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Volume V · Page 1058
| the phenomenon of the disappearance of the Jews with the observation that it was his impression that they had "fled", but did not know the reason for their flight. He did know, however, that the enterprises under his management would never be returned to their original owners. In the letter already referred to he stated that these properties would be given only to — |
"Those who are considered worthy by the Reich Commissioner for Strengthening the German race in the East," and, "those who deserve preferential treatment for service at the front in this or the World War [I] ; original members of the Nazi movement; those who have done useful work in the reconstruction of the East." |
| It is not clear from the evidence that
concentration camp labor generally was used in operating the confiscated
brickworks. The labor was allocated to the plants by the labor office which
office also deported Poles to the Reich. These workers fell within the Reich
classification of "free workers." That is to say, they came under Sauckel's
jurisdiction as Plenipotentiary for Labor, and the International Military
Tribunal has already passed upon the freedom exercised by the average foreign
laborer employed by the Reich under Sauckel. However, it is not disputed that Bobermin used concentration camp labor in his plant at Golleschau. As chairman of the Golleschau Cement Company and as chief of Amt W II, WVHA, within whose office the Golleschau plant fell, Bobermin's authority in the company could not be questioned. Golleschau was located about 70 kilometers from Auschwitz and it was from this notorious concentration camp that the Golleschau workers were drawn. Those who were unable to perform the work to which they were assigned in Golleschau were sent back to Auschwitz to whatever fate might await them. Bobermin attempts to deny responsibility for the employment of concentration camp inmates at Golleschau by stating that the proposal for this employment was made by Pohl. But Pohl was commander in chief of all WVHA activities. To here, expect exoneration from the charge of criminality on the basis of Pohl's superior command is to demand a certificate of innocence because of Himmler's orders or even Hitler's. Where outright criminality is involved, superior orders are in themselves no excuse, although they may be argued in mitigation of punishment. In the operation of his many enterprises Bobermin found it necessary to borrow money which came from the funds released through the Action Reinhardt. He, however, claims that he was ignorant at that time of the meaning of the Reinhardt operation. Much of the loot, which finally became the Reinhardt fund, was |
