1988 by the Dept. of History and Archeology, University of Exeter. ISBN 0-8053-0973-5 (vol. 1), 0-8052-0972-7 (vol. 2). Document #690 on p.979] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Re: the Solution of the Polish Question
...It should be obvious that one cannot solve the Polish problem by liquidating the Poles in the same way as the Jews. Such a solution to the Polish problem would burden the German people with guilt for years to come and lose us the sympathies of people everywhere, particularly since our neighbors would be bound to reckon that they would be treated in the same way when the time came.
A letter to Rosenberg enclosing reports from Generalkommisar for white Russia, Kube, about the extermination of Jews in the east, June 18 1943 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol I, p. 1001] ------------------------------------------------------------------ ...The fact that Jews receive special treatment requires no further discussion. However, it appears hardly believable that this is done in the way described in the report of the General Commissioner of 1 June 1943. What is Katyn against that? Imagine only that these occurrences would become known to the other side and exploited by them! Most likely such propaganda would have no effect only because people who hear who hear and read about it simply would not be ready to believe it.
["Special treatment" and "resettlement" mean extermination, as is obvious from many such documents; consider, for instance, the following]
Memorandum of Gestapo Headquarters, 15 June 1944 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. IV, p. 1166] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In amending my directive of June 20 1944, I request that those people subject to special treatment be sent to a crematorium to be cremated if possible.
GAS CHAMBERS AND GASSING VANS (See also "AUSCHWITZ") ****************************************************
Letter from Dr. Erhard Wetzel to Reichskommissar Lohse, October 25, 1941 [Hitler and the Final Solution - G. Fleming, University of California Press, 1984, p. 70] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ With regard to my letter of 18 October 1941, please be informed that Oberdiensleiter [Chief Executive Officer] Brack from the Fuehrer's Chancellory has stated his readiness to assist in the construction of the necessary accommodations and gassing apparatuses, so they must first be constructed. Brack's view is that, since construction of the apparatuses within the Reich would present far greater difficulties than on-site production, the most expedient course of action is to send his people directly to Riga, in particular his chemist Dr. Kallmeyer, who will take the necessary steps from there. Oberdiensleiter Brack further points out that the procedure in question is not without its hazards, and that therefore special safety precautions are needed. Under these circumstances, I ask you to contact Oberdiensleiter Brack in the Fuehrer's Chancellory through your higher SS and Police leader. Please request from him the dispatching of the chemist Dr. Kallmeyer and any further assistants that are needed. I might further point out that Sturmbannfuehrer Eichmann, the adviser on Jewish affairs in the Reich main security office, is in complete accord with this procedure. According to the information received here from Sturmbannfuehrer Eichmann, camps for Jews will be set up in Riga and Minsk, where Jews from the Altreich [Germany proper] might also be sent. Jews are currently being evacuated from the Altreich to Lodz and other camps, from which those fit for work will be transferred to work forces in the east. Given the present situation, Jews who are not fit for work can be eliminated without qualms through use of the Brack device. Incidents such as those that took place during the shootings of Jews in Vilna, according to a report I have on my desk, can hardly be sanctioned, keeping in mind that the executions were undertaken openly, and the new procedures assure that such incidents will no longer be possible. Jews fit for work, on the other hand, will be transported to work forces in the east. That the men and women in this latter group must be kept apart from each other goes without saying. Please keep me informed as to any further measures you take.
Letter from Dr August Becker to SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Rauff, 16 May 1942 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol III, p. 418] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I ordered the vans of group D to be camouflaged as house trailers by putting one set of window shutters on each side of the small van and two on each side of the large vans, such as one often sees on farm houses in the country. The vans became so well known, that not only the authorities but also the civilian population called the van "death van", as soon as one of these vehicles appeared. It is my opinion the van cannot be kept secret for any length of time, not even camouflaged...
Besides that, I ordered that during application of gas all the men were to be kept as far away from the vans as possible, so they should not suffer damage to their health by the gas which eventually would escape. I should like to take this opportunity to bring the following to your attention: several commands have had the unloading after the application of gas done by their own men. I brought to the attention of those S.K [Special Kommando] concerned the immense psychological injuries and damages involved to their health that this work can have for those men, even if not immediately, at least later on. The men complained to me about head-aches which appeared after each unloading. Nevertheless they don't want to change the orders, because they are afraid prisoners called for that work could use an opportune moment to flee. To protect the men from these damages, I request orders to be issued accordingly.
The application of the gas is not undertaken correctly. In order to come to an end as fast as possible, the driver presses the accelerator to the fullest extent. By doing that the persons to be executed suffer death from suffocation and not death by dozing off as was planned. My directions have now proved that by correct adjustment of the levers death comes faster and the prisoners fall asleep peacefully. Distorted faces and excretions, such as could be seen before, are no longer noticed.
Letter from Willy Just to SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Walter Rauff, 5 June 1942 ["Nazism: A History in Documents and Eyewitness Accounts, 1919-1945", Volume II, J.Noakes and G.Pridham, editors. Schocken Books, New York, (c)1988 by the Dept. of History and Archeology, University of Exeter. ISBN 0-8053-0973-5 (vol. 1), 0-8052-0972-7 (vol. 2). Document #913]
["Nazism: A History in Documents and Eye Witness Accounts, 191-1945" vol. 2, document 913] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: Technical alterations to the special vehicles already in operation and those in production.
Since December 1941, for example, 97000 have been processed using three vans without any faults developing in the vehicles. The well-known explosion in Kulmhof (Chelmno) must be treated as a special case. It was caused by faulty practice. Special instructions have been given to the relevant offices in order to avoid such accidents. The instructions were such as to ensure a considerable increase in the degree of security.
Further operational experience hitherto indicates that the following technical alterations are appropriate....
2) The vans are normally loaded with 9-10 people per square meter. With the large Saurer special vans this is not possible because although they do not become overloaded their maneuverability is much impaired. A reduction in the load area appears desirable. It can be achieved by reducing the size of the van by c. 1 meter. The difficulty referred to cannot be overcome by reducing the size of the load. For a reduction in the numbers will necessitate a longer period of operation because the free spaces will have to be filled with CO. By contrast, a smaller load area which is completely full requires a much sorter period of operation since there are no free spaces.....
3) The connecting hoses between the exhaust and the van frequently rust through because they are corroded inside by the liquids which fall on them. To prevent this the connecting piece must be moved so that the gas is fed from the top downwards. This will prevent liquids flowing in.....
6) The lighting must be better protected against damage than hitherto....It has been suggested that lighting should be dispensed with since they are allegedly never used. However, experience shows that when the rear door is closed and therefore when it becomes dark, the cargo presses hard towards the door....It makes it difficult to latch the door. Furthermore, it has been observed that the noise always begins when the doors are shut presumably because of fear brought on by the darkness.
Letter from SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Truehe to Reich security office, room 2D3A [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. I, p. 1001] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A transport of Jews, which has to be treated in a special way, arrives weekly at the office of the commandant of the Security Police and the Security Service of white Ruthenia. The three S-vans which are there are not sufficient for that purpose. I request assignment of another S-van (five tons). At the same time I request the shipment of twenty gas hoses for the three S-vans on hand since the ones on hand are leaky already.
DOCUMENTS ABOUT MASS MURDER (See also "THE JAGER REPORT", in "MISC") ************************************************************************
Regulations for the chief of the Security Police and of the Security service, 17 July 1941 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. III, p. 422-425] ------------------------------------------------------------- ...By use of such informers and by use of all other existing possibilities, the discovery of all elements to be eliminated among the prisoners, must succeed step by step at once. The commandos must learn for themselves, in every case, by short questioning of the informers and eventual questioning of other prisoners.
The information of one informer is nor sufficient to designate a camp inmate to be a suspect, without further proof; it must be confirmed in some way if possible.
Above all, the following must be discovered:
All important functionaries of state and party, especially professional revolutionaries.
Functionaries of the Komintren.
All policy forming party functionaries of the KPDSU and its fellow organizations in the central committees, in the regional and district committees.
All Peoples-Commissars and their deputies.
All former Political Commissars in the Red Army.
Leading personalities of the state authorities of central and middle regions.
The leading personalities in the business world.
Members of the Soviet-Russian intelligence.
All Jews.
All persons, who are found to be agitators of fanatical communists.
Letter from Generalkommisar for white Russia, Kube, to Reichkommisar for the Ostland, Lohse, 31 July 1942 ['The Good Old Days' - E. Klee, W. Dressen, V. Riess, The Free Press, NY, 1988, p. 180-181] -------------------------------------------------------------------- During the course of extensive discussions with SS-Brigadefuehrer Zenner and the very competent Leiter of the SD, SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Strauch, it was established that we have liquidated about 55000 Jews in the past ten weeks...
Naturally the SD and I would prefer to eliminate the Jews in the Generalbezirk of white Russia once and for all as soon as the Jews are no longer needed by the Wehrmacht for economic reasons. For the time being, the Wehrmacht's requirements, as the principle employer of Jewish labor, are being taken into account.
