14 Dec.
45
the Jews. A description of these vehicles of horror and
death and the operation of them is fully set forth in a captured
top-secret document, dated 16 May 1942, addressed to SS Obersturmbannführer
Rauff, 8 Prinz-Albrecht-Strasse, Berlin, from Dr. Becker, SS Untersturmführer.
I offer this document, 501-PS, Exhibit USA-288. I quote:
"The overhauling of vans by groups D
and C is finished. While the vans in the first series can also be put
into action if the weather is not too bad, the vans of the second
series (Saurer) stop completely in rainy weather. If it has rained for
instance for only one-half hour, the van cannot be used because it
simply skids away. It can only be used in absolutely dry weather. It
is a question now of whether the van can be used only when it stands
at the place of execution. First the van has to be brought to that
place, which is possible only in good weather. The place of execution
is usually 10 to 15 kilometers away from the highway and is difficult
of access because of its location; in damp or wet weather it is not
accessible at all. If the persons to be executed are driven or led to
that place, then they realize immediately what is going on and get
restless, which is to be avoided as far as possible. There is only one
way left: to load them at the collecting point and to drive them to
the spot.
"I ordered the vans of group D to be camouflaged as
house-trailers by putting one set of window shutters on each side of
the small van and two on each side of the larger vans, such as one
often sees on farm houses in the country. The vans became so
well-known that not only the authorities but also the civilian
population called the van 'death van' as soon as one of the vehicles
appeared. It is my opinion the van cannot be kept secret for any
length of time, not even camouflaged."
And then I read the fourth paragraph on this page:
"Because of the rough terrain and the
indescribable road and highway conditions the caulkings and rivets
loosen in the course of time. I was asked it in such cases the vans
should not be brought to Berlin for repairs. Transportation to Berlin
would be much too expensive and would demand too much fuel. In order
to save these expenses I ordered them to have smaller leaks soldered
and, if that should no longer be possible, to notify Berlin
immediately by radio, that License Number . . . is out of order.
Besides that I ordered that during application of gas all the men were
to be kept as far away from the vans as possible, so that they should
not suffer