Gustav Krupp Von Bohlen Und Halbach
A. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE NAZI CONSPIRACY, KRUPP
CIRCUMVENTED THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES ON
THE REARMAMENT OF GERMANY. AS THE RESPONSIBLE HEAD OF THE HUGE ARMAMENTS
CONCERN, FRIED. KRUPP A.G., HE CONCEALED ITS ARMAMENT ACTIVITY IN ORDER
TO DECEIVE THE ALLIED GOVERNMENTS. HE WAS THEREFORE, IN A POSITION TO
PROMOTE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSPIRACY BY THE RAPID PRODUCTION OF
MUNITIONS OF WAR ON A HUGE SCALE AFTER THE CONSPIRATORS' ACCESSION TO
POWER.
In an article entitled "Manager and Armament Worker" written
for the 1 March 1942 issue of the Krupp magazine, Krupp stated:
" I knew German history well, and out of my experiences in the
rest of the world I believed to know the German kind; therefore I
never doubted that, although for the time being all indications were
against it, one day a change would come. How, I never knew or asked,
but I believed in it. But with this knowledge -- and today I may speak
about these things and for the first time I am doing this extensively
and publicly -- with this, as responsible head of the Krupp works,
consequences of the greatest importance had to be taken. If Germany
should ever be reborn, if it should shake off the chains of Versailles
one day, the Krupp concern had to be prepared again. ***"
" I wanted and had to maintain Krupp, in spite of all opposition,
as an armament plant for the later future, even if in camouflaged
form. I could only speak in the smallest, most intimate circles about
the real reasons which made me undertake the changeover of the plants
for certain lines of production for I had to expect that many people
would not understand me, ***"
*Since the name of Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach was severed
from the Nurnberg trial which commenced on 20 November 1945, the trial
brief outlining the case against Krupp, which was prepared before his
severance, was not presented to the Tribunal. Despite his personal absence
from the prisoners' dock, however, Krupp remained technically still
under indictment and liable to prosecution in subsequent proceedings.
Moreover Krupp was still regarded by the prosecution as a member of
the Nazi conspiracy. The following summary of evidence, adapted from
the trial brief, is included here in order to show the role played by
Krupp as co-conspirator.
"Without arousing any commotion, the necessary measures and
preparations were undertaken. Thus to the surprise of many people
Krupp began to manufacture goods which really appeared to be far distant
from the former work of an armament plant. Even the Allied snooping
commissions were duped. Padlocks, milk cans, cash registers, track
repair machines, trash carts and similar 'small junk' appeared really
unsuspicious and even locomotives and automobiles made an entirely
'civilian' impression.
"After the accession to power of Adolf Hitler I had the satisfaction
of being able to report to the Fuehrer that Krupps stood ready, after
a short warming-up period, to begin the rearmament of the German people
without any gaps of experience -- the blood of the comrades of KAR.
Saturday 1923 had not been shed in vain. Since that time I was often
permitted to accompany the Fuehrer through the old and new workshops
and to experience how the workers of Krupp cheered him in gratitude.
In the years after 1933 we worked with an incredible intensity and
when the war did break out the speed and results were again increased.
We are all proud of having thus contributed to the heretofore magnificent
successes of our army."
*******
"I have always considered it to be an honor as well as an obligation
to be the head of an arms factory and I know that the employees of
Krupp share these feelings. Thanks to the educational work of the
National Socialist Government this is the case all over Germany. I
know that the things I have said here about the armament worker in
particular hold true for every German worker. With these men and women
who work-for the cause with all their hearts, with cool heads and
skilled hands we will master every fate." (D-94; see D- 64) .
In a memorandum of a conference held on 9 December 1942, concerning
the proposed publication of a book dealing with Krupp's armament activities,
Von Bulow, confidential secretary Krupp, wrote:
"For the period of transition from 1919 up to rearmament, A.
K. [Krupp] had undertaken various tasks in order to keep up the Company's
activity in the field of artillery, in the sense of observing activities
in that field in the rest of the world (relation: BOFORS) and then
also for the production of artillery material, within and to a certain
extent also beyond, the limitation established by the peace dictate'
(D-249 ) .
B. AFTER, THE CONSPIRATORS' ACCESSION TO POWER, KRUPP LENT HIS
INFLUENCE, PRESTIGE, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF THEIR
CONTROL OVER THE GERMAN STATE.
(1) With knowledge of the aims and purposes of the Nazi conspiracy,
he sought to reorganize the Reich Association of German Industry, of
which he was Chairman, so as to bring it into line with the aims of
the conspirators and to make it an effective instrument for the execution
of their policies.
(a) Upon the invitation of Goering (D-201), Krupp attended a meeting
in Berlin on 20 February 1933, during which Hitler, in a speech to
a select group of industrialists, announced the conspirators' aims
to seize totalitarian control over Germany, to destroy the parliamentary
system, to crush all opposition by force, and to restore the power
of the Wehrmacht. In the course of this speech, Hitler stated:
"Private enterprise cannot be maintained in the age of Democracy;
it is conceivable only if the people have a sound idea of authority
and personality. *** Life always tears up humanity. It is therefore
the noblest task of a Leader to find ideals that are stronger than
the factors that pull the people apart. I recognized even while in
the hospital that one had to search for new ideas conducive to reconstruction.
I found them in Nationalism, in the value of personality, in the denial
of reconciliation between nations, in the strength and power of individual
personality. *** If one rejects pacifism, one must put a new idea
in its place immediately. Everything must be pushed aside, must be
replaced by something better."
"*** We must not forget that all the benefits of culture must
be introduced more or less with an iron fist, just as once upon a
time the farmers were forced to plant potatoes. For all this, however,
courage, and iron will and perseverance are essential."
"*** With the very same courage with which we go to work to
make up for what had been sinned during the last 14 years, we have
withstood all attempts to move us off the right way. We have turned
down the favour (benevolence) of the Catholic Centre Party [Zentrum]
to tolerate us.
Hugemberg has too small a movement. He has only considerably slowed
down our development. We must first gain complete power if we want to
crush the other side completely. While still gaining power one should
not start the struggle against the opponent. Only when one knows that
one has reached the pinnacle of power, that there is no further possible
upward development, shall one strike. ***"
"Now we stand before the last election. Regardless of the outcome
there will be no retreat, even if the coming election does not bring
about a decision. One way or another, if the election does not decide,
the decision must be brought about even by other means. I have intervened
in order to give the people once more the chance to decide their fate
by themselves. This determination is a strong asset for whatever must
possibly happen later. Does the election bring no result, well, Germany
won't go to ruin. Today, as never before, everyone is under the obligation
to pledge himself to success. The necessity to make sacrifices has
never been greater than now. For Economy I have the one wish that
it go parallel with the internal structure to meet a calm future.
The question of restoration of the Wehrmacht will not be decided at
Geneva, but in Germany, when we have gained internal strength through
internal peace. *** There are only two possibilities, either to crowd
back the opponent on constitutional grounds, and for this purpose
once more this election or a struggle will be conducted with other
weapons, which may demand greater sacrifices. I would like to see
them avoided. I hope the German people thus recognize the greatness
of the hour. It shall decide over the next 10 or probably even 100
years. It will become a turning point in German history, to which
I pledge myself with glowing energy." (D-203).
At this same meeting, Goering declared that the impending election
of 5 March 1933 would certainly be the last one for the next 10 years,
and probably even for the next 100 years (D-203).
In a memorandum dated 22 February 1933 describing this meeting, Krupp
wrote that he had expressed to Hitler the gratitude of approximately
25 industrialists present for the clear expression of his views and
emphasized, on behalf of all present, that it was time to clarify the
political situation in Germany (D-204).
(b) On 25 April 1933, Krupp, as Chairman of the Reich Association of
German Industry (Reichsverbandes der Deutschen Industrie) submitted
to Hitler his plan for the reorganization of German industry and in
connection therewith, undertook to bring the Association into line with
the aims of the conspirators and to make it an effective instrument
for the execution of their policies.
