12 Dec.
45
of his subordinates, an individual named Pohl, SS
Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS; and I wish to quote
from the first page of that document. Quoting directly:
"Today I report about the present
situation of the concentration camps and about measures I have taken
to carry out your order of the 3rd of March 1942."
Then moving on from paragraphs numbered 1, 2, and 3 on Page 2 of the
English text and at Page 1 of the German text, I quote as follows:
"1. The war has brought about a
marked change in the structure of the concentration camps and has
changed their duties fundamentally with regard to the employment of
the prisoners. The custody of prisoners for the sole reasons of
security, education, or as a preventive measure is no longer the main
consideration. The importance now lies in the economic side. The
mobilization of all prisoner labor for purposes of the war (increase
of armament) now, and for purposes of construction in the forthcoming
peace, is coming more and more to the foreground.
"2. From this knowledge necessary measures result which require
a gradual transformation of the concentration camps from their former
one-sided political character into an organization adapted to economic
tasks.
"3. For this reason I called together all the leaders of the
former inspectorate of concentration camps, all camp commanders, and
all managers and supervisors of work, on the 23rd and 24th of April
1942 and explained personally to them this new development. I have
compiled, in the order attached, the essential points which have to be
brought into effect with the utmost urgency if the commencement of
work for the purposes of the armament industry is not to be delayed."
Now the order referred to in that third paragraph set the framework for
a program of relentless exploitation, providing in part as follows-and I
now refer to the enclosure appended to the quoted letter which is also a
part of Document R-129, found at Page 3, Paragraphs numbered 4, 5, and 6
of the English text, and Page 3 of the German text:
"4. The camp commander alone is
responsible for the utilization of the manpower available. This
utilization must be, in the true meaning of the word, complete, in
order to obtain the greatest measure of performance. Work is allotted
only centrally and by the Chief of the Department D. The camp
commanders themselves may not accept on their own initiative work
offered by third parties and may not negotiate about it.