Report No. 51 of Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler to Hitler about mass executions in the east, 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XIII, p. 269-272] ---------------------------------------------------------------- August September October November
Prisoners executed after interrogation 2100 1400 1596 2731 . . Accomplices of guerrilla and guerrilla suspects executed 1198 3020 6333 3706 . . Jews executed 31246 165282 95735 70948 . . Villages and localities Burned down or destroyed 35 12 20 92
Letter from SS Major-General Stahlecker to SS General Heydrich, January 31, 1942 [The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945 - G. Reitlinger, South Brunswick, T. Yosellof, 1968, p. 233] -------------------------------------------------------------------- The complete removal of Jewry from the eastern territories has been substantially attained, with the exception of white Russia, as a result of the execution up to the present time of 229052 Jews.
Daily situation report of the Einsatzgruppen (special task forces) in Russia, No. 124, October 25th, 1941 [The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945 - G. Reitlinger, South Brunswick, T. Yosellof, 1968, p. 133] -------------------------------------------------------------------- A second action consisted in applying special treatment to 812 men and women, all persons without interest from the racial and intellectual point of view.
Order by Reichskommissar Lohse to halt the killing of Jewish skilled workers, December 2 1941 [Documents on the Holocaust - Edited by Y. Arad, Y. Gutman, A. Margaliot, NY, Ktav Pub. House in Association with Yad-Vashem, 1981, p. 396] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Reichskommissar for Ostland Riga, December 2 1941 IIa diary No. 220/41g
The Chief Quartermaster (Chiefintendant) of the Wehrmacht Command in Ostland has lodged a complaint that armament plants and repair workshops have been deprived of Jewish skilled workers through their liquidation, and that they cannot be replaced there at the present time.
I request most emphatically that the liquidation of Jews employed as skilled workers in armament plants and repair workshops of the Wehrmacht who cannot be replaced by local personnel be prevented.
Ereignismeldung UdSSR, No. 101, October 2 1941 ['The Good Old Days' - E. Klee, W. Dressen, V. Riess, The Free Press, NY, 1988, p. 67] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Einsatzgruppen C Standort Kiev
In collaboration with the group staff and two Kommandos of Police Regiment South, on 29 and 30 September 1941, Sonderkommando 4a executed 33771 Jews in Kiev.
Ereignismlrdung UdSSR, No. 128, November 3 1941 ['The Good Old Days' - E. Klee, W. Dressen, V. Riess, The Free Press, NY, 1988, p. 68] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In Kiev, difficulties that arose during the execution of a major action of this type - particularly with regard to registration - were overcome by the use of posters announcing that all Jews were to report for resettlement. Although it was initially thought that the action would only involve 5000 to 6000 Jews, more than 30000 Jews reported, who as a result of extremely efficient organization still believed they were going to be resettled right up until the time they were executed.
Despite that fact that up to now a total of some 75000 Jews have been liquidated in this way, it has nevertheless become apparent that this method will not provide a solution to the Jewish problem.
Report from chief of Security Police and SD, June 17 1942 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Supplement A, p. 661] ------------------------------------------------------------ The Jews in the Crimea. . . Already in 1939, out of 65000 Jews in the Crimea, 44000 (that is almost 70 percent) live in the cities of Simferopol, Sevastopol, Kertch, Jewpatoria, Yalta, and Feodosia alone... . . Of the Krimtschaks (approx. 6000) who were generally counted to be Jews, about half lived for the greater part in Simferopol (2500) and in Karasubarsar. Their annihilation together with that of the real Jews and the Gypsies in the Crimea took part place essentially until the beginning of December 1941.
Weekly report from Frank's [Governor of occupied Poland] propaganda department, October 26, 1942 [The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945 - G. Reitlinger, South Brunswick, T. Yosellof, 1968, p. 283] --------------------------------------------------------------- The resettlement of Jews (which partly assumes forms not worthy of a cultured people) directly provokes comparison of the methods of the Gestapo with those of the GPU. The railway wagons are said to be in such a bad state that it is impossible to prevent Jews breaking out. The result is that at wayside stations there occur wild shootings and regular man-hunts. It is also reported that corpses of shot Jews lie on the streets for days. Although the Reich Germans, as well as the foreign population, are convinced of the necessity of liquidating all Jews, it would still be more appropriate to carry this out in a manner that causes less sensation and offense.
Order of Boehme, Commanding General Serbia, October 10 1941, Regarding Executions of Hostages [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XI, p. 977] ------------------------------------------------------------- 2. In all garrison towns in Serbia all Communists, male residents suspected as such, all Jews, a certain number of nationalistic and democratically inclined residents are to be arrested as hostages, by means of sudden action...
3. If losses of German soldiers or ethnic Germans occur, the territorially competent commanders up to the regimental commanders are to decree the shooting of arrestees according to the following quotas:
a. For each killed or murdered German soldier or ethnic German (man, woman or child) 100 prisoners or hostages.
b. For each wounded German soldier or ethnic German, 50 prisoners or hostages.
The shootings are to be carried out by the troops.
Order of Commanding General in Serbia, October 4 1941, ordering mass execution of concentration camp inmates for the killing of 21 German Soldiers [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XI, p. 976] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Twenty-one soldiers were tortured to death by Communist bandits in a bestial manner on 2 October in a surprise attack units of the signal regiment between Belgrade and Obrenovac. As reprisal and retaliation, 100 Serbian prisoners are to be shot at once for each murdered German soldier. The Chief of the Military administration is requested to pick out 2100 inmates in the concentration camp Sabac in Belgrade (primarily Jews and Communists) and to fix the time and place as well as burial place.
THE EXTERMINATION OF THE INSANE *******************************
Letter from chief of institution for feeble-minded in Stetten to Reich Minister of justice Dr. Frank, September 6 1940 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 854] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Reich Minister,
The measure being taken at present with mental patients of all kinds have caused a complete lack of confidence in justice among large groups of people. Without the consent of relatives and guardians, such patients are being transferred to different institutions. After a short time they are notified that the person concerned has died of some disease...
If the state really wants to carry out the extermination of these or at least of some mental patients, shouldn't a law be promulgated, which can be justified before the people - a law that would give everyone the assurance od careful examination as to whether he is due to die or entitled to live and which would also give the relatives a chance to be heard, in a similar way, as provided by the law for the prevention of Hereditarily affected Progeny?
Letter from Dr. Wurm, of the Wuerttemberg Evangelical Provincial Church, to Reich Minister of interior Dr. Frick, September 5 1940 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Supp. A, p. 1223] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Reich Minister,
On July 19th I sent you a letter about the systematic extermination of lunatics, feeble-minded and epileptic persons. Since then this practice has reached tremendous proportions: recently the inmates of old-age homes have also been included. The basis for this practice seems to be that in an efficient nation there should be no room for weak and frail people. It is evident from the many reports which we are receiving that the people's feelings are being badly hurt by the measures ordered and that the feeling of legal insecurity is spreading which is regrettable from the point of view of national and state interest.
Letter from Dr. Hilfrich, Bishop of Limburg, to the Reich Minister of Justice, August 13 1941 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 845-846] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding the report submitted on July 16 by the Chairman of the Fulda Bishops' conference, Cardinal Dr. Bertram, I consider it my duty to present the following as a concrete illustration of destruction of so-called "useless life".
About 8 Kilometers from Limburg in the little town of Hadamar, on a hill overlooking the town, there is an institution which had formerly served various purposes and of late had been used as a nursing home. This institution was renovated and furnished as a place in which, by consensus of opinion, the above mentioned Euthanasia has been systematically practiced for months-approximately since February 1941. This fact is, of course, known beyond the administrative district of Wiesbaden...
Several times a week buses arrive in Hadamard with a considerable number of such victims. School children of the vicinity know this vehicle and say "here comes the murder-box again". After the arrival of the vehicle, the citizens of Hadamar watch the smoke rise out of the chimney...
The effect of the principles at work here that children call each other names and say "you're crazy; you'll be sent to the baking oven in Hadamar"...
All God-fearing man consider this destruction of helpless beings a crass injustice...
Officials of the State Police, it is said, are trying to suppress discussions of the Hadamar occurrences by means of severe threats...
I beg you most humbly, Herr Reich Minister, in the sense of the report of the Episcopate of 16 July of this year, to prevent further transgressions of the Fifth Commandment of God.
Letter from Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler to SS-Oberfuehrer Brack, 19 December 1940 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 856] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Brack,
I hear there is great excitement on the Alb because of the Grafeneck Institution. The population recognizes the gray automobiles of the SS and think they know what is going on at the constantly smoking crematory. What happens there is a secret and yet is no longer one. Thus the worst feeling has arisen there, and in my opinion there remains only one thing, to discontinue the use of the institution in this place and in any event disseminate information in a clever and sensible manner by showing motion pictures on the subject of inherited and mental diseases in just that locality. May I ask for a report as to how the difficult problem is solved?
Extract from the Diary of General Halder, September-November 1941 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. X, p. 1195-1196] ----------------------------------------------------------------- 26 September 1941: . . h. Mental institutions in Army Group North. Russians regards the feebleminded as sacred beings. Killing them is necessary, nontheless.
MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS I: MASS STERILIZATION *****************************************
Letter from SS-Oberfuehrer Brack to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, June 23, 1942 [Documents on the Holocaust - Edited by Y. Arad, Y. Gutman, A. Margaliot, NY, Ktav Pub. House in Association with Yad-Vashem, 1981, p. 272] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Honorable Mr. Reichsfuehrer!