1. In the letter of transmittal, Krupp stated that his plan of reorganization
was characterized by the desire to coordinate "economic measures
and political necessity, adopting the Fuehrer's conception of the
New German State" (D-157).
2. In the plan of reorganization itself Krupp stated:
"The turn of political events is in line with the wishes which
I myself and the Board of Directors have cherished for a long time.
I am convinced that, under the threat of the impoverishment of our
people, the machinery of government must be simplified to the utmost.
For the same reason I did not fail to recognize a long time ago
the necessity of rationalizing our economic system.
"Convinced that the opportunity of the hour must not be missed
to obtain the best for our economic system, I am employing the authority
bestowed upon me by the Presiding Council to carry out a double
task: --
1. In the negotiations with the Reichschancellor and his representatives
I shall make it my goal to coordinate, in the field of organization
of industrial associations, the economically reasonable with the
politically necessary.
2. In reorganizing the Reich Association of German Industry I shall
be guided by the idea of bringing the new organization into agreement
with the- political aims of the Reich Government and at the same
time to make it so rational and forceful that it can be an effective
instrument of industrial enterprise, according to the relative importance
of the industry." (D-167)
(c) In a speech delivered on 18 October 1933, on the occasion of the
first meeting of the Committee for Industrial and Social policy of the
Reich Association of German Industry, Krupp reaffirmed his aim to bring
the Association into complete accord with the political goals of the
Nazi government and stated, inter alia:
" *** To have united the purposes of an entire Nation, is the
great historical achievement of the man in whose strong hands our
President has placed the fate of our people. When Reichschancellor
and Fuehrer Adolf Hitler called the General Council of Economy together
for the first time on the 20th of September, I had the honor to thank
him for the confidence which he had put in the men of the practical
business world by calling them to the General Council. I pledged to
him unrestrained support in his Government in its exceedingly difficult
task from all branches and organizations of Economy.
"I may repeat now what I said then: 'The unshakable faith of
our Reichschancellor and Fuehrer in the future of our people gives-also
to the men of business the courage and the strength to put everything
in the reconstruction of a healthy National Economy in a strong National
State under National Socialist leadership'.
"You, too, gentlemen, if I am certain of your confidence, are
bound to this pledge. It holds in itself, for all of us, the deeply
felt obligation to be the guarantors for the unconditional execution
of the Fuehrer's will in all links and branches of Industry. May the
spirit of devotion to duty which inspires us always dominate this
Committee's conferences!
"I ask you, gentlemen, to rise and to join me in the toast:
To the venerable President of the German Reich, General Fieldmarshal
Von Hindenburg and the German People's Chancellor and Fuehrer, Adolf
Hitler: 'Sieg Heil'." (D-353)
(2) Krupp organized, sponsored, and made substantial
financial contributions to the Hitler Fund (Hitler Spende), with knowledge
that the funds were to be used to further the objectives of the SA and
SS.
(a) In a letter to Schacht dated 30 May 1933, Krupp wrote:
"As Dr. Hoettgen and I had the opportunity of mentioning to
you yesterday, it is proposed to initiate a collection in the most
far-reaching circles of German industry, including agriculture and
the banking world, which is to be put at the disposal of the Fuehrer
of the NSDAP in the name of 'The Hitler Fund', which would replace
collections in many cases separately organized of the various NSDAP
organizations and the Stahlhelm. It has been decided to appoint a
management council for this central collection; I have accepted the
chairmanship of the management council at the unanimous request of
the principal federations, inspired by the wish to collaborate with
my full strength in this task which is to be a symbol of gratitude
to the Fuehrer of the nation." (D-151)
(b) A circular written by Hess in August 1933, which was found among
Krupp's files, specifically states that one of the purposes of the Hitler
Fund is "to put at the disposal of the Reich leadership the funds
required for the unified execution of the tasks which fall to the lot
of the SA, SS, ST, HJ, political organizations etc." (D-151).
In a letter dated 15 August 1934, from Lutze, Chief of Staff of the
SA, which was found among Krupp's papers, authority was granted, with
the approval of the Deputy Fuehrer, to Gauleiter Terboven to use a special
part of the year's Hitler Fund in the interest of the SA in the Ruhr
district (D-368).
(c) From the inception of the Hitler Fund until the collapse of Germany,
the Fried. Krupp Cast Steel Works in Essen (main company in the Krupp
organization) alone contributed 4,738,446 marks to that fund (D-325;
the above figure is the total amount shown on the chart, not here reproduced*).
This assistance to the Hitler Fund was supplemented by large contributions
made by the other Krupp companies.
(3) Krupp, both privately and through the Krupp firm, made substantial
contributions to the Nazi Party and affiliated organizations.
(a) For contributions by Fried. Krupp Cast Steel Works in Essen, see
D-325.
(b) In June 1935, Krupp contributed 100,000 marks to the Nazi Party
out of his personal account (D-332; D-373).
(4) In numerous public addresses, Krupp supported the measures adopted
by the conspirators in the execution of their program.
(a) In a speech urging every German to approve Germany's withdrawal
from the disarmament conference and the League of Nations, Krupp
"*** Just as the 5th of March brought about the change from
chaos to order, from disgrace to honor in domestic policy so, on November
12, the unanimous "Yes" of the German people concerning
the foreign policy of the Reich Government, shall and must give ample
proof to the entire world that every citizen who is worthy of the
German name, stands unconditionally behind the Reich Government as
led by the Reich Chancellor, and its foreign policy which is dictated
by the commandment of self-respect."
*This and subsequent similar charts have been omitted from this publication
because of their length and complexity, and the relative unimportance
of the issue for which they have been cited.
*******
"*** When the radio broadcasts the results of the People's Election
on the evening of November 12, the entire world must know that: Germany
stands in the camp of Adolf Hitler." (D-393).
(b) In a speech delivered on 26 January 1934, Krupp expressed approval
of the leadership principle in industrial relations, under which the
entrepreneur became the leader and the workers became his followers.
In the course of this speech he said: "National-Socialism has liberated
the German worker from the clutches of a doctrine which was basically
hostile both for employer and employee. Adolf Hitler has returned the
worker to his nation; he has made of him a disciplined soldier of labor
and therefore our comrade. When, on the other hand, the new State awards
to the enterpriser the role of leader in economy and labor, then we
know that: Leadership has obligation !
"The enterpriser and his leading officers are the trustees for
the material welfare of our people." (D- 392).
(c) In a speech delivered on 10 August 1934, in connection with the
plebiscite to approve Hitler's dual appointment as president and chancellor
after Hindenburg's death, Krupp said:
"Let us all follow him now also, our Leader, our Reich -- and
People's Chancellor.
"In an exceptionally short time he has eliminated the quarrel
between parties, has guaranteed unity to the Reich and has assured
to every German pride to work, has brought the opportunity for work
to the near future. On 19 August all our votes borne of deep trust
and proven confidence shall go to the man acclaimed by those hearts
of many thousands and millions who cannot, because of their age, go
to the polls but who daily join us, who are permitted to vote, in
the Cry:
Heil Hitler!" (D-86).
(d) In a speech dated 27 October 1935, Krupp stated:
"*** Our thoughts fly therefore by themselves in this festive
hour of our plant community, to the man whom we thank for the ressurection
of our Nation: Adolf Hitler, the patron of German labour and German
art. Unanimously we will confess and pledge ourselves to stand behind
the Fuehrer and his movement today and forever and thereby to be of
service to the idea of eternal Germany." (D- 385)
(e) In a speech dated 1 May 1936, after the Nazis had reoccupied and
fortified the Rhineland, Krupp stated:
"No greater recognition, no greater incentive to further common
work accomplishment could have been given us than was done through
the visit of our Fuehrer on March 27th of this year to our works and
through his addresses from here. ***"
"Never has a statesman fought for the soul of his people and
for its wellbeing with such faith, such ardor, such endurance. We
shall never forget how deeply we are indebted to him. *** I only mention
here the abolition of the parties and the unification of the people,
the regaining of the sovereignty in the Rhineland, the extensive abolition
of unemployment, the accomplishments of the labour service, the magnificent
public buildings, the roads, bridges and canals. ***.
