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which took place at the instance of Professor Krauch, it transpired
that the Upper Silesian Hydrogenation Works [Oberschlesien Hydrierwerke] had
contemplated the same spot for their Plant 2 and that Herr Josenhans had
already thoroughly inspected this place. Dr. Ambros asked Herr Josenhans for
his impressions on this building site.
Herr Josenhans stated as
follows:
Auschwitz lies 35 kms southeast of Katowice on the Vistula.
The Vistula here is only half as big as the Oder at Heydebreck. It is not by
far as large as the Saale at Leuna. Its water volume is said to amount to 6
cubic meters per second at low water. The building site itself lies high, so
that there is no danger of flooding. Moreover, the building site is relatively
flat, so that the levelling work will probably not have to be very extensive.
Furthermore, the place is not wooded, so that there will be no felling and
grubbing work. The railway line is very favorably situated for the building
site. The place so far contemplated is 4.5 kms. in length, which, reckoning a
space requirement for hydrogenation of 2.5 square kilometers and for buna
(according to Herr Santo) of 1.5 square kilometers, can be regarded as fully
sufficient; it might be possible, after the demolition of Monowitz, to make an
extension towards the east. The road from Auschwitz to Monowitz will probably
have to be laid directly alongside the railway, so that in the north the works
would extend up to the railway and the town of Dwory, respectively. On the
whole, the building site makes an excellent impression. Other building sites in
the neighborhood of Auschwitz and its further vicinity are unsuitable, as a
recent surveying expedition, which was composed of 30 members, has established.
Geographically, the territory presents the following aspects: Heydebreck is the
most beautiful region of Upper Silesia. From Gleiwitz [Gliwice] onwards, the
territory becomes ever more unattractive. At Myslowitz [Myslowice] the
industrial territory ends. Auschwitz is pure agricultural land. It formerly
belonged to Galicia. The inhabitants of Auschwitz, especially the children,
make a very miserable impression. Apart from the large marketplace, the town
itself makes a very wretched impression. The water for the town is brought up
on the market place with the aid of a hand-driven waterwheel. An old castle
situated in the vicinity of the town has a relatively charming appearance. The
inhabitants of Auschwitz consist of 2,000 Germans, 4,000 Jews, and 7,000 Poles.
The Germans are peasants. The Jews and Poles, if industry is established here,
will be turned out, so that the town will then be available for the staff of
the factory. For this reason, it will not, at least at first, be necessary to
build many dwellings, because an adaptation of the existing houses, at least to
a certain extent, will probably be possible. A concentration camp will be built
in the immediate neighborhood of Auschwitz for the Jews and the Poles.
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