On instruction from Reichsleiter Bouhler I placed a part of my men at the disposal of Brigadefuehrer Globocnik some considerable time ago for his special task. Following a further request from him, I have now made available more personnel. On this occasion Brigadefuehrer Globocnik pressed the view that the whole action against the Jews should be carried out as quickly as it is in any way possible, so that we will not some day be stuck in the middle should any kind of difficulty make it necessary to stop the action. you yourself, Mr. Reichsfuehrer, expressed the view to me at an earlier time that one must work as fast as possible, if only for reasons of concealment. Both views are more than justified according to my own experience, and basically they produce the same results. Nevertheless I beg to be permitted to present the following consideration of my own in this connection:
According to my impression there are at least 2-3 million men and women well fit for work among the approx. 10 million European Jews. In consideration of the exceptional difficulties posed for us by the question of labor, I am of the opinion that these 2-3 million should in any case be taken out and kept alive. Of course this can only be done if they are in the same time rendered incapable of reproduction. I reported to you about a year ago that persons under my instruction have completed the necessary experiments for this purpose. I wish to bring up these facts again. The type of sterilization which is normally carried out on persons with genetic disease is out of the question in this case, as it takes too much time and is expensive. Castration by means of X-rays, however, is not only relatively cheap, but can be carried out on many thousands in a very short time. I believe that it has become unimportant at the present time whether those affected will then in the course of a few weeks or months realize by the effects that they are castrated.
In the event, Mr. Reichsfuehrer, that you decide to choose these means in the interest of maintaining labor-material, Reichsleiter Bouhler will be ready to provide the doctors and other personnel needed to carry out this work. He also instructed me to inform you that I should then order the required equipment as quickly as possible.
Letter from Dr. Pokorny to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, October 1941 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Supp. A, p. 1279] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Prompted by the thought that the enemy must not only be conquered but exterminated, I feel obliged to submit the following to you as the Reich Plenipotentiary for the Consolidation of German Folkdom:
Dr. Madous is publishing the results of his research into sterilization by medicaments (I enclose both works). In reading this article, I was struck by the enormous importance of this medicament in the present struggle of our people. Should it be possible to produce as soon as possible, as a result of this research, a medicament which, after a comparatively brief period, would cause an unnoticed sterilization in individuals, we would have in our disposal a new and very effective weapon. The thought alone that the 3 million Bolsheviks now in German captivity could be sterilized, so that they would be available for work but precluded from propagation, opens up the most far-reaching perspectives.
Letter from SS-Oberfuehrer Gund to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, August 24, 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 717] ------------------------------------------------------------------ At the orders of Gauleiter Dr. Jury, his staff have hitherto busied themselves especially with the problems of population, racial policy, and antisocial elements. Since the prevenation of reproduction by the congenitally unfit and racially inferior belongs to the duties of our National Socialist racial and demographic policy, the present director of the District Office for Racial Policy, Gauhauptstellenleiter Dr. Fehringer, has examined the question of sterilization and found that the methods so far available, castration and sterilization, are not sufficient in themselves to meet expectations. Consequently, the obvious question occurred to him whether impotence and sterility in could not be produced in men and women by the administration of medicine or injections...
The director of my race policy office points out that the necessary research and human experiments could be undertaken by by an appropriately selected medical staff, basing their work on the Madaus animal experiments in cooperation with the pharmacological institute of the Faculty of Medicine of Vienna, on the persons of of the inmates of the Gypsy camp of Lackenbach in Lower Danube.
Letter from Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler to SS-Oberfuehrer Brack, 11 August 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 722] ----------------------------------------------------------- Dear Brack,
It is only today that I have the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of June 23. I am positively interested in seeing the sterilization by X-rays tried out at least once in one camp in a series of experiments.
Letter from Blankenburg to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, 29 April 1944 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, 723] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By order of Reichsleiter Bouhler I submit to you as an enclosure a work of Dr. Horst Schumann on the influence of X-rays on human genital glands.
Previously you have asked Oberfuehrer Brack to perform this work, and you supported it by providing the adequate material in the concentration camp Auschwitz. I point especially to the second part of this work, which shows that by those means castration of males is almost impossible or requires an effort which does not pay. As I have convinced myself, operative castration requires not more than 6 to 7 minutes, and therefore can be performed more reliably and quicker than castration by X-rays.
Soon I will be able to submit a continuation of this work to you.
Letter from SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Brandt to Prof. Clauberg, 10 July 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 729] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Today the Reich Leader SS charged me with transmitting to you his wish that you go to Ravensbrueck after you have had another talk with SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl and the camp physician of the women's concentration camp Ravensbrueck, in order to perform the sterilization of Jewesses according to your method...
Thorough experiments should be conducted to investigate the effect of the sterilization largely in a way that you find out after a certain time, which you would have to fix, perhaps by X-rays, what kind of changes have taken place. In some cases a practical experiment might be arranged by locking up a Jewess and a Jew together for a certain period and then seeing what results are achieved.
Memorandum of SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Brandt on discussion between Himmler, Gebhart, Gluecks, and Clauberg concerning sterilization experiments conducted on Jewesses [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 728] ------------------------------------------------------------------ Fuehrer Headquarters, July 1942
On 7 July 1942 a discussion took place between the Reich Leader SS, SS-Brigadefuehrer Professor Dr. Gebhart, SS-Brigadefuehrer Gluecks, and SS-Brigadefuehrer Clauberg, Koenigshette. The topic of the discussion was the sterilization of Jewesses. The Reich Leader SS has promised Brigadefuehrer Professor Clauberg that Auschwitz concentration camp will be at his disposal for his experiments on human beings and animals. By means of some fundamental experiments, a method should be found which would lead to sterilization of persons without their knowledge. The Reich Leader SS wanted to get another report as soon as the result of these experiments was known, so that the sterilization of Jewesses could then be carried out in actuality.
It should also be examined, preferably in cooperation with Professor Dr. Hohlfelder, an X-ray specialist in Germany, what way sterilization of men could be achieved by X-ray treatment.
The Reich Leader SS called the special attention of all gentlemen present to the fact that the matter involved was most secret and should be discussed only with the officers in charge and that the persons present at the experiments had to pledge secrecy.
Letter from Professor Clauberg to Himmler, June 7 1943, on his research concerning sterilization of women [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol 1, p. 730] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Reich Leader,
Today I am fulfilling my obligation to report to you from time to time about the state of my research work...
The method I contrived to achieve the sterilization of the female organism without operation is as good as perfected. It can be performed by a single injection made through the entrance of the uterus in the course of the customary gynecological examination known to every physician. If I say that the method is "as good as perfected" this means:
1. Still to be worked out are only minor improvements of the method.
2. Already today it could be put to practical use in the course of our regular eugenic sterilization and could thus replace the operation.
As to the question which you, Reich Leader, asked me almost a one year ago, i.e., how much time would probably be required to sterilize 1000 women by using this method. Today I can answer you with regard to the future as follows:
If my researches continue to have the same results as up to now - and there is no reason to doubt that - then the moment is not far off when I can say:
"One adequately trained physician in one adequately equipped place, with perhaps 10 assistants (the number of assistants in conformity with the speed desired) will most likely be able to deal with several hundred, if not even 1000 per day".
MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS II: FREEZING, LOW PRESSURE AND OTHERS *********************************************************
Letter from SS-Standartenfuehrer Sievers to SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Dr. Brandt, November 2 1942 [Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal, Vol. XX, p. 520] ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Comarade Brandt,
As you know, the Reichsfuehrer-SS has directed that SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Prof. Dr. Hirt be supplied with everything needed for his research work. For certain anthropological researches - I already reported to the Reichsfuehrer-SS on them - 150 skeletons of prisoners, or rather Jews, are required, which are to be supplied by the KL Auschwitz.
Letter from Graum to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, June 1 1943 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Supp. A, p. 1273] ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Reichsfuehrer,
The fuehrer's Commissioner-General, SS Brigadefuehrer Professor Dr. Brandt, called me with the request that I should assist him by placing prisoners at his disposal for research work into the cause of contagious jaundice (Hepatitis epidemica) which he was furthering considerably.
The work has been carried out up to now by a medical captain, Dr. Dohmen, within the framework of the research place of the army medical inspectorate, with the participation of the Robert Koch institute. It has up to now led to the result, in agreement with the result of other German research workers, that contagious jaundice is not carried by bacteria but by a virus. In order to increase our knowledge, which is based up to now only on vaccination experiments from men to animals, the reverse way is now necessary, namely the vaccination of the cultivated virus germ into humans. One must reckon on cases of death.
Letter to SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl, 19 May 1944 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Supp. A, p. 1270-1271] ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Obergruppenfuehrer,
Following our application of 30.9.43, you gave me your authorization on the 25.10.43 for the carrying out of experiments with a view to producing a new kind of spotted fever serum and transferred 100 suitable prisoners to Natzweiler for this purpose. It has been possible to carry out the experiments very satisfactorily so far with the help of the chief of Department D III, SS Standartenfuehrer Dr. Dolling commissioned by you.