*******
"The world will have to get used to the fact that the voice
of the Fuehrer is the voice of the whole German people. ***.
"Jubileers and co-workers! We shall be thankful to fate that
we were and are permitted to be eye and action witnesses of the great
turning point in our German history, and we shall thank especially
the divine destiny that it has presented us with a man like Adolf
Hitler. Let us then combine all that which moves our hearts upon mention
of this name into the cry: Our people and fatherland and its great
Fuehrer Adolf Hitler
Sieg Heil!" (D-291).
C. UNDER KRUPP'S DIRECTION, THE KRUPP FIRM, BY DEVELOPING NEW
INSTRUMENTS OF WAR AND PRODUCING HUGE QUANTITIES OF WAR MATERIALS, FURTHERED
THE CONSPIRATORS' PROGRAM TO CREATE A POWERFUL MILITARY POTENTIAL.
(1) In a speech prepared in January 1944, for delivery at the University
of Berlin, Krupp stated:
"*** I don't see why this thought still flutters in many a head
occasionally -- that the production of war materials should be a sinister
trade! No: war material is life-saving for one's own people and whoever
works and performs in these spheres can be proud of it; here enterprise
as a whole finds its highest justification of existence. This justification
I may inject this here -- crystallized especially during that time
of the 'Interregnum', between 1919 and 1933, when Germany was lying-down
disarmed. *** It is the one great merit of the entire German war economy
that it did not remain idle during those bad years, even though its
activity could not be brought to light for obvious reasons. Through
years of secret work, scientific and basic ground work was laid, in
order to be ready again to work the German Armed Forces at the appointed
hour, without loss of time or experience."
"Only through this secret activity of German enterprise, together
with the experience gained meanwhile through production of peace time
goods was it possible after 1933, to fall into step with the new tasks
arrived at restoring Germany's military power, (only through all that)
could the entirely new and various problems, brought up by the Fuehrer's
Four Year's Plan for German enterprise, be mastered. ***" (D-
317)
(2) Krupp played a leading role in the design and production of new
weapons for the German armed forces.
(a) In a memorandum concerning a conference held at the Federal Ministry
for National Defense in Vienna on 25 September 1936, Pfirsch, a Krupp
official, wrote:
"*** in spite of the obstacles put in our way by the Treaty
of Versailles, we had never been inactive throughout the postwar period,
but had drawn upon the experience of the war in the creation of new
types, and that we had won the prizes for almost every type in the
competitions organized by our War Ministry for the construction of
new artillery weapons, so much so that the guns introduced into the
German Army of to-day, such as the 8.8 cm. anti-aircraft, the 10.5
cm. field gun, the heavy field howitzer and beyond them the larger
calibres have been made according to our pattern." (D-152)
(b) In a memorandum dated 21 February 1944, Woelfert, a department
chief in the Krupp concern, wrote:
"First a few facts about the development of tanks by Krupp.
We are manufacturing tanks since 1928, which means before rearmament.
We started studying on heavy tractors. Krupp built the first mass
production tank, the Panzer I, which is also known as LaS. It-was
shown in public in 1935, the year when rearmament started, and made
a great impression. We also originated the Panzer IV, or better the
BW, which was especially at the beginning of the war one of the prime
factors in our rapid advances into enemy country, so that today we
are fighting on the Atlantic coast, in the South, and east and not
on German soil. Even today we use the BW-base for many self-propelled
guns, assault-guns, anti-aircraft guns etc." (D-96).
(c) In a letter to Hitler dated 24 July 1942, Krupp wrote:
"My Fuehrer !
"The big weapon, whose manufacturing is to be thanked to your
command, has now proved its effectiveness. ***"
"True to an example set by Alfred Krupp in 1870, my wife and
myself ask the favour that the Krupp works refrain from charging for
this first finished product.
"To express my thanks to you, my Fuehrer, for the confidence
shown in our plants and in us personally by entrusting such an order
with us, is a pleasant duty for my wife and myself.
Sieg Heil!" (D-375)
(d) Krupp likewise made significant contributions to the production
of Navy weapons and U-Boats (D-88; D-287).
(3) The rapid and progressive expansion in armament production by Krupp
after the conspirators' accession to power is plainly shown by a chart
prepared by Krupp officials concerning the production of war materials
at the Krupp Gustahlfabrik in Essen (only one of the many companies
in the Krupp organization). This chart shows that the production of
war materials at that particular factory during the fiscal year, 1 October
1933 to 30 September 1934, was more than twice that of any previous
year since 1929; that such production during the fiscal year, 1 October
1934 to 30 September 1935, was almost twice as great as the previous
year; and that production of war materials continued thereafter at an
accelerated rate with the result that during the fiscal year, 1 October
1938 to 30 September 1939, it was more than 10 times as great as it
was during the period 1 October 1932 to 30 September 1933 (Chart entitled
"Fried, Krupp Gustahlfabrik Essen, Turnover in War Material,"
not reproduced here). It should be noted that this chart shows only
direct sales by the Essen factory of war materials to the German Armed
Forces Ordnance Supply Department and sales to foreign countries of
war materials easily recognizable as such. It does not cover indirect
sales, viz: the sale of products to other concerns which, in turn, used
them to produce materials of war. (The chart entitled "Fried, Krupp
and Branch Establishments, Inland Turnover," not here reproduced,
shows figures which include "indirect" sales of war materials
by certain Krupp companies.)
D. KRUPP GOVERNED THE EXPORTS OF HIS FIRM IN THE LIGHT OF THE
MILITARY REQUIREMENTS OF THE NAZI CONSPIRATORS AND THE ACCEPTED AND
DISCHARGED IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES IN FURTHERANCE
OF THE CONSPIRATORS' PROGRAM OF ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION FOR WAR.
(1) In a "strictly confidential" memorandum dated 25 March
1941, the following was reported:
"*** The liberation of the Reich from the shackles of Versailles
enabled Krupp to recommence the export of armaments. The German Government
had, in fact, pressed for the matter. Military-political and Military-
economic reasons were the cause. Krupp desired to come into the closest
contact with the armament exports, so as to further the development
of arms ***"
*******
"*** By using all the forces at his [Krupp's] disposal and regardless
of effort, costs and risk, considerable export contracts were secured,
which served to obtain foreign currency or raw materials, and were,
at the same time, politically desirable. ***" (D-191)
In a memorandum dated 23 June 1937, concerning a Bulgarian order for
armour plating which was discussed with German Army representatives,
Reiff, a Krupp official, wrote:
"Major Olbrich showed himself aware quite evidently of the deeper
reasons existing why Germany was anxious that this order should be
booked. ***" (D-154)
(2) At the request of the Inspector of War Production, Krupp me a Leader
of War Production in 1937, and was charged with the responsibility of
preparing and carrying out the mobilization of the armament industry
and of directing it in time of war.
(a) In a "strictly confidential" letter dated 21 January
1937, the Inspector of War Production wrote to Krupp:
"The-Reich Minister for War and the Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forces has ordered that a Corps of Economic Leaders of War Production
be recruited with immediate effect.
"The Economic Leaders of War Production in collaboration with
the Armed Forces, are to be responsible for the preparing and carrying
out of the mobilization of the armament industry and for directing
it in time of war."
*******
"A selected small circle of these persons is to act in an advisory
capacity to the Armed Forces in all important economic questions both
during peace and war.
"Subject to your approval, I intend to propose to the Reich
Minister for War that you should be nominated as Economic Leader for
War Production." (D-62)
(b) In connection with his acceptance of the position of Leader of
War Production, Krupp submitted a "secret" document entitled,
"Declaration of Political Attitude," dated 6 February 1937,
in which he stated:
"I herewith declare that I stand by the National Socialist conception
of the State without reserve and that I have not been active in any
way against the interests of the people.
*******
"I am aware that should I say or do anything which constitutes
an attack against the National Socialist conception of the State,
I must expect, in addition to legal proceedings, my dismissal from
the post of Economic Leader of War Production." (D-63).
