14 Dec.
45
damage to their health by the gas which
eventually would escape. I should like to take this opportunity to
bring the following to your attention: Several commands have had the
unloading, after the application of gas, done by their own men. I
brought to the attention of the commanders of these special
detachments concerned the immense psychological injury and damage to
their health which that work can have for those men, even if not
immediately, at least later on. The men complained to me about
headaches which appeared after each unloading. Nevertheless they don't
want to change the orders, because they are afraid prisoners called
for that work could use an opportune moment to flee. To protect the
men from such damage, I request orders be issued accordingly. The
application of gas usually is not undertaken correctly. In order to
come to an end as fast as possible, the driver presses the accelerator
to the fullest extent. By doing that the persons to be executed suffer
death from suffocation and not death by dozing off as was planned. My
directions now have proved that by correct adjustment of the levers
death comes faster and the prisoners fall asleep peacefully. Distorted
faces and excretions, such as could be seen before, are no longer
noticed.
"Today I shall continue my journey to group B, where I can be
reached with further news. Signed, Doctor Becker, SS Untersturmführer."
On Page 3 in Document 501-PS we find a letter signed by Hauptsturmführer
Trühess on the subject of S-Vans, addressed to the Reich Security
Main Office, Room II-D-3-A, Berlin, marked "top secret."
This letter establishes that the vans were used for the annihilation of
the Jews. I read this top-secret message; subject, "S-Vans":
"A transport of Jews, which has to be
treated in a special way, arrives weekly at the office of the
commandant of the Security Police and the Security Service of White
Ruthenia.
"The three S-vans which are there are not sufficient for that
purpose. I request assignment of another S-van (5 tons). At the same
time I request the shipment of 20 gas hoses for the three S-vans on
hand (two-Diamond, one Saurer), since the ones on hand are leaky
already. " —Signed — " the Commandant of the
Security Police and the Security Service, Ostland."
It would appear from the documentary evidence that a certain amount of
discord existed between the officials of the German Government as to the
proper means and methods used in connection with the program of
extermination. A secret report dated 18 June 1943, addressed to
Defendant Rosenberg, complained that 5,000 Jews