Letter from SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Brandt to SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Sievers, 21 March 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 144] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reference is made to the subatmospheric pressure experiments which are being carried out on concentration camp inmates in the Dachau camp by the air force. The Reich Leader-SS has approved the experiments under the conditions that SS-Untersturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher who is an Obersturmfuehrer in the air-force, will take part in them.
Letter from SS-Untersturmfuehrer Rascher to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, 5 April 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 144-147] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Highly esteemed Reich Leader:
Enclosed is an interim report on the low-pressure experiments so far conducted in the concentration camp of Dachau...
Only continuous experiments at altitudes higher than 10.5 Km resulted in death. These experiments showed that breathing stopped after about 30 minutes, while in two cases the electrocardiographically charted action of the heart continued for another 20 minutes.
The third experiment of this type took such an extraordinary course that I called an SS physician of the camp as a witness, since I had worked on these experiments all by myself. It was a continuous experiment without oxygen at a height of 12 Km. conducted on a 37-year old Jew in good general condition. Breathing continued up to 30 minutes. After 4 minutes the experimental subject began to perspire and to wiggle his head, after 5 minutes cramps occurred, between 6 and 10 minutes breathing increased in speed and the experimental subject became unconscious; from 11 to 30 minutes breathing slowed down to three breaths per minute, finally stopping altogether.
Severest cyanosis developed in between and foam appeared at the mouth...
Autopsy report ~~~~~~~~~~~~
One hour later after breathing had stopped, the spinal marrow was completely severed and the brain was removed. Thereupon the action of the auricle stopped for 40 seconds. In then renewed its action, coming to a complete standstill 8 minutes later. A heavy subarchnoid oedema was found in the brain. In the veins and arteries of the brain a considerable quantity of air was discovered.
Letter from SS-Untersturmfuehrer Rascher to Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, 11 May 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 152-155] ------------------------------------------------------------------- Highly esteemed Reich Leader,
Enclosed I am forwarding a short summary on the principle experiments conducted up to date...
For the following experiments Jewish professional criminals who had committed race pollution were used. The question of the formation of embolism was investigated in 10 cases. Some of the experimental subjects died during a continued high-altitude experiment; for instance, after one-half hour at the height of 12 Km. After the skull had been opened under water an ample amount of air embolism was found in the brain vessels and, in part, free air in the brain ventricles.
To find out whether the severe psychic and physical effects, as mentioned under No. 3, are due to the formation of embolism, the following was done: After relative recuperation from such a parachute descending test had taken place, however, before regaining consciousness, some experimental subjects were kept under water until they died. When the skull and the cavities of the breast and of the abdomen had been opened under water, an enormous amount of air embolism was found in the vessels of the brain, the coronary vessels, and vessels of the liver and the intestines, etc.
It was also proved by experiments that air embolism occurs in practically all vessels even while pure oxygen is being inhaled. One experimental subject was made to breathe pure oxygen for 2.5 hours before the experiment started. After 6 minutes at a height of 20 Km, he died and at dissection also showed ample air embolism, as was the case in all other experiments.
Report by SS-Untersturmfuehrer Rascher about intense cooling experiments in Dachau concentration camps, 10 September 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 220] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The experimental subjects were placed in the water, dressed in complete flying uniform, winter or summer combination, and with an aviator's helmet. A life jacket made out of rubber kapok was to prevent submerging. The experiments were carried out at water temperatures varying from from 2.5 to 12 Centigrade. In one experimental series, the occiput (brain stem) protruded above the water, while in another series of experiments the occiput (brain stem) and back of the head were submerged in water.
Electrical measurements gave low temperature readings of 26.4 in the stomach and 26.5 in the rectum. Fatalities occurred only when the brain stem and the back of the head were also chilled. Autopsies of of such fatal cases always revealed large amounts of free blood, up to one-half litter, in the cranial cavity.
Report by Prof. Dr. Holzloehner, Dr. Rascher, and Dr. Finke, regarding cooling experiments, 10 October 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 226-243] -------------------------------------------------------------------- If the experimental subject was placed in the water under narcosis, one observed a certain arousing effect. The subject began to groan and made some defensive movements. In a few cases a state of excitation developed. This was especially severe in the cooling of head and neck. But never was a complete cessation of the narcosis observed. The defensive movements ceased after about 5 minutes. There followed a progressive rigor, which developed especially strongly in the arm musculature; the arms were strongly flexed and pressed to the body. The rigor increased with the continuation of the cooling, now and then interrupted by tonic-clonic twitchings. With still more marked sinking of the body temperature it suddenly ceased. These cases ended fatally, without any successful results from resuscitation efforts.
Letter from SS-Untersturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher to SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Rudolph Brandt, October 3 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. I, p. 221-222] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Reich leader SS wants to be informed of the state of the experiments. I can announce that the experiments have been concluded, with the exception of those on warming with body heat. The final report will be ready in about 5 days. Prof. Holzloehner, for reasons I cannot fathom, does not himself want to make the report to the Reich Leader Himmler and has asked me to attend to it. This report must be made before 20 October, because the great Luftwaffe [German air-force] conference on freezing takes place on Nuernberg on 25 October. The report on the results of our research must be made there, to assure that they be used in time for the troops. May I ask you to arrange for a decision from the Reich Leader regarding the final report to him, and the submission to him of the relevant material?
Today I received your letter of 22 September 1942, in which the Reich Leader orders that the experiments on warming through body heat must absolutely be conducted. Because of incomplete address it was delayed. Today I asked Obersturmbannfuehrer Sievers to send a telegram to the camp commander immediately, to the effect that four Gypsy women be procured at once from another camp. Moreover, I asked SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Sievers to take steps to have the low pressure chamber ready for use.
THE ECONOMIC PLUNDER *********************
Letter from SS-Brigadefuehrer Frank to chief of administration of Auschwitz, concerning the utilization and distribution of "evacuated" Jews, 26 September 1942 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XIII, p. 256-258] --------------------------------------------------------------------- e) Women's clothing and women underwear including footwear, children's clothing and children's underwear including footwear have to be handed over to the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle against payment...
f) Featherbeads, quilts, woolen blankets, cloth for suits, shawls, umbrellas, walking sticks, thermos flasks, earflaps, baby carriages, combs, handbags, leather belts, shopping baskets, tobacco pipes, sun glasses, mirrors, table knives, forks and spoons, knapsacks, and suitcases made from leather or artificial material are to be delivered to the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle. The question of payment will be decided later...
h) Spectacles and eyeglasses of every kind are to be handed in to the medical office for utilization. (Spectacles with golden frames have to be handed in without glasses together with the rare metals).
Letter from prison warden Guenther to the general commissar of white Ruthenia, Minsk, 31 May 1943 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. VIII, p. 208] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Since that time all German and Russian Jews who were turned to us, had their golden bridgework, crowns and fillings pulled or broken out. This happens 1 to 2 hours before the respective action.
Since April 13 1943, 516 German and Russian Jews have been finished off. On the basis of a definitive investigation, gold was taken only in two actions, on 14 April 1943 from 172, and on 27 April 1943 from 164 Jews. About 50% of the Jews had gold teeth, bridgework or fillings. Hauptscharfuehrer Ruebe of the security police was always personally present and he took the gold along too.
Letter from SS-Gruppenfuehrer Katzmann to SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Kruger, regarding the "solution of the Jewish problem in Galicia", and giving a breakdown of property taken from the Jews, June 30, 1943 [Documents on the Holocaust - Edited by Y. Arad, Y. Gutman, A. Margaliot, NY, Ktav Pub. House in Association with Yad-Vashem, 1981, p. 335-341] ------------------------------------------------------------------- Valuables were secured and handed over to the special staff "Reinhard". Apart from furniture and large quantities of textile, etc., the following were confiscated and delivered to special staff "Reinhard":
As of June 30, 1943: . . 20.952 Kg - wedding rings - gold 22.740 Kg - pearls 11.730 Kg - gold teeth . .
Report by SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl to Himmler's office, February 6 1943, listing items plundered from Jewish victims and delivered to various Nazi organizations [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. V, p. 699-703] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Report on the realization of textile-salvage from the Jewish resettlement up to the present date...
1. Reich ministry of economics
Men's old clothing without underwear 97000 sets Women's old clothing without underwear 76000 sets women's silk underwear 89000 sets Total 34 cars Rags - 400 cars, 2700000 Kg Bed feathers - 130 cars, 270000 Kg Women's hair - 1 car, 3000 Kg Scrap material - 5 cars, 19000 Kg
2. Office for Germanization
Men's clothing:
Pants - 62000 Shirts - 132000 . . Shoes - 31000 pairs
Women's clothing:
Coats - 155000 Dresses - 119000 . . Panties - 60000 Brassiers - 25000 Underwear - 22000 Kerchiefs - 85000 Shoes - 111000 . . 211 cars [Many more organizations and items cited]
Grand Total 825 cars
Report by SS-Grupenfuehrer Globocnik listing items plundered from the Jewish victims of "Operation Reinhard" and delivered to various Nazi organizations. Attached is a detailed list, prepared by SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Wippern on February 27, 1943. [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. V, p. 704-709] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Valuation of Jewish belongings delivered up to 3 February 1943
1. cash - RM 15931722.01 Delivery SS Econ. Krakow - RM 31500000.00 SS WVHA Berlin - RM 5581411.50 ---------------- RM 53013133.51
[At that time, 2.5 RM were equal to 1 US Dollar].