E. KRUPP SUPPORTED THE CONSPIRATORS' PROPAGANDA PROGRAM; LENT
HIS ORGANIZATION TO THE DISSEMINATION OF NAZI PROPAGANDA ABROAD; AND
USED HIS EMPLOYEES IN ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE AIMS
AND PURPOSES OF THE NAZI CONSPIRACY.
(1) In April 1933, Krupp contributed 20,000 marks to Rosenberg for
the purpose of counteracting anti-Nazi propaganda abroad. In a letter
to Krupp dated 26 April 1933, Rosenberg said:
"Once more my most cordial thanks for not having shunned the
inconvenience of the journey in order to participate at yesterday's
intimate conference. I am glad to determine, on the basis of our discussion,
that you too welcome the organization of an active counter-action
abroad, in the interest of State and Economy, and express to you the
highest thanks for the support of a monetary kind as well, which you
have subscribed to our work. Very shortly a quantity of material will
be sent to you promptly and will subsequently be distributed throughout
the world in a comprehensive compilation. (D- 158; see also D-208
and D-242)
(2) In a memorandum dated 12 October 1939, entitled "Distribution
of Official Propaganda Literature Abroad with the Help of our foreign
Connections," concerning a visit by a Mr. Lackmann of Ribbentrop's
private foreign office, Von Raussendorff, a Krupp official,
"I informed Mr. L. that our Firm had put itself years ago at
the disposal of official Bureaus for purposes of foreign propaganda
and that we had supported all requests addressed to us to the utmost.
*** Only by personal handling can our connections abroad be used and
kept receptive to effective propaganda. With the present lively activity
of the Secret Service' it must be avoided, not only in the interest
of our firm but also in the interest of Germany as a whole, that our
agents in neutral foreign countries would come through improper handling
to the attention of the Secret Service' and economically ruined by
it within a short
"*** If additional distributions of propaganda literature were
desired, a propaganda-leaflet should be sent to us and after examining
it, we would advise the official Bureau what quantity of such printed
matter could be mailed abroad through us, at our expense, as heretofore."
(D-206)
(3) In a memorandum dated 14 October 1937, concerning a visit by Menzel
of the Intelligence Office of the Combined Services Ministry, Sonnenberg,
a Krupp official, wrote:
"*** Menzel asked for intelligence on foreign armament (but
not including matters published in newspapers) received by Krupp from
their agents abroad and through other channels to be passed on a Combined
Services Intelligence [Abwehrabteilung des RKM.]. ***"
"On our part we undertook to supply information to the Combined
Ministry [RKM] as required." (D-167)
The results of a later visit by Menzel, in the company of Kapitaen
zur See Globig, of the Information Department, Naval Armaments Branch,
are reported in a memorandum dated 25 June 1939 by Dr. Conn, a Krupp
official. In the course of this memorandum, which is entitled "Intelligence
and Information," Dr. Conn stated:
"1. Kapitaen zur See Globig whom I had known for a long time,
spoke to me quite frankly and openly. It is therefore impossible to
embody parts of our discussion in this report."
*******
"Similarly to Kapitaen zur See Globig he [Menzel] stressed the
point that in view of the progressive disappearance of public and
easily accessible sources of information, the information obtained
through our representatives abroad was of increasing value. This method
of obtaining intelligence would have to be followed up much more drastically
than in the past."
*******
"His [Menzel's] third point was a request to utilize foreign
visitors for obtaining intelligence. I replied that this was being
done already, but that it was necessary to proceed very carefully,
to avoid arousing suspicion on the part of the visitors."
"I gave him to understand that we were slightly disappointed
with the collaboration with Intelligence [Abwehr Abteilung] since
we had supplied information, but had received none in return. Menzel
explained that Intelligence was only a collating centre and that they
were merely passing on information, the value of which they were unable
to judge by themselves, to the departments concerned; any information
for us would therefore have to come from those departments only. Exceptions
were only made in the case of intelligence of universal importance
such as e.g. the long range gun [Ferngeschuetz] some time ago."
"This remark is important concerning the way in which we should
present our information at Berlin. The departments receiving the information
through Intelligence, must be able to see that it originates from
Krupp, so that they might feel themselves under obligation to let
us have some information in return." (D-167)
In a memorandum marked "secret," relating to foreign anti-
aircraft guns, Sonnenberg wrote on 8 May 1939:
"I have gained the impression that from no other side do the
respective Army departments get such far reaching support in their
investigation of foreign armaments as from Fr. Krupp." (D-170).
F. KRUPP PUBLICLY APPROVED THE SUCCESSIVE CRIMES AGAINST THE
PEACE PERPETRATED BY THE NAZI CONSPIRATORS.
(1) In a speech dated 6 April 1938, shortly after Schuschnigg had been
compelled to capitulate to the Nazi conspirators' threat of force, Krupp
stated:
"At our family party, today as well, our first thought, our
first glass, is raised in deep appreciation to our Fuehrer. We are
still under the lasting impression of the mighty happenings of the
last four weeks; so are those of us who until a short time ago were
forced to wait impatiently for these developments outside our State
frontiers. To the fulfillment of century-old dreams consciously arrived
at, to the fulfillment of the life-long wish of Adolf Hitler -- thanks
to his faith, thanks to his determination, thanks to his heart, to
him, our Fuehrer, a threefold, deeply thankful,
Sieg Heil." (D-391).
(2) In a speech dated 7 April 1938, Krupp, in urging all Germans in
the impending election of 10 April to approve Hitler's invasion of Austria,
stated:
"Three more days separate us from the day of the Plebiscite
to which our Fuehrer calls us, from the Plebiscite concerning Greater
Germany, at the same time a Plebiscite in which the proof of faith
in our Fuehrer concerns every individual's conscience.
"Full with thanks for what Adolf Hitler has bestowed and secured
for the German people in little more than five years' leadership through
internal and external peace he is worth of the deepest felt 'Yes'
from everyone of us!
"To him, our Fuehrer and Chancellor a threefold
Sieg Heil!" (D-387)
(3) In a speech delivered on 13 October 1938, on the occasion of Hitler's
visit to the Krupp works after the Nazi occupation of the Sudetenland,
Krupp said:
"To be able to greet you at the Krupp Works, in our home, in
the name of my wife and my own, as well as in the name of those close
to me and also in that of the greater plant family, so shortly after
the world-shaking events of the last weeks, is a great honor and a
heart-felt joy to me.
"Perhaps no plant and no home can feel more deeply and more
gratefully than ours the changes in the last decades; none can be
more proudly conscious to be allowed to participate in the mighty
tasks set by
"Before us stands now the basic and undeniable world encircling
success, in its total extent perhaps not fully grasped, which your
faith and strong will, your nerves and your initiative have achieved.
"May no German ever forget how deeply gratitude therefore put
us under obligation, how proud we may be to be recognized once more
in the world as a free, equal, great German People.
"With the thanks of my family, of our plants, of our entire
Ruhr District filled with the urge to work, I must express united
gratitude, springing from a full warm heart, from the Sudeten District
which is now a part of the German Reich."
*******
"Heil to Thee, my Fuehrer." (D-304)
(4) Shortly after the conspirators launched their aggression -against
Poland, Krupp stated to the workers in his plant:
"The Fuehrer has made his decision, not lightheartedly but in
the consciousness of responsibility to his people, to the entire future
of the German Nation -- we have all heard that in his Reichstag speech
last Friday."
