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The Holocaust and the Neo-Nazi Mythomania
© 1978, The
Beate Klarsfeld Foundation
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Eichmann at his trial hesitated between these two
figures. Under questioning he believed that it was Heydrich who had signed the
document. But having explicitly stated that it was a question of the summer or
even the end of the summer of 1942, he rectified his testimony at the hearing.
He admitted that Heydrich not being alive at that time, Himmler (who then
personally directed the Sipo-SD) had been the signatory. Eichmann related that
the Chief of the Gestapo Muller remarked that Globocnik was the only one to
make a request of this nature.
In fact, Hoess had contented himself
with the verbal order from Himmler. The task which the latter entrusted to him
was, however, gigantic. But by his functions and by his rank, he was a minor SS
official. The word of the Reichsführer was sufficient for him. Let us note
that there was still another center of extermination, outside of the field of
action of Globocnik and that of Hoess. This was in the province of Lodz (Polish
territory annexed to the Reich), where the extermination camp of Chelmno had
been in operation since December 1941. Greiser, the Gauleiter of that region,
in July 1941 addressed a letter to Himmler wherein he asked the latter's
agreement for the extermination of the Jews unfit to work who encumbered the
ghetto of Lodz. The consent was given, following which the camp of Chelmno was
created. Its equipment for extermination by gassing (mobile gas chambers) began
to function in December 1941. Greiser was satisfied with the written consent
given by Himmler, without raising the question of an Order of the Führer.
Until 1943 hundreds of thousands of Polish Jews were exterminated there. But,
as far as Globocnik is concerned, it must be taken into account that it was he
who was by far the principal exterminator of about two million Polish Jews. In
addition, his operation took place in the region under the authority, all the
more sensitive as it was tottering, of the Governor General Frank. This
situation may explain the care he took to have an entirely sufficient
justification for his mission. But at the same time his attitude underscored
his uncertainty concerning the instructions of Himmler given in the name of
Hitler, but not confirmed by Heydrich, who in Hitler's name was responsible for
the "final solution."
The other aspect of the "final solution," the
deportation "far to the East in the "zones of operation" of the Einsatzgruppen,
also knew a period of uncertainty as to it ratification by an Order of the
Führer.
The deportation of the Jews of the Reich was certainly
proposed by Heydrich to Hitler in August 1941, but it was not to be fully
accepted by the latter. The question was brought up on August 15, 1941, in the
course of an important conference convoked at the Ministry of Propaganda.
Loesener, chairman for racial questions at the Ministry of the debates was
present at the conference and drew up a report on the debates for the Secretary
of State of his ministry. (115) Let us
point out the following passage:
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The Holocaust and the Neo-Nazi Mythomania
© 1978, The
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