2. Foreign currency, notes [Long list] total RM 1452904.65 . . . 5. Other Valuables . . 2894 gold gentlemen's pocket watches . . 7313 gold ladies' wrist watches . . 13455 gentlemen's pocket watches . . 22324 spectacles . . 7000 fountain pens . . 51370 watches to be repaired . . 230 clinical thermometers
[many items deleted]
Total RM 26089800.00
6. Textiles
462 boxcars rags 253 boxcars feathers for bedding 317 boxcars clothes and linen
Total RM 13294400.00
Summary
1. Delivered cash and cash on hand RM 53013133.51 2. Foreign currency, notes RM 1452904.65 3. Foreign currency, minted gold RM 843802.75 4. Precious metals RM 5353943.00 5. Other items RM 26089800.00 6. Textiles RM 13294400.00
Total RM 100047983.91
[In April 8, 1945, an immense amount of SS loot was discovered hidden in a salt mine in Merkers, Germany. Among other items, it contained 369.6. lbs of rings and 385 lbs of gold and silver teeth feeling. This is reported in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. XIII, p. 376].
AUSCHWITZ *********
Report entitled "Resettlement of Jews" written by SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Gricksch for SS-Col. von Herff and Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, after inspection of Auschwitz camp on 14-16 May 1943. [Hitler and the Final Solution - G. Fleming, University of California Press, 1984, p. 142-143] ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Auschwitz camp plays a special role in the resolution of the Jewish question. The most advance methods permit the execution of the Fuehrer-order in the shortest possible time and without arousing much attention. The so-called "resettlement action" runs the following course: The Jews arrive in special trains (freight cars) toward evening and are driven on special tracks to areas of the camp specifically set aside for this purpose. There the Jews are unloaded and examined for their fitness to work by a team of doctors, in the presence of the camp commandant and several SS officers. At this point anyone who can somehow be incorporated into the work program is put in a special camp. The curably ill are sent straight to a medical camp and are restored to health through a special diet. The basic principle behind everything is: conserve all manpower for work. The previous type of "resettlement action" has been thoroughly rejected, since it is too costly to destroy precious work energy on a continual basis.
The unfit go to cellars in a large house which are entered from outside. They go down five or six steps into a fairly long, well-constructed and well-ventilated cellar area, which is lined with benches to the left and right. It is brightly lit, and the benches are numbered. The prisoners are told that they are to be cleansed and disinfected for their new assignments. They must therefore completely undress to be bathed. To avoid panic and to prevent disturbances of any kind, they are instructed to arrange their clothing neatly under their respective numbers, so that they will be able to find their things again after their bath. Everything proceeds in a perfectly orderly fashion. Then they pass through a small corridor and enter a large cellar room which resembles a shower bath. In this room are three large pillars, into which certain materials can be lowered from outside the cellar room. When three-to four-hundred people have been herded into this room, the doors are shut, and containers filled with the substances are dropped down into the pillars. As soon as the containers touch the base of the pillars, they release particular substances that put the people to sleep in one minute. A few minutes later, the door opens on the other side, where the elevator is located. The hair of the corpses is cut off, and their teeth are extracted (gold-filled teeth) by specialists (Jews). It has been discovered that Jews were hiding pieces of Jewelry, gold, platinum etc., in hollow teeth. Then the corpses are loaded into elevators and brought up to the first floor, where ten large crematoria are located. (Because fresh corpses burn particularly well, only 50-100 lbs. of coke are needed for the whole process.) The job itself is performed by Jewish prisoners, who never step outside this camp again.
The results of this "resettlement action" to date: 500000 Jews. Current capacity of the "resettlement action" ovens: 10000 in 24 hours.
Notes From Diary of SS-Doctor Kremer, while in Auschwitz ['The Good Old Days' - E. Klee, W. Dressen, V. Riess, The Free Press, NY, 1988, p. 256-268] ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2 September 1942
3.00 a.m. attended my first Sonderaktion. Dante's Inferno seems to me almost a comedy compared to this. They don't call Auschwitz the extermination camp for nothing!
[Sonderaktion = special action, meaning extermination; in this case, gassing. See, for instance, two following document].
5 September 1942
In the morning attended a Sonderaktion from the women's concentration camp (Muslims); the most dreadful of horrors. Hschf. Thilo -- army doctor -- was right when he said to me this is the 'anus mundi'. In the evening towards 8.00 attended another Sonderaktion from Holland.
['Muslims' does not mean "practicing Islam"; this is the way the SS referred to emaciated people].
10 October 1942
Extracted and fixed fresh live material from liver, spleen and pancreas...
11 October 1942
Today, Sunday, there was roast hare for lunch -- a real fat leg -- with dumplings and red cabbage for 1.25 RM.
12 October 1942
Second inoculation against typhus, later on in the evening severe generalized reaction (fever). Despite this in the night attended a further Sonderaktion from Holland (1600 persons). Ghastly scenes in front of the last bunker! That was the 10th Sonderaktion.
13 November 1942
Extracted fresh live material (liver, spleen and pancreas) from a previously photographed, severely atrophied Jewish prisoner aged eighteen. Fixed as always, liver and spleen in Carnoy and pancreas in Zenker (Prisoner No. 68030).
Letter from SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Rodl to the inspector of concentration camps, SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Liebehenschel, 14 November 1941 [Hitler and the Final Solution - G. Fleming, University of California Press, 1984, p. 99] -------------------------------------------------------------------- The Commandant's office has submitted to date two lists recommending the conferment of the Kreigverdienstkreuz [war service cross]. In both of these appear SS personnel who participated in executions. We herewith request confirmation as to whether these names should be listed once again in the roll currently under preparation. Further requested is information as to whether in the recommendation lists under "reasons and comments of immediate superior" there should be specified "execution, i.e., special action" or whether a general, routine reason should be given.
Letter from Bischoff, head of construction management at Auschwitz, to the SS economic and administrative head office in Berlin, regarding construction at Auschwitz, 13 October 1942 [Auschwitz: Technique and operation of the gas chambers - J.C Pressac, the Beate Klarsfeld Foundation, NY, 1989, p. 198] -------------------------------------------------------------------- As regards the construction of the new crematorium building, it was necessary to start immediately in July 1942 because of the situation caused by the special actions.
Letter from SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Bischoff, of the Auschwitz construction department, to SS General Kammler, January 29, 1943 [The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945 - G. Reitlinger, South Brunswick, T. Yosellof, 1968, p. 158-159] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Crematorium No. 2. The completed furnaces have been started up in the presence of Engineer Prufer from Messers. Topf (of Erfurt). The planks cannot yet be moved from the ceiling of the mortuary cellar on account of frost, but this is not important, as the gassing cellar can be used for that purpose. The ventilation plant has been held up by restrictions on rail transport, but the installation should be ready by February 20th.
Letter from SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Bischoff, March 6 1943 [Auschwitz: Technique and operation of the gas chambers - J.C Pressac, the Beate Klarsfeld Foundation, NY, 1989, p. 434] ----------------------------------------------------------------- ... order of 6/3/1943 concerning the delivery of a gas tight door 100 x 192 cm for cellar I of Krematorium III, to be produced to the identical pattern and dimensions as the cellar door of Krematorium II which is situated opposite, with peephole of double 8 mm glass, with rubber sealing strip and frame.
Letter from SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Jahrling to SS-General Kammler estimating the number of corpses that can be disposed off in 24 hours in the Auschwitz crematoriums, June 25 1943 [Auschwitz: Technique and operation of the gas chambers - J.C Pressac, the Beate Klarsfeld Foundation, NY, 1989, p. 247] ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.) Crematorium I ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 x 2 muffles 340 persons
2.) Crematorium II ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 x 3 muffles 1440 persons
3.) Crematorium III ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 x 3 muffles 1440 persons
4.) Crematorium IV ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 muffles 768 persons
5.) Crematorium V ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 muffles 768 persons
A letter asking for a truck to bring Zyklon-B to Auschwitz; uses the standard camouflage term "resettlement of Jews" to refer to extermination. Another such document asks for "material for special treatment" - another term used to disguise extermination. [Auschwitz: Technique and operation of the gas chambers - J.C Pressac, the Beate Klarsfeld Foundation, NY, 1989, p. 557] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Radio message 13 SS Garrison Radio Station Auschwitz Origin WVHA [SS economic administration head office]
Received 2nd October 1942 in the Kommandantur of Auschwitz Concentration camp
The movement authorization for one 5 Ton truck with trailer to Dessau and back in order to pick up material for the resettlement of the Jews, is hereby accorded. The authorization is to be given to the driver.
Liebehenschel SS Lieutenant Colonel Permanent representative of the head of the service with the rank of Waffen SS Lieutenant General
For file
Head of the radio station
Letter from SS-Sturmbannfuehrer Jahrling to Topf & Sons, March 6 1943 [Auschwitz: Technique and operation of the gas chambers - J.C Pressac, the Beate Klarsfeld Foundation, NY, 1989, p. 221] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [This document is interesting for two reasons: first, it demonstrates that the underground cellars in the crematoriums could not have possibly been morgues, as morgues are never heated; heating, however, does facilitate the evaporation of Zyklon-B. Also, the document - like many others - makes reference to an "undressing room", and there is no reason for a morgue to have one near by. Pressac contains numerous other documents attesting to the design and use of the Auschwitz gas chambers. Even the fake shower heads are mentioned].