"A hard struggle, perhaps hardly appreciated to its fullest
extent, lies before us. The entire German Nation must face this test
of fire in unshakable unity, young or old, man or woman, everyone
must and will do his duty at his post, do more than just what his
duty demands and devote his entire strength to the task assigned to
him. Therefore let us also, as Krupp Members remain determined. May
God protect our Fuehrer and our people!" (D-363)
(5) In a speech dated 6 May 1941, commemorating the successes of the
Nazi aggression in the West, Krupp stated:
"The one who, like myself, had the chance to visit and thoroughly
inspect during the last weeks the fields where our superb troops made
the breakthrough in the West --
"who could hear on that occasion the roar of our Airforce against
England --
"who witnessed how our U-boats and speedboats distinguished
themselves against the remains of England's sea-might --
"such a person is bound to be thankfully proud to be able to
contribute through his labours to assure to our fighters the weapons
which they need for their battle - -
"such a person is and remains devotedly and respectfully conscious
that the nicest machines, the most effective instruments mean little,
no, nothing, without the complete unselfish and trusting share of
the individual, whose trust is assured through his knowledge of, and
his faith in, the genius of his Fuehrer, who embodies the worth of
the German people, their honor and might. To him, our Fuehrer, we
direct also in this hour in the Spring month of May our thoughts,
renew our solemn oath, present our heartiest -wishes and give thanks
to
"Adolf Hitler -- Sieg Heil !" (D-390)
G. KRUPP AS HEAD OF THE KRUPP CONCERN, IN FURTHERANCE OF THE
COMMON PLAN TO EXPLOIT THE PEOPLE OF OCCUPIED COUNTRIES AND PRISONERS
OF WAR, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPELLING PERSONS FORCIBLY DEPORTED FROM
OCCUPIED COUNTRIES AND PRISONERS OF WAR TO WORK AGAINST THEIR WILL AND
WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMS AND MUNITIONS. THESE
ACTS AND PRACTICES WERE CONTRARY TO ARTICLES 6 AND 52 OF THE HAGUE REGULATIONS,
1907, TO ARTICLE 31 OF THE PRISONERS OF WAR CONVENTION (GENEVA 1929),
THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR, AND TO ARTICLES '6(b) AND 6(c) OF THE CHARTER.
(1) Charts marked "secret" have been found which show the
number and nationalities of prisoners of war and foreign workers employed
in each of the workshops in the Fried. Krupp Cast Steel Works at Essen,
for the period from December 1940 to February 1945. These charts, when
read in conjunction with an affidavit by a Krupp official concerning
the materials produced in the various Essen workshops, reveal that French
and Russian prisoners of war and slave laborers from virtually every
country occupied by Germany were used in the production of arms and
munitions. Thus, they were compelled to work in departments engaged
in the construction of turrets for tanks and carriages for heavy Army
and Navy guns; the assembling of marine gun turrets, 10.5 cm. marine
guns, and 15 cm. torpedo-boat guns; the manufacture of crankshafts for
S- boats and aeroplanes, etc. (Charts and affidavit relating to production
in the workshops of Fried. Krupp Cast Steel Works by prisoners of war
and foreign workers, not here reproduced.) Affidavits of workers in
the Krupp workshops afford added proof that prisoners of war and foreign
laborers were used by Krupp in the manufacture of arms and munitions
(see D-253, D-265, D-279).
(2) The prisoners of war and foreign workers at the Krupp factories
did not voluntarily engage in the manufacture of arms and munitions;
they were forced to do so. This fact is clearly shown by the following:
(a) Workers were brought to Essen from Poland and Russia in grossly
overcrowded, unheated, and unsanitary cattle cars and upon debarking,
were beaten, kicked, and otherwise inhumanely treated. An employee of
the Reich Railway at Essen has described these conditions as follows:
"*** In the middle of 1941 the first workers arrived from Poland,
Galicia and Polish Ukraine. They came to Essen in goods wagons in
which potatoes, building materials and also cattle have been transported;
they were brought to perform work at Krupp. The cars were jammed full
with people. *** The people were squashed closely together and they
had no room for free movement. The Krupp overseers laid special value
on the speed the slave workers got in and out of the train. *** the
people were beaten and kicked and generally maltreated in a brutal
manner. *** I could see with my own eyes that sick people who could
scarcely walk *** were taken to work. One could see that it was sometimes
difficult for them to move themselves. The same can be said for the
Eastern workers and PWs who came to Essen in the middle of 1942."
(D-321; D-367).
(b) Foreign workers were compelled to go to work under guard and were
closely watched. In a memorandum dated 7 April 1942, entitled "employment
of foreign workers", from the Ignitor workshop of the Krupp Essen
plant, it is stated:
"In the course of last week, due to the fact that
the foreign workers, especially Poles, could not be relied upon to
appear at work, there was an extraordinary decrease in production;
loss of money and fines did not obtain the desired results.
"Especially during short (bank) holidays we were
not able to find a responsible person in the camp Seumannstrasse,
to whom we could have referred. We ourselves are short of guards to
fetch the Poles from their camp, and to guard them overnight."
(D-270; re compulsion exerted by guards in marching foreign workers
to work, see also D-253).
(c) After working hours, foreign workers were confined in camps under
barbed wire enclosures and were carefully guarded. Dr. Jaeger, senior
camp doctor in Krupp's workers' camps, has stated in an affidavit:
"The eastern workers and Poles who laboured in the Krupp works
at Essen were kept at camps at Seumannstrasse, Spenlestrasse, Grieperstrasse,
Heegstrasse, Germaniastrasse, Kapitan-Lehmannstrasse, Dechenschule,
and Kramerplatz. *** All these camps were surrounded by barbed wire
and were closely guarded." (D- 288)
H. CONTRARY TO ARTICLES 4, 6, 7, AND 46 OF THE HAGUE REGULATIONS,
1907, ARTICLES 2 AND OF THE PRISONERS OF WAR CONVENTION (GENEVA 1929),
THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR, AND ARTICLES 6(b) AND 6(c) OF THE CHARTER,
KRUPP, AS HEAD OF THE KRUPP CONCERN, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DENYING ADEQUATE
FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, AND MEDICAL CARE AND ATTENTION TO PRISONERS
OF WAR AND WORKERS FORCIBLY DEPORTED FROM OCCUPIED COUNTRIES, FOR FORCING
THEM TO WORK UNDER INHUMANE CONDITIONS, AND FOR TORTURING THEM AND SUBJECTING
THEM TO INDIGNITIES.
(1) The prisoners of war and foreign laborers at the Krupp works were
undernourished and forced to work on a virtual starvation diet.
(a) In a memorandum upon Krupp stationery to Mr. Hupe, Director of
the Krupp locomotive factory in Essen, dated 14 March 1942 and entitled
"Employment of Russians", it was said:
"During the last few days we have established that the food
for the Russians employed here is so miserable, that the people are
getting weaker from day to day.
"Investigations showed that single Russians are not able to
place a piece of metal for turning into position for instance, because
of lack of physical strength. The same conditions exist at all places
of work where Russians are employed." (D-316)
(b) In a memorandum dated 18 March 1942, the following was reported
from the Krupp armoured car repair shop:
"I got the food this evening after Mr. Balz telephoned, but
I had quite a struggle with the people responsible in the camp before
I got anything at all. They always told me that the people had already
received the day's rations and there wasn't any more. What the gentlemen
understand under a day's ration is a complete puzzle to me. The food
as a whole was a puzzle too, because they ladled me out the thinnest
of any already watery soup. It was literally water with a handful
of turnips and it looked as if it were washing up
"Please tell Mr. Balz again definitely so that the matter is
finally cleared up, that it cannot continue having people perish here
at work." (D-310)
(c) In a memorandum dated 20 March 1942 to Mr. Ihn, one of the Krupp
Directors, Dinkelacker, a Krupp official, wrote:
"The Deputy Works Manager Mr. Mustin, who also employs a number
of such Russian workers and who is quite satisfied with their performance,
went to the camp in Kramerplatz on my inducement and had a talk with
Mr. Welberg, the Camp Commandant. Mr. Hassel from the Works Police
who was present at the time, butted in and declared that one should
not believe what the people said. Also that one was dealing with Bolsheviks
and they ought to have beatings substituted for food." (D- 318)
(d) In a memorandum dated 26 March 1942, to Mr. Hupe concerning the
use of Russian prisoners of war and civilian workers, it was reported:
"The reason why the Russians are not capable of production is,
in my opinion, that the food which they are given will never give
them the strength for working which you hope for. The food one day,
for instance, consisted of a watery soup with cabbage leaves and a
few pieces of turnip. The punctual appearance of the food leaves a
good deal to be desired too." (D-297)
(e) In a memorandum dated 8 December 1942, Haller, a Krupp official,
wrote:
"The complaints from our foreign workers about insufficient
food have increased lately. ***"
"We experienced a very forcible confirmation of these complaints
the other day when we drew the food for the Eastern workers from the
kitchen in Kramerplatz. On 5 December 1942 the midday meal contained
unpeeled, whole potatoes which were not even properly cooked; on 7
December 1942, there was soup on which cabbage leaves floated, the
sight of which made me feel sick." (D-366)
(f) Dr. Jaeger, senior camp doctor in the Krupps' workers' camps, has
stated under oath that not only did the plan for food distribution to
foreign workers call for a very small quantity of meat every week, but
also that they received only contaminated meats rejected by the health
authorities, such as horse or tuberculin infested meat (D-288).
