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Volume V · Page 990
| OSTI [EASTERN INDUSTRY] |
| Eastern Industries, known as "OSTI," was a
running-mate of Action Reinhardt in the so-called final solution of the Jewish
problem in the East. OSTI was organized 1 March 1943, and was dissolved one
year later. The whole history of this project is clearly described in the
report of Johann Sebastian Fischer in a final audit, 21 June 1944 (NO-1271,
Pros. Ex. 491). It was impossible to completely strip the Eastern
territories of all Jewish property. Some because of its nature could not be
removed and some could be operated best by the Reich on the spot. To utilize
this unremovable property, OSTI was organized, with a capital of 100,000
Reichsmarks. Of this Pohl held 75,000 and defendant Georg Loerner 25,000. Pohl
was chairman of the Aufsichtsrat, or supervisory board, of which Georg Loerner
was also a member. Globocnik and Dr. Max Horn were the active managers. Fischer
describes the corporate purposes as follows: "OSTI had to administer all Jewish
property within the territory of the Government General except cash, jewelry,
and clothing; and in particular to utilize the manpower of the Jews living in
the Government General for tasks benefiting the Reich." This involved — (1) Utilization of the working capacity of the Jews by erecting industrial plants in the Government General in connection with the Jewish labor camps. (2) Taking over commercial enterprises which had previously been maintained by the SS in the Government General. (3) Taking possession of movable property which was formerly Jewish, especially machines and raw materials. The machines were to be installed in plants and the raw materials to be used. (4) Utilization of machines, tools, and merchandise formerly Jewish property which had been transferred to non-Jewish ownership. A partial list of the industries thus administered included a glass works in Wolomin, a peat-cutting plant near Lublin, an iron foundry, a large textile factory, a plant for the manufacture of brushes, and a stone quarry. Globocnik states that the entire manpower was brought together and kept in closed camps into which the manufacture of essential items for war had been transferred. "* * * All together 18 establishments had been built up and still more were to be added. About 52,000 laborers were available." The project continued as long as the supply of Jewish concentration camp labor was available, but when, due to the exigencies of the war, in the fall of 1943 this labor supply was withdrawn, it was determined to liquidate OSTI, and Dr. Horn was designated as liquidating officer. |