Subject: KL Auschwitz Krematorien II and III
In accordance with your suggestion, the service agrees that cellar 1 should be preheated with the air coming from the rooms of the 3 forced draught installations. The supply and installation of the ductwork and blowers necessary to this end are to be effected as soon as possible. As you point out in your above-mentioned letter, execution should commence this week. We would ask you to send in triplicate detailed quote for supply and installation.
At the same time, we would ask you to send an additional quotation for the modification of the air-extraction installation in the undressing room.
KRISTALLNACHT *************
Message from SS-Grupenfuehrer Heydrich to all State Police Main Offices and Field Offices, November 10 1938 (before "Kristallnacht", the "night of broken glass", the first large scale pogrom against the Jews) [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. III, p. 545-547] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Regards: Measures against Jews tonight. . . . a) Only such measures may be taken which do not jeopardize German life or property (for instance, burning of synagogues only if there is no danger of fires for the neighbourhoods).
b) Business establishments and homes of Jews may be destroyed but not looted. The police have been instructed to supervise the execution of these directives and to arrest looters.
c) In Business streets special care is to be taken that non-Jewish establishments will be safeguarded at all cost against damage. . . .
As soon as the events of this night permit the use of the designated officers, as many Jews, particularly wealthy ones, as the local jails will hold, are to be arrested in all districts. Initially only healthy male Jews, not too old, are to be arrested. After the arrests have been carried out the appropriate concentration camp is to be contacted immediately with a view to a quick transfer of the Jews to the camps...
VERDICT OF SS-COURT *******************
Excerpts from Verdict of the SS Court in Munich, against SS-Untersturmfuehrer Max Taubner, 24 of May 1943 ['The Good Old Days' - E. Klee, W. Dressen, V. Riess, The Free Press, NY, 1988, p, 196-207] -----------------------------------------------------------------
1. The accused shall not be punished because of the actions against the Jews as such. The Jews have to be exterminated and none of the Jews that were killed is any great loss. Although the accused should have recognized that the extermination of the Jews was the duty of Kommandos which were set up especially for this purpose, he should be excused for considering himself to have the authority to take part in the extermination of Jewry himself. Real hatred of the Jews was the driving motivation for the accused. In the process he let himself be drawn into committing cruel actions in Alexandriya which are unworthy of a German man and an SS-officer. These excesses cannot be justified, either, as the accused would like to, as retaliation for the pain that the Jews have caused the German people. It is not the German way to apply Bolshevic methods during the necessary extermination of the worst enemy of our people. In so doing the conduct of the accused gives rise to considerable concern. The accused allowed his men to act with such vicious brutality that they conducted themselves under his command like a savage horde...
2. By taking photographs of the incidents or having photographs taken, by having these developed in photographic shops and showing them to his wife and friends, the accused is guilty of disobedience. Such pictures could pose the gravest risks to the security of the Reich if they fell into the wrong hands...
Dismissal of the case against the remaining parties, 1 June 1943
The following has been established on the basis of the main trial of SS-Untersturmfuehrer Max Taubner... The following men were party to the punishable acts committed or ordered by SS-Untersturmfuehrer Max Taubner:
1. SS-Unterscharfuehrer Walter Muller particularly stood out during the shootings of Jews with the brutality with which he tore small Jewish children from their mothers. He held these children in front of him with his left hand and then, with his right hand, shot them with a pistol.
. . [three more SS-personnel accused] .
Allowances have been made for the fact that the accused were, without exception, acting on the orders of and under the responsibility of Untersturmfuehrer Max Taubner. In this respect, their own culpability may be described as slight...
The cases against these accused have therefore been dismissed.
MISC ****
Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice to Hitler, regarding prosecution of a Jewess for selling her mother milk to a German pediatrician [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. III, p. 701-702] -------------------------------------------------------------------- After the birth of her child, a full-blooded Jewess sold her mother milk to a pediatrician and concealed that she was a Jewess. With this milk babies of German blood were fed in a nursing home for children. The accused will be charged with deception. The buyers of the milk have suffered damage, for mother's milk from a Jewess cannot be regarded as food for German children. The impudent behavior of the accused is an insult as well. Relevant charges, however, have not been applied for, so that the parents, who are unaware of the true facts, need not subsequently be worried.
I shall discuss with the Reich health leader the racial hygienic aspect of the case.
R. Rothenberger.
Death to the "Race Defiler": Excerpts from Opinion and Sentence of the Nuernberg Special Court in the Katzenberger Case [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. III, 653-663] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Findings:
1. The defendant Katzenberger is fully Jewish and a German national; he is a member of the Jewish religious community...
2. Irene Seiler is a German citizen of German blood...
[Testimonies about the relationship between Katzenberger and Seiler deleted]
The court is therefore convinced that Katzenberger, after the Nuernberg laws had come into effect, had repeated sexual intercourse with Seiler, up to March 1940...
The conduct to which the defendants admitted and which in the case of Katzenberger and consisted in drawing Seiler close to him, kissing her, patting and caressing her thighs over her clothes, makes it clear that in a crude manner Katzenberger did to Seiler what is popularly called "Abschmieren" [petting]. It is obvious that such actions are motivated only by sexual impulses. Even if the Jew had only done these so-called "Ersatzhandlungen" [sexual acts in lieu of actual intercourse] to Seiler, it would have been sufficient to charge him with racial pollution in the full sense of the law...
He is therefore guilty of a continuous crime of racial pollution according to sections 2 and 5, paragraph 11 of the Law for Protection of German Blood and German Honor of 15 September 1935...
As the only feasible answer to the frivolous conduct of the defendant, the court therefore deems it necessary to pronounce the death sentence as the heaviest punishment provided by section 4 of the decree against public enemies...
Various excerpts from anti-semitic publications [All taken from Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. VIII] -------------------------------------------------------------- p. 4: [Speech by Julius Streicher, September 5 1937, reported in the Fraenkische Tageszeitung]
The Jew no longer shows himself among us openly as he used to. But it would be wrong to say that victory is ours. Full and final victory will have been achieved only when the whole world has been rid of the Jews.
p. 7: [Leading article by Streicher from "Der Stuermer" No. 39, September 1936]
The continued work of the "Stuermer" will help to ensure that every German down to the last man will, with heart and hand, join the ranks of those whose aim is to crush the head of the serpent Pan-Juda beneath their heels. He who helps to bring this about helps to eliminate the devil. And this devil is the Jew.
p. 11: [Streicher's speech in Nuernberg, April 3 1925, taken from "Kampf dem Weltfeind", p. 42]
Let us make a new beginning today so that we can annihilate the Jew.
p. 12: [Deutche Volksgesundheit aus Blut und Boden, New Year's issue 1935]
One single cohabitation of a Jew with an Aryan woman is sufficient to poison her blood forever. Together with the alien albumen she has absorbed the alien soul. Never again will she be able to bear purely Aryan children, even when married to an Aryan. They will all be bastards, with a dual soul and the body of a mixed breed.
p. 19: [Article signed by Streicher in "Der Stuermer", No, 12, March 19 1942, pages 1 and 2]
There were two ways which might have led to a liberation of Europe from the Jews: Expulsion or extermination! Both methods have been tried in the course of the centuries, but they were never carried to a conclusion...
The teaching of Christianity has stood in the way of a radical solution of the Jewish problem in Europe...
Fate has decreed that it was finally left to the 20th century to see the total solution of the Jewish problem. Just how this solution will be achieved has been made known to the European nations and to entire non-Jewish humanity in a proclamation read out by the Fuehrer of the German people on the 24th February 1942:
Today the ideas of our Nationalsocialists and those of the Fascist revolution have conquered large and mighty nations and my prophecy will find its fulfillment, that in this war not the Aryan race will be destroyed, but the Jew will be exterminated. What ever else this struggle may lead to, or however long it may endure, this will be the final result.
p. 29:
Report of Streicher's address to 2000 children at Nuernberg, Christmas 1936, from Fraenkische Tegeszeitung, 22nd December 1936
Two thousand children rejoiced with Julius Streicher...
The Gauleiter [Streicher] told the little ones about the terrible times after the war, when the Devil dominated mankind. "Do you know who the Devil is", he asked his breathlessly listening audience. "The Jew, the Jew", resounded from a thousand children's voices.
Letter from the Minister of State for the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to Rudolph Brandt, June 13 1944, Concerning Children of Executed Czechs [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1949-1953, Vol. IV, p. 1030-1032] ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear comarade Brandt,
Concerning the matter "children of executed Czechs" I wish to reply to your letter as directed to SS-Lieutenant General Frank, date 6 February of this year, diary index No. 26/2/44 g Bra/H, that the conversation between SS-Lieutenant General Frank and SS Colonel Sollmann took place on 2 July of last year in Prague. Colonel Sollmann stated during this conversation that racially valuable children up to six years would be considered eligible by the "Lebensborn"...
It was intended, to have children up to six years and suitable for Germanization brought into German families through the "Lebensborn"...