(2) The prisoners of war and foreign workers at the Krupp factories
were forced to live in grossly overcrowded hutted camps and otherwise
were denied adequate shelter.
(a) In a sworn statement, Dr. Jaeger, senior camp doctor of the Krupp
workers' camps, has stated with respect to the Krupp camps at which
the eastern workers and Poles were kept:
"Conditions in all these camps were extremely bad. The camps
were greatly overcrowded. In some camps there were over twice as many
people in a barrack as health conditions permitted-''
*******
"Sanitary conditions were exceedingly bad. At Kramerplatz, where
approximately 1,200 eastern workers were crowded into the rooms of
an old school, the sanitary conditions were atrocious in the extreme.
Only 10 children's toilets were available for the 1,200 inhabitants.
At Dechenschule, 15 children's toilets were available for the 400-500
eastern workers. Excretion contaminated the entire floors of these
lavatories. There were also very few facilities for washing."
(b) Statistics upon the Krupp camps compiled by Krupp officials in
1942 for the Essen health authorities show that in the Krupp Seumannstrasse
camp 1784 beds were compressed into a ! surface area of 7844 square
meters; in the Krupp Bottropertrasse camp 874 beds were crowded into
a surface area of 3585 square meters; and that in other Krupp camps
the congestion was even greater (D-143).
(c) In a memorandum dated 12 June 1944, Dr. Stinnesbeck, a doctor retained
by the Krupp works, reported, with respect to the Krupp prisoner of
war camp at Noggerathstrasse that:
"315 prisoners are still accommodated in the camp. 170 of these
are no longer in barracks but in the tunnel in Grunerstrasse under
the Essen-Mulheim railway line. This tunnel is damp and is not suitable
for continued accommodation of human beings. The rest of the prisoners
are accommodated in 10 different factories in Krupps works."
(D-335)
(d) In a special medical report marked "strictly confidential",
dated 2 September 1944, concerning the same prisoner of war camp, Dr.
Jaeger
"The P. O. W. camp in the Noggerathstrasse is in a frightful
condition. The people live in ash bins, dog kennels, old baking ovens
and in self-made huts." (D-339).
(3) The prisoners of war and foreign workers at the Krupp factories
were denied adequate clothing.
(a) Dr. Jaeger, senior camp doctor in Krupps' workers' camps, has stated
under oath:
"The clothing of the eastern workers was likewise completely
inadequate. They worked and slept in the same clothing in which they
had arrived from the east. Virtually all of them had no overcoats
and were compelled, therefore, to use their blankets as coats in cold
and rainy weather. In view of the shortage of shoes, many workers
were forced to go to work in their bare feet, even in the winter.
Wooden shoes were given to some of the workers, but their quality
was such as to give the workers sore feet. Many workers preferred
to go to work in their bare feet rather than endure the suffering
caused by the wooden shoes. Apart from the wooden shoes, no clothing
of any kind was issued to the workers until the latter part of 1943,
when a single blue work suit was issued to some of them. To my knowledge,
this represented the sole issue of clothing to the workers from the
time of their arrival until the American forces entered Essen."
(D-288)
(b) In a memorandum to Mr. Ihn, a Krupp director, dated 20 October
1942, Dr. Wiehle, head of the Krupp hospital in Essen, wrote:
"It has already been pointed out several times at conferences
that the clothing for Eastern workers, men and women, is not sufficient.
With regard to the cold weather, the camp physician today called our
attention to the fact that the number of colds is going up because
of the question of insufficient clothing.
"Many of the men and women still have to go barefooted. They
have no underwear and it often happens that people who wear foot bandages
because of injuries walk barefooted on these bandages." (D-271;
see also D-355, D-312)
(4) Prisoners of war and foreign laborers at the Krupp works were denied
adequate medical care and treatment, and as a consequence, suffered
severely from a multitude of diseases and ailments.
(a) In the above mentioned affidavit, Dr. Jaeger has stated:
"The percentage of eastern workers who were ill was twice as
great as among the Germans. Tuberculosis was particularly widespread
among the eastern workers. The T.B. rate among them was 4 times the
normal rate (2% eastern workers, Germans .5%). At Dechenschule approximately
2 l/2% of the workers suffered from open T.B. These were all active
T.B. cases. The Tartars and Kirghiz suffered most; as soon as they
were overcome by this disease they collapsed like flies. The cause
was bad housing, the poor quality and insufficient quantity of food,
overwork, and insufficient rest.
"These workers were likewise afflicted with spotted fever. Lice,
the carrier of this disease, together with countless fleas, bugs and
other vermin, tortured the inhabitants of these camps. As a result
of the filthy conditions of the camps nearly all eastern workers were
afflicted with skin disease. The shortage of food also caused many
cases of Hunger-Odem, Nephritis and Shighakruse.
"It was the general rule that workers were compelled to go to
work unless a camp doctor had prescribed that they were unfit for
work. At Seumannstrasse, Grieperstrasse, Germaniastrasse, Kapitan-Lehmanstrasse,
and Dechenschule, there was no daily sick call. At these camps, the
doctors did not appear for two or three days. As a consequence, workers
were forced to go to work despite illnesses."
*******
"At the end of 1943, or the beginning of 1944,I am not completely
sure of the exact date -- I obtained permission for the first time
to visit the prisoner of war camps. My inspection revealed that conditions
at these camps were even worse than those I had found at the camps
of the eastern workers in 1942. Medical supplies at such camps were
virtually non-existent. In an effort to cure this intolerable situation,
I contacted the Wehrmacht authorities whose duty it was to provide
medical care for the prisoners of war. My persistent efforts came
to nothing. After visiting and pressing them over a period of two
weeks, I was given a total of 100 aspirin tablets for over 3,000 prisoners
of war." (D-288)
(b) In a memorandum dated 7 May 1943, prepared at the Krupp hospital,
entitled "Deaths of Eastern Workers," report was made of the
death of 54 "eastern workers." Of this number, 38 died of
tuberculosis, 2 of undernourishment, and 2 of intestinal disease. (D-283)
(c) In his "strictly confidential" report concerning the
prisoner of war camp at Noggerathstrasse, Dr. Jaeger reported:
"The food is barely sufficient. Krupp is responsible for housing
and feeding. The supply of medicine and bandages is so extremely bad
that proper medical treatment was not possible in many cases. This
fact is detrimental to the P. W. camp. It is astonishing that the
number of sick is not higher than it is and it moves between 9 and
10 percent." (D-339; also D-313).
(d) In a special medical report dated 28 July 1944, Dr. Jaeger wrote:
"The sick barrack in Camp Rabenhorst is in such bad condition,
one cannot speak of a sick barrack anymore. The rain leaks through
in every corner. The housing of the ill is therefore impossible. The
necessary labour for production is in danger because those persons
who are ill cannot recover. ***" (D-338).
(5) Russian juveniles were compelled to work at the Krupp factories,
and prisoners of war and foreign workers were generally forced to work
long hours, to and beyond the point of exhaustion.
(a) In a memorandum marked "secret", dated 14 August 1942,
Reiff, a Krupp official, wrote:
"*** I am under the impression that the better Russian workers
are first of all chosen for the works in Central and Eastern Germany.
We really get the bad remainders only. Just now 600 Russians, consisting
of 450 women and 150 juveniles, 14 years of age, arrived." (D-348;
similar proof is contained in D-281).
