Report entitled "Resettlement of Jews"
written by SS-Sturmbannführer Gricksch for SS-Col. von Herff and
Reichsführer-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 advanced methods permit the
execution of the Führer-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: 500,000 Jews. Current capacity of the "resettlement
action" ovens: 10,000 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 documents.]
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 (1,600 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. 68,030).
Letter from SS-Obersturmbannführer Rodl to the
inspector of concentration camps, SS-Obersturmbannführer 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-Sturmbannführer 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-Sturmbannführer 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-Sturmbannführer 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:
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-Sturmbannführer 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.