It is intended to have the racially acceptable elements of the collectively housed children transferred through the "Lebensborn" to German families or to a children's home whereas the children over 16 years are to be sent to a concentration camp.
Extract from Himmler's address to party comrades, September 7 1940 [Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., Vol. IV, p. 1140] ------------------------------------------------------------------ If any Pole has any sexual dealing with a German woman, and by this I mean sexual intercourse, then the man will be hanged right in front of his camp. Then the others will not do it. Besides, provisions will be made that a sufficient number of Polish women and girls will come along as well so that a necessity of this kind is out of the question.
The women will be brought before the courts without mercy, and where the facts are not sufficiently proved - such borderline cases always happen - they will be sent to a concentration camp. This we must do, unless these one million Poles and those hundreds of thousands of workers of alien blood are to inflict untold damage on the German blood. Philosophizing is of no avail in this case. It would be better if we did not have them at all - we all know that - but we need them.
From the speech of Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler, speaking to SS Major-Generals, Poznan, October 4 1943 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. IV, p. 559] ------------------------------------------------------------------- One basic principal must be the absolute rule for the SS man: we must be honest, decent, loyal, and comradely to members of our own blood and to nobody else. What happens to a Russian, to a Czech, does not interest me in the slightest. What the nations can offer in good blood of our type, we will take, if necessary by kidnapping their children and raising them with us. Whether nations live in prosperity or starve to death interests me only in so far as we need them as slaves for our culture; otherwise, it is of no interest to me. Whether 10000 Russian females fall down from exhaustion while digging an anti-tank ditch interest me only in so far as the anti-tank ditch for Germany is finished. We shall never be rough and heartless when it is not necessary, that is clear. We Germans, who are the only people in the world who have a decent attitude towards animals, will also assume a decent attitude towards these human animals. But it is a crime against our own blood to worry about them and give them ideals, thus causing our sons and grandsons to have a more difficult time with them. When someone comes to me and says, "I cannot dig the anti-tank ditch with women and children, it is inhuman, for it will kill them", then I would have to say, "you are a murderer of your own blood because if the anti-tank ditch is not dug, German soldiers will die, and they are the sons of German mothers. They are our own blood".
Frank, Governor of Nazi occupied Poland, in an interview, October 3 1939 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Vol. II, p. 632] ------------------------------------------------------------------ Poland can only be administered by utilizing the country through means of ruthless exploitation, deportation of all supplies, raw materials, machines, factory installations etc., which are important for the German war economy, availability of all workers for work within Germany, reduction of the entire Polish economy to absolute minimum necessary for bare existence of the population, closing of all educational institutions, especially technical schools and colleges in order to prevent the growth of a new Polish intelligentsia. Poland shall be treated as a colony. the Poles shall be the slaves of the Greater German World Empire.
Letter from Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler to the Higher SS and Police Chief in the Ukraine, Kiev, September 7 1943 [Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression - Washington, U.S Govt. Print. Off., 1946, Supp. A, p. 1270] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Pruetzmann,
Infantry general staff has special orders with regard to the Donetz area. Get in touch with him immediately. I order you to cooperate as much as you can. The aim to be achieved is that when areas in the Ukraine are evacuated, not a human being, not a single head of cattle, not a hundredweight of cereals and not a railway line remain behind; that not a house remain standing, not a mine is available which is not destroyed for years to come, that there is not a well which is not poisoned. The enemy must really find completely burned and destroyed land. Discuss these things with Stampf straight away and do your absolute best.
Detailed report by SS-Standartenfuehrer Jager about mass killings in Nazi occupied USSR, July-November 1941 ['The Good Old Days' - E. Klee, W. Dressen, V. Riess, The Free Press, NY, 1988, p. 46-58]. ------------------------------------------------------------------ [The "Jager report" was written by a commander of one of the "Einsatzgruppen" (special task forces) which were in charge of liquidating Jews, communist leaders, partisans and others in the Soviet Union.
To understand the magnitude of the massacres, note the total number of victims - 137346. This is for one Einsatzgruppen, in a five month period, in one area. This report reflects very clearly on the plan to kill all the Jews, except those which were needed for working purposes; those were, as the report notes, "only" to be sterilized; Jager goes on to state that "if despite sterilization a Jewess becomes pregnant she will be liquidated".
There are many documents about the Einsatzgruppen massacres in the Soviet Union, but the "Jager report" is one of the most chillingly detailed of them].
The Commander of the security police and the SD Einsatzkommando 3 Kauen [Kaunas], 1 December 1941
-------------------------- |Secret Reich Business! | 5 copies -------------------------- 4th copy
Complete list of executions carried out in the EK 3 area up to 1 December 1941
Security police duties in Lithuania taken over by Einsatzkommando 3 on 2 July 1941. (The Wilna [Vilnius] area was taken over by EK 3 on 9 Aug. 1941, the Schaulen area on 2 Oct. 1941. Up until these dates EK 9 operated in Wilna and EK 2 in Schaulen.) On my instructions and orders the following executions were conducted by Lithuanian partisans:
4.7.41 Kauen-Fort VII 416 Jews, 47 Jewesses 463 6.7.41 Kauen-Fort VII Jews 2514
Following the formation of a raiding squad under the command of SS-Obersturmfuherer Hamman and 8-10 reliable men from the Einsatzkommando. the following actions were conducted in cooperation with Lithuanian partisans:
7.7.41 Mariampole Jews 32 8.7.41 Mariampole 14 Jews, 5 Comm. officials 19 8.7.41 Girkalinei Comm. officials 6 9.7.41 Wendziogala 32 Jews, 2 Jewesses, 1 Lithuanian (f.), 2 Lithuanian Comm., 1 Russian Comm. 38 9.7.41 Kauen-Fort VII 21 Jews, 3 Jewesses 24 14.7.41 Mariampole 21 Jews, 1 Russ., 9 Lith. Comm. 31 17.7.41 Babtei 8 Comm. officials (incl. 6 Jews) 8 18.7.41 Mariampole 39 Jews, 14 Jewesses 53 19.7.41 Kauen-Fort VII 17 Jews, 2 Jewesses, 4 Lith. Comm., 2 Comm. Lithuanians (f.), 1 German Comm. 26 21.7.41 Panevezys 59 Jews, 11 Jewesses, 1 Lithuanian (f.), 1 Pole, 22 Lith. Comm., 9 Russ. Comm. 103 22.7.41 Panevezys 1 Jew 1 23.7.41 Kedainiai 83 Jews, 12 Jewesses, 14 Russ. Comm., 15 Lith. Comm., 1 Russ. O-Politruk 125 25.7.41 Mariampole 90 Jews, 13 Jewesses 103 28.7.41 Panevezys 234 Jews, 15 Jewesses, 19 Russ. Comm., 20 Lith. Comm. 288
Total carried forward 3384
Sheet 2 Total carried over 3384