(b) In a memorandum from the Chief of the Krupp Camp Catering Department,
it is stated:
*** It is to be considered that foreigners must work 12 hours on
principle out of which, 1 hour counts as a break and consequently
will not be paid." (D-233; for evidence concerning complete exhaustion
of foreign workers and prisoners of war, see D-313).
(6) The prisoners of war and foreign laborers used at the Krupp works
were beaten, tortured, and subjected to inhuman indignities.
(a) In a sworn statement, Heinrich Buschhauer has stated:
"*** I admit that I hit Russians. The Russians were very willing
and attentive. The clothing of the Russians was very bad and torn.
Their feet were wrapped in rags. The appearance of the people was
bad, they were thin and pale. Their cheeks had fallen in completely.
In spite of this, I was forced to ill-treat the people on the orders
of works manager Theile. I have boxed the people's ears and beaten
them with a 3/4 rubber tube and a wooden stick. *** The more energetic
I went against these people, the more the Works Manager liked it.
I *** had to drive and beat the Russians in order to get increased
production from them. At times, I had up to two thousand foreigners
under me. The Russians could not possibly work more than they did,
because the food was too bad and too little. The Works management,
however, wanted to get still higher performance from them. It often
happened that the Russians, so utterly weakened, collapsed. ***"
*******
"The conditions which I have described above continued the whole
of the years I was in the boiler making department. On 20 February
1943, I was transferred from the boiler making shop to Nidia."
(D-105).
(b) Walter Thoene, a Krupp employee, likewise admitted in a sworn statement
that he constantly beat foreign workers. He stated:
"I admit that I punched and beat Hungarian Jewesses who I had
to supervise in No. 3 Steel Moulding Shop. I did not do this of my
own free will but was ordered to do so by my works manager Reif, who
was a Party Member like I was. Almost every day this unscrupulous
man held me to it in no mistakable manner to driving on these Jewesses
and getting better performances from them. He also always emphasized
that I should not be trivial in the choice of means, and if necessary,
hit them like hitting a piece of cold iron. As soon as I saw that
these women were standing near the ovens, I had to drive them back
to their work." (D-355)
Comparable admission were made by August Kleinschmidt, another Krupp
employee. (D-306)
(c) Dr. Apolinary Gotowicki, a doctor in the Polish Army, who was taken
a prisoner of war and in that capacity attended some Russian, Polish
and French prisoners of war at the Krupp factories, has stated under
oath:
"*** Every day, at least 10 people were brought to me whose bodies
were covered with bruises on account of the continual beatings with
rubber tubes, steel switches or sticks. The people were often writhing
with agony and it was impossible for me to give them even a little medical
aid. *** I could notice people daily who on account of hunger or ill-treatment,
were slowly dying. Dead people often lay for 2 or 3 days on the pailliases
until their bodies stank so badly that fellow prisoners took them outside
and buried them somewhere. *** I have seen with my own eyes the prisoners
coming back from Krupps and how they collapsed on the march and had
to be wheeled back on barrows or carried by their comrades. *** The
work which they had to perform was very heavy and dangerous and many
cases happened where people had cut their fingers, hands or legs. These
accidents were very serious and the people came to me and asked me for
medical help. But it wasn't even possible for me to keep them from work
for a day or two, although I had been to the Krupp directorate and asked
for permission to do so. At the end of 1941, 2 people died daily and
in 1942 the deaths increased to 3-4 per day." (D-313)
(d) A particular form of torture which was inflicted upon Russian workers
was a steel cabinet specially manufactured by Krupp, into which workers
were thrown after beatings. The cabinets are shown in photographs attached
to a sworn statement wherein it is stated:
"Photograph 'A' shows an iron cupboard which was specially manufactured
by the Firm of Krupp to torture Russian civilian workers to such an
extent that it is impossible to describe. Men and women were often
locked in one compartment of the cupboard, in which a man could scarcely
stand, for long periods. The measurements of this compartment are
height 1.52 meters, breadth and depth 40 to 50 cm. each. In fact,
people were often kicked and pressed into one compartment in pairs.
At the top of the cupboard, there were sieve-like air holes through
which cold water was poured on the unfortunate victims during the
ice-cold winter." (D-82; for further evidence of constant beatings
of foreign workers, see D-253, D-312, D-354, and D-267).
(e) Records found in the Krupp files plainly indicate that the practice
of beating and torturing prisoners of war and foreign workers was deliberately
prescribed by Krupp officials. Steel switches which were used to beat
the workers were distributed pursuant to the instructions of Kupke,
head of the Krupp camps for foreign workers (D-230). In a memorandum
dated 19 March 1942, from the Krupp Works Catering Department, it was
said:
*** With regards to the times ahead it seems desirable to us, to
draw attention to the authorities concerned, with the necessary pressure,
to the fact that only severest treatment of the French prisoners of
war will ensure that they maintain their performance even with the
present food position, which is the same for German workers."
As previously shown, Hassel, an official in the Krupp works police,
stated that the Russians "ought to have beatings substituted for
food" (D-318).
(7) The Krupp companies specifically requested and actively sought
out the employment of prisoners of war and foreign laborers.
(a) In a memorandum dated 13 July 1942 by Weinhold, a Krupp official,
complaint was registered over the fact that "the reign laborers
are only available two to three months after they have been asked for
by us." (D-281).
b) In a letter to the Krupp firm dated 27 August 1942, Colonel Zimmerman
of the Oberkommando des Heeres, said:
"According to our estimate, there ought to be enough workers
in your ignitor workshops to reach the demanded production figure.
This especially, as the 105 Russians, demanded by your firm at the
Conference of the special committee M 111 on the 24 April 1942, were
assigned to your works at the beginning of June re- letter from Wa
J Ru (Mun. 2). ***
"Unfortunately, I found out at the sitting of the special committee
M 111 on the 26 August 1942 that the firm of Krupp asks for another
55 workers, including 25 skilled labourers, without having a corresponding
raise in the production figures. I cannot judge from here, what the
reasons for this are." (D-345)
(c) In a memorandum dated 21 December 1942 concerning the possibility
of the Krupp works obtaining additional conscripted French workers,
Dr. Lehmann, a Krupp official, stated:
"*** We discussed how far it would be possible for complete
shifts of workers conscripted from French factories to be transferred
to Essen. We are to collaborate as far as practicable in the splitting
up of our requirements amongst individual military government offices
and military police posts. So far as possible one of our representatives
is to assist in the selection from amongst the conscripts." (D-196;
see also D-280).
(8) Concentration camp laborers, who were brought to the Krupp works
at the request of Krupp officials, were subjected to persecution, degradation,
despoilment, and torture in a manner similar to that of prisoners of
war and slave laborers.
(a) Mr. Ihn, a director of the Krupp firm, has stated in a signed but
unsworn statement, that the Krupp firm first asked for concentration
camp labor on 22 September 1942, and that the first group of them arrived
"in the summer or autumn of 1944" (D-274).
(b) The fact that concentration camp labor was requested by the Krupp
works; that such persons were to be confined behind barbed wire enclosures;
and that they were to be closely guarded by SS personnel is further
shown in a memorandum entitled "Visit of the Director of Distribution
of Workers of the Weimar-Buchenwald Concentration Camp; SS Hauptsturmfuehrer
Schwarz on 26-74", written by Trockel, a Krupp official. In the
course of this memorandum, Trockel stated:
"Herr Schwarz came on behalf of his Commandant SS Standartenfuehrer
Pister to talk over with us, the question of employment of Kl detainees.
He pointed out that the employment of men could not be reckoned with
for a considerable period. Our last request was for 700 women."
"As not less than 500 women would be assigned, we agreed that
the figure should remain at 500 women. in order that the assignment
should not be endangered. ***"
*******
"*** The main things are the erection of a barbed wire fence
in front of the hall which allows a small exit and the erection of
a small barracks for the Commander of the guard and his duty office
and for the German female guard personnel. ***"
"The SS are providing a guard consisting of guard commander
and 10 men. For 520 women we have to name approx. 45 German women
who will be sworn in to the SS, given 3 weeks training in the women's
camp at Ravensbruck and then given full official supervision duties
by the SS. ***" (D-238)
(c) Dr. Jaeger, senior camp doctor in the Krupp camps, has described
conditions at the camp which the Krupp works maintained for concentration
camp labor as follows:
"Camp Humboldstrasse had been inhabitated by Italian prisoners
of war. After it had been destroyed by an air raid, the Italians were
removed and 600 Jewish females from Buchenwald Concentration Camp
were brought in to work at the Krupp factories. Upon my first visit
at Camp Humboldstrasse, I found these females suffering from open
festering wounds and other diseases.
"I was the first doctor they had seen for at least a fortnight.
There was no doctor in attendance at the camp. There were no medical
supplies in the camp. They had no shoes and went about in their bare
feet. The sole clothing of each consisted of a sack with holes for
their arms and head. Their hair was shorn. The camp was surrounded
by barbed wire and closely guarded by SS guards.
"The amount of food in the camp was extremely meagre and of
very poor quality. The houses in which they lived consisted of the
ruins of former barracks and they afforded no shelter against rain
and other weather conditions. I reported to my superiors that the
guards lived and slept outside their barracks as one could not enter
them without being attacked by 10, 20 and up to 30 fleas. One camp
doctor employed by me refused to enter the camp again after he had
been bitten very badly. I visited this camp with a Mr. Grono on two
occasions and both times we left the camp badly bitten. We had great
difficulty in getting rid of the fleas and insects which had attacked
us. As a result of this attack by insects of this camp, I got large
boils on my arms and the rest of my body. I asked my superiors at
the Krupp works to undertake the necessary steps to delouse the camp
so as to put an end to this unbearable, vermin-infested condition.
Despite this report, I did not find any improvement in sanitary conditions
at the camp on my second visit a fortnight later." (D-288)
(d) The conditions under which the concentration camp workers existed
at the Krupp camps and factories and the indignities and barbarities
to which they were subjected are vividly described in affidavits by
such workers (D-256; D- 277; D-272). In general, the affidavits disclose
that these concentration camp laborers slept on bare floors of damp,
windowless and lightless cellars; that they had no water for drinking
or cleansing purposes; that they were compelled to do work far beyond
their strength; that they were mercilessly beaten; that they were given
one wretched meal a day, consisting of a dirty watery soup with a thin
slice of black bread; and that many of them died from starvation, tuberculosis
and overexertion. A chart entitled "Fried. Krupp Berthawerk, Markstaedt
Breslau, Number of Occupied Foreigners, Prisoners of War and Concentration
Camp Inmates" shows the use of concentration camp labor at that
factory, as well as at the above-mentioned Krupp company in Essen (D-
298).
(9) Charts prepared by Krupp officials show that in September 1943,
the Krupp concerns employed 39,245 foreign workers and 11,224 prisoners
of war, and that the number mounted steadily until September 1944, when
54,990 foreign workers and 18,902 prisoners of war were used (Chart
entitled "Foreigners and Prisoners of War of the Krupp Concern";
chart entitled "Cast Steel Works, Number of Prisoners of War and
Foreigners", not here reproduced.) The majority of the foreign
laborers consisted of Russians, French, Poles, and Dutch.
(8) Concentration camp laborers, who were brought to the Krupp works at
the request of Krupp officials, were subjected to persecution, degradation,
despoilment, and torture in a manner similar to that of prisoners of war
and slave laborers.
(a) Mr. Ihn, a director of the Krupp firm, has stated in a signed but
unsworn statement, that the Krupp firm first asked for concentration
camp labor on 22 September 1942, and that the first group of them arrived
"in the summer or autumn of 1944" (D-274).
(b) The fact that concentration camp labor was requested by the Krupp
works; that such persons were to be confined behind barbed wire enclosures;
and that they were to be closely guarded by SS personnel is further
shown in a memorandum entitled "Visit of the Director of Distribution
of Workers of the Weimar-Buchenwald Concentration Camp; SS Hauptsturmfuehrer
Schwarz on 26-74", written by Trockel, a Krupp official. In the
course of this memorandum, Trockel stated:
"Herr Schwarz came on behalf of his Commandant SS Standartenfuehrer
Pister to talk over with us, the question of employment of Kl detainees.
He pointed out that the employment of men could not be reckoned with
for a considerable period. Our last request was for 700 women."
"As not less than 500 women would be assigned, we agreed that
the figure should remain at 500 women. in order that the assignment
should not be endangered. ***"
*******
"*** The main things are the erection of a barbed wire fence
in front of the hall which allows a small exit and the erection of
a small barracks for the Commander of the guard and his duty office
and for the German female guard personnel. ***"
"The SS are providing a guard consisting of guard commander
and 10 men. For 520 women we have to name approx. 45 German women
who will be sworn in to the SS, given 3 weeks training in the women's
camp at Ravensbruck and then given full official supervision duties
by the SS. ***" (D-238)
(c) Dr. Jaeger, senior camp doctor in the Krupp camps, has described
conditions at the camp which the Krupp works maintained for concentration
camp labor as follows:
"Camp Humboldstrasse had been inhabitated by Italian prisoners
of war. After it had been destroyed by an air raid, the Italians were
removed and 600 Jewish females from Buchenwald Concentration Camp
were brought in to work at the Krupp factories. Upon my first visit
at Camp Humboldstrasse, I found these females suffering from open
festering wounds and other diseases.
"I was the first doctor they had seen for at least a fortnight.
There was no doctor in attendance at the camp. There were no medical
supplies in the camp. They had no shoes and went about in their bare
feet. The sole clothing of each consisted of a sack with holes for
their arms and head. Their hair was shorn. The camp was surrounded
by barbed wire and closely guarded by SS guards.
"The amount of food in the camp was extremely meagre and of
very poor quality. The houses in which they lived consisted of the
ruins of former barracks and they afforded no shelter against rain
and other weather conditions. I reported to my superiors that the
guards lived and slept outside their barracks as one could not enter
them without being attacked by 10, 20 and up to 30 fleas. One camp
doctor employed by me refused to enter the camp again after he had
been bitten very badly. I visited this camp with a Mr. Grono on two
occasions and both times we left the camp badly bitten. We had great
difficulty in getting rid of the fleas and insects which had attacked
us. As a result of this attack by insects of this camp, I got large
boils on my arms and the rest of my body. I asked my superiors at
the Krupp works to undertake the necessary steps to delouse the camp
so as to put an end to this unbearable, vermin-infested condition.
Despite this report, I did not find any improvement in sanitary conditions
at the camp on my second visit a fortnight later." (D-288)
(d) The conditions under which the concentration camp workers existed
at the Krupp camps and factories and the indignities and barbarities
to which they were subjected are vividly described in affidavits by
such workers (D-256; D- 277; D-272). In general, the affidavits disclose
that these concentration camp laborers slept on bare floors of damp,
windowless and lightless cellars; that they had no water for drinking
or cleansing purposes; that they were compelled to do work far beyond
their strength; that they were mercilessly beaten; that they were given
one wretched meal a day, consisting of a dirty watery soup with a thin
slice of black bread; and that many of them died from starvation, tuberculosis
and overexertion. A chart entitled "Fried. Krupp Berthawerk, Markstaedt
Breslau, Number of Occupied Foreigners, Prisoners of War and Concentration
Camp Inmates" shows the use of concentration camp labor at that
factory, as well as at the above-mentioned Krupp company in Essen (D-
298).
(9) Charts prepared by Krupp officials show that in September 1943,
the Krupp concerns employed 39,245 foreign workers and 11,224 prisoners
of war, and that the number mounted steadily until September 1944, when
54,990 foreign workers and 18,902 prisoners of war were used (Chart
entitled "Foreigners and Prisoners of War of the Krupp Concern";
chart entitled "Cast Steel Works, Number of Prisoners of War and
Foreigners", not here reproduced.) The majority of the foreign
laborers consisted of Russians, French, Poles, and Dutch.
Sources: Nizkor.
Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression, Volume II, Chapter XVI, pp.774-807.
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