. NMT05-T1020
Volume V · Page 1020
| Despite the fact that none of the other
offices within Amtsgruppe C was charged with special construction tasks or any
of the constructions outlined above, the defendant contends that these office
titles were only for organizational purposes and not actually concerned with
building projects; the projects with which they were concerned were far removed
from the realm of construction of concentration camp installations but were for
humanitarian objectives. The defendant further contends that office C II/2 was
concerned solely with the coordination of such construction with local zoning
and building regulations. He further contends that his office only worked out
general basic plans for hospitals and ambulances, and denies that he ever
participated in the planning of construction of any hospitals or other
buildings, or any concentration camps or concentration camp installations.
The Tribunal does not agree with such contentions. The evidence clearly shows that concentration camp hospitals were constructed, and that plans and drawings for such construction were prepared in the office C II. The prosecution offered in evidence Document NO-4470, Pros. Ex. 662, which was a drawing and plan for a hospital and sick bay for inmates of Auschwitz concentration camp. This drawing and plan was signed by the defendant himself. The prosecution also offered in evidence Document NO-4471, Pros. Ex. 663, which was a drawing and plan signed by the defendant himself for a sick bay for the troops at Auschwitz concentration camp. If the defendant and his office were competent to draft and approve such drawings and plans for such installations, the Tribunal may reasonably find that all other installations necessary for the maintenance and construction of concentration camps also emanated from this office. Since the defendant is an expert architect, the Tribunal concludes that the defendant not only planned the construction of such projects at Auschwitz, but that he supervised the progress of construction as any architect would do. The concentration camps under Amtsgruppe D of the WVHA operated and maintained gas chambers and crematories in which thousands of people were exterminated and cremated. Some of the concentration camps had several of such installations. These installations were planned, erected, and maintained by some competent authority and Amt of the WVHA. Since Amt C II was the supreme authority for the planning and building of special tasks, the logical conclusion of the Tribunal is that such installations were planned and erected under the authority of Amt C II of the WVHA. The Tribunal further concludes that the very nature of such installations and their continued maintenance constituted knowledge of the purposes for which they were to be used. |