29.7.41 Rasainiai 254 Jews, 3 Lith. Comm. 257 30.7.41 Agriogala 27 Jews, 11 Lith. Comm. 38 31.7.41 Utena 235 Jews, 16 Jewesses, 4 Lith. Comm., 1 robber/murderer 256 31.7.41 Wendziogala 13 Jews, 2 murderers 15 1.8.41 Ukmerge 254 Jews, 42 Jewesses, 1 Pol. Comm., 2 Lith. NKVD agents, 1 mayor of Jonava who gave order to set fire to Jonava 300 2.8.41 Kauen-Fort IV 170 Jews, 1 US Jewess, 33 Jewesses, 4 Lith. Comm. 209 4.8.41 Panevezys 362 Jews, 41 Jewesses, 5 Russ. Comm., 14 Lith. Comm. 422 5.8.41 Rasainiai 213 Jews, 66 Jewesses 279 7.8.41 Utena 483 Jews, 87 Jewesses, 1 Lithuanian (robber of corpses of German soldiers)571 8.8.41 Ukmerge 620 Jews, 82 Jewesses 702 9.8.41 Kauen-Fort IV 484 Jews, 50 Jewesses 534 11.8.41 Panevezys 450 Jews, 48 Jewesses, 1 Lith. 1 Russ.500 13.8.41 Alytus 617 Jews, 100 Jewesses, 1 criminal 719 14.8.41 Jonava 497 Jews, 55 Jewesses 552 15-16.8.41 Rokiskis 3200 Jews, Jewesses, and J. Children, 5 Lith. Comm., 1 Pole, 1 partisan 3207 9-16.8.41 Rasainiai 294 Jewesses, 4 Jewish children 298 27.6-14.8.41 Rokiskis 493 Jews, 432 Russians, 56 Lithuanians (all active communists) 981 18.8.41 Kauen-Fort IV 689 Jews, 402 Jewesses, 1 Pole (f.), 711 Jewish intellectuals from Ghetto in reprisal for sabotage action 1812 19.8.41 Ukmerge 298 Jews, 255 Jewesses, 1 Politruk, 88 Jewish children, 1 Russ. Comm. 645 22.8.41 Dunanburg 3 Russ. Comm., 5 Latvian, incl. 1 murderer, 1 Russ. Guardsman, 3 Poles, 3 gypsies (m.), 1 gypsy (f.), 1 gypsy child, 1 Jew, 1 Jewess, 1 Armenian (m.), 2 Politruks (prison inspection in Dunanburg 21
Total carried forward 16152
Sheet 3 Total carried forward 16152
22.8.41 Aglona Mentally sick: 269 men, 227 women, 48 children 544 23.8.41 Panevezys 1312 Jews, 4602 Jewesses, 1609 Jewish children 7523 18-22.8.41 Kreis Rasainiai 466 Jews, 440 Jewesses, 1020 Jewish children 1926 25.8.41 Obeliai 112 Jews, 627 Jewesses, 421 Jewish children 1160 25-26.8.41 Seduva 230 Jews, 275 Jewesses, 159 Jewish children 664 26.8.41 Zarasai 767 Jews, 1113 Jewesses, 1 Lith. Comm., 687 Jewish children, 1 Russ. Comm. (f.) 2569 28.8.41 Pasvalys 402 Jews, 738 Jewesses, 209 Jewish children 1349 26.8.41 Kaisiadorys All Jews, Jewesses, and Jewish children 1911 27.8.41 Prienai All Jews, Jewesses, and Jewish Children 1078 27.8.41 Dagda and 212 Jews, 4 Russ. POW's 216 Kraslawa 27.8.41 Joniskia 47 Jews, 165 Jewesses, 143 Jewish children 355 28.8.41 Wilkia 76 Jews, 192 Jewesses, 134 Jewish children 402 28.8.41 Kedainiai 710 Jews, 767 Jewesses, 599 Jewish children 2076 29.8.41 Rumsiskis and 20 Jews, 567 Jewesses, 197 Ziezmariai Jewish children 784 29.8.41 Utena and 582 Jews, 1731 Jewesses, 1469 Moletai Jewish children 3782 13-31.8.41 Alytus and environs 233 Jews 233
1.9.41 Mariampole 1763 Jews, 1812 Jewesses, 1404 Jewish children, 109 mentally sick, 1 German subject (f.), married to a Jew, 1 Russian (f.) 5090
Total carried over 47814
Sheet 4 Total carried over 47814
28.8-2.9.41 Darsuniskis 10 Jews, 69 Jewesses, 20 Jewish children 99 Carliava 73 Jews, 113 Jewesses, 61 Jewish children 247 Jonava 112 Jews, 1200 Jewesses, 244 Jewish children 1556 Petrasiunai 30 Jews, 72 Jewesses, 23 Jewish children 125 Jesuas 26 Jews, 72 Jewesses, 46 Jewish children 144 Agriogala 207 Jews, 260 Jewesses, 195 Jewish children 662 Jasvainai 86 Jews, 110 Jewesses, 86 Jewish children 282 Babtei 20 Jews, 41 Jewesses, 22 Jewish children 83 Wendziogala 42 Jews, 113 Jewesses, 97 Jewish children 252 Krakes 448 Jews, 476 Jewesses, 97 Jewish children 1125 4.9.41 Pravenischkis 247 Jews, 6 Jewesses 253 Cekiske 22 Jews, 64 Jewesses, 60 Jewish children 146 Seredsius 6 Jews, 61 Jewesses, 126 Jewish children 193 Velinona 2 Jews, 71 Jewesses, 86 Jewish children 159 Zapiskis 47 Jews, 118 Jewesses, 13 Jewish children 178 5.9.41 Ukmerge 1123 Jews, 1849 Jewesses, 1737 Jewish children 4709 25.8-6.9.41 Mopping up in: 16 Jews, 412 Jewesses, 415 Rasainiai Jewish children 843 Georgenburg all Jews, all Jewesses, all Jewish children 412 9.9.41 Alytus 287 Jews, 640 Jewesses, 352 Jewish children 1279 9.9.41 Butrimonys 67 Jews, 370 Jewesses, 303 Jewish children 740 10.9.41 Merkine 223 Jews, 640 Jewesses, 276 Jewish children 854 10.9.41 Varena 541 Jews, 141 Jewesses, 149 Jewish children 831 11.9.41 Leipalingis 60 Jews, 70 Jewesses, 25 Jewish children 155 11.9.41 Seirijai 229 Jews, 384 Jewesses, 340 Jewish children 953 12.9.41 Simnas 68 Jews, 197 Jewesses, 149 Jewish children 414 11-12.9.41 Uzusalis Reprisal against inhabitants who fed Russ. partisans; some in possession of weapons 43 26.9.41 Kauen-F.IV 412 Jews, 615 Jewesses, 581 Jewish children (sick and suspected epidemic cases) 1608
Total carries over 66159
Sheet 5 Total carried over 66159
2.10.41 Zagare 633 Jews, 1107 Jewesses, 496 Jewish children (as these Jews were being led away a mutiny rose, which was however immediately put down; 150 Jews were shot immediately; 7 partisans wounded) 2236 4.10.41 Kauen-F.IX 315 Jews, 712 Jewesses, 818 Jewish children (reprisal after German police officer shot in ghetto) 1845 29.10.41 Kauen-F.IX 2007 Jews, 2920 Jewesses, 4273 Jewish children (mopping up ghetto of superfluous Jews) 9200 3.11.41 Lazdijai 485 Jews, 511 Jewesses, 539 Jewish children 1535 15.11.41 Wilkowiski 36 Jews, 48 Jewesses, 31 Jewish children 115 25.11.41 Kauen-F.IX 1159 Jews, 1600 Jewesses, 175 Jewish children (resettlers from Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt am main) 2934 29.11.41 Kauen-F.IX 693 Jews, 1155 Jewesses, 152 Jewish children (resettlers from from Vienna and Breslau) 2000 29.11.41 Kauen-F.IX 17 Jews, 1 Jewess, for contravention of ghetto law, 1 Reichs German who converted to the Jewish faith and attended rabbinical school, then 15 terrorists from the Kalinin group 34
EK 3 detachment in Dunanburg in the period 13.7-21.8.41: 9012 Jews, Jewesses and Jewish children, 573 active Comm. 9585
EK 3 detachment in Wilna: 12.8-1.9.41 City of Wilna 425 Jews, 19 Jewesses, 8 Comm. (m.), 9 Comm. (f.) 461 2.9.41 City of Wilna 864 Jews, 2019 Jewesses, 817 Jewish children (sonderaktion because German soldiers shot at by Jews) 3700
Total carried forward 99084
sheet 6
Total carried forward 99804
12.9.41 City of Wilna 993 Jews, 1670 Jewesses, 771 Jewish children 3334 17.9.41 City of Wilna 337 Jews, 687 Jewesses, 247 Jewish children and 4 Lith. Comm. 1271 20.9.41 Nemencing 128 Jews, 176 Jewesses, 99 Jewish children 403 22.9.41 Novo-Wilejka 468 Jews, 495 Jewesses, 196 Jewish children 1159 24.9.41 Riess 512 Jews, 744 Jewesses, 511 Jewish children 1767 25.9.41 Jahiunai 215 Jews, 229 Jewesses, 131 Jewish children 575 27.9.41 Eysisky 989 Jews, 1636 Jewesses, 821 Jewish children 3446 30.9.41 Trakai 366 Jews, 483 Jewesses, 597 Jewish children 1446 4.10.41 City of Wilna 432 Jews, 1115 Jewesses, 436 Jewish children 1983 6.10.41 Semiliski 213 Jews, 359 Jewesses, 390 Jewish children 962 9.10.41 Svenciany 1169 Jews, 1840 Jewesses, 717 Jewish children 3726 16.10.41 City of Wilna 382 Jews, 507 Jewesses, 257 Jewish children 1146 21.10.41 City of Wilna 718 Jews, 1063 Jewesses, 586 Jewish children 2367 25.10.41 City of Wilna 1776 Jewesses, 812 Jewish children 2578 27.10.41 City of Wilna 946 Jews, 184 Jewesses, 73 Jewish children 1203 30.10.41 City of Wilna 382 Jews, 789 Jewesses, 362 Jewish children 1553 6.11.41 City of Wilna 340 Jews, 749 Jewesses, 252 Jewish children 1341 19.11.41 City of Wilna 76 Jews, 77 Jewesses, 18 Jewish children 171 19.11.41 City of Wilna 6 POW's, 8 Poles 14 20.11.41 City of Wilna 3 POW's 3 25.11.41 City of Wilna 9 Jews, 46 Jewesses, 8 Jewish children, 1 Pole for possession of arms and other military equipment 64
EK 3 detachment in Minsk from 28.9-17.10.41:
Pleschnitza 620 Jews, 1285 Jewesses, Bischolin 1126 Jewish children and 19 Scak Comm. Bober Uzda 3050 -------- 133346 Prior to EK 3 taking over security police duties, Jews liquidated by pogroms and executions (including partisans) 4000 ----------- Total 137346
Today I can confirm that our objective, to solve the Jewish problem for Lithuania, has been achieved by EK 3. In Lithuania there are no more Jews, apart from Jewish workers and their families.
The distance between from the assembly point to the graves was on average 4 to 5 Km.
I consider the Jewish action more or less terminated as far as Einsatzkommando 3 is concerned. Those working Jews and Jewesses still available are needed urgently and I can envisage that after the winter this workforce will be required even more urgently. I am of the view that the sterilization program of the male worker Jews should be started immediately so that reproduction is prevented. If despite sterilization a Jewess becomes pregnant she will be liquidated.
(signed) Jager SS-Standartenfuehrer
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