12 Dec.
45
Milch made particular reference to foreign workers
again in this Document Number R-124 at Page 26, Paragraph 3 — in
the German text it appears at Page 18, Paragraph 3 — when he said;
and I am quoting him directly:
"It is therefore not possible to
exploit fully all the foreigners unless we compel them by piece-work
wages and have the possibility of taking measures against foreigners
who are not doing their bit."
The policy as actually executed was even more fearful than the policy as
expressed by the conspirators. Indeed, these impressed workers were
underfed and overworked; and they were forced to live in grossly
overcrowded camps where they were held as virtual prisoners, and were
otherwise denied adequate shelter, adequate clothing, adequate medical
care and treatment. As a consequence, they suffered from many diseases
and ailments. They were generally forced to work long hours, up to and
beyond the point of exhaustion. They were beaten and subjected to all
manner of inhuman indignities.
An example of this maltreatment is found in the conditions which
prevailed in the Krupp factories. Foreign laborers at the Krupp works
were given insufficient food to enable them to perform the work required
of them.
I refer to Document Number D-316, which is Exhibit USA-201. This
document was found in the Krupp files. It is a memorandum upon the Krupp
stationery to a Herr Hupe, a director of the Krupp locomotive factory in
Essen, Germany, dated the 14th of March 1942. 1 wish to refer to Page 1
of the English text, starting with Paragraph 1, as follows; and I am
quoting directly:
"During the last few days we
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 in all
other places of work where Russians are employed."
The condition of foreign workers in Krupp workers' camps is described in
detail in an affidavit executed in Essen, Germany, by Dr. Wilhelm Jäger,
who was the senior camp doctor. It is Document Number D-288, which is
Exhibit USA-202.
"I, Dr. Wilhelm Jäger, am a
general practitioner in Essen, Germany, and its surroundings. I was
born in Germany on 2 December 1888 and now live at Kettwig, Sengenholz
6, Germany.