13 Dec.
45
the areas in which the most ruthless methods had been
applied. Indeed, when German field commanders on the Eastern Front
attempted to resist or restrain the Defendant Sauckel's demands, because
forced recruitment was swelling the ranks of the partisans and making
the Army's task more difficult, Sauckel sent a telegram to Hitler, in
which he implored him, Hitler, to intervene.
I make reference to Document Number 407(II)-PS, which bears Exhibit
Number USA-226. This document is a telegram from the Defendant Sauckel
to Hitler dated 10 March 1943. It is a rather long message, but I wish
to call particularly to the attention of the Tribunal the last paragraph
on Page 1 of the English text. It is Page 2, Paragraph 5 of the German
text. Quoting the last paragraph of the English text:
"Therefore, my Führer I ask you
to abolish all orders which oppose the obligation of foreign workers
for labor and kindly to report to me whether my conception of the
mission presented here is still right."
Turning to Paragraph 5 on the first page of this English text, we find
these words, quoting them directly:
"If the obligation for labor and the
forced recruiting of workers in the East is not possible any more,
then the German war industries and agriculture cannot fulfill their
tasks to the full extent."
The next paragraph:
"I myself have the opinion that our
Army leaders should not give credence, under any circumstances, to the
atrocity and defamatory propaganda campaign of the partisans. The
generals themselves are greatly interested that the support for the
troops is made possible in time. I should like to point out that
hundreds of thousands of excellent workers going into the field as
soldiers now cannot possibly be replaced by German women not used to
work, even if they are trying to do their best. Therefore, I have to
use the people of the Eastern Territories."
THE PRESIDENT: I think you should read the next paragraph.
MR. DODD:
"I myself report to you that the
workers belonging to all foreign nations are treated humanely, and
correctly, and cleanly; are fed and housed well and are even clothed.
On the basis of my own services with foreign nations I go as far as to
state that never before in the world were foreign workers treated as
correctly as they are now, in the hardest of all wars, by the German
people."
In addition to
being responsible for the recruitment of foreign civilian labor by
force, Defendant Sauckel was